1889-1895
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/9/9
Letters written by William James Snape between June 1889 and December 1895
I again say that in your letter of 27th February you distinctly say that the stone is to be delivered at Stonehouse for 2s per cube foot. I therefore decline to pay the cost of carriage. If the word 'Stonehouse' is not in your copy it is incorrect, It certainly is in mine which is why I gave the order. I cannot send the letter to you but would send someone as far as Berkeley Road to meet your Clerk so he can see it.
The toll for stone from 1st January to Wallbridge is 6d per ton and 1d wharfage if landed; to anywhere after passing off this Canal 6d per ton.
I cannot get the Traffic Statement out in any other way than that you have for 1881. I cannot give any information on where boats are loaded but I can give all traffic down the Staffs & Worcs Canal and down the Worc & Birm Canal to the River. Should I include that from Brimscombe to Gloucester and from Gloucester Quay?
Please hurry the work on the stones at Bond's Mill Bridge. Also call at Eastington Coal Wharf where our tenant will indicate work needed to the roof.
Could you arrange for someone to live in the Canal House, Eastington as it should not be left vacant this weather?
Brickwork is loose on the weir in Framilode Pound. Please look at it, let me know what needs to be done and how much it will cost.
We shall pay but by law should have received notice of the reassessment. Please send a copy as it relates to this charge.
For now enter the weight on all Staffordshire boats as they come at down the G&B Canal but also gauge them and enter any difference in pencil on the ticket.
Please send the present address of Mrs Maria Whitworth Jones.
Please send the present address of the Rev John Darke Stanton.
Please send the present address of Benjamin William Wood.
Please send the present address of Miss Fanny Rawlings Duddon.
Please send the present address of Mrs G M Learanoke.
Please send the present address of Alfred Baldrick Carter.
Please send the present address of Edmund Henry Clutterbuck.
Enclosing traffic numbers for the T&S Canal for years ending 1893 and 1894. The little falling off may be due to the coal strike. When the Canal is in working order again trade will soon improve.
Enclosing copy of 'The Bill' re T&S Canal. Please return as it is my only copy.
Enclosing traffic numbers to and from the T&S Canal for Staffs & Worcs Canal 1893 and 1894. Compare traffic from Stourport and from Worcester. We shall charge the full weight in every boat but the tonnage rate will be fixed so there will be no increase. The increase in toll on coal to Stroud from 11d to 1s will interfere with Staffordshire coal trade but there has not been a boat down yet to assess the result.
I shall send you the information on T&S Canal wharves. Other canals are adjusting their charges similarly. Owing to frost and floods no Staffordshire boats have arrived so I have not been able to check how things have worked out.
No Staffordshire boat has arrived due to frost and floods. Tolls are reduced to Stonehouse and unchanged from there to Stroud. Adjustments to tolls and wharfage will cause many difficulties. Sorry to hear of Mr Lloyd's death - he was a good canal man and a great help to us.
Enclosing Payne & Sons letter I spoke to you about. You see they agree to deliver at Stonehouse and therefore should pay carriage. They ask me to send the letter to you to decide.
We need Mr Shadwell's death certificate and Messrs Mullings and Ellett will need to sign the Transfer Book. I can come over to you for the cost of the rail fare.
There is no printed list of Shareholders but I can give you the names of Proprietors who live locally.
Acknowledging receipt of transfer of shares 144 and 190, the old certificates and Mr Shadwell's Burial Certificate.
Re T&S Canal, Mr Ainsworth will give you traffic to and from the Wilts & Berks Canal, the Thames Conservancy as to River Thames, Mr Waddy from the Junction to the T&S Canal and a return of the down traffic to the G&B Canal. You have all other information in my return.
The Directors wish the proxy to be used so please complete and return it. The eight shares from 21 February 1878 are in the names of Messrs Harford and Miles. If Mr Miles is dead please send a Burial Certificate.
The Committee will receive your deputation here at 3.45 pm on Thursday 7th February.
The original value of Stroudwater share was £150. There are 200 shares.
The value of Stroudwater shares is £70.
You are doing right. You should take their draft as they come down empty. They must pay you all of what your gauge shows. Let me know how you get on.
Enclosing Mr Southall's letter. The Bill could not have dealt with the water question. The Mill owners should be no serious difficulty; Lord Bathurst is sympathetic. Time is important so that the Bill can proceed. Please give a decided answer.
