1803-1830
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/1/3
Minutes from 11 October 1803 to 15 December 1830
of the Committee of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation
Mr Woodhouse the engineer of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Company met with the committee and agreed with them that the Junction proposals as they stand do not protect against loss of water. The committee refused to acquiesce to the junction.
Mr Woodhouse withdrew the notice given by Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co of interrupting the navigation of the Stroudwater on the date that he had stated. Mr Woodhouse further agreed to defer the day to the 24 January at the least and in the meantime to put up stop gates on the northward side of the Stroudwater at the point of junction.
William Beale claimed shares nos.193,194,158,159, will of Hannah Beale.
Ordered that the towing path be stopped to the public at the next neap tide.
Special Meeting. Robert Miles having been appointed by the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co to be gatekeeper to attend the gates erected near the junction of the G&B and the Stroudwater was approved. His instructions were to ‘constantly attend the gates and be diligent in his duty and to take especial care that no water be wasted or taken out of the Stroudwater.’
William Hains, William Harrison, Job Guy and Richard Nen confirmed they had stopped the towing paths on 1-4 March.
Accounts examined.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2850 15s 6d. Balance after wages, etc, £2259 3s 9d. Dividend of £11 declared.
Committee for next year: Dr W W Darke, Henry Eycott, Thomas Hobrow, Nathaniel Jones, John Morgan, Rowles Scudamore, John Snowden, William Stanton, John Snowden. A Townsend, W Veel, George Wathen, Rev William James.
A wall to be built around the Company Wharf at Stonehouse with proper coping, gates, posts, iron work and fastenings.
A letter from Mr Charleton, clerk of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co, to be considered at a better attended meeting.
Annual inspection on the Company Barge.
A new pair of gates is to be put in the lock at Bristol Road.
The culvert at Kingsbridge is to be repaired.
A new boat or punt is to be built.
William Peel, husband of the late Sarah Peel, claimed share nos.1,128,185, will of Elizabeth Huntley.
The feeder at Lodgemore be repaired and made wider but on the same level as it is at present.
A letter be written to the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co stating that the Committee of the Stroudwater will not allow any fixed salary to Robert Miles for examining the tickets of the vessels passing out of the G&B into the Stroudwater Navigation or consider him a servant of the Company in any respect, but are willing to make him a remuneration for his casual services.
The Lodgemore works are to be suspended.
A dock for the purpose of repairing boats and preserving the mudding machine from the weather be made at Chippenham Platt.
The clerk having purchased two second hand boats, the order for building a new boat or punt is rescinded.
Edward Wilbraham and William Browning Smith claimed share no.94, will of Henry Sheppard.
Miss Eliza Ford and Miss Frances Ford claimed shares nos.151,77,78,153, will of Hannah Frances Ford.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2759 19s 2d. Balance after wages, etc, £1928 9s 8d. Dividend of £9 10s declared.
George Hawkins wished to buy part of the wharf at Dudbridge but the Company refused to sell feeling it would disadvantage them.
Ordered that Robert Miles be paid 4s per week on a remuneration for his trouble in attending to vessels passing from the Stroudwater Navigation with the G&B Canal.
An account of the water taken into the canal at the Lodgemore and Ebley feeders be kept from Monday next until the first day of October next.
The culverts at Ebley to be repaired during the ensuing summer.
Mr Peter Veel, Anna Veel, Rev Thomas Veel and Rev. Richard Huntley claimed shares nos.131,129,1,128,185, will of William Veel.
Anna Veel claimed share no.130, will of William Veel.
Mr Nathaniel Jones claimed shares nos.50,57,58 will of Rev Joseph Jones.
An agreement to be made with George Basham for mudding the canal.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3600 14s 4d. Balance after wages, etc, £2531 6s 0d. Dividend of £12 10s declared.
The salary of George Hawker, clerk of the canal navigation, to be raised to the sum of £200 per annum as a consideration for his long and faithful services.
The salary of William Purcell, clerk of the canal navigation, be raised to the sum of £80.
A contract be entered into for a person to remove the accumulation of mud and stone at the Ryeford wharf.
In future statute bushels with iron rims be used for measuring coal on all the company wharfs by their servants, instead of baskets.
Thomas Smith, John Blew and Joseph Blew claimed shares nos.42,122, will of Samuel Smith.
Thomas Lewis to be moved from the care of the locks near Dudbridge, and his present residence, to the care of the five locks near Chippenham Platt, and that the garret of the house lately occupied by Tim Baker at Chippenham Platt be allotted as his future residence. A fireplace is to be made in the said garret, and Thomas Lewis’s wages to be fixed at 6s per week from Lady Day to Michaelmas and at 7s per week from Michaelmas to Lady.
