1834-1847
Gloucestershire Archives TS165a
Minutes of Committee from 1834 to 1847
Contemplated appeal against assessment of Poor Rate in Bisley. See 26 January.
Re fan shaped valves and vertical sluices. Plans postponed.
Park End Coal Co. Payment due for Mr George’s last quarter. Credit at an end. He must collect tonnage as his boats pass.
Canal to be stopped 28 March for a week. Repairs – pile planking at Coxe’s Valley, pair
of new lower gates on 7th lock below Daneway etc.
Letter from Mr Aldridge with copy of opinion given by Mr Alexander on Appeal against Bisley poor rate.
Quantity of stone from Trewsbury and other quarries on the Summit required for works at Swindon. Tonnage, 1 November to 1 July reduced to 9 pence per ton, 1s per ton during rest of year.
Half-yearly Accounts to 4 April 1842.
Expense of shortening seventeen locks between Brimscombe Port and Daneway £1081.
New crane for trade on Brimscombe Wharf £140.
Seven locks at Siddington and South Cerney to be shortened 11 May-13 June. Canal to be cleared of mud between Bowbridge Lock and Ham Mill Lock.
Shortening of locks, mudding, erection of lock gates-see 26 April-carried out.
Stroud- lower gates of lock, in bad condition, repaired. Enlargement in the paddle holes.
Alterations of tonnages circulated.
When the water in the canal is not of a depth sufficient to allow boats to carry 20 tons, they shall load to the greatest depth the water will allow.
Dividend £98.0.3, to be divided equally between Mr Denyer and Mr Jones.
Trade on canal exceedingly slack, with the exception of stone from the summit level to the Great Western Station at Swindon. Slates, fire bricks, timber paying a better rate of tonnage.
Stone for the Houses of Parliament did not pass as expected.
Thanks from Mr Denyer and Mr Jones.
Posts of new cart shed at Lechlade to be tarred as well as the wall plating. Timber Kyanised.
Window sills and sashes of Kempsford House to be repaired.
Marston Round House repaired.
Kempsford High Bridge repaired.
Shed built. Posts and wall plates to be tarred.
Lord Bathurst conveyed the remainder of the paddock, 27 perches, for £30.
Basin wall to be continued along length of new land.
New paddles to be made of enlarged dimensions.
3 locks at Cerney and 4 at Siddington shortened.
Slip in deep cutting removed from canal, banks faced. To be secured by piling.
Extension of pile planking in Coxes Valley approved. £150 to be spent each year.
Remainder of Boiler to be covered with ashes.
Mr Jones and bargemen to examine and report on present state of the navigation of the River Thames between Lechlade and Oxford.
Three locks at Whitehall Upper, Bathurst Meadow and Sickeridge Wood Lower Locks, whose lower gates are new, carefully examined. Observations re work done postponed until Chairman could examine them on his return from London.
Damage done by flood at back of Watchman’s House at Daneway to be repaired.
Mr Jones to ascertain cost of making a horizontal cast iron paddle complete for one lock and report on it.
Mr Brewin and Mr Smith complained about coal being plundered. Requested some places on the wharf enclosed for greater protection. Mr Denyer to produce plan and estimate.
Recess ordered last year to be made at Arundells Mill to be made instead at Cleeves Bridge Mill.
Foot Bridge at Griffins Mill inspected and approved of as a temporary bridge.
Recess at Stantons Mill approved. Two levels from Bowbridge to Ham Mill have been mudded.
Mud in several places put too near the bank where bank is above canal. To be secured from falling into the canal.
Committee Boat to be thoroughly examined and report made on possibility of repairing her.
Small repairs in Mr Jones’ district to be done to bridges and lock sides. Capstan at the engine to be repaired.
Mr Tombs’ land from the Tunnel to Coates field. Enquiries to be made as to who can make a conveyance to the Company.
Offer to be made to purchase rents paid to Lord Bathurst for the spoil banks.
Mr Brewin’s application for a reduction in tonnage on coals to Cirencester not to be at present conceded unless commensurate advantage would accrue to Company.
Recommendation to next General Assembly, first waiting for a reply from Stroud Canal Company. Reduction of tonnage on all articles now paying 3d per ton per mile carried in vessels on return from Cirencester and delivered at or beyond Junction of Stroud & Gloster& Berkley Canals to 2d per ton per mile.
Mr Smith’s and Mr George’s applications to be relieved of wharfage on iron on Company’s wharf, under peculiar circumstances of case, to be conceded.
Mr Denyer to enquire into allegations contained in Mr Brewer’s letter and report on them.
Mr Graham to be requested to inform clerk, Mr Lane, when Committee can have an opportunity of meeting Commissioners of Thames Navigation re improvements in the sixth or upper district of the Thames.
Work done by Siddington workmen and others August 1841 to July 1842.
Masonry: Building sheds at Lechlade and Kempsford Wharfs, rebuilding masonry of Kempsford high Bridge, repairing masonry and resetting coping under Kempsford Bridge; Repairing masonry and resetting coping under Cricklade Bridge; Repairing stone quoins of Cerney Lower Lock; Building retaining walls in Cerney and Siddington pounds nearly 300 yards run; Repairing and raising Cirencester Wharf wall and building wall to enclose new wharf at Cirencester; Repairing and raising about 250 yards run of tow path wall on Summit Level; Repairing bridge at Thames Head; Building brick wall in boiler house of steam engine to confine ashes to either or both boilers; Shortening 4 Siddington and 3 Cerney Locks to uniform length, 81 feet.
