1872-1876
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/9/4
Letters written by William James Snape between June 1872 and February 1876
Ticket received. No need to be particular about narrowboats working two handed, but insist on barges and wide boats working with three. Also instructions about tonnage on wheat to Lodgemore on account of Butt & Skurray and to charge bricks at dead weight not the number.
Cheque enclosed, let me have a list and numbers of property to which it refers. Bill enclosed for your use of Company's wharf at Stonehouse from 29 Sept 1869 to 29 Sept 1872..
Cheque enclosed for £5 for lighting at Dudbridge Wharf to Xmas 1872; the subscription will cease from above date.
From above date bricks, tiles, quarries etc will be charged at dead weight not by number.
Bill for rent for 2 inch water pipe from canal to House for period as set out. Pencil note: paid 23 Nov.
Bill for rent for use of towing path between Bonds Mill and Railway for period as set out. Plus rent for use of towing path from Bonds Mill to the Lower Gates for specified period.
Concern on tonnage charges; Please check and return your cash book and tickets; Let me have Mr Field's tickets.
Remove the rubbish near Lodgemore Mills at once.
We consider £2 per annum for use of a portion of Ryeford & Bristol Road wharves to be reasonable.
Inspect Lodgemore Feeder where Mr Butt has been instructed to put in piling; Peter given instructions to get new boots and a bag for the mud spoon. Instructions given on: measurements required on distance posts; on the number of hands allowed for narrow boats and wide boats; on monthly reports on number of tons of mud taken out from locations on the Canal; Peter has been stopped shovelling; I'm having a gardener for a few days.
Smart has been told to collect the timber so that it comes by canal and then up to the yard.
Please supply a receipt for our cheque for one year's subscription - Dudbridge Lighting Account
Is it the Stonehouse Highway Board, not Wheatenhurst, I should apply to for the rent? Please let me know about the use of portions of our other wharves.
If you repeat your neglect of your duty in not drawing up the valves, which resulted in the flooding of the canal into adjoining fields and considerable damage, I shall report you to the Committee. Get on with care in pulling down the old cottages.
Tickets enclosed; extra charged on wheat on "Sabrina"" to Lodgemore. No ticket for ""Sisters""
See Mr Field to get payment of his enclosed monthly account so that I don't have to draw a cheque on Friday for the wages etc. Also get what money you can from Peyton and give him the enclosed tickets. Come up on Wednesday.
Your explanation is not good enough. You've been working on the canal long enough to know what to do. If you cannot do the job I shall find someone who will.
Give me a price per ton for the stone at Bristol Road; any short of 38 tons to be deducted.
Please reply to my letter No. 84, 11 Nov, re the road at Wallbridge Wharf.
I have written to Mr Savage asking him to meet me at Stonehouse Wharf tomorrow at about 11am.
I shall call in tomorrow at about 9.30am re the tonnage charges.
I should like to see you at Stonehouse Wharf at about 11am tomorrow.
The Company is not the owner of 243 Toll House and Garden; an alteration is required in your charge before the next rent is paid.
I did not know the tonnages on iron and timber were for you. I can't change the last half year's account in my books, so will make an allowance on your next cargo.
I shall reply to your request for a credit account after it is discussed at the next Committee Meeting.
I enclose a s.a.e. for a reply about the £1.5s.0d advanced for summonses that I was to have back.
I did not see you today: will you pay either per annum or wharfage at a charge per ton for the use of portions of Ryeford and Bristol Road Wharves? If wharfage, Enclosed a copy of the relevant Bye Law
Please check whether the weight of the stone at Bristol Road purchased from Mr O Cam is 38 tons. At Dudbridge put spikes on the gates not over the gateway. Let me have the cost of the new pair of gates; get an estimate from Perry for making a new pair of top gates for Dock Lock. Make me 6 more stakes. Peter has not cut the turf well. Get stone from Bristol Road and Sittington can break it up. I want to see you before Thursday. I may get to Framilode on Tuesday but will let you know.
I will take to the stone at Bristol Road and let you know the weight after our men have weighed it. It will be moved next week.
