1848-1874
Gloucestershire Archives TS165b
Minutes of Committee from 1848 to 1874
Mr Charles Iles, defalcations, £150.0.10.
Letters from Rev Mr Gompertz, Rev Mr Legge and Mr Nathaniel Legge in support of Mr Iles. Repayment by 28 December.
Debt of William Lewis, deceased, £19.4.4, to be written off.
Burford Coal Trade. Mr Taunton’s arrangement with Mr Street of Burford was approved.
General Meeting to approve drawback for any trader carrying 1000 tons of salt.
Mr Iles unable to make repayment as requested. Dismissed from 31 January 1853.
Expenses paid, £23 7 9.
Correspondence re Burford Coal Trade.
Rent due from Baker.
Stroudwater Canal Company wished to reopen negotiations re tonnage on Canal. Chairmen to meet.
Statement of discussion between Mr Richards and Mr Croome re dispute between the Canal and the Thames and Severn Companies. No definite step. Matter postponed.
River Churn water payments. £103 3.2.
Mr Taunton to pay Mr Ball’s account £14. £150 0.10 from sinking fund to meet Mr Iles defalcation.
The Stroudwater Canal Company proposed to lease tolls of Company between Stroud and Brimscombe. The Committee’s opinion was that a partial lease of the Company’s tolls was inexpedient. A joint revision of tolls should be decided upon.
The Committee having considered the preservation of the Burford Coal Trade after the opening of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway. Tonnage on coal landed at Lechlade Wharf should be reduced from 2/9d to 1/5d, with conditions.
Draft of Agreement to effect arrangement with Stroudwater Canal prepared.
Half-yearly accounts to 5 April 1853.
Letter from Mr Taunton re boiler of steam engine.
Draft Agreement with Stroudwater Canal Company settled with Mr Croome, Company’s solicitor. Clerk not satisfied with words in red ink in resolution.
Mr Saunders (Sanders?) engaged as Tonnage Clerk.
Mr Croome, on behalf of Stroudwater Canal Company, proposed to substitute “landed at Brimscombe Wharf or at any place eastward thereof” in lieu of words in red ink in resolution. Mr Taunton’s travelling expenses, £16.17.0, to be paid.
Survey of Navigation, Brimscombe to Lechlade. Canal in good working order.
Coal trade to Burford from Lechlade could not be maintained against competition of Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway. Letter from Burford resident, Mr Street, thought Company unable to compete with railway if whole of tonnage charges on Thames & Severn Canal were abolished. Drawback, £15, promised to traders supplying coal to Burford Market to be abolished, but Mr Taunton could make special contracts with individual traders.
Mr Arkell met Committee at Dudgrove Lock. He wanted bridge of communication belonging to his farm improved. Permitted to carry 4 or 5 boat loads of rubble etc along canal free of tolls. Mr Arkell permitted to take water from Dudgrove Level. Abundant there owing to Welford feeder to supply stock in farm yard. 20s a year and conditions. Mr Arkell also permitted to make wooden bridge across canal. 1s a year.
Several trees to be cut down and sold.
Culvert or small bridge over Churn, west side of Latton Basin, dilapidated and dangerous. Mr Dunsford, Agent of Wilts & Berks Canal Company, applied for repair. Mr Taunton to advise Mr Dunsford that the Act imposes liability of maintaining bridge on Wilts & Berks Canal Company.
Mr Messenger of Cricklade and George Geiles damaged banks of canal at Siddington Field in raising stone. Mr Messenger must immediately repair damage. Mr Ball, solicitor, to proceed against George Geiles, also Ray Fletcher and Robert Fletcher, employed by him as labourers. Possible punishment of transportation.
Mr Mantell rents stone quarry from Mr Bowley at the Bluehouse Fields. Fence required.
Mr Gordon claimed land near Thames Head Wharf on east side of Turnpike road. Mr Taunton to require Cox to pay 1s a year rent for the land he holds of the Company.
Leakage at Capel’s Viaduct. Mr Franks, Resident Engineer of Railway, agreed to rebuild retaining wall. Company to supply lime and gravel.