Carpentry: Making and erecting new lower gates at Cerney Upper Lock and fixing new mitre sills for the same; Framing new timber work for the shortening of the Siddington and Cerney Locks, fixing same and moving the gates to their new stations; Various repairs to other gates and paddles, wheelbarrows and other materials; Preparing the pile planking and land ties and braces for Coxes Valley.
Labourers: Repairing towing paths and wharfs, sundry leakages, assisting masons, carpenters, boating materials etc; Securing Coxes Valley from side leakage with 380 yards lineal of pile planking and gravel puddle; Raising stone and forming new wharf at Cirencester.
Navigators’ work: Two levels from Bowbridge to the Ham Mill cleansed of mud amounting to 1085 lineal yards of the canal; Excavating canal bank for recesses at Stantons Mill and Cleeves Bridge.
Masons work: Taking down and rebuilding portion of side wall of Puck Mill Lower Lock; Taking down and rebuilding wall against premises rented by Mr J George at Brimscombe; Building wall to recesses or Lay Byes for vessels at Stantons Mill and Cleeves Bridge; Building wing wall at Griffins Bridge; Making and repairing drains behind Brimscombe warehouses.
Carpenters’ work: Making and erecting foot bridge at Griffins Mill; Making and erecting a pair of new lower gates to Whitehall Upper Lock, Bathurst Meadow Lock, Sickeridge Wood Lock; General repair of lower gates of lock adjoining the Stroud Canal (advantage being taken of the water being let out of the upper level of that canal), adding iron frames to paddles etc; General repair of lower gates of upper Lock at Daneway, adding iron frames to paddles etc; Sheeting of Sickeridge Wood Upper Lock repaired; Upper gate planking of Sickeridge Wood Lower Lock repaired, new paddle etc.
Re reduction of tonnages on the Stroud Canal. Mr Denyer’s proposals to meet competition from land carriage between Gloucester and Cirencester. Recommended for adoption by the General Assembly.
Damage done by the flood at the back of the Watchman’s House at Daneway repaired.
Whole of Island not required by Park End Coal Co. Portion allotted to Mr Brewin and Mr Smith. Expense for enclosing a place for depositing their coal will be saved.
Committee Boat being repaired.
Mr Brewin’s allegations incorrect.
Mr Matthews complaint of coal trade at Lechlade being much reduced also incorrect. Four coal dealers there instead of two.
Correspondence between Mr Richards, Mr Ferrabee, Denyer, Jones and Hall re dismissal of Hall as the Engine man at Thames head. Absence of Mr Richards. Matter postponed. Hall to remain in his situation until otherwise ordered by the Committee.
Letters re Mr Protheroe and Mr George. Property of former assigned to Trustees for benefit of his creditors. Fiat issued against Mr George. Proposition for creditors to accept 7/6 in the pound by instalments.
Half-yearly Accounts to 4 October 1842.
Letter from Mr Jones re his dissatisfaction with Hall and his care of the Engine. Explanation for his dismissal of Hall accepted, with regret for his action without sanction of Committee.
Clerk to write to Hall. In future he should be more vigilant in the discharge of his duties and show respect for his superiors.
Late rains had enabled vessels to navigate Summit at maximum depth allowed. Every exertion being made to forward stock of coals to various wharfs along canal and Thames. Very great demand. If rain deferred another week, the Wilts & Berks Canal would have been closed. Reservoirs exhausted. Boats obliged to be lighted with punts 7 or 8 tons and then pulled by 4 or 5 horses, to enable them to pass along the canal. From report on state of the canal, repairs must have been done in a very efficient manner.
Mr Denyer seriously ill. Attack of erysipelas. Fears that he would not recover.
Petition from inhabitants of parish of Lechlade. Inequality of tonnage on Navigation. Increase in price of coals at Lechlade and neighbourhood, 2/4d per ton. Drawback necessary for those occupying banks on wharfs of the Thames and equally so for petitioners, suffering from short water and floods. Much trade with Burford lost. Low prices of coals sold on adjacent railway. Desire to be on equal footing with other wharfingers on Thames.
Death of Mr Denyer, 27 December. Mr Jones to have whole of the canal and works under his care. Salary £200.
Clerk to write to Mrs Denyer re her stay at Brimscombe and to Mr Thistlewaite re Deeds at the office etc. also to Mr Dicks, the Clerk there. Vacancy to be advertised.
Letter from Mr Jones, agent at Siddington. Candidate for vacancy.
Letters from Mr Thistlewaite and Mr Isles, a clerk at Brimscombe. Committee’s wish for Mr Thistlewaite to remain in Company’s house till Lady Day.
Short list of applicants to succeed Mr Denyer.
George Barlow, Henry Colson, Richard Edwards, William Radley, Henry Waddy, William Willson.
Candidates selected, with exception of Mr Waddy, questioned. William Willson approved.
Mr Jones to receive additional £35 per annum for extra expenses.
Mr Willson appointed. Portion of expense incurred until house at Brimscombe vacant to be paid.
Clerk to write to Mr Thistlewaite and Mr Dicks.
Churn millers’ water payments listed.
