1867-1887
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/1/6
Minutes from 14 May 1867 to 15 February 1887
of the Committee of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation
Eleanora Maria Croome, Charles Henry Hooper and Edward Francis Gedge claimed share nos. 46,81, will of Thomas Myers Croome.
Company Seal affixed to the Plan delineating the boundaries of the Stonehouse Ocean and the Stonehouse Court Estate and to a duplicate thereof, and Sir William Henry Marling signed both plan and duplicate.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage since 1 October 1883 £1217 1s 4d. After wages, etc, profit £607 7s 10d. Dividend of £2 10s declared.
Catherine Clutterbuck claimed share nos.106,126, will of Elizabeth Clutterbuck;
Sophia Eycott, the Reverend William Darke Stanton, the Reverend William Eycott Marten and Edward Palling Little claimed share nos.113,142,143, will of Frederick Eycott.
Annual inspection of the Canal fixed for Tuesday 10 June 1884.
Mr Clegram to be asked for a carpenter to help in making a pair of top gates for the second lock at Dudbridge.
Stoppage of the Canal on Sunday next ordered so that the top gates of the Dudbridge Top Lock might be repaired and made tight.
The Lodgemore Swing Bridge replanked at a cost of £16.17s.6d.
Clerk’s office to be papered and a new floor provided.
Permission given to the Reverend Palmer to open towing path doors at Dudbridge and Wallbridge on Sundays to enable him to walk on the towing path from Cainscross to The Thrupp.
The Chairman Mr Little, Messrs Beard, Stanton, Hooper and Davies and Mr Snape made the canal inspection and reported a number of issues requiring special notice. The general state of the Canal and Works, Stores, Bridges, Locks etc was considered very satisfactory.
Clerk to write to Mr Barnard re his inattention to the repair of the boundary wall; also to Mr Gyde, owner and occupier of Ebley House, re his tenant’s use of the canal water, and to Major Chapman suggesting to each their use of the canal water by means of a 2 inch pipe on the annual payment of £1.
Mr James Stanton’s offer to bear one half of the expense of adding 9 inches to the height of the parapets of Roving Bridge leading to his house accepted, and the Clerk was directed that this take place when the other repairs to the Bridge were made.
Clerk to take out summons against improper practise of netting in the canal, there having been complaints made by holders of angling tickets.
Chairman to meet Mr William Davies Junior of Bridgend re the improper use by his tenant, Mr Walter Daniels, of the towing path to get from one field to another. Reference was made to the agreement of the 11 May 1878 by which the then tenant, Mr William Fawkes, acknowledged that the use of the towing path for such a purpose was merely permissive.
Clerk to reply to Messrs Butt Skurray & Co that they would not allow a reduction in the toll on wheat.
Clerk to see Howard Cook to caution him against bathing in the canal at Hilly Orchard Bridge after a complaint by Mr Lydeard of Dudbridge about such an incidence on the 17 August.
Clerk to see that Messrs Ford removed their barge at Ryeford Mills which was moored in the way of traffic and to replace the coping stones which had been dragged into the canal.
Committee sanctioned a Workmans’ outing which was estimated to cost £4.5s.4d. including the day’s wages.
The house occupied by Mr Charless Critchley at Stonehouse to be supplied with new spouting; also chimney tops rebuilt and other bricklayer’s work done.
Ordered that new bottom gates be made for Pike Lock.
Chairman had met Mr Davies Junior, viewed the fields, and did not consider that Mr Davies Senior had any right of use over the towing path. It was obvious that the two pieces were severed as a result of the making of the Stonehouse and Nailsworth Railway when compensation would have been awarded to Mr Davies for the severance. It was agreed that the towing path could not be used to get to both fields without the tenant entering into an agreement similar to the 1878 agreement with Mr Fawkes and that Mr Davies should be sent a copy of this minute and should be urged to enter into such an agreement.
Clerk reported that when the new gates at Dudbridge were put in, the Night Watchman, Edward Hill, was in bed and not on watch. Mr Hill, being in attendance at this meeting, was reprimanded and cautioned against a repetition of such gross neglect of duty.
Ordered that re-planking of the swing bridge at Stonehouse should be carried out.