Mr Biddle at Wallbridge applied to have canal widened opposite his premises. Agreed if Mr Biddle pays fair share of expenditure.
Mr Taunton to procure estimate on cost of building an Ice Boat.
Mr Sanders (Saunders?) to be Tonnage Clerk at Brimscombe Port. Security £150. Salary £70 per annum. £8 in lieu of house rent.
Mr James Smith of Brimscombe asked for reduction of tonnage on coke and coal placed on railway at Brimscombe Station. As Mr Smith would not bind himself to carry any particular quantity, the request was not accepted.
Legal difficulty in carrying into effect toll agreement with Stroudwater Canal Company as drafted. Agreed Stroudwater Company to receive whole amount of toll and to account for the portion due to this Company.
Mr Taunton to report on best means of altering and repairing steam engine.
Re land at Thames Head claimed by Mr Gordon, agreed 40ft in depth from the canal be reserved for Company use and the rest offered to Mr Gordon for £20.
General Meeting to consider repeal of regulation on coal going into Wilts & Berks Canal over Thames & Severn Canal and that of goods passing over Canal from Wallbridge and going below Ensham Bridge.
Important to Company that their rights to the water of the River Churn should not be interfered with.
Riddler, lockkeeper in service of Company for 40 years, now 80 years old. To be paid in future 6s per week and 1s per week for any other service performed.
Expedient to have new steam engine.
Deed of Arrangement with Stroudwater Canal engrossed and ready to be sealed.
Half-yearly accounts to 3 Oct 1853.
Nearly new steam engine for sale in Cornwall. Purchased at auction for £1060. Capable of 80 millions of cubic feet, 6 times more capacity than present engine. Mr Thomas James of St Agnes in Cornwall to remove engine. Tender £382 10 0.
Details of expense of removal and fixture of new engine.
Inquest on two children drowned while helping to navigate a barge. Employment of children under 14 in navigation of vessels on Canal to be discouraged. Agents to enforce Bye Laws.
Proposal to extend powers of Cheltenham Water Works Company to extract water from the Coln. Mr Taunton to watch proceedings an report back.
Mr Gordon considered £20 too much for piece of land. Company not anxious to sell.
Application of Lord Bathurst to be allowed supply of water from Canal to his farm yard. Limited quantity agreed. Ten shillings per year.
Petition against Cheltenham Waterworks Scheme.
Cheltenham Waterworks Scheme. Bill carried by 2 votes. Petition against with other opponents.
Application by Cheltenham & Great Western Railway Company to build buttress at St Mary’s Mill Lock to strengthen a side retaining wall of the Railway. Permission granted.
Sale of old engine advertised.
Mr Deane of Whitstable to clear well at Thames Head by means of a diver. £25. Completion within a week.
Fixing of new steam engine nearly completed.
Mr Gordon’s claim to piece of land at Thames Head. Attempt to take forcible possession of it. Act of Trespass in cutting down fence. Negotiations with him to be discontinued.
Offer by Mr Charles Hodgson, tenant of Wharf west of Brimscombe Port to enlarge stables and find bricks necessary for purpose. Required alterations agreed.
Half-yearly accounts to 5 April 1854.
Letter from promoters of Cheltenham Waterworks Bill. Company to pay Mr Taunton’s expenses. Rest to be paid by promoters.
Comparison of consumption of fuel by old and new engines.
Survey of Canal Lechlade to Brimscombe Port. Canal generally in good working order.
Repairs to be made to gable end of stable at Inglesham and to brick work at several of the locks at the summit level while water low.
Mr Gardener to remove timber from wharf at Cricklade. Mr Mantle to remove faggot pile. No goods to be deposited on wharf which could interfere with general trade.
Mr Restall had commenced cutting down a tree on Company’s land. Tree property of Company.
Leakage from the brook into Canal through supporting wall belonging to Great Western Railway Company at the Bourne Viaduct. Agent of Railway Company to have it repaired.
Inadequate rent paid by Great Western Railway Company for abstracting water from Canal for their locomotive at Stroud. Mr Taunton to make a more equitable agreement with the railway company.
Committee pleased with progress of new engine. Mr Taunton to sell old engine, boiler and old iron in warehouse at best price. His suggestion that remaining boiler should be used for Ice Boat.