Mr Waddy promises to send you details of traffic from Sharpness and Gloucester to the T&S Canal and the back traffic. I will send you the traffic from Framilode to the T&S Canal. Traffic from Framilode is all coal and chiefly to place between the T&S Canal wharf at Stroud and Chalford. There is no down traffic from the T&S Canal to Framilode.
Acknowledging receipt of Proxy and Mr Miles's Burial Certificate.
Apologies but I forgot to ask for the Share Certificates for endorsement.
We do not print a list of shareholders; there are only the Dividend and Transfer Books. Great Western Railway Company, owners of the T&S Canal, have been trying to close the canal and have done so above Chalford. Water communication is very important for this Company so the Stroudwater, Sharpness Dock, Worcester and Birmingham, Severn Commission and Wiltshire & Berkshire Canal Cos have joined as the 'Allied Navigations' to promote a Bill to get and work the Canal.
I agree what should be done regarding the water question at Cirencester. We should communicate with the mill owners a soon as possible.
Enclosing a Statement of traffic and tolls received on traffic on the Stroudwater Canal to and from the T&S Canal for three years to 30 September 1894.
The traders say that if the T&S Canal were workable a good trade would be done to Swindon. Timber from Gloucester, bricks and beer from here, sawdust and ice to Caln, timber down from Swindon, coal from Bullo, grain from Sharpness and Gloucester, etc, etc. Also your usual traffic from the T&S Canal which never touches us. Messrs Southall and Mills are circulating a letter to each public body regarding Great Western Railway Co's neglect.
When could you get down with your Books so we can go through them and pay any back tonnage? I will let you have 1s for your new Tolls Table and table of distances. Please send details of water taken from the Churn at Cirencester and the disused reservoir at Sapperton as soon as possible.
Charges for coal discharged at Stonehouse Wharf are made under Canal Tolls and Charges No 3 Order Confirmation Act 1894. No wharfage is charged on coals unloaded on to private property but there are wharfage charges at Company's wharves to cover repairs, taxes and rates. Your letter will go to the Committee.
Please send me your current Tolls and Distances Table and tell Mr Saunders to send me details of the water supply from the Frome at Cirencester.
Mr Saunders has sent me the Board of Trade analysis and a card of distances from Wallbridge to Lechlade which is not what I want. Without a sheet showing tolls on different goods to every place on your Canal I cannot see how the boat owners and boatmen can understand the tolls, etc. Thank you for the particulars of the water supply at Cirencester.
Thank you for the Burial Certificate of Mr Stanton. Please send Share Certificates 62 and 63 for endorsement.
Enclosing cheque for £20-9-0 in payment of Income Tax.
Gainer & Co say that if their tolls and wharfage charges are not reduced they will have all their coal delivered by railway. My Committee want me to find out the Railway rates to compare. Could you give me the rate per Midland Railway from Sharpness and Great Western from Bullo? They are more likely to tell you than me.
Your enquiry re coal at Stonehouse will have the early attention of my Committee.
Please reply to my last letter. I have seen Mr Saunders and explained what other Canal Companies are doing with the new form of Toll and Distances Table.
The toll on Waste in bales from the Junction to Wallbridge Lower Wharf is 8d per ton and on the T&S Canal anywhere between Stroud and Brimscombe 3d, making 11d on both canals.
The toll on Borax in casks from Dudbridge Wharf to the Junction is 6d per ton; the old rate was 1s per ton.
Enclosing share certificates 144 and 190 in the names of Mr John Mullings and Mr Robert Ellett.
No allowance can be made on timber from Gloucester to Oxford as you pay no toll on the T&S Canal from Chalford to Latton Junction. You will only pay 5d, not 1s 21/2d as you stated. The toll on this Canal will be 8d per ton, so 1s 1d from the Junction to Latton, or with Wilts & Berks toll 2s 7d from Junction to Abingdon.
As you cannot supply me with the Tolls and Tables of Distances I have returned the Board of Trade Analysis. Please return the 1s I sent you on the 13th.
Please let me know if there is any reason why you are not sending me the information about Gainer's coal.
The traffic returns I sent you for the T&S Canal came from the Stroudwater Navigation books. Mr Ainsworth will supply traffic particulars to and from the Wilts and Berks Canal and Mr Saunders as to River Thames traffic.
Thank you. Please send the Railway rates to Stonehouse Midland and Great Western. Please let me know your rate from Bullo and Sharpness to Stonehouse. Without the full information nothing definite can be done.