Re the use of the towing path by the tenant of Mr Davies, Mr Davies Senior would be willing to pay an acknowledgement to the company as proposed but for one gateway only as the other was not now used, the sum payable to be 2s.6d. p.a. with a further 2s.6d. payable in the event of the other gateway being opened or used. Solicitors instructed to prepare the agreement between Mr Davies Senior and the Company.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage since 1 April £1239 5s 5d. After wages, etc, profit £581 9s 8d. Dividend of £2 10s declared.
As a result of correspondence between Mr G Ford and Mr Waddy, the Secretary to the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co, in respect of their tonnage charges on barges entering at Framilode to go to Gloucester, it was decided that the Chairman of the Company and the Company’s solicitor, Mr Hamilton Mills, should meet with Mr Clegram and Mr Waddy.
Clerk to write to the Cheltenham Brewery Co instructing them to remove the urinal they had put on the Company’s land at The Bell Inn, Ebley.
The agreement was produced which Mr Davies Junior had signed on his father’s behalf re the gateway by the side of the towing path near Bridgend.
Clerk reported that the urinal at the Bell Inn, Ebley, had been altered as required and a mere stone put in on the other side of the Bridge. He also reported that the Landlord of the Inn had agreed to pay 2s 6d. a year for the use of a bit of ground for the purpose of selling coal, etc.
Clerk reported that the cottage at Framilode, where the tenant had been Henry Pegler, had been let to Daniel Nicholls and an agreement entered into accordingly.
Mr Hooper’s proposal, that angling tickets should state 'except Sundays' accepted.
Chairman and Mr Hamilton Mills met with Mr Clegram and Mr Waddy who admitted an error, which they would correct, had been made by the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co in charging the same rates from the Junction to Gloucester as from Sharpness to Gloucester. They would refund Mr Ford any excess on receiving from him the name of the boats and the dates when the full rate was charged. Mr Waddy undertook to make the rate clear in the printed tariff of rates. Also his Board was to reduce the rate from Sharpness to Gloucester on grain to 6d per ton and thus after the 1 January next the rate for grain entering at Framilode would be 3d only.
Rates charged on grain from Sharpness to Stroud were discussed, and various proposals made as to alternatives. Committee rejected proposed changes.
Mr Lofthouse, the Sanitary Authority’s Civil Engineer and officer employed for the drainage works at Stonehouse, attended the meeting and asked permission for the stoppage of traffic and drawing off of the water between Ryeford Double Locks and the top of the five locks at Eastingon to enable sewage pipes to be laid under and across the canal near the Ship Inn at Stonehouse. Chairman and Mr Hamilton Mills, solicitor, to meet the contractor to arrange the terms of the stoppage. The Committee felt that although £10 a day was the sum named for interference with traffic under the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Act, a figure of £5 5s a day would be reasonable, with all attendant expenses, as the stoppage was for the public good.
Chairman and Mr Hamilton Mills had met the contractor and agreed the stoppage of the traffic on the canal on Sunday night, 8 February, and a definite payment of £5 5s for each day and for any part of day that traffic was stopped through the drawing off of the water, but that the minimum payment should be £10 10s exclusive of all attendant expenses in wages and such like to the officers or workpeople of the Canal, Mr Mills to prepare an agreement to be signed by the Contractor. Clerk reported that the stoppage took place on time, the work completed by the Contractor and a bill amounting to £32 15s 8d. sent to him for payment as per the Agreement.
Clerk reported a heavy expense for the repair of a sustaining wall at Eastington that had collapsed as a result of drawing off the water; the Committee resolved not to ask the Contractor for this payment, although it was open to question whether under the terms of the Agreement he was not responsible for it.
Chairman read a letter received from Mr Charles Hooper recommending the breaking up of the old mud boat lying in the dock at Eastington.
Contractors for the Stonehouse sewage works had applied for a reduction of one fourth of the charges (amounting to £32 15s 8d) as a result of the stoppage of the canal, which the Committee unanimously declined, the Clerk to reply to this effect and to refer to the repair of the sustaining wall at Eastington.
Future advertising of the half-yearly meeting to be confined to once only in each of the two Stroud papers.
Clerk to find out whether the Rev Palmer wished to continue with permission for the use of a key to open the wharf doors on Sundays, the time of the original permission having elapsed, and to extend the permission accordingly if required.