William Hains Junior, Rich Nen, Job Guy and Edwin Vernon be dismissed on a fortnight’s notice.
Our carpenters to report on the state of the lower pair of lock gates at Whitminster lock.
The canal along the wharf at Dudbridge to be widened and deepened on the wharf side so as to enable barges to pass whilst a vessel may be unloading at the same wharf and that the bank be sloped from the water upwards to the wharf.
The gates of Whitminster Lock be repaired.
The wharfingers at each of the Company wharfs are to weigh the coals to all persons desirous of having them weighed, at the price of 6d per ton. Coals sold by the cwt can be weighed free of charge. Notice of this to be fixed to boards at each wharf.
George to Basham be engaged to repair the banks and take out the dirt at the canal at Dudbridge wharf for the sum of £12.
Beech timber to be bought to repair the trunks at Ebley.
Accounts examined.
No business transacted as only four present.
William Stanton and Thomas Holbrow claimed shares nos.192,142,143,114,115,69, will of Henry Eycott.
John Morgan, Nathaniel Wathen and Rev. Williams claimed share no.91, will of Rowles Scudamore.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2821 17s 2d. Balance after wages, etc, £1905 13s 0d. Dividend of £9 10s declared.
Robert Snow and John Paul Paul claimed share no.3, will of Sir George Onesiphorus Paul.
The wharf at Stonehouse Cross to be drained and the road repaired.
Memorandum of Agreement signed by Mr Price about the use of the road that crossed the towing path of the Stroudwater Canal at the stone bridge at Dudbridge to his foundry. He agreed that he used it at the Company’s discretion. 1s per annum to be paid.
The small piece of land at the top of five locks, and also the small piece of land near the bridge at Eastington, belonging to the Company are to be fenced in.
Clerk to employ someone to level the soil at Dudbridge.
Clerk to inspect the place where Mr Cowles imagines the lowness of the canal banks have occasioned him an injury.
Company offered the sum of £10 in recompense to Richard Franklin of Ebley after mud was laid on his land.
Clerk to enforce the ruling that all boats passing along the Stroudwater should display the name of the owner and of the steersman on the outside of every vessel. And that a penalty of 10s should be paid for using shafts shod with iron on the canal.
The accounts rendered by masters and owners of goods in or belonging to such vessels are to be rendered in writing under the hand of the master or owner.
£3 to be paid to Thomas Wells for damage to his meadows near Whitminster Bridge by laying mud thereon.
£10 to be paid to Revd Franklin for damages to his land near the double locks by laying mud thereon.
The roads over the bridges on the canal to be put and kept in repair. Also that the bridges and the warehouse at Bristol Road wharf be pointed.
Swing bridge leading to Mr Halliday’s mill at Paganhill to be repaired. In future the floor of swing bridges should be repaired with 3 inch thick red deal or pitch pine planks.
Lower gates at Bristol Road Lock to be repaired and given new balance poles.
Mr Cambridge of Whitminster House to be requested to make some acknowledgement in writing, or by rent, to secure the evidence of the proprietorship of the Company of Proprietors in the land near Walk Bridge whereon a warehouse has been built.
The south bank of the canal near the cottages of the Gallows Bridge be raised and repaired where needful.
A small shed, not costing more than £6, to be erected against wall of cottage occupied by Mr Power at Framilode.
Banks of the canal at Dimock’s Coal Yard at Ebley to be repaired.
Materials to be supplied to Thomas Clark of Stonehouse Wharf to allow him to erect a shed adjoining his house.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3557 14s 2d. Balance after wages, etc, £2713 4s 11d. Dividend of £13 10s declared.
From 1 June slate, pantile, stone, bricks and corn, malt grain or meal of any sort shall be charged at 3s 6d a ton for the whole length of the navigation; and in proportion for any greater or lesser weight or distance.
Opinion of counsel to be sought on the clause in the Act of Parliament relating to the proportional rate of tonnage at certain points of the canal.
Byelaw enacted that any vessel entering or leaving the Stroudwater Canal at the G&B canal should have previously given an account in writing to the Collector at Framilode. Fine of £5 ‘to be levied by distress and sale of the offenders goods and chattels.’
Byelaw enacted that all persons appointed to look after the wharfs belonging to the Company shall be agents to the Company and shall have the care and control and management of the wharf.
Every boat that lands or loads goods from any wharf to give a written account of the amount of cargo. Wharfingers to direct where cargo was deposited. Any master of any vessel not complying to be fined £5 for every offence,
Byelaw if 1784 by which proprietors not attending meetings could be fined 5s to be repealed.