Meeting of Mr Jones with Mr Ferrabee and Hall the Engineer. Machinery of Steam Engine and Boilers. Repairs should be carried out at once. 200 square feet of boiler plate, £20. No estimate of cost of labour. Engine: portion of toothed gear of steam valves very badly worn. Must be sent to Mr Ferrabee. New bucket or plunger , £15 or £16.
Churn millers to be paid.
Letter from Mr Aldridge. Reassessment of canal under new Poor Law Act. Company unwilling to incur expense by legal proceedings. Disposed to abide by opinion given, by protecting themselves under their Act of Parliament.
Mr Willson found a £55.4.5 deficiency in the accounts. Accounts to be closed, allowing above sum, receiving a Bill due 25 May for £27.12, and a Balance of Cash of £222.4.9. Two notes of £1 each of an insolvent Country Bank in Mr Denyer’s cash box.
After Mrs Denyer left Brimscombe, a sale of furniture had taken place. Mr Willson had purchased some. Some items might be of use to the Committee.
From and after 5 April next, credit allowed to Traders on the Navigation for payment of Tonnage to be discontinued.
Chairman in correspondence with Mr Cripps and Mr Willson re carriage of bricks along portion of Summit level for use of Cheltenham & Great Western Union Railway. Number considerable. Reduction proposed, one shilling per thousand. All to be carried thro this canal. Mr Willson forwarded an inventory of sundry articles of furniture he had purchased at Brimscombe, £135.
£12.6.6 allowed to Mr Willson for expenses. In future allowances to be limited to journeys to and from London.
On winding up Mr Denyer’s affairs, only £300 left for his widow. £25 annuity from Company.
£220 - Error in cash account of executors of late Mr Denyer.
Mr Jones requested Company would build him a new house.
Present charges for cranage to be rescinded.
Three pence per ton on all articles under five tons, sixpence per ton on whole weight. In discretion of Agent at Brimscombe to reject all articles above 5 tons, injurious to the crane.
Notice from Clerk of Cheltenham & Great Western Union Railway Company served on Agent at Brimscombe re land on line of Canal required by the Company, heads of an agreement entered into with Mr Denyer in 1840 with Mr Hall were read. Mr Willson to give
Subject attention required.
Matters re occupation of stables, warehouses and sheds at Brimscombe.
Bridge over canal at Golden Valley in a defective state, road being let down on the Chalford side and bridge having been thrown out of its upright from the weight on the other side.
Mr Willson to apply to surveyor of the district to raise and repair the road. In case of his neglecting or refusing to do so, Mr Willson to do what he considers necessary for the security of the bridge.
Letter from Mr Grace for reduction of tonnage on coal at Lechlade. Not expedient to comply.
Half-yearly accounts to 4 April 1843.
20 Lombard Street, London. Two members of Committee in attendance. No business transacted.
Repairs of canal brought to a close. Revival of trade hoped for on Monday.
Agreement with Mr Hall over several plots of land, acquired by Railway Company, about 1½ acres, besides some buildings, cost £550.
Letter from Mr Lawrence. Wish to have early possession of part of land contracted for. Proposal before taking possession to pay purchase money into a bank in their joint names. No time to be lost, money should be paid immediately. Proposition declined.
Letter from Thomas Davies, Park-End Wharf, Oxford, applying for a reduction of tonnage on coal conveyed by the canal to Oxford.
Company will reduce tolls on all coal carried below Eynsham Bridge from 2/6 to 1/6 per ton, on condition that coal owners in the Forest of Dean will deliver coals intended to be delivered to that point at Bullo Pill or Lydney at 8/-, that Stroud Canal will continue to charge 8d a ton and Carriers charge for freight 6/- a ton.
Toll on all timber carried below Eynsham Bridge to be reduced to 3/6 per ton.
Mr Willson to apply to Stroud Canal Company to reduce tonnage from 1/- to 18d.
Whilmore Way Upper Lock lower gates to be renewed, pond adjoining to be mudded, wall be lowered.
Mr Willson to go to Staffordshire to examine new locks and puddling on Birmingham Canal,
to Hungerford on the Kennett & Avon Canal to examine the weighing machine for boats and to Oxford to make enquiries about the coal and timber trade.
Mr Flux of Cirencester permitted to make a door through the wall of the wharf to communicate with his own buildings. Acknowledgement of 2/6 per annum as proof of this permission being on sufferance upon further condition of paying the same wharfage on all goods carried through that door, as if they remained on the wharf. He may have a door locked up, except when conveying his goods to or from the wharf. Key to be kept by the Company’s Wharfinger.
Stove put up by Mr Warburton at Thames head Wharf to be paid for by the Company’s Wharfinger and be considered a fixture.
The Capstan at Thames Head Engine House to be thoroughly repaired.
Inspection of alteration made in furnace of the boiler of the main engine, to consume smoke and to save fuel. Approval given. Comparison to be made of consumption of old and new boiler during winter. If guarantee to save £10 per cent fulfilled, Mr Willson to pay for same.
Mr Willson and Mr Jones dissatisfied with conduct of Hall, the Engine Man. Hall to be dismissed. Fit person required to take care of engine, so that no damage is done.
Daneway Bason Lock lower gates to be renewed.
Road at Valley Bridge to be raised on northern side, as proposed.
Old offices by the kitchen door at Brimscombe House to be repaired and fitted up for the reception of old papers belonging to the Company. Mr Willson to remove them from the warehouse.