Messrs Brewer & Son’s request for no charge for wharfage on coal brought from Railway Station because there was not sufficient water in Canal. Allowed.
Old steam engine and pump not sold. Offer of £160 for it as old iron. Engine to be sold as old iron, pump to be retained.
Wooden Ice Boat to be ordered.
Half-yearly statement of accounts to 3 October 1854.
No business.
Death of Mr John Evans, late one of Committee.
Mr Gordon to remove small trees planted on strip of land at Thames Head.
Working condition of Canal. Proper measures not taken to keep it open.
Company had no title to piece of land at Thames Head on which Mr Gordon had planted trees.
Lettings of Brimscombe Terrace House and Kempsford Wharf to Elizabeth Ellis and Thomas Webb approved.
Old steam engine sold to Messrs Bushnell of Bristol for £135.
Half-yearly statement of accounts to 5 April 1855.
Resignation of Mr Saunders (Sanders?). Postponement of week or two agreed.
Mr Taunton assaulted by man named Dancy, acting under orders of James Smith. Summonses should be taken out against both men.
Alterations proposed in three of Company’s Bye Laws.
Letter from Mr John Disney re claims of Red and Black Shares for Dividends.
Half-yearly accounts to 2 October 1855.
All revenues of Company applicable to Dividend on the Red Shares.
Action against Whiting. Judge held that tenancy was not determined by Whiting’s notice. Mr Prideaux thought this was wrong but no further proceedings could be taken.
Mr James Webb allowed drawback, 6d per ton, on coals imported from Stroudwater and Wilks & Berks Canal and landed at Kempsford. Total 900 tons annually.
Temporary drawback of 3d a ton on 500 tons of coal sold between 1 December and 25 March 1856 allowed to John Knight of Chalford.
Mr Marling is rebuilding his house and wishes to have portion of Mr Taunton’s land to add to his premises. He proposes to give the Company a strip of land at Bowbridge for £50 and price of piece of land Mr Taunton was to sell to Mr Marling. Proposition declined.
Correspondence read between Mr Taunton and Messrs Gooch & Franks re abstraction by Great Western Railway Company of water flowing into Wimberley Pound. Compensation by money payment for loss of water required.
Redemption of Land Tax throughout line of Canal.
Mr Taunton to provide further particulars and to accept Mr Gooch’s offer of £10, if not more.
Mr Taunton to carry out Committee’s instructions re Land Tax.
Half-yearly statement of account to April 1856.
Common Seal of Company affixed to new Bye Laws.
No business.
Survey of Canal from Lechlade to Thames Head.
Wharf at Lechlade, let to Mr Hawker, then to his widow, a responsible tenant, on condition that she employs a suitable person as wharfinger, to be paid out of allowance of £20 per annum, formerly made to her husband.
Upper lock gates between Inglesham and Cirencester need repair.
Mr Jones’ proposition for repairs accepted. Well creosoted pine timber to be substituted for
oak, except in heel posts.
Land tax assessed on Wharf at Lechlade excessive. Appeal against that and others in parish.
Side walls at several locks defective and to be repaired.
Trunk under canal at Castle Eaton to be replaced by proper culvert.
Mr Mantell applied for a reduction of tonnage, halfpenny per ton per mile on all manure in vessels fetching return cargo. Reduced payment allowed.
Mr Lane’s application re abstraction of water from the Churn by tenants of Miss Masters for watering their meadows. Mr Taunton to communicate with Mr Lane.
Committee proceeded by railway to Thames Head.
New engine examined.
Gradual subsidence in the pump. Mr Taunton to propose action.
Examination of Tunnel. Difference in depth by pitching at bottom of Tunnel having lifted. Mr Taunton to prepare report of expense of removing obstacle.
Mr Knight’s drawback continued.
Survey of canal from Lechlade to Stroud. (No details)
Letter from Messrs R & W Brewin. Renewal of their proposal, 24 Oct 1854, that no charge should be made for wharfage on coal brought from Railway Station. Request refused.
Half-yearly statement of accounts to 7 October 1856.
State of trade on the Bullo Canal.
