1841-1844
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/9/1
"In-letter" book (letters received) with some loose papers, including letter of 1826 and agreement for repair of Canal, 1833.
Letters from the Thames and Severn Canal Company and Bristol and Gloucester Railway.
Enclosing plan of work at Junction. Asking whether land previously occupied by Stroudwater Canal could devolve to Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co.
Agreement for 3 years from 1st September to maintain towing paths and banks from Wallbridge to Framilode, remove mud from locks, remove weeds and rushes from canal, and supply piles and planking, except for pile driving. Cost of agreement £110 per annum, paid quarterly.
Having been Superintendent for five months I lay before you a statement of the present condition of your canal. Towpaths low and narrow with poor gravel that is being swept into canal. Banks on towpath side undermined. Continued
Continuation of 7: Two sections of the canal, the lower showing the present condition and the upper the condition after piling [Undated but evidently connected with E W Mason's report]
The petition from the Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation against the Severn Improvement Bill will be presented to the House
We erected a crane and left it in a perfectly secure and safe state. A short time after the flanges, etc, gave way. We sent down our smith and he charged the parties who had used it with having done so very unfairly. The company agreed to give us half of the extra expense if we could continue to make it stronger. The company gave us £22. We have put up other cranes (e.g. in Gloucester) and have never had a complaint.
Do Stroudwater Navigation Co have the power to stop up the two aqueducts under the canal at Ebley Mills that used to lead the mill stream to the mill that stood on the north west side of the canal? Continued …
Continuation of 12: Do they have the power to stop the weir that feeds the canal? This information is to enable me to decide how to recommend company to obtain a more efficient and certain supply of water.
Proposing an exchange of land at the Junction. The old part of canal and towing paths either side of Junction to be exchanged for land on Western side of Junction. Please put this proposition before Committee of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co when they next meet
I have submitted to the Committee of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co your proposal for an exchange of land near the Junction of the canals. Committee have instructed their Engineer Mr Clegram to negotiate & complete the exchange proposal. Continued …
PS to 15: Since writing this I have seen Mr Clegram who will meet you at the Junction at 11am on Friday to discuss proposal
We received permission to use the towpath outside our property at Ebley last year but only for a limited period. The gates and posts you erected this morning will prevent us doing so. I must beg that one of the gates may not be shut for a few weeks so we have time to make another way at the back of our premises. Continued
Continuation of 17: Aggrieved that company has not given them notice to stop using towpath. We have not had time to make another path at the back of our premises. Obliged if allowed to use the road occasionally. Engage to keep the path in surface for distance we use it
Answers to questions posed by Mr Mason. 1. The canal has not suffered from the division of the mill stream. 2. Feeding through No 5 in the original state of affairs would not have been better. Continued …
Continuation of 19: 3. I see no advantage to having the old brook course restored. 4. The alteration I recommended in my former report would more directly supply and maintain the water in the canal. 5. The water's opportunity to escape into a large pond does not effect the feed to the canal appreciably. Continued ...
Continuation of 20: 6. The supply of water to the canal has been affected by the new mill at Ebley taking more water than the old. The division of the water is not important. Continued …
Continuation of 21: 6. The original state of things was the best.
Have put gates at either end of our boundary wall, but cannot reach them from the swing bridge without permission to take a cart or truck on the towpath
Asking for permission to take water from canal for a pump in the weaving shop
Oldham & Son [railway contractors] were charged 1s 8d per ton for freight on two boat loads of stone in July and August. They have the impression this is an overchage of 1s per Ton
We have no place to hold our meetings. The upper floor of your warehouse at Framilode would, after raising the roof 5ft, make a very convenient meeting place. We will raise roof if you provide timbers and allow for roof repairs needed. Continued …
Railway Bridge on Bristol & Gloucester line at Stonehouse has broken down into the canal and has entirely stopped your canal. Will measure the stoppage time so that I may be paid for my time
Amount wanted by Committee for emptying the canal for a wall differs from amount hinted at. Continued …
Continuation of 29: Am unwilling to make an offer so far different from anything I can see they will accept
Copy of order of Committee meeting on 7 July that Mr Mason confer with the Clerk of the T&S Canal as to lowering tonnages on that canal for slates and other things in consequence of steps taken by Kennet & Avon Canal on these tonnages
Have asked the Engineer of Bristol & Gloucester Railway Company for a sketch, which I will send to you. Continued …
Continuation of 32: I do not think the Company should waive being the parties to exercise their judgement as to the manner of construction of the drain. Will willing recommend the adoption of any particular method you might approve providing the expense is the same
Enclosing sketch from Engineer of Bristol & Gloucester Railway Company. If you need explanation Mr Harrison will be able to give it to you
We feel that sacrifices [in toll reductions] made on our part have not been met by corresponding ones on yours. We are urged to reduce Tonnage of Back Carriage between Cirencester and Newport and Gloucester, but delay doing so until we have advertisement of your feelings
T&S Committee meeting in London yesterday approved the proposed reduction of tonnage upon slates, etc, Continued …
Continuation of 37: Only necessary to reduce general rate from 3d to 2d as places where rate is currently 1½d along the most expensive part of the canal are to remain as they are
Up Carriage and Down Carriage Rates as charged on the Stroudwater Canal as in 38.