Portrait of George Hawker to be paid for from the funds of the said company and be kept in the Committee Room.
Clerk to see Robert Davies about the gateway made in his fence leading to the towpath.
A reduction in price is to be made on the stock of coal on the wharfs of 1s per ton and that in future only 4d per ton shall be allowed for sale of coals, except at Stonehouse Wharf.
No business transacted as only four members present.
No business transacted as only three members present.
S James Edwards and William Morris claimed share no.184, will of John Bower.
Materials to be prepared for a new pair of upper lock gates at the Turnpike Gate lock at Chippenham Platt.
The Pleasure Boat to be sent to Gloucester to be sold.
Details of the fines and byelaws to be printed and distributed by Mr Purcell to the master or owner of every vessel as such vessel enters the canal.
A small copper brewing furnace to be put up in the back kitchen of the house at Stonehouse Cross Wharf.
Books examined.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2528 2s 8d. Balance after wages, etc, £1737 10s 8d. Dividend of £8 10s declared.
The byelaw giving agents of the Company of Proprietors the power to direct where cargo may be landed at Company wharfs on pain of fine to be repealed.
In lieu of this a new byelaw is to be enacted whereby agents and wharfingers at the respective wharfs were granted the power to direct where and what could be landed. If masters and boat owners ignored their instructions they could be fined £5 for each transgression.
The clerk at Framilode is to admit vessels into the canal from the Severn in the order in which they arrive and place themselves into the mouth of the canal in a proper form for admission thereto, and in no other.
Susannah Capel, Joseph Watts and Rev Christopher Capel claimed shares nos.146,7,120,62,63,64, will of William Capel.
A letter to be written to the Parkend Company complaining of the bad quality of the cargo of coals supplied by them and now unloading at Wallbridge Wharf.
Clerk to pay William Franklin for damage done to his land near the double locks by the laying of the mud thereon according to Mr Howard’s valuation.
The pantry belonging to the house at Framilode occupied by Purcell the clerk to be converted into a brewhouse. and the present brewhouse to be converted into a pantry.
Lockkeepers to be directed to fasten the locks every night, and for the whole day on Sundays; and that the regulation which prohibits the navigation of the canal on Sundays be strictly enforced in future.
Fines for making false entries, or omitting entries of cargoes, to be levied on the persons who have omitted entries or made false entries at Dudbridge Wharf.
Six guineas per annum be given to the wharfinger at Dudbridge, four guineas to the wharfinger at Wallbridge and three guineas to the wharfinger at Stonehouse, for the trouble of keeping the books and entries of cargoes .
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £4151 1s. Balance after wages, etc, £3505 1s 1d. Dividend of £17 10s delcared.
Mr Rob Davies cannot be allowed to have the footpath from Stanley to Stonehouse through the yard of Stonehouse Mill diverted along the towing path.
W. Hicks and other gentlemen attended on behalf of the Trustees of the Cainscross district of Turnpike Roads and stated that the bridge over the canal near Chippenham Platt is inconvenient and dangerous by reason of its declivity. They requested permission to take down part of the present bridge and to rebuild the same of a lower elevation than at present by so many inches as the committee shall agree. They further proposed to make the new part wider than at present and that the canal Company should contribute ten thousand bricks suitable for the work and the sum of £50 towards making the alteration. They further proposed that the alteration be made under the direction of a surveyor to be chosen by the committee. The committee agreed as long as it can be carried into effect without injury or inconvenience to the navigation of the canal.
The committee is to procure estimates for erecting a crane at Dudbridge Wharf. Cranage to be charged for using the crane of 3d per ton for goods weighing less than two tons, and for all goods weighing two tons and upwards the sum of 6d per ton.
Special Meeting held at the Company’s House at Chippenham Platt.
A survey of the bridge at Eastington having been made the following letter was sent to Henry Hicks:
I am requested by the Committee of the Stroudwater Navigation to inform you for the information of the Commissioners of the Cainscross district of roads, that after taking a survey and accurate measurement of the bridge near Chippenham Platt. they are of the opinion that it cannot be lowered more than 15 inches without injury or inconvenience to the navigation of the canal. The committee beg further to inform you that it will be more satisfactory to them to have the alteration in the bridge carried into effect by their own workmen under their control and direction. The committee therefore request to be informed whether the commissioners of the road are desirous that the bridge be lowered 15 inches. If so. what sum of money they will contribute towards lowering the bridge without widening it; and what sum they will give towards lowering and widening to 3 feet.
The committee further beg to be distinctly understood that the alterations to be made by the canal committee are not to include any part of the road or the making or altering the approaches to the bridge, but will be confined wholly to the lowering and widening the bridge.
