1783-1803
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/1/2
Minutes from 14 October 1783 to 10 October 1803
of the Committee of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation
Inspection of Blunder Lock by Mr Grazebrook, Mr N Jones, Rev William Ellis, Rev Joseph Colborne, Mr Scudamore, Mr Nathaniel Wathen.
Letter from Richard Owen Cambridge Esq, requesting repair of long wooden weir erected by Company for use of mill pond. As weir had become totally useless as the mill pond was never used for navigation, Company could not agree to repair but would in future make an embankment so that land might be restored to pristine state. No stones of old weir belonging to Mr Cambridge used by Company.
Thomas Cook to attend next meeting with full and complete estimate for stone wall at Framilode.
Same reduction of tonnages allowed to Messrs Benjamin and Thomas Grazebrook as allowed to Thames & Severn Proprietors during stoppage of canal.
Thomas Cook delivered full estimate of expense of wall to protect Company's land at Framilode from floods of River Severn, 9 feet high, 5 feet thick at base, reduced by degrees to be 3 feet 6 inches at top, with two pillars. Estimate including limestone and materials, £220. Work to be completed by 1 November.
Special meeting of Committee. Mr Richard Owen Cambridge conceives he has legal claims on Company to keep in repair weir erected by them on banks of his mill pond. He does not consent to an embankment on site of old weir. Mr J J Wathen to give his opinion and to wait upon Mr Richard Owen Cambridge at Richmond to bring business to amicable termination.
Special meeting of Committee. Controversy with Mr Cambridge respecting weir at Whitminster Mill. Proprietors of Navigation not subject to any repairs.
Rev William Ellis, Messrs Wood, Jones, Nathaniel Wathen surveyed land contiguous to warehouse at Framilode. Wall to be built up to 7 feet 6 inches, then a decision will be made as to whether 9 or 12 feet high would be most desirable.
Balance of £20 4s to Thomas Cook for new lock on site of Blunder Lock.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage £1528 11s 7d. Balance £730 3s 5d. Dividend of £3 15s declared.
John Share, in service of Company for about 14 years, was drowned in Navigation while occupied in business of Company. Assistance to widow and nine children.
Rev John Bull and Francis Bull claimed shares nos.1,128,185, will of Thomas Evans Bull.
Martha Share, widow of John Share allowed 11s per week for relief of herself and family till next Committee Meeting.
Wall at Framilode begun but insufficient progress for inspection.
Overseer of parish of Kinlet, Salop agreed to allow widow of John Share 8s per week. To be paid 3s per week in addition till next meeting.
John Jones on trial for month as lock keeper in room of John Share. Wages 11s per week and house room.
3s per week to Martha Share till Monday 2 February.
3s per week to Martha Share till next meeting.
Present wharf at Dudbridge too small. Enlargement by taking in part of ground occupied by Mr Thomas Grazebrook, tenant of Company. Added land within straight line from south pillar of wharf gateway to point of wall ending on gateway into Mr Clutterbuck's premises. Refund of proportionate part of expense in fencing ground. Original agreement in 1795. Note in margin - no agreement in 1795.
Addition to wharf at Wallbridge. Part of land rented by Mr Richard Camm, within straight line from third willow on bank of River Stroudwater to Navigation.
Application by Clerk Edward Hains for increase on salary. Increased to £75. Whole of his time to be devoted to Company.
Sarah Beesley, Elizabeth Beesley, James Beesley, John Beesley, Thomas Beesley and Francis Beesley claimed shares nos.65,66,81,87,121,141,173, will of Joseph Beesley.
3s per week to Martha Share till next meeting.
3s per week to Martha share till next meeting.
Wages of William Beard, Andrew Beard and Samuel Beard increased by 1s per week till 29 September.
Second Clerk, William Pavey, given increase of £8 per annum to cover advanced price of provisions.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage £2966 18s 7½d. Balance £2593 12s 8½d. Dividend of £10 declared. £500 of balance to be added to the capital employed in the coal trade.
Damage to bridges and locks on Navigation by carelessness of some bargemen. After 1 May no bargeman to navigate canal with sails hoisted. £5 payment for offence contrary to regulation. Bye law to be added to Table of Rules and Orders.
Committee for next year: Rev William Ellis,Rev Joseph Colborne, Samuel Wathen, John Allaway, Joseph Grazebrook, Rowles Scudamore, Joseph Harford, William Battersby, Joseph Cambridge, Edward Wood, Nathaniel Jones.
Henry Eycott claimed shares nos.142,143,192, will of Henry Eycott, his father.