Printed circular letter re reduction in Tonnage on T&S and Stroudwater canals. Continued
Continuation of 40: Printed circular of Tonnage Rates on T&S and Stroudwater canals
Have received letter from Mr Hammond saying he would be unable to be at Stonehouse yesterday and directing me to excuse him. I will let him know by letter today what you stated to us yesterday.
In compliance with our recent agreement, I began making the allowances proposed on 3rd Oct, cautiously avoiding promising the Carriers certificates on articles having previously passed through the Stroud Canal although subsequently delivered to places entitled to drawback
Complaining of people from Messrs Marling's Mill coming up towpath and destroying my mounds, trees and doing considerable damage. Please desire them to use bridge, or inclose towpath beside my meadow
Offer to pay the Stroudwater Navigation Co £100 in consideration to the accommodation provided to the Bristol & Gloucester Railway Co Continued …
Continuation of 45: by letting the water out at the crossing for four days to allow the construction of the towing path wall, the bridge abutment and the heading under the canal. Continued …
Continuation of 46: And to pay the money promptly.
Copy of minutes of G&B committee meeting for 11 January 1843 re Lockham Bridge Culverts that carry River Frome under Stroudwater above Whitminster Lock have burst so the river is flowing into the Stroud Canal and thence into the G&B. If a flood occurs wash weirs on G&B would not be able to cope. Attention of Stroudwater to be called to the subject immediately
We are daily expecting to hear from our professional adviser on the subject of your letter
Mr Mason has ordered a stoppage in the middle of the Spring tides. This is to let you know that any expense we occur in being driven on to the G&B Canal we will deduct from your account, Continued …
Continuation of 50
Drawing attention to state of brick aqueduct put under your canal during the time of John Marling, to carry water from the Reservoir to that part of our premises on the north side of the canal. When water is drawn from this level of the pound our wool scouring and washing is stopped. Has been stopped for a week. Mr Mason says more stoppages are required. We trust that when this happen you put in an Iron tube rather than a brick one
The canal was not open and Captain Longney was thus detained and in consequence made use of the G&B Canal, for which I must ask you to pay in consequence of neither of your Agents giving us notice. Continued …
Continuation of 53: Surely it is right that customers be given notice of stoppages. Unnecessary of Mr Mason in the very midst of Spring tides, to throw us on the Berkeley
Do not show the proxies you hold in my name and Mr Richard Hawker to anyone without my consent. I intend to apply for the restoration of those proxies.
Am unable to attend Meeting on Friday to personally demand proxies I had for Mr Coney and Mr Richard Hawker you have retained. Charles Hawker has refused to deliver these proxies to me without your consent. Please give consent so I do not need to resort to legal action. Continued ...
Continuation of 56: Note that proxies for Mr Richard Hawker are joint and several. You may consider me as acting not only on my own account but as Solicitor for Mr Richard Hawker and with his consent
As I remember it, some shareholder recommended that the proxies by deposited with the clerk, and Mr John Gurney and Mr Richard Hawker agreed to this but after most members has left Mr Gurney objected to their detention
Traders complaining that while you only charge 1s 5½d for bricks brought to Wallbridge you charge 2s 3d for bricks going into the T&S Canal and delivered short of Brimscombe, contrary to section 63 of the Act of Parliament. Continued …
Our agent at Brimscombe reports that you have been charging different rates for landing at Wallbridge from those continuing into the T&S Canal contrary to provisions of canal act. Writing in the hope that any order which may have been made authorising this alteration may be annulled
Have requested our Agent Mr Mason to call on your Agent Mr Willson on Monday to explain the charges made by this company as Mr Willson has made a mistake respecting bricks. We do not charge per ton for these either on weight or price as alleged
Letter of resignation from the Committee of Proprietors
Notification of not attending next Committee Meeting and request for name to be taken off the list of Committee Men
Has been employed as Superintendent of Canal for 3.5 years at lower than usual salary. Not a penny has been spent which has not been for the improvement and durability of the Locks. Continued …
List of repairs and amendments made on the Stroudwater Navigation and its Buildings by Mr Mason.
I have inserted Stroudwater Navigation into Subscription List under condition stated in letter. Committee are in daily expectation of receiving answers from Board of Trade re two bills. When received a Circular will be printed or lithographed.
Miss Bradstock has forwarded letter you sent to her expecting repairs to Swing Bridge at Stonehouse Farm. We don't know who supplied the information that she received compensation for the use of the bridge for the conveyance of railway material, but can say for certainty such a statement is untrue. Miss Bradstock has never in any way interferred or given permission to use the bridge. Continued ...
Continuation of 74: If she had given permission it would be to no avail. It is for this Company to interfere and stop traffic until they have a proper understanding with the Contractor as they did another time
Re collection of tolls at the Junction. G&B willing to do so provided Stroudwater contribute one moiety of the expenses. Continued …
Continuation of 76: Providing G&B not responsible for money coming into hands of collector. He must be called upon to give security. The moiety of expenses will be about £60 per annum
Thanking committee for permission to deposit mud in the old channel of the Stroudwater at Junction
Suggesting petition in support of the Canal Bill . Please get enclosed form signed by Committee and return by Wednesday