Tickets nos. 200, 713, 922, 956 and 972 were passed in last half year's account. Mr Kearsey has got no. 909, which was Walkley's, where we had the tonnage trouble, and is the only one in the present half year's accounts. Good trade here..
Cheque enclosed for £10.8s.0d for one month's salary to 25 Dec 1872. Receipt required by return.
The Committee cannot grant your request for a credit account.
The stone, which I've taken from Bristol Road Wharf, weighed 32 tons. I'm letting you know so that you can put the matter right with the party you bought it from.
Please give me a date when we can meet as my Committee have instructed me to discuss the stone matter with you..
You may remain in the house until 31 Dec, but will be charged rent if you remain longer than that.
Tell the farmer he is not to deposit refuse in and near the Ocean; if he continues to do so, it will be thrown back on his land. Prepare slabbing and fence the Ocean in line with the willow trees as that appears to have been the boundary. Call Peter's attention to the several places that require mudding, especially at Ebley.
Notice to Quit on the 25 March 1873, unless you pay an additional amount.
Instructions re roofing of cottages at Dudbridge, James of Leonard Stanley to take the job. Instructions about something (illegible) in a very dangerous condition. 5 Tons of stone required for Wallbridge Wharf..
Please look at some roofs of a few cottages.
Your bills enclosed. Specific requests made as to who and how payment is to be made.
Are Mr Ford's arrangements as set out still being made (10 sacks of wheat and 9 of flour to one ton)? I will return your book shortly. Take your charges from your next cash.
Remove your sand under our crane at Dudbridge Wharf. If you don't, I must charge usual rate.
A charge per annum from the 29 Sept 1872 is to be made for your new doorway in the wall at Lodgemore.
Mr Fallows will call to collect your rent, which you agreed to. You can write to the Committee.
After all expenses are paid, the fines come to the Company, as per our Act. Please settle the matter.
Copies of the minutes attached referring to the special arrangements for charges to which you agreed re all traffic from the Junction to Ryeford and back.
Concern about recovering £1.5.6d advanced by me to take out summonses against boatmen working two handed.
We should like your coal traffic. Suggestions as to wharfage and where coal is to be laid.
Do you agree to the charge per annum as suggested for your client's unauthorised use of wharves at Stonehouse, Ryeford and Dudbridge for stowing road stone.
The Stroud Local Board are carting away stone which is damaging wharves which they are using without authorisation. Do you agree to the charge per annum as suggested. There is another person interested in the wharves at the same amount.
I will call upon you in a few days time.
Concern about use of wharf and monies paid by Davies and other parties. Send me a declaration of particulars of timber cargoes.
I will write again about the work to be done at my house.
Pay the foreman at Eastington rent due for land near Westfield Lock at once. Details set out as to the breakdown of the payment.
Settle our account by Monday next.
Settle our account by Monday next. Could your boatmen pay as they pass. Your account is too small for a ledger holder.
Settle our account by Monday next. Could your boatmen pay the tonnage as they pass. .I should like to hear from you.
I really need to recover the fines as I am in debt to my witness and have my own expenses of 10s. Can you help?
Please charge the tenants at Framilode with their own rates.
Ask Mrs Williams to recompense us with the poor rates which we paid for 1871 and 1872.
Let the boatmen pay the tonnage your account being too small for quarterly payments.
Let the boatmen pay the tonnage your account being too small for quarterly payments at present.
List of parties who, in future, will pay the tonnage before clearing the canal.
Let your men pay the tonnage, your account being too small for quarterly payments at present.
Your account for items as set out does not refer to us, does it refer to the T&S Canal?
Mrs Williams is not to interfere with the arrangements I made; let me know of anything to the contrary.
When will the account with Stratford Flour Mill Co Ltd be settled?
The payment made to you for locking up at Bristol Road will be discontinued.
If the beam Is not taken out of our bridge at Ebley this week, my men will take it out.
You have misunderstood the figure I suggested for use of the three wharves. Please see me.
Instructions on what to do if stone for Mr Spires for the Cainscross Roads is stowed for more than 48 hours; request re the date of repair and the cost of repairing the gas bridge; instructions on how to pay F Beard; Perry can come up; Clark has finished his work so George can now get on with his; send bricks from Framilode with Peter; charge in the pay sheet for Perry.