Relaying of wharf inspected and to be completed.
Ham Mill Pound to be mudded.
Wall on the north side of Wallbridge Wharf to be built up against the bank to complete the enclosure.
Wall against Pearce’s garden to be built with as much economy as is consistent with security.
Half the expense, not exceeding £3.6.6, of supplying Pearce’s house with water to be borne by Company. Mr Willson to obtain a permanent supply.
Mr Barnard’s demand for compensation for mud deposited on his land to be settled.
Demand of Mr Curtis and Mr Whiting to be settled. £10.2.6.
Lusty’s claim for £12.19.6 rejected.
New repairing boat for Summit level repairs to be constructed. Double purpose of repair boat and ice boat.
Mr Willson to write to Mr Lawrence, solicitor to railroad, to complain of state of Swivel Bridge near Smirrel. Difficult to open. Committee nearly met with bad accident.
Occupation bridges on Canal. Parties for whose use bridges were intended responsible for damage.
Siddington Carpentry: Whole of lock gates from Siddington to Inglesham repaired. Lower gates guarded with strong Ryanised plank. New iron hand rails to most of them. Gates to be blacked and new planking to lower gates of Siddington 2nd lock. Timber supplied from Brimscombe for the Summit level side piling prepared for use, repairs to wheelbarrows, field and other gate mending, swivel bridge repaired etc.
Siddington Masonry & Brick Work: Rebuilding towpath wall at Cerney deep cutting slip, repairing and raising more adjoining to the extent of about 800 yards lineal repair to South Cerney lower lock, to masonry near Coates end of Tunnel, to same under Tarlton Bridge to Tewekesbury stop, the Engine Shaft and Capstan, masonry opposite house at Siddington rebuilt to stop leakage from Canal – repair in the warehouse at Cirencester Wharf, new pillars for carrying gates (iron) at Thames Head and Cirencester Wharfs. The basin wall at Cirencester extended along the front of new wharfage, containing about 100 cubic yards of masonry. Two brick locks at Cerney and one at Siddington repaired and the whole of the brick work about the boilers of the Engine from their base or seating, upwards taken out for the boilers to be repaired (partly new bottomed) and afterwards reinstated with other alterations.
Siddington Labourers Work: Boating away to Summit quarries the spoil from Cerney slip and returning with stone for repairing the towing path wall there, many freights. Raising and turfing the portions of the Summit level secured from leakage by pile planking etc in two former years. Pile planking another length, about 400 yards, from the Coates end of Tunnel to a short distance past Tarlton Bridge. Excavating for the new basin wall at Cirencester and removing the same with quantity of mud to the quarries near the Gas Works and forming the new wharfage – the usual casual leak stopping and towing path repaired when and where found necessary, cleansing large portions of the Canal of weeds etc.
Brimscombe Carpentry: Summit Lock bottom gates repaired, iron hand rails added, paddle winders altered etc. Daneway basin lock bottom gate repaired. Sickeridge upper lock paddle repaired. Puck Mill upper lock gates repaired, paddles fitted. PucK Mill lower lock paddles fitted and gate repaired. Bakers Mill upper and lower lock facing frames repaired. Valley Lock, Red Lion Lock, Bell Lock lower lock facing frames repaired. Stroud lower lock bottom gates new-planked, base repaired, new bumpers, step boards, iron handles affixed. Stroud upper lock paddles and paddle frames repaired. Bowbridge Lock new facing planks and balance pole repaired, new clipping post, guard iron hand rails affixed. Sickeridge upper lock bottom gates planking, head and heel repaired. Whitehall lower lock paddles fitted. Repairing flooring boards etc for Cirencester warehouse and using same. Repairing premises at Wallbridge, build a shed, washhouse etc etc. Cleeve Lock paddle repaired, hand rails affixed.
Making towing path gate for Brimscombe wharf near swing bridge. Repairing canal bank by pile planking etc near Stroudwater Canal office. Pair new bottom gates for Puck Mill and Sickeridge Mill upper locks made and erected. Materials for mudding repaired. Sickeridge middle lock gates repaired. Hope Mill Lock gates thoroughly repaired, putting on a balance pole etc.
Brimscombe Masons: Rebuilding wall against brook and Mr George’s. Putting in new stone trunk at Mr Meacham’s Puck Mill. Repairing culvert over brook at Henry Meachams Daneway. Repairing culvert at Bell Lock. New washhouse etc erected at Walbridge for use of tenant of house late E Darke. Repairing wing walls and side walls of Puck Mill Lock. Dressing hollow quoins and setting back coping at Bowbridge Lock. Putting down paving in Brewhouse and back court at Agent’s house Brimscombe. Repairing garden and wharf wall. Putting in new trunk at Sickeridge middle lock. Easter stoppage at Puck Mill Lock cutting out hollow quoins and fitting jamb posts. Casing Puck mill Lock on the north side with bricks and on the south side with stone (as in Siddington Accounts). Whitsuntide stoppage – the same as at Sickeridge Lock. Dressing and preparing stone for any repairs that might arise.
Brimscombe Labourers: Attending to and keeping path in repair with other things necessary to be attended to, clipping hedges, assisting carpenters etc. Cleansing mud and rubbish out of Whitehall pound and 1000 yards.