Annual inspection on Company Barge.
Martha Share 3s per week till next meeting.
Samuel Skey claimed shares nos.2,11,12,177,178, will of Samuel Skey, his father.
Feeder at Ebley in decayed state. To be repaired with stone. Decayed brick work of culvert at Ebley to be taken down and repaired with stone.
Wall at Framilode to be 10 feet 6 inches high.
One or two gates to be added to those erected at the aqueduct at Lodgemore.
Actions carried over
Rev William Ellis and Mr Sam Ellis claimed shares nos.82,83, late property of Mrs Ann Wathen, will of William Wathen.
William Sevill claimed shares nos.135,136, will of William Sevill, his father.
Application by Mr Thomas Croome on part of Mr Harris of Stonehouse for purchase of willow trees on land adjoining his. Estimate to be made of value.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage £1145 14s 9d. Balance £881 14s 2½d. Dividend of £4 declared.
Three cornered piece near Bond's Mill sold to William Beard for £50.
Weekly pay of Martha Share continued.
139-140 willow trees on banks of canal bordering his land offered to Mr Harris of Stonehouse for £100.
Mary Hornage claimed shares nos.9,10, will of Alicia Rainsford.
Secure repository to be made for books of Company. Opening in middle wall of office, iron shelves with two folding iron doors and secure lock with two keys.
Weekly pay of Martha Share continued.
Rowles Scudamore, Joseph Cambridge claimed shares nos.69,70,71,156,157,106,107,108,110, 111, 112,113,114,115, will of Samuel Cambridge, 9 November 1792, codicil 1 June 1801.
Weekly pay of Martha Share continued.
Roger Harris, Richard Till claimed shares nos.166,167, will of John Wilson.
John Caldicott claimed share no.76, will of James Farmer.
Mary Spencer claimed share no.88, will of Martha Hopkins.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage £1702 17s 7d. Balance £1515 2½d. Dividend of £7 declared.
Letter from Mr John Padmore Noble reflecting on some parts of administration of late Committee. Impartial review of proceedings by those assembled express pleasure with their active and judicious discharge of their duties.
Committee for next year, who are to persevere in the same line of conduct: Rev William Ellis, Rev Joseph Colborne, Samuel Wathen, John Allaway, Benjamin Grazebrook, Joseph Grazebrook, Rowles Scudamore, Joseph Harford, William Battersby, Nathaniel Wathen, Nathaniel Jones, Joseph Cambridge, Henry Burgh.
Mr John Saunders reported (a representation having been made) loss of about £80 by Company's servants, Ambrose and Thomas Beard, consequence of an iniquitous prosecution against them. No time for defence and decision in their disfavour. Twenty guineas to subscription already begun. Prosecution unwarranted effect of premeditated and declared malices.
Lock gates at Dudbridge to be repaired. Mud below Double Lock to be got out.
House to be erected against end of Lock House at Dudbridge for widow of John Share. To live rent free and take care of locks.
Mr Edward Hill having encroached on ground of Company and injured bridge on canal at Stonehouse, required to pay annual rent of 5 guineas. In default of payment warehouse to be taken down.
Letter from Mr Cambridge re repair of weir at Whitminster Mill. Old stone weir taken away by Mr Cambridge's steward. Company to take useless weir up, make good the bank and erect new weir. Mr Cambridge to find materials and exonerate Company from future repairs.
Letter from Rev George Owen Cambridge, on part of his father Mr Owen Cambridge. Proposal that Company pay £26 as moiety of expense of new stone weir and also that a sufficient embankment on site of wooden weir should be built at the expense of the Company. Company harmless to future expense of repair of stone weir or putting up new one. Agreement to be prepared.
Articles of agreement with Mrs Mary Cambridge to be exhibited at General Meeting.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage £1681 15s 4d. Balance £1301 12s 1½d. Dividend of £6 declared.
Agreement between Mary Cambridge, widow of Richard Owen Cambridge, and Charles Owen Cambridge and the Company of Proprietors of Stroudwater Navigation to pay £26 in part of expense of erection of new weir on banks of their mill pond, in parish of Wheatenhurst and to make an embankment on site of present dilapidated weir erected by Company.
Future Half Yearly Meetings to start at 1pm to ensure business completed before dinner.
Mrs Ann Wathen, Sarah Jenkins, Samuel Wathen and Nathan Wathen claimed shares nos.18,20, Josiah Isles Wathen having died intestate.
Application on behalf of Commissioners of Stonehouse Turnpike Road to purchase small piece of land near Chippenham Platt for erection of toll house.