Put Mr Williams as the owner of the "Effort"". Can you get tonnage list of G&B Canal. You have not said what you allow per ton for Ford Bros."
Please reply to my letter no 139 17 January. Am anxious to get matter settled.
My committee cannot agree to your proposal, they propose to use the arrangement set out.
Do you agree to the sum suggested per annum starting from 29 Sept 1872 for use of Bristol Road, Ryeford and Dudbridge Wharves?
Thank you for the tonnage lists.
Enclosed is a bill for repairing the damage caused to our bridge at Ebley by you erecting a weighing machine in the abutment of our bridge.
Enclosed copy Resolution passed at Committee meeting re your tenancy of Dudbridge Wharf. I require your letter agreeing to same.
My Committee will not enforce the payment for wharfage of sand (letter 129), but the Bye Laws of this Co will be carried out in future.
My Committee instructed me to apply again for amount of account by set date; if not, we shall repair the damage and then put the matter into the hands of our Solicitors.
Difficult to read: concerning the breaking of stone on the wharf at Bristol Road.
Not heard from you re the fines. Shall I ever have them?
Communicate with our solicitor, Mr W W Kearsey, re transfer of share no. 134.
Enclosed the Resolution passed at our committee meeting re Board of Health putting sewage pipes under the canal near the gas works.
Communicate with our solicitor, Mr W W Kearsey, re canal shares.
Transfer of share No 134: Sorry for any inconvenience, but specific procedures required about which Mr Kearsey will give you all the details.
Pay your account at once or Mr Kearsey will be asked to deal with you and charge all expenses.
Until further instructions charge 16s per week instead of 15s for ? (illegible).
We made a mistake in charging you 6d instead of 1s per ton for the sticks from Gloucester to Bowbridge. I enclose 3 stamps for you to send us the 10s undercharged.
You can have a further portion of land at Wallbridge Wharf for £3, making a total of £6 per annum.
The Company agrees to you having a portion of canal wharf at Dudbridge near the warehouse for keeping sand etc for £1.10s per annum. Let me know if you agree to this.
Your rent to be increased to £6.10s per annum or 2/6 per week or £1.12.6 per quarter from 25 March last
Please reply to my letter no. 151 of 24 March 1873.
Your rent to be increased to £6.10s per annum or 2/6 per week or £1.12.6 per quarter from 25 March last in accordance with my formal notice in February.
Your rent is increased to 2/6 per week, £1.12.6d per quarter from 25 March, as per my formal notice
Your sand is still on Dudbridge Wharf, therefore I am charging you for wharfage as per my letter no. 151.
Your rent is increased to £9 per annum, not £10 as mentioned before, from 25 March last, the quarter's payment being £2.5s.0d.
Sorry you misunderstood my letter. I want your bill set out as two bills "repairs to canal"" and ""repairs to buildings"" for the purpose of my half yearly accounts. If you will do this I shall get a cheque drawn for the total amount of £25.12.8d."
I have drawn a cheque for the total £25.12.8d. Drawing up two bills will oblige me but you need not do so
Pass addressed to lock keepers and others in the Company's employ allowing George Holloway to take a small boat between Wallbridge and Eastington having paid the usual charge.
Cheque for £25.12.8d enclosed; please sign and return enclosed bill.
When due, make out the account to £200 which the Company have reduced my guarantee to. P.S. Is it usual for the Company or the parties guaranteed to pay, I know that North Staffs Railway pay.
You have no right to question instructions given you by me on behalf of the Company. The required form is enclosed.
Instruct your agent for the district to inspect and repair our weighing machine on Dudbridge Canal Wharf.
Stone on Bristol Road Wharf has been there for over the permitted time. Better for the stone to be broken by our men at Eastington Canal yard and boated to Bristol Road.
I shall write to you as soon as our chairman, Mr Beard, has returned and seen your letter about the timber.
The Company object to you washing sheep on the two path side, but would allow this on offside if a small annual payment was made.