Committee concluded that the onus of repairing Ebley Bridge and the metalling of the roadway over it lay with Mr Lane as the owner of Ebley Mills, the liability of the Company merely extending to providing a public footpath over or across the canal at that point. It was agreed the matter should be fully considered by the Committee when Mr Lane applied for repair of the roadway over the Bridge.
Stoppage of the Canal to be from the 2 to 11 May to put in a pair of new bottom gates at the Pike Lock, Eastington.
Chairman and Clerk inspected the footbridge over the Railway near Bristol as a possible replacement for the swing bridge by Hilly Orchard. Mr Croome, the owner or Trustee of the land on the north side was in agreement; Mr Barnard, the owner of the land on the south side, would require some concession regarding the right of road to his house at the upper side of Dudbridge Wharf. The Chairman, Mr Gyde and Mr William Davies to view the site and Mr Barnard’s road and report to the next meeting.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage since 1 October 1884 £1193 16s 3d. After wages, etc, profit £590 8s 11d. Dividend of £2 10s declared.
Chairman, Mr William Davies and Mr Hamilton Mills viewed the Swing Bridge near to Hilly Orchard and, in the presence of Mr Barnard, the road to Mr Barnard’s house. They were of the opinion that the right of road or ownership of the road should not be parted with. In view of this, and because Mr Barnard would not agree to the bridge impinging on the footpath, the Chairman had seen Sir William Marling who was willing that the substituted footbridge should skirt his land and thus avoid the footpath. The plan of the new bridge was agreed and the erection left to the Chairman and Sir William Marling to decide upon.
Clerk ordered to attend to a defective culvert at Whitminster.
Mr John Butt given permission for the erection of a small office on Dudbridge Wharf on payment of 6d per week for the privilege and in the nature of rent.
The annual inspection of the canal was fixed for Monday 8 June leaving Wallbridge at 9.30am.
The annual inspection of the canal made by the Chairman, Major Fisher and Mr E P Little, on the 8 June. Mr Snape had pointed out various matters, but none was of importance. With the exception of certain slight repairs that were ordered, the property of the Canal Company appeared to be in good order and condition. The quantity of stores at the yard, particularly timber, seemed very small.
Clerk reported that on the 22 May sheep belonging to Mr Vick, Farmer and Cattle Dealer of Whitminster, and to Mr Parker had been washed in the canal and that Mr Parker had paid the Company’s usual charge. Clerk to write to Mr Vick and caution him that permission to wash his sheep in the canal would be withdrawn if he allowed other person’s sheep to be washed with his own.
As a result of the traders’ complaints about the state of the T&S Canal above Chalford, the Clerk was directed to inspect the Canal and report to the Committee at the next meeting.
Thomas Salt MP and John Charles Salt claimed share no.56, will of Mary Salt.
At the invitation of the Chairman, Mr Barnard attended the meeting in respect of his objection to the intended erection of a bridge over the canal at Hilly Orchard in place of the present damaged swing bridge. However, the Committee resolved to stand by their resolution of erecting the new bridge.
Chairman was requested to view the strips of land at Ryeford Mills on the side of the canal coming up for sale by auction and, if he thought advisable, to instruct the Clerk to make a reasonable bid for one or more of them at the auction.
Mr Snape handed in his report on the state of the T&S Canal.
Committee approved the Chairman’s report that he had refused the application of Mr Buckler for his sons to bathe in the canal.
Various matters were discussed which did not require any special minutes as follows: a letter from Sir W H Marling in respect of the footbridge at Ryeford; the strips of land offered for sale, one of which this Company had bid for; the advertising for sale of a wharf at Lechlade belonging to the T&S Canal, but which had been withdrawn, and other matters.
Mr Hamilton Mills to discuss with the Midland Railway Company contentious issues concerning boundaries of the respective properties at Stonehouse Wharf.
Company should join in proposed interview which Mr Waddy on behalf of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. had requested with the Board of Trade about the state of the T&S Canal.
The plan of property of the Stonehouse and Nailsworth Railway at Stonehouse wharf, having a slight inaccuracy, was ordered to stand over for correction before signature.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage since 1 April £1152 13s 11d. After wages, etc, profit £546 1s 5d. Dividend of £2 10s declared.
New Swing Bridge needed at the Framilode Basin. Mr Hooper undertook to inspect it.
Re the bank near the Stonehouse & Nailsworth Railway between Ryeford and Stonehouse slipping into the canal; the onus of repair belongs to the Railway. Clerk to write to the proper Railway Authority.