£550, sum agreed to be paid by Cheltenham & Great Western Railway Co, paid to Treasurer. To be invested.
Mr Willson’s letter re his visit to Hungerford to assess method adopted for gauging boats. Interview with Mr Barnard at Midford. One at work on Somersetshire Canal. Saw a boat weighed with it and prepared a plan.
Mr Willson’s visit to Staffordshire and Oxford, valuable ideas. Boat ordered to be built. Estimate from Mr George. Very High.
Mr Thistlewaite to settle account due by Executors of late Mr Denyer.
Half-yearly accounts to 2 October.
Mr Willson’s plan and estimate for a machine for weighing loaded boats. Estimate £1062.15.11. Adopted.
Erection of bridge by Railway Co above wharf at Brimscombe across the road to Hampton. Act of Parliament must be complied with. Non compliance in construction of culvert from the Dock at the Bourne. Works in Bourne meadow to be stopped until culvert made.
Parts of basin require mudding.
Carrying punt to be built as a workman’s boat for repairs on the canal.
Conduct of Lusty, Company’s Agent at Cricklade re sale of Somersetshire coal in preference to that of Forest of Dean. Company would displace him.
Works of Railway at the Bourne in same state, all operations suspended. Nothing done about culvert but bridge in the Hampton Road nearly finished, adding more than 2 feet to steep incline. Great injury to Hampton, Tetbury and Malmesbury traders. Notice to Mr Lawrence and Mr Beadnell the contractor to make road agreeably with Act of Parliament.
Letter from Mr Willson re Order of General Assembly 23 October 1832. Charge of 3d per ton on vessels conveying coals beyond Brimscombe Port and called back tonnage, the legality lately disputed.
Application from Samuel Aldum, who wished to buy the small piece of land, 3 or 4 perches, he occupies at the Golden Valley. Agreed but Company not to be part of any expense.
Works at the Bourne still suspended. Mr Hall’s plan of viaduct over canal differing from the original as required by the Act. No objection to alteration but notice to contractor and Mr Hall re road leading to bridge from wharf at Brimscombe should be acted on. Ascent must be made in compliance with Act.
Churn millers’ water payments listed.
Plan of tug boat provided by Mr Willson 30ft long 10ft wide. Machinery for tugging, pumping and icebreaking. Cost £620. Maintenance £260, paid for by tolls raised from boats using it. Contract for party to build boat. Mr Willson to prepare specification to show cost and insure Company against larger expense.
Nothing done on Railway works at the Bourne or at the bridge. Injunction if Railway Co attempt any works contrary to Act.
Mr Warburton, tenant at Thames Head, in arrears with rent. Mr Willson to recover same.
Cash in hand £3575.
Stroud Canal Committee unwilling to join in expense of weighing machine at Brimscombe. Mr Willson to withhold all information derived from use of the machine.
Stroud Canal Committee charged different rates of tonnage on vessels landing goods at their wharfs at Walbridge and vessels entering with goods the Thames & Severn Canal, contrary to provisions in the Act. Breach of Contract. Preparations to seek legal remedy.
Re infringement by Stroud Canal Co of existing understanding that each Company should charge 3d per ton wharfage by reducing charge to 1½d. written agreement required to continue 3d charge. If refused he should reduce wharfage at Walbridge Wharf to 1½d or abandon it entirely.
Mud from whole of Basin at Brimscombe and the Ham Mill Pond to be cleared out. Cost £203.4.0, reduced because of works in construction of new weighing bridge.
Opening of swing bridge to be contracted to width of the downstream locks to introduce cills and stop planks to preserve water when being drawn off.
Wall of the Basin on Brimscombe Wharf to be continued to the corner facing the Guard Timbers.
Contractor of the works at the new weighing machine to be allowed £75 on account.
Mr William Cubit attended on question of use of a steam tug through the Tunnel. Doubts raised as to how the smoke of common coal and carbonic acid gas could be got rid of. Mr Cubit to obtain loan of a steam engine in use on Birmingham & Liverpool Canal to try the experiment on this line of navigation.
Contractor for removal of mud from Basin at Brimscombe miscalculated quantity. Out of pocket.
Mr Jones to make weekly return to Mr Willson of description and quantity of labour of the workmen and operatives. To pay wages weekly afternoon of Saturday.
Death of Edward Packer, lockkeeper at Inglesham Lock. Appointment of successor, salary not exceeding 12s per week.
Embankment made by Railway Co above Griffins Mill affected lock there by contracting south side wall. Mr Willson to survey and report.
Wharfinger at Cricklade very inefficient. To leave at end of 3 months. Better qualified person to conduct sale of Forest coal. To be paid £10 per annum on a sale of 800 tons or £20 should sale exceed 1000 tons per annum for keeping the books.
House occupied by Mr George at Brimscombe much dilapidated. £25 for internal repairs.
External woodwork about the house, outbuildings, cranes etc at Brimscombe to be painted where requisite.
Turning place below Puck Mill adjoining Mr Playne’s land be made and that a wall be put up to uphold same.
Masonry of the new weighing machine at Brimscombe having progressed, a further £100 to be paid to contractor.
Half-yearly accounts to 1 April 1844.
Agreed to pay the contractor more for cleaning the bason at Brimscombe.
During a very short stoppage, the Railway Company had got out the slipped masonry of Griffins Mill Lock and had rebuilt the lock head in a more substantial manner.