Instruct all Field's barges trading to Ebley to take up their tickets to the Lock Keeper at Dudbridge.
Will take 4 oak trees if they can be paid for in two bills, one a month after delivery, another in October, if you agree, The charge is 3/6 per foot as per your letter, we gave 2/6 per foot to another trader.
Please let me have the 10s owing for tonnage (No 158). I sent you stamps.
Enclosed copy of Resolution passed on 15 May 1873, re land you require at Wallbridge Wharf.
Mr Roberts at Lodgemore Mill has confirmed they will run water out of their mill pond and their man shall attend to their paddles. Before Thursday next I need a list of work to be done at the Stoppage. Get the bricklayer at the stoppage to repair Jefferies' damage to Ebley Bridge; keep the account separate so I can charge him with the expenses. Collect enclosed account from Gainer & Co re logwood trespass and find out if/when they are to remove the wood.
Pass to Lock Keepers and other workmen to allow Mr King to fish for "perch"" from 16-18 June 1873."
Remove your cordwood stacked on Ryeford Wharf to make room for Mr Savage's stone.
Mr Webb of Ebley has large quantity of timber coming from Ireland. (illegible gap in the middle of the letter - Consulting with Mr Peyton about it). P.S. send me copy of 2120 the only ticket I'm short of.
The Chairman has handed me your letter to him. Please apply to Mr W W Kearsey, solicitor, who has all the papers to which you refer.
9ft is width of the towpath at place named by you. Wall must be built in line with stools of the hedge, unless Mr Davies get Company's permission to do otherwise.
Stop your tenants at Framilode from throwing rubbish into the Canal or our solicitor will be instructed.
Enclosed salary cheque for £10.8s due at 1st June.
Pass addressed to lock keepers and others to allow A Smith to have use of the canal for a small boat until December 1873 from Dudbridge to the Double Locks.
Bring planks used at Stonehouse Ocean as Strachan & Co are to take a boiler over our bridge at Lodgemore.
Please reply to my 181. I will instruct solicitors if I don't hear from you before 17th inst.
Please reply to my 176. I want your reply before the committee meeting on the 17th July.
No sheep washing allowed on the towing side, but sheep washing allowed on the off side for a payment of 10s per annum. Do you agree? I will get a form prepared.
I enclose a p.o.o. for £2.10s.0d. being one year's payment for my guarantee. Receipt required.
Our chairman sees no reason to change our original agreement. Our next meeting is 21 August.
Please settle our small account for tonnage of 6s 6d.
My directors have reduced the payment to 5s per annum. I should like a letter from you in agreement.
Please pay our account for tonnage amounting to £3.15s.0d.
Please pay our account for tonnage amounting to £33.5s.3d.
Please pay our account for tonnage amounting to £2.5s.2d.
From Lechlade to Stroud is on the T&S Canal. We charge 10s from Wallbridge to Framilode (the Severn). Details given of measurements of the locks and height under lowest bridge.
Please write an apology to me for taking the plank out of the canal on Sunday 22 June, or I shall put the matter in our solicitor's hands.
Please write to me before 21 August as to whether you will spout your tenanted cottage at Framilode; details given as to why; your neighbour says he will if you will. Also stop your tenant throwing rubbish into the canal.
Warrant for £3.15s.0d dividend re share no. 55 for Miss Eliza Harris.
Bathing In the canal not allowed. Do not do it again or a summons will be taken out.
Bathing In the canal not allowed. Do not do it again or a summons will be taken out.
Bathing In the canal not allowed. Do not do it again or a summons will be taken out.
If you will not pay the 5s per annum you are not allowed to wash your sheep in the canal.
Notice given that you will be considered a trespasser and punished accordingly if you bath in the canal or encourage others to do so.
The steerer of your boat Diglis hasn't enough money to pay for boats passing empty both ways, viz £1.00. We do not charge for boats empty one way.
You have sold the boat which in May underpaid tonnage on the 8 tons of slates it brought from Gloucester. Please let me have the 2s 8d. underpaid tonnage.
A fortnight's notice given to leave the Co. on 30 Aug 1873, and 3 month's notice to leave the Cottage at Framilode on the 25 December 1873.