Eastington Bridge to be lowered in the crown by 15 inches and widened three feet; but no expense be incurred by the Company towards any alteration in the road leading to or over the bridge.
A new swivel bridge to be made in the place of the Old Bridge opposite Fromehall Mill.
No business transacted as only four members present.
John Snowden claimed shares nos.13,14, will of Samuel Snowden.
Mr Newman having made a return of 11 tons of corn landed at the wharf at Wallbridge, whereas the weight of corn actually landed was 16 tons 4 cwt, he incurred a penalty of £10 8s 0d, at the rate of £2 per ton.
A wall to be built at Dudbridge Wharf near the crane about 90 feet long and 9 feet high, 3 feet thick at the bottom and 2½ feet at the top. Mr Coombs’s estimate being the lowest estimate he was employed to build it.
A temporary weir to be made in the lower level in place of that lately stopped by Mr Cambridge, for the purpose of carrying off the surplus water – until the completion of the G&B Canal.
£2 to be given to the person who communicated the information whereon Messrs Hayne and Newman were fined for making a false tonnage.
Salary of William Haines to be increased to £1 per week, for his additional services in looking after the vessels.
£2 to be paid to Richard Coombs, the mason, above the amount of the contract for building the wall at Dudbridge in consequence of increased unforeseen expenses.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3633 17s 11d. Balance after wages, etc, £2522 10s 11d. Dividend of £12 10s declared.
A new pair of lock gates to be made and put in at Double Locks in the ensuing spring.
Examined the books.
Peter Drew claimed share no.89, will of William Drew.
The present office belonging to the Company at their wharf at Wallbridge to be taken down and a new building erected to be used as an office in lieu thereof.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £4559 0s 3d. Balance after wages, etc, £3823 8s. Dividend of £19 declared.
A letter from the Chairman of the Committee of the Gloucester & Berkley Canal Company requested that the rate tolls charged for the passing of vessels on the Stroudwater Navigation from Framilode to the G&B Canal at its Junction with the Stroudwater Navigation be lowered from 5d (now charged) to 2d per ton. Clerk to reply stating that it is not deemed advisable to lower the rate of tonnage requested.
Mr Fletcher, engineer to the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Company, having attended explained that he was going to lower the sill of the lock built on the intended line of the Stroudwater Navigation at its Junction with the G&B Canal to the level of the sill of the lock at Whitminster. Mr Hawker and Mr Blackwell to attend on the part of the Company and inspect the works in their progress, and also the putting in of proper culverts under the Navigation near Walk Bridge for draining the adjacent lands.
Letter from Harris, Stephens & Co about the road across the canal at Ryeford needing to be altered not agreed with, considering that the road across the canal at the Ryeford has lately been improved at a considerable expense for the public.
Annual inspection on board a barge.
An addition to be made to the dwelling house at Chippenham Platt in the occupation of Browning of two rooms, one below and the other above, with dimensions of 12 feet by 12, built of bricks.
A new pair of lock gates be put in at the Whitminster Lock
The wall of the river where it enters the Severn near the Severn Lode to be repaired.
Special Meeting. No business recorded.
Special Meeting. Mr Croome to be asked to act as solicitor for the Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation for opposing a tramway lately projected from the Severn to Stroud, or to and from other points or places on or near the line of the said navigation.
Elizabeth Beardmore, Frances Ford and Eliza Ford claimed shares nos,101,18,19, will of Revd John Owen.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3414 1s 2d. Balance after wages, etc, £2400 4s 3d. Dividend of £12 declared.
Committee invested with the fullest powers either to negotiate with the Projectors of the Stroud & Severn Rail Road or Tram Road or not as they may see cause. They may delegate their authority to any number of their own body not less than three.
Committee empowered to vary and regulate the tonnage rates on the canal.
Committee empowered to oppose the projected rail road by petition to both houses of parliament if they think such a measure necessary and for that purpose to retain and employ Counsel, Solicitors, Engineers, Surveyors, and other agents and generally to act as circumstances may in their judgement require.
Committee empowered to join the land owners in the line of the projected rail road in measures of opposition or in measures of restraint.
That it be an instruction to our committee to associate with themselves Thomas Jones and Francis Knight to consult and deliberate on the measures.
That in order to provide funds for the exigencies of the canal the payment of the dividend be postponed.
The meeting ratified the resolutions of the previous meeting and resolved to negotiate with the subscribers to the tram road in writing to avoid misunderstandings.
Resolved that the tram road committee be requested to state specifically the amount of the reduction in the tonnage rates of this canal which they expect, and the specific terms which it is their intention to ask for in this negotiation.