Reduction on tonnage of coal desirable. Negotiations to be opened.
Possibility of introducing coal from Derbyshire instead of Staffordshire.
Mr Partridge of Bowbridge asked permission to take water from different place on canal. Granted if he returned equal quantity of water used in condensation for his steam engine. Annual rent 1s.
Additional drawback of 3d per ton allowed on coals landed by Charles Hodgson at Brimscombe Wharf for one year.
Same to Richard Cole at Cirencester Wharf if he carries not less than 5000 tons during the year.
Drawback of 3d per ton to be allowed next year to Charles Hodgson on coal landed at Brimscombe and to Richard Cole on coal landed at Cirencester. provided 5000 tons taken to Cirencester.
Stroudwater Company had refused to make a reduction for Richard Cole. This company will abide by its resolution but not make any further allowance.
Salary of Thomas Sanders, Tonnage Clerk, increased from £78 to £90 per annum.
Half-yearly statement of accounts to 6 April 1857.
Obstacles in Tunnel, two in long arching, cost of removal not more than £50. Third in “hang up”, about one furlong from Daneway entrance, less important but more difficult to remove. Both to be removed during next stoppage.
Death of Mr Disney.
Letters from Mr Taunton, Mr Rutter and others re carriage of Seend Iron Ore to Staffordshire collieries. Agreed three of four cargoes could pass without toll. Other Canal Companies to be induced to join in the experiment.
Survey of Canal, meeting at Lechlade.
Engine boiler in good condition.
Bottom of Canal lowered. Water at first arching to be deepened.
Iron pipe to convey water from roof of round house at Inglesham and other places.
Plantation at Daneway required thinning.
Mr Robert Lane applied to have short length of wall at Latton raised and to add about 2ft to towing path, at his expense, Company to find stone. Such a request should come from landlord, Lord St Germans, necessary.
Letter from Mr Arkell re application to raise wall, boundary between towing path and lands of late Revd Thos Huntingford at Kempsford, recently purchased by him.
Complaint from Mr Mantell re his shilling toll at Lechlade, when his boats deposit cargo at Marston.
Correspondence between Mr Taunton and Mr Franks re trees cut down and removed by Great Western Railway Company near Griffin’s Mill.
Company declined Mr Brewin’s application to bring coal by railway and deposit it on Company’s wharf at Cirencester.
Interview with Mr Dangerfield re reduction of tonnage on coal delivered at his three mills, two at Chalford and one at Gussage. 6d at Gussage Mill, 3d at other two. Mr Knight’s application for drawback of 3d per ton on 1000 tons to be landed at Chalford between 1 August 1857 and 1 August 1858 granted.
Arrangement with Mr Smith, drawback 3d per ton, continued.
Mr David Bowley applied to cover over water course which joins Canal at Siddington lowest lock. Granted, with condition.
Mr Anderson, Lord Bathurst’s Agent, asked to be allowed to open a portion of the Churn feeder at Mr Chubb’s lawn. Granted. 1s per year. To cover in feeder when required.
Mr David Farrar asked for a drawback on coals landed by himself at Wimberley Mills.
Allowed drawback of 6d per ton on not less than 300 tons landed.
Half-yearly statement of accounts to 30 September 1857.
Letter from Mr Kearsey re repairs and widening part of road leading to Minchinhampton.
Application from clergyman of South Cerney church requesting subscription from Committee to rebuild the dome, struck by lightning. Refused.
List of tonnage rates to places along the Stroudwater Canal, including Dudbridge Upper and Lower Wharfs 1s 4d, Gasworks Fromehall & Lodgemore 1s 5d and Wallbridge 1s 6d.
Messrs Grist allowed drawback of 6d per ton on coals carried to their mills if their whole consumption, 1500 tons, carried along canal.
Correspondence re alteration and repairs of Burleigh road, cost £280, and begging
a contribution from Committee. £25 agreed.
Re emergency mentioned in Messrs Grist’s letter, drawback of 6d per ton remains.
Messrs Grist’s application to have permission to have coal occasionally by railway agreed.
£25 towards Burleigh Road to be paid out of Revenue.
Churn Millers’ water payments.