Actions carried over.
Intention of certain residents of Gloucester and vicinity to apply to Parliament for a Bill authorizing new bridge over Severn at West Gate in Gloucester and permitting certain toll per ton on all vessels passing up and down Severn. Toll on Navigation of the river unjustifiable and injurious to interests of Company. Rev Joseph Colborne to procure information and report at next Committee Meeting.
Rev Joseph Colborne reported that Messrs Whitcombe, Griffiths & Co informed him that no Bill for erection of new bridge at West Gate Street, Gloucester, was pending. They would inform Chairman immediately of any circumstance tending to injure interests of Stroud Canal Company.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage £2036 18s 7½d. Balance £1826 4s 8d. Dividend of £7 declared.
Coals from northern districts enormously dear and scarcity such as to endanger future supply. Advisable to obtain regular supply of Newport coals. Purchase, build or hire a schooner and make such contracts for coal as are expedient.
The Company and its servants having need of a road from swivel bridge at Lodgemore over land belonging to Mr Cook's garden to boat house belonging to Company and flood gate near boat house, Mr Henry Cook and heirs to be paid annually 6d as long as Company shall use said road.
Committee to sell small piece of land to erect turnpike house at Chippenham Platt to Commissioners of Turnpike Road from Cainscross to Alkerton.
Application by Mr Thomas Grazebrook to purchase land 50 feet long and 7 feet wide at back of his warehouse at Dudbridge on which 2 small sheds are erected was accepted.
Mr Edward Hill, having built cottage on company land on lower side of bridge at Stonehouse, desiring to erect warehouse on upper side. Committee may grant him a lease of ground on both sides for 99 years at yearly rent of 5 guineas.
Tonnage on bricks and lime on canal reduced to 2s a ton to Wallbridge.
Committee for next year: Rev William Ellis, Rev Joseph Colborne, Samuel Wathen, John Allaway, Benjamin Grazebrook, Joseph Grazebrook, Rowles Scudamore, William Battersby, Nathaniel Wathen, Nathaniel Jones, Henry Burgh, Rev Josiah Jones, William Sevill.
Clerk to contract to build proper vessel for supply of Newport coal, burden 60 tons.
Piece of land not exceeding six perches at 5 guineas to Commissioners of Turnpike Road from Cainscross to Alkerton.
Land at wharf at Dudbridge sold to Mr Thomas Grazebrook.
Annual inspection on Company Barge.
Repairs to gates at Dudbridge, mud in part of Stonehouse Level to be thrown out, Moor Street Bridge, Whitminster and Framilode Locks to be repaired.
Mr Beard to purchase some oak timber to cost of £150 to £200, and two or three hundred feet of deal baulk timber.
Embankment to be made on site of old weir erected by Company on bank of Wheatenhurst Mill pond according to agreement with Mr Cambridge in 1802.
Lancelot Chambers claimed shares nos.160,161,164,165, Christopher Chambers having died intestate.
£100 to be paid to Edward Bradfeild on account of vessel being built for conveyance of Newport coal.
Bill to be drawn on the Treasurer
Report of Mr Clowes on state of canal.
Upper and lower gates of first lock leek and some pointing needed. Cost £3.
Recommends adding stop gate above entrance lock to prevent spring tides entering canal. Cost £90.
Recommends basin above entrance lock to allow larger Severn trows to unload and turn. A warehouse could be built there. Costs: winding hole £35, basin £200, warehouse £250.
Crown of Moor Street Bridge to be repaired.
Lower gates of Whitminster Lock in bad repair. Lockful of water lost in 1 hour.
Upper and lower gates of Bristol Road Lock leek, as does brickwork. Some bricks in adjacent bridge need replacing.
Brickwork and lower gate of Westfield Lock need repair. Side walls coming in.
Towing path side of Court Orchard Lock is coming in.
Chippenham Platt Lock needs coping stone taking up and resetting.
Blunder Lock no danger at present.
Nastfield Lock needs some bricks replacing and tail wall repaired.
Lower lock in Double Lock to be taken down to near water line and rebuilt. The lock gates of the lower lock should be repaired.
Gates of stone lock at Dudbridge need repairs. Stone much decayed but no danger.
Brick lock at Dudbridge needs its hollow quoins reset and the lock gates repaired.
Weirs at tops of locks should be replaced with ones similar to those used on the Thames & Severn Canal. Cost will be £10-£12 each.
1ft of mud should be removed from Framilode level. Cost £12.
Mud and gravel to be removed from other sites. Cost £38 6s.