Committee consider the proposition made to them by the subscribers of the tram road so unreasonable that they cannot possibly accede to it, but they have a passed a resolution to reduce the tonnage rates to sums which they hope will satisfy all moderate persons of the disinterested public .
The tonnage rate to be lowered 1½d per ton per mile from the 1 December.
That the resolutions be communicated to the committee of the tram road subscribers and be published in the Gloucester papers and the Bristol Journal.
A letter from Captain Nicholls of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Company proposing a meeting to confer on the Bill to be introduced by them in the next session of parliament: Joseph Grazebrook, John Snowden, Dr Darke and Paul Hawkins Fisher to meet them on Wednesday next at the George Inn, Stroud.
No business transacted as only two members present.
Special Meeting intended to view map of planned railway, but map was not available.
Request from Paul Beard to a lease for fourteen years for the piece of ground near Ryeford Bridge that he was already using as a wharf was granted provided he built a durable fence around the wharf.
Letter from land owners concerned about the Bill for a railway from the River Severn to Brimscombe Port discussed. The committee agreed with the land owners. A reduction of tonnage by 6d more on the whole canal to be made if the plan dropped.
Ordered that the dividend declared at the Half Yearly General Meeting on 20 October be paid on 5 January next.
£5 to be paid to William Hayers and £5 to William Purcell our clerk at Framilode for their attention to the interests of the canal proprietors; and particularly for their activity and trouble in the discovery of fraud committed and in prosecuting offenders.
Our solicitor Mr Croome is to apply to and engage as engineer for the Stroudwater Navigation either Mr McIntosh, Mr Walker or Mr Sturge in the opposition to the projected tramroad.
Special Meeting. Read the resolutions of the landowners on the line of the projected railway, at their meeting at Cainscross yesterday; whereby it appears that the projectors of the railway refuse to accede to their recommendations adopted at a former meeting to abandon their scheme in case the tonnage should be lowered as resolved at our last meeting.
Special Meeting. Mr Croome reported that Mr McIntosh is unable to undertake the office of engineer, and he had no reply from Mr Walker; Mr Snowden had seen Mr Sturge and recommend his appointment.
Special Meeting. A letter from the Thames & Severn Canal Company announced a special general meeting of their body in London on Saturday next for the purpose of considering the intended Rail Road from the Severn to Brimscombe; and requesting the attendance of some members of this committee at such meeting to concert measures of opposition to the projected road. One or more of the committee who can make it convenient, are to proceed to town to attend; and that our solicitor Mr Croome is also attend.
Special Meeting. Our treasurer to give John Snowden, now in London, a letter of audit on his London banker for payment of the sum of £300.
The following gentlemen are requested to attend in London: Joseph Grazebrook, Dr Darke, P H Fisher, John Holbrow, Francis Knight, Joseph Hawker.
Special General Meeting. The Committee and the deputation now sitting in London be authorised to order Clerk to affix the common seal of the Company to any petition or other instrument which they may think necessary in opposition to the proposed railway from the Severn to Brimscombe Port.
The following gentlemen were appointed to fill the vacancies in the committee. W H Harford, Christopher Capel, John Holbrow.
Accounts examined.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £4205 15s 11d. Balance after wages, etc, £3337 14s 11d. Dividend of £10 declared.
The second reading of ‘The Stroud & Severn Rail Road Bill’ on Thursday 28 was moved by Lord Edward Somerset (one of the Members for the County). Lord Viscount Folkestone opposed the Bill and moved as an amendment that it be read a second time that day six month. Votes for the amendment 140, for an immediate second reading 39, Majority 101.
Thanks to be presented by the chairman to Lord Viscount Folkestone, Alderman Bridges MP and Mr Calcraft for their opposition to the Bill. A list of ladies and gentlemen active in opposing the Bill was minuted.
Plate to the value of not less than one hundred guineas be presented to Mr Snowden for his zealous exertions.
Thanks expressed to W.H. Harford and the Revd Christopher Capel for their valuable advice and assistance. And also to W. Croome the solicitor.
Resolved that a reduction of tonnage be made on the following articles after 21 June next.
On all stone exported and on road stone imported, to 1d per ton per mile.
On all other stone and on bricks imported, to 2d per ton per mile.
On wool, woollen cloth and hay, to 2d per ton per mile.
All charges for wharfage, cranage and warehousing on the several wharfs be discontinued.
Ordered that in answer to the application made by the Commissioners of the Stroud Improvement Act, the Committee are empowered to make an abatement in, or wholly give up, the tonnage on stone brought up the Navigation for the paving of the town of Stroud, if they see fit, and make such regulations as they may judge proper.