Contingency fund to be opened.
Further £100 for Masons’ work at the weighing machine.
Property bought at sale of late Mr Lewis’s estates. Mr Ball, solicitor, to be employed in completing the purchase. Remainder of purchase money, £369, to be paid to enable Company to do works on land purchased.
Application from Mr Huntingford, Rector of Kempsford, for a more convenient boathouse on the Canal. £1 per annum rent if Company would build it for him at corner of Kempsford Wharf. Request declined. Company unwilling to set precedent which may interfere with trade. He could build a boathouse himself, subject to risk of accident by traders and others. For pleasure and on 6d annual payment.
Mr Jones continually opposed to directions given him by Mr Willson. Want of cordiality. Salary to be decreased to amount previously received. Allowance of £35 for extra expenses to be discontinued.
Mr Brunel, Engineer of the Great Western and the Cheltenham Junction Railway met the Committee on several points of dispute. Mr Willson’s statement that Railway was impinging on Act of Parliament. Affidavit of what had taken place, especially between himself and Mr Brunel, as foundation of motion for an Injunction against Railway Company.
Communications between Mr Hayter, Junction Railway, and Mr Ford. Meeting at Paddington between Mr Hayter, Mr Brunel and Mr Hammond met Messrs Richards, Ford & Lane. Mr Brunel and Mr Hammond to meet Committee at Brimscombe Port.
Agreed conditions on which Injunction should be suspended, inluding details of new entrance to the Bourne Yard, height of Canal Company’s roadway into the Bourne Yard, retaining wall, culvert from Bourne Lock and road from Brimscombe Port to Minchinhampton Turnpike.
Mr Ferrabee to have a water pipe from canal to his cowsheds.
Severn & Wye Company had reduced toll from 2s to 1/6 a ton.
Arrangement with Forest of Dean coal owners. Price reduced at Oxford and quantity carried along canal increased.
Parkend Coal Co and Brunswick Coal Co in Forest of Dean allowed to place coal on Island in Brimscombe Basin to supply demand of public. Tonnage to be paid when coal is sold.
Railway Company’s viaduct at Caples mill, St Mary’s Mill and the Bourne require rough stone work smoothed off from sides of towing path and retaining walls of canal.
Change of tolls: Drawback of 1s a ton on all coals carried to Lechlade and all other places between Lechlade and Siddington. Drawback of 2s a ton now allowed on coal carried to Radcot reduced to 1s a ton.
Saul Lusty, Cricklade Wharf. Services not required after 29 September. To give up possession of wharf and premises. Inefficient and incapable of pushing a coal trade from there.
Mantell to be appointed as his successor. Wages £10 a year for keeping books, £20 if coal sales exceed 1000 tons.
Warburton at wharf at Thames Head in arrears. To abandon all claims to arrears if immediate possession of premises is given to Company or to quit possession at end of year.
Pressure of railway embankment had forced up bottom of canal at Red Lion Pound. Immediate attention necessary. Penalty incurred in stopping canal.
House occupied by Charles Iles as part of his salary sold to railway. £8 per annum allowed as equivalent for rent for house.
Construction of culvert from docks postponed until Easter stoppage.
If Railway Company required water to be let out of canal in constructing their works, they must pay penalty for obstructing trade of canal.
If application made to land timber at Brimscombe Port, ground near west end of warehouse must be prepared and fenced.
Iron troughs to be affixed to eaves of long warehouse next the canal.
Clock in office to be purchased by Committee for use of Company.
Long warehouse to be divided into two portions, leaving the lever and scale of weighing machine in the middle.
Culvert from Weighing Dock to the brook to be completed.
Effect on bottom of canal in Red Lion pound by pressure of embankment. Contractor to remove evil without delay according to Brunel’s promise.
Stones which have rolled from Railway embankment into canal in the Golden Valley and Twissils Mill ponds have not been removed.
Condition of the bridge of the turnpike road at the Bell Bridge Lock.
Mr Willson to be allowed the expense of levelling ground lately fenced in at Brimscombe Basin.with good paling
Mr Clutterbuck’s application for land adjoining his garden to enable him to straighten new wall he is about to build refused.
Mr Treadwell, Railway contractor, in driving piles for the viaduct near the Bourne lock, has pushed out the retaining wall of the canal. To be replaced.
Work done at Brimscombe Port 1 April to 12 August 1844:
Basin level and Ham Mill pound thoroughly cleansed of mud. 45 thousand tons, part boated to Mr George’s orchard, Mr Moody’s garden, Railway embankment etc. Compensation not exceeding £10.
Embanking one side of New Wharf, making good bottom with broken stone, cinders etc, clearing away heaps of rubbish, enclosing waste part, bringing same into cultivation, building a retaining wall against the slope adjoining the Bourne Bridge, forming new pathway on top of slope leading from wharf to Bourne Bridge, putting up posts and stone steps, stile to gate etc.
Putting in 96 yards forward of side piling with guard timber land in Basin opposite New Wharf where water from Bourne Lock had washed the bank away, filling in back with soil, building dwarf wall on top to make good towing path, making new embankment used for lightening vessels, enclosing with good paling fence upwards of 3/4 of an acre of land on Wharf, filling up same with mud and bringing it into cultivation, digging out foundation of good weather stone wall at front of wharf, erecting paling fence at back of wharf.