Some of the committee inspected the repairs required at The Ship Inn, Wallbridge, and gave necessary instructions.
Mr Hooper reported (through Mr Beard) that the Swing Bridge at Framilode was in a very bad state and required early attention.
Clerk reported that the Midland Railway Inspector had promised to bring the matter of the slip of the embankment at the Railway Bridge and the Canal between Ryeford and Stonehouse to the notice of the Engineer.
Clerk read out a letter from Messrs Castle & Castle acting for the Stroud Union Assessment Committee in the valuation of various properties for rating purposes, enquiring what, if any, payment was made for a supposed supply of water from the Canal to Ebley Mills, and was instructed to reply that no payment was made for any such supply.
Instructions given to Mr Snape to see the Engineer of the Midland Railway Co in respect of the Railway embankment at or near the Ryeford Railway Bridge.
Water rents payable by Messrs Webb & Spring were for the future to be 22s. a year.
An application had been made by Mr Buckler for permission to put in 4 roof lights in the Warehouse he rented at Wallbridge, for which he would pay half the costs. Clerk to ask him to meet the Chairman and Mr Howard on the subject.
Clerk saw the Engineer of the Midland Railway Co who promised to do the work to the Railway embankment to the extent of their boundary. He would enquire as to the company’s liability beyond that boundary and, if liable, would attend to it. Clerk arranged with the Engineer to do the dredging required, for which he would charge the Midland Railway Co with the costs.
Mr Henry Lewis paid £1 2s 6d for the value of his inadvertently lopping the Company’s withy trees at the top of the Ocean at Stonehouse.
Clerk reported that the Midland Railway Co had put down boundary posts at Stonehouse wharf in accordance with the plan signed by Mr Gratten on behalf of the Railway Co and by Mr Little, the Chairman, in November last.
Some minor matters were brought before the Committee and discussed.
Accounts, books and vouchers checked and certified. Treasurer’s book examined and signed by Chairman.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage from 1 October 1885 £1201 9s 7d. After wages, etc, profit £484 15s 9d. Dividend of £2 7s 6d declared.
Annual Inspection of the canal fixed for Monday 7 June, starting from Wallbridge Wharf at 9.am.
Chairman made some remarks upon the Railway & Canal Traffic Bill now before Parliament.
Committee members carrying out the inspection on the 7 June were accompanied by Mr Broderip, a shareholder. They inspected the Buildings, Locks, Bridges, and the Property generally including the stores at the Canal Depot at Eastington. They looked specially at the water well and weir on Mr Lane’s premises at Ebley in accordance with a special agreement dated 20 January 1858, between the Company and Mr Lane; the slip of the embankment near the Railway Bridge at Stonehouse; the boundary posts put in by the Midland Railway Co at Stonehouse wharf; the Ocean Bridge at Stonehouse and the new Bridge at Framilode. The Committee, supported by Mr Broderip, with confidence reported most favourably upon the state of repair of the Canal property generally.
The Midland Railway Company have attempted to encroach on to Company land at Stonehouse wharf by making an entrance to their line and property out of the Highway leading to Bridgend across the small piece of land in front of the entrance gates to the Canal Co’s property and they had removed the obstruction which the Company had placed there. Clerk to stop the attempted entrance more effectively and Mr Hamilton Mills, as Solicitor, to write to the Railway Company and intimate the intention of the Canal Company to resist the Railway Company’s actions.
Messrs Clark & Co of the Canal Iron Works near Stroud applied by letter of 18 June to reduce the charge for Steam Launches using the Canal. 15s to be charged to them for the double journey Stroud to Junction and back; 12s 6d. from Stroud to Junction and back to Stonehouse; 7s.6d from Stonehouse to Junction and back.
Mr T H Pearce paid the £5 ordered for getting up the boat Lydia sunk at Stonehouse on the 11 June. The cost to the Company was £2 14s 3d.
Reported that the Midland Railway Company had cut down the fence erected by the Canal Company and substituted one 4ft 6in from their boundary. Solicitor to write to the Railway Company requiring the removal of their fence and to say that the Canal Company would entertain the purchase of the small piece of land if the Railway Co wished to do so. Ordered that the Clerk report immediately to the Solicitor if anything more was done.