Gainer's letter will be placed before my Committee and then returned. Please give me the name of the Colliery from where they have their coal when loaded at Sharpness and of that when from Bullo.
The entire wall at Eastington must be taken down and set back one foot, constructed according to my instructions and sketch.
In future take the weight of Staffordshire coal boats as on the Staffs & Worcs Canal and the Worc & Birm Canal. The Captains should show you the tickets from these Canals.
Do not take any further steps regarding Eastington Weir as we need to give it further consideration.
Nothing definite will be decided about Gainer's coal until the next Committee meeting on the 23rd. The toll is only 7 1/2d from Framilode and 7d from the Junction.
I have charged the 75 tons of stone per Excelsior discharged at Shallow Lock at 1 1/4d per ton. As the rate from the Junction is 6d per ton, make out tickets when the boats fetch the stone and charge 4 3/4d per ton.
The Committee have considered your request for a reduction in tolls on Garnier's coals. The law would not allow your suggestion but they have agreed that the present rate will stand and will now include wharfage charges.
Field's toll on coal for Garnier's at Stonehouse is 7 1/2d per ton from Sharpness. Don't send any tickets by Pearce's boats; they now pay as they pass through Dudbridge Lock and the lock keeper wants the ticket and cannot have it if it is not in an envelope until it has been to the Office.
Do not start work again. The Committee will consider what steps to take at their next meeting.
Enclosing balance sheets for year ending 31 March 1895. Please return duplicates with your remarks.
My Committee had given permission as a temporary expedient for the opening of one drain into the Canal at Ryeford. However a further drain from Ryeford House has also been opened which they will only allow for a short time on condition that their interests are not prejudiced.
Our solicitor advises that if a person cannot sign the Transfer Book themselves a Power of Attorney is required for which I can send you a rough draft.
Both you and your daughter must sign the Transfer Book as it is a transfer to each other. If you do not wish the expense of a Power of Attorney I could meet you either at Cheltenham or Stroud.
£74.10.0 was the legal costs for the Board of Trade enquiry on Tolls. The £7.10.0 were the ordinary legal expenses for each half year.
I will take the two logs. Cut the three pieces 16" x 7"" and what is left cut in planks as detailed. I shall arrange for a Boat to call."
Enclosing Share Certificate 189.
The Committee do not think that Wallbridge Basin is a suitable Bathing place for your Swimming Club.
The 2s 6d trespass charge for use of the Towing Path from Ebley to the Double Locks is to be paid or the matter will go to our solicitors.
You should pay 2s 6d for taking water from the Canal at Ebley or the matter will go to our solicitors.
The Trust Committee needs the amount of toll received for each month from 1st January 1895. What do you pay the Engineman at Thames Head?
Re Land Tax Redemption, Wallbridge: p 241 - wharf - garden - 35 perches, Canal Company owners and occupiers.
Enclosing postal orders and stamps for 8s 11d in settlement of claim for Redemption of Land Tax.
The lid of the valve near Saul Bridge has been washed away. Go and assess what is required. I have written to Pockett telling him to try and find the lid. Pockett must help you but you may need an extra man.
Can you come to work at Eastington Yard on Monday 2nd rather than 9th September? There is a defective valve at Saul needing prompt attention.
Thomas Daniels of Moreton Valance has written to me of the valve lid for the Saul Culvert. Please try to find it. Sam Organ will take the measurements, make one and put it in.
In compliance with the Act I enclose a printed Notice of a stoppage on parts of this Canal for repairs to Locks and other work from 7th to 11th September.
The matter of the tidal valve is in hand. A carpenter will go down in the morning to measure for a new one if the old one cannot be found.
Enclosing three forms of authority to pay Dividends as requested.
The wharfage charge on all goods discharged on the Company's wharves is 1 1/2d per ton unless a rent is paid as you do at Dudbridge and Bristol Road. However, I shall submit your letter and that of Barnes & Chadborn to the Committee.
The stoppage at Dudbridge Top Lock is now over and the Canal open for traffic. There will be another stoppage at Blunder Lock for three days from Monday 16th September.
The Committee say that the wharfage charged at Stonehouse is as under the Revised Tolls in accordance with the Act but would discontinue wharfage charges if you were to pay £1 per year for use of part of the wharf as you do at Bristol Road and Dudbridge.
The Committee say that the Spring and stone trough at Bristol Road are on the Company's property and therefore the charge must be paid.
The repairs at Blunder Lock are complete and the Canal is open.