Building good weather stone retaining wall from weir on West Wharf round the creek to the fence in Turnpike Road.
Making new drain from the Wood Meadow to convey surplus water from the spring across Turnpike Road into canal, rebuilding part of Basin wall at west end of Office Wharf, rebuilding side walls and covering in weir, excavating earth projecting into canal near the Swing Bridge.
Building weather stone abutments under swing bridge to contract opening.
Digging out foundation for a lye by in canal adjoining Moody’s Wharf.
Rebuilding weir at Cleeves Lock.
Paling round premises in Turnpike Road.
Coffer Dam in Basin.
Building walls for Weighing dock. Building stone culvert from weighing dock to the brook. Building and fixing new gates for Weighing Dock, making short culvert with paddle to let water out of basin. Making paddle in Weighing Dock. Fixing guard timber round outside wall of dock.
Repairing, pointing, colouring, painting house, warehouses and outbuildings at Brimscombe Port, with cranes, bridges etc.
Brimscombe Carpentry: Repairs in Agent’s house, Sickeridge, Whitehall Lower, lockgates. making and erecting New Lock gates at Daneway, Whitehall. Making doors, shutters, frames, sleepers, flooring, fitting up room for reception of books and papers. Making and fixing windlass, altering and fixing desks, wheelbarrows, other repairs.
Brimscombe Masonry: Repairing towing path wall, building chimney, making drains, building walls, cutting quoins for New Gates
Brimscombe Sawyers: Sawing timber for Daneway Basin Lock new gates, posts and rails, sleepers, steam engine capstan, piling for Brimscombe Basin, guard timber and angle pieces for Summit Level, cutting down trees.
Brimscombe Labourers: Cutting weeds on canal banks, hedges, breaking stone, digging holes, assisting carpenters and masons.
Summary of work done by Siddington workmen August 1843 to August 10th 1844.
Siddington Carpentry: New lower gates at Wilmore Upper Lock. Lock gates, paddles from Siddington to Inglesham – some little repairs, engine capstans reinstated, new bucket rod attached, also usual repairs to gates, swivel bridges.
Siddington Masonry: Body of Latton Lock, Dudgrove Lock, bridges from Dudgrove to Siddington repaired. Repairs also to head of Siddington 2nd lock, wings of stop in branch to Cirencester, hitches at east end of tunnel, alteration to hollow quoins of Wilmore Lock.
Siddington Labourers: Side piling and puddling Siddington, cleansing Wilmore Pound of mud, leak stopping, mowing and cleansing of weeds, repairs to slopes of canal.
Henry Meecham, lockkeeper from Daneway to Whitehall, incapacitated by great age, to be removed and placed in house occupied by Thomas Jones, taking his duties, 6s a week.
Henry Davies to succeed Henry Meecham, 12s a week wages.
Rates of Tonnage on Thames and Severn Canal Navigation from 1 November 1844.
No business.
Application from Messrs Ridlers for work done at weighing machine at Brimscombe and culvert leading there. Unexpected depth of foundations and quantity of brickwork. Compensation not agreed.
Mr Smith’s application for reduction of a half penny a ton on timber for sleepers to be conveyed to east end of tunnel. Gloster canal had reduced tonnage 3d per ton and Stroud Canal one penny per ton per mile. Halfpenny per ton per mile agreed. Whole quantity, 1500 tons to be carried along T&S Canal.
Letter from Mr Bowley of Cirencester, tenant of about one acre and a perch of land at Furzey Leaze, part of the canal. Payment to him of one pound and a penny. To be redeemed for £45.5, 30s an acre. Sum much too high. £25.
Bills for Law Business, £97.1.10.
Committee to abide by offer of £25 for land to Mr Bowley.
Churn millers’ water payments listed.
Spring of water running into canal in Red Lion Pound diverted by railway contractors. Now runs into the brook. Interference of Mr Lawrence, Clerk to Railway Company, requested.
Account from Mr Ferabee for iron work of weighing machine, £405, to be paid.
Interruption to spring at Red Lion Pound continued. Mr Willson to see resident engineer.
£192.0 5 to be added to Contingency Fund.
Beam of engine had undergone a temporary repair. New cast iron beam postponed.
Carpenters’ boat very dilapidated. New one to cost not more than £100.
Half-yearly accounts to 1 April 1845.
Warburton, tenant at Thames Head, persevered in holding wharf in adverse possession. Proceedings to eject him.
Loss of the carriage of grain from Wilts & Berks Canal to Stroud etc.
Kempsford Swivel Bridge renewed with Ryanized timber.
267 yards of Summit, pile planking braces and land ties prepared. Lock gates Siddington to Inglesham, South Cerney repaired.
Towing path and field gates, wheelbarrows etc repaired.
Masonry: North side of Cerney Upper Lock repaired with bricks and square quoins stone.
Labourer’s Work: Summit Level side piling and puddling. Casual leakages stopped. Towing path fences kept up, towing path reformed and gravelled at Siddington and Furzen Leaze. Weed mowing and cleansing.
Carpenters Work: Gates, sills, paddles Weighing Dock, Bakers Mill Lower Lock etc. Repairs to paddles, frames, planking at various locks. Putting up pounds, gates, window frames, doors, balance poles. Making good the trunk across the canal at the Bourne, repairing Siddington repair boat etc.