Solicitor instructed to consult with the Chairman upon the advisability of laying a case before Counsel in respect of the Thames & Severn Canal Co’s lack of attention to their canal.
Clerk reported that the Midland Railway Co had put back the fence to its original position.
Mr Hamilton Mills read the Opinion he had received from Counsel about the T&S Canal. Resolved that the Company join the proposed deputation to the President of the Board of Trade from Lord Bathurst and other owner occupiers of property and traders; and that the Chairman and Sir W H Marling, or failing him, Mr Hooper, represent the Company.
Mr Vizard, Clerk to the Wheatenhurst Highway Board, had written that they would no longer required use of Canal Co land at Stonehouse and Ryeford wharves for breaking stone. Clerk to reply that the notice be considered to expire at Lady Day next, and that, from Lady Day, the charge for the use of a portion of Bristol Road wharf would be £2 p.a.
General Half Yearly Meeting. Tonnage from 1 April £1125 6s 7d. After wages, etc, profit £473 12s 8d. Dividend of £2 5s declared.
Permission was given to Mr W Walters of Stonehouse for a letter box to be placed in the wall of the premises occupied by Mr Charles Critchley near the Ship Inn.
Mr W Davies junior, Mr Fred Howard and Major Fisher re-elected as members of the Committee.
Discussion took place on the advantage to the Company if stone came from the Rowley Hall quarry near Dudley rather than Clee Hill near Ludlow. The Chairman stated that Stroud Highway Board was to trial both, and that he was to attend a meeting in Gloucester on the subject on 27 November.
Discussion took place on the proposed deputation to the President of the Board of Trade re the T&S Canal.
Mr H H Mills was instructed to prepare a tenancy agreement re Mr Frederick Cook as tenant of a cottage at Framilode.
Wharfage charged Mr Kimmins on all goods which could not come by Canal to be 3d per ton, but the usual Canal rates to be charged on all goods brought by Railway to the Stonehouse siding and carted through the Canal Wharf which might have been brought by Canal.
Chairman, Mr Hooper and Mr Hamilton Mills joined the deputation to the President of the Board of Trade with reference to the action of the Great Western Railway Co in connection with the T&S Canal and reported that its result was considered satisfactory with regard to the action the Board of Trade would probably take in any future legislation that might bear upon Railway and Canal traffic.
Clerk reported there was no place to deposit canal mud and landowners and occupiers objected to it being placed on their land. There was a suitable piece of land at Stonehouse belonging to the Stonehouse Court Estate near the main line of the Midland Railway. As Sir W H Marling, one of the Trustees of the property, was in favour it was agreed that the Chairman and Mr Hooper inspect the land.
Clerk to get the price of planting a piece of land near the Junction with withy sets.
Permission was given to the Stroud Local Board of Health to put manholes to the sewer passing through Wallbridge wharf.
The Great Western Railway Co’s reply to the deputation to the Board of Trade was read, the necessary reply was left in the hands of the Chairman and Messrs Hooper and Mills.
Sir W H Marling to consider what terms the Trustees of the Stonehouse Court Estate would let the land for the deposit of mud.
Orders given for planting the withy bed near the Junction with osiers.
The stoppage of the towing path on the canal was ordered for the 7 to 11 February next, with due notice being given.
Mr Hamilton Mills was asked to find out why the assessment to the poor rate on Wallbridge wharf and premises had increased.
Discussion took place on the effect of the further Memorial to the Board of Trade re the T&S Canal and the recent report of the Committee on Railways & Canals.
Sir W H Marling named the terms on which it was probable the Trustees of the Stonehouse Court Estate would let part of their land for the deposit of mud. The matter was deferred to find out whether the Midland Railway Co would allow a deposit of mud to be made on the embankment or other part of their property.
Clerk reported that the cost of the planting the withy bed near the Junction (after the sale of some poplar trees for £3 14s) was £2 12s 10d.
Clerk reported that the stoppage of the Towing Path had taken place with the only objection coming from the occupier of a cottage at or near Ryeford.
Other minor matters mentioned were: an accumulation of ashes near Ryeford Swing Bridge, drainage into the canal from cottages belonging to Mr Hooper at Dudbridge, and an application from Mr Lane of Ebley Mill for the repair of the road over the Canal Bridge leading to his mill.
Walter Symes Harris claimed share nos.54,55, will of Caroline Harris.