The Reliance passed down the Canal on Sunday 1st September. Why were the gates unlocked? They should be unlocked during week nights but locked from Saturday night until Monday morning. See that this is done in future.
Is the Contractor at the Ship paying anything for water taken from the Canal? What notice will need to be given to Hunt, Dowdeswell and Harris to leave the houses they now occupy?
I shall ask the Committee about charge for sand from Severn to Junction but the rate is unlikely to be altered. I shall mention the mud near the Shallow Lock to Mr Jones.
Notice to give up possession to the Thames & Severn Canal Trust on 19th October the cottage and garden which you rent from the Trust.
Your services are retained by the Thames & Severn Canal Trust on the same terms as you are employed by the Thames & Severn Canal Co: 15s per week, 2s per week rent.
You are required to give up to Thames & Severn Canal Trust on 19th October the cottage and garden at Brimscombe which you rent.
You are required to give up to Thames & Severn Canal Trust on 19th October the cottage and garden at Chalford which you rent.
You are required to give up to Thames & Severn Canal Trust on 19th October the cottage and garden at Brimscombe which you rent.
A letter from Mr Savage says he must pay wharfage as it would not be worth renting any wharf so if you charge the wharfage it will be paid. The toll on stone to Eastington is 3 1/4d, wharfage 1 1/2d if put on the Company's wharf instead of 6d. It seems you are getting 1 1/4d per ton more than before the rates were revised.
The Committee cannot make any allowance in the toll charge for gravel.
The Committee accepts that you meant Christmas and not Michaelmas in your notice to quit Canal House.
Enclosing cheque for £1-15-11 in payment of Tithe Rent for Eastington Parish for half year.
Enclosing cheque for £4-14-8 in payment of account for bricks. Please send receipt.
The Trial has just passed here drawing two logs of timber alongside. This must not be allowed to happen again as they shall not pass through the locks.
Enclosing cheque for £5 in settlement of account. Please send receipt.
The Canal banks from the Junction to Whitminster are overgrown with rushes and the roots extend several feet over the water and are likely to interfere with traffic. Please have them removed or cut back.
Clark will give every person in charge of a vessel passing Bourne Lock and Brimscombe Basin a Canal ticket which should be given to you to sign and without which they will not be allowed to pass off the Canal at Wallbridge. Put on the cargo, where it was discharged, the rate per ton, the wharfage and the total to be paid at Wallbridge.
It has been decided to employ you as Lock keeper at Eastington. Your duties will commence on Saturday 16th or Monday 18th November.
A man has been appointed as Lock keeper at Eastington from 16th November. Please leave the house on Thursday 14th November. I shall probably be down in a few days and will call on you.
The market value of Stroudwater Canal Shares on 25th September was £65 each.
The dividend due on Mr Hallows' share is due tomorrow. However I understand that he is in no fit state to sign the warrant. I must therefore retain it until I have his authority for someone else to do so, which his solicitor can arrange.
A dividend warrant on your five shares for £10 was sent to the Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Union Bank, Stony Stratford and one for the share in the names of J Ward and R Brison Jacomb Esq for £2. The other warrant was to Mrs C N Learanoke, payable to the London and County Bank, St Albans for £2. You seem to have sent Mrs Learanoke the warrant you should have kept as hers was sent to her Bank.
The current market price of Stroudwater Navigation Co's shares is £65.
I cannot make out two dividend warrants as all the shares are in your name. I suggest I pay you the full amount and you apportion it.
The outbuilding you wish to have is the Carpenter's Shop and all the other buildings are in the Company's use. You may put up a shed on the triangular land by the Garden Well. If we accept you as a tenant you may go into the House at any time by arrangement with the present tenant. PS The eel trap is the property of the Company and not the tenant.
Acknowledging receipt of Sections and your letter re the Shallow Lock Sluice. I shall have it examined and if any repairs are necessary they shall be done. Please note you have been having (and are?) all the water from Bristol Road Lock and also the River Frome.
You can have the osiers at the Junction, and if you agree to give me 1s a bundle, those at Stonehouse, cut and delivered at Framilode Lock.
You can have the osiers at the Junction for 10d per bundle and cut them yourself, 3ft 3in round the butt end, with free passage through Framilode Lock. I shall have the Stonehouse ones sent to Framilode, you paying me 1s; we shall make them up 3ft 3in at butt end. I shall not allow anything else; we did have a dispute some time back which I don't want repeated. Cash on delivery when account sent.