Masons work: Recess for bumper boards, setting back coping at Whitehall Lower etc. Repairing weir and dressing hollow quoins, pointing wing walls at Cleeves Lock etc. Repairing walls Capels Bridge, Ballingers Bridge, roof of lockkeepers’s house, Daneway etc. Repairing walls near Mr George’s house, warehouses, offices and outbuildings at Brimscombe etc.
Labourers Work: Assisting carpenters and masons, mowing slopes of canal, repairing roads, making good the land in meadow near Lewis’s by filling in culvert with rubbish, etc, puddling, etc, tracing a leak.
Wharf house outside woodwork to be painted and wharf gravelled.
Greater security at Cricklade wharf, addition to gate.
Proceedings against Warburton dismissed. Insistence on regularity of payment of rent.
Thomas Pash, lockkeeper at Wilmoreway incapacitated. 25 years service. Allowance of 5s a week.
New pair of Lower Gates for Latton Lock.
Side planking expensive, to be discontinued.
Gate to be erected on part of towing path adjoining the Bell Bridge for safety of public.
William Clutterbuck to be held responsible for consequences of raising the parapet of St Mary’s Bridge.
Mr Willson to send letter of thanks to Mr Saunders, Secretary to the Great Western Railway Co., for manner in which more important parts of agreement made by Mr Brunel were carried out. Instructions required for resident Engineer re fence and gates, stone wall built and retaining wall against Mr Marling’s premises raised. Instructions also required for
Spring cut off in forming railway in Cowcombe Hill to be brought into Red Lion Pound, Slip in Red Lion Pound to be made secure, Hand rail to be put up under viaduct at St Mary’s Mill, fence between Canal and Mr Webb’s yard, Towing path to be rebuilt at Capells Mill viaduct,
Water at Stroud to be taken in at £15 per annum.
Estimate for converting stable at Wallbridge Wharf occupied by Mr Pearce into a residence for James Pratt.
Laybye at Griffins Mill.
Mr Marling wished to fence off strip of land near the Port Mills.
Damp in entrance hall of Company’s house at Brimscombe. Stone floor to be replaced with oak floor.
Lower gates at Valley lock to be replaced and those at the Clowes Lock to be repaired.
Skirting boards in warehouses occupied by Mr Bowly and Mr Lane to be repaired.
Letter from Mr David Ricardo read. Reply from Mr Richards.
Letter from Mr George of Brimscombe charging Mr Willson with misconduct. Mr George attended Committee and met Mr Willson. Unanimous view of Committee that Mr Willson had acted to cover sundry sums of money advanced to him by Mr George. Charges of oppression and injustice not proved and unjust.
Half-yearly accounts to 6 October 1845.
Mr Willson to restore steps removed by Mr Clutterbuck at St Mary’s Bridge.
Proposal to Stroudwater Canal Co for alteration in their mode of charging tonnage on vessels crossing short of Brimscombe Port.
Enlargement of Public House at Walbridge to be let to Mr Watts. Authorised to convert stable building on towing path into residence for lock keeper.
Mr Watts allowed to lay a pipe into canal on upper side of Wallbridge Lock for supply of his brewery company. 20s a year.
A promised deputation from the Stroud, Cirencester and London Directors suggested by Mr Mackie did not appear.
Mr Willson’s insolvency in 1842 did not diminish the Committee’s confidence in him. Salary increase Fifty pounds.
Opinion of Counsel on reference to any power Company possessed to compel the Justices to widen road from Brimscombe to Minchinhampton advised negotiation.
Applications to Parliament for Acts for (a) a railway from the Cheltenham & Great Western Railway at Haileywood to Barrisston?, to be called the Thames Valley, Oxford South Wales Union, and (b) a railway from Southampton to join the Birmingham and Gloucester railway at Swindon, each crossing the Thames & Severn Canal.
Letters from Mr Ball, Solicitor at Minchinhampton re property recently purchased by Company at Brimscombe mentioning Dr Warneford. Messrs Marling had purchased other portions of the same property.
Letter of thanks from William Willson.
Details on alteration of tonnages, Stroud Canal and Thames & Severn Canal.
Letter from John George. Complaint re dilapidation of house occupied by his foreman, Abraham Pricket, and the buildings adjoining, also the timber yard and the dock. He is willing to give up possession of these buildings.
Clerk to write to Mr George. Notice to quit on house has expired. Dock to be given up at end of tenancy. No points requiring arbitration. £119.12.6 due in rent.
Churn millers’ water payments listed.
No rent or reply re Mr George’s intentions regarding the Bourne premises. Clerk to write to him. Legal proceedings if rent not paid and he retains possession of premises at the Bourne.
Stroud Canal Committee to ask consent of their General Assembly re tonnages. All vessels coming in to Thames & Severn Canal with grain, salt or iron should be charged only 8d per ton. Agreed.
Offer from Mr George. Occupation at the Bourne £40 per annum for three years, with provisos. Mr George to be allowed to take a three year lease, rent £40 per annum.
Proposed arrangement with Messrs Biddle & Co to allow them to occupy warehouse at Stroud. £20 a year unless they carry 500 tons of corn from the westward, £10 per ton if they carry 1000 tons. Beyond that quantity rent free.
Mr George had agreed to take Bourne Dock premises, had paid back rent but not rents of other Company premises.
£150 to be raised by sale of stock.
Half-yearly accounts to 6 April 1846.
