1903-1909
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/9/11
Letters written by William James Snape between August 1903 and March 1909
Acknowledging receipt of 5s towards Mr Potter's rent.
Acknowledging receipt of authority for you to claim the shares standing in the name of Mrs M W Jones
Please explain men's time 52 hours. Time sheet I signed gave 49 hours
Proposal to widen Eastington Bridge and regrade approaches, rather than rebuild which would be expensive
Enclosing six share certificates in names of executors of Mrs M W Jones deceased
Although you claimed more hours than I signed for, I will pass your account
Please deliver to Canal Yard at Eastington stated quantities of iron and nuts
Enclosing receipt for rent paid. More must be paid on Saturday.
Enclosing receipt for rent paid. Balance to pay.
I am returning the workmen's time sheet but some figures are lacking.
Dixon of Downton House, Stonehouse has permission for a canoe on canal.
5s charge to be made for motor boat trips between Double Locks and Eastington Top Lock.
I have received your letter. Mr Snape will attend to it on his return.
The charge for permission to angle, Jan-Dec, is 2s 6d a year.
The value of Stroudwater Navigation shares on 18 July was £65 each.
Please have ditch near Victoria Tap cleaned out - also have hedge cut from lock to Foundry.
Rent owing. I have no proof of you carrying out your promises and the Committee will have you turned out.
Receipt for 4s towards J K Potter's rent.
Order for 2000 sheets of paper and cost per 1000 sheets of notepaper.
Kindly have bushes along your garden from Midland Railway towards your boathouse cut back.
As you have paid nothing towards your rent, I shall ask for an ejectment order at the next Committee Meeting.
I do not want the leaves from your willows in the canal. If you do not cut them my men will.
Receipt of 3s 6d towards Mr Potter's rent. Balance to pay 19s 5d.
Re Bye-Laws. Copies of notice signed by Clerk posted in Toll Collecting Offices and along canal.
As you have been absent the last two Committee Meetings, you must attend on 20 Sep to retain your seat on the Committee.
As you have been absent the last two Committee Meetings, you must attend on 20 Sep to retain your seat on the Committee.
Bushes and tree branches overhanging the canal from Roving Bridge to Eastington are in the way of traffic. Kindly have them trimmed or my men will do it as in previous years.
Kindly reply to No.196 23 July re gravel and rubbish washed into the canal at Ryeford.
Kindly send 1s rent due last June for ventilating pipe at Dudbridge and reply to letter of 3 July re gateway in fence at Ebley Sewage Tanks.
Enclosing £3 17s 8d to Credit of this Company's a/c and kindly make up Pass Book.
Reply to complaint about Company's men cutting trees, Roving Bridge to Eastington. No charge will be made so no claim need be made. Three trees over canal between Blunder Lock and Lock House are dangerous. Kindly look at them.
Enclosing receipt for £3 4s from Messrs Davis & Champion for W J Acton's rent (less 10% Bailiff's fee).
Replying to your request re price of Canal shares. If you wish to sell, I will make enquiries. Our shares are not on the Stock Exchange.
For Legacy Duty the Stroudwater shares are valued at about £60 each.
My men will shortly cut the trees on the canal bank between your fence and the water. Kindly look at the trees overhanging the canal near the Lock-house and in the pound above. My men are at your service.
Fracture in crown of Ryeford Bridge repaired. Our part, towards Stroud, stoned. I can stone County's part using some of your stone on Ryeford Wharf. Kindly instruct my men on Monday morning.
Mr Whittingham has informed me of your enquiry re meeting. You were absent from the meeting in September. If absent from the meeting on Wednesday next you will still be on the Committee but you must attend in November. There was no meeting in August.
Acknowledging receipt of 3s 6d, further payment by Mr Potter towards his rent. Balance to pay 15s 11d.
Replying to your verbal application for an extension of your lease of "The Ship Inn""
Enclosing two copies of the New Bye-laws, sealed and signed by Mr Chas. H Hooper, Chairman, and myself as Clerk.
Respecting your enquiry, I have written Mr Smart of Chalford, Canal Carrier, to call and see you.
Mr E L Barnard of Ebley asks about getting a boatload of acid in carboys from Leeds to Ebley. Most likely you will call upon him.
Returning the Probate of the Will of Mrs E J Elers. The shares stand in the name of Mr F W Elers and Mr W J Tucker. If you have the enclosed form signed by these gentlemen, I will forward you another Dividend Warrant. Dividend to be paid to the Manager, London & Joint Bank Ltd, Paddington Branch, to their credit.
Kindly reply to my letters, 197H 3 July 05 and 223H 25 Sept 05 re gateway in fences at (Sewage Tanks) Ebley.
Let me know when I am likely to get rent 17s 7d, due 25 October.
Kindly have the enclosed form filled and signed by F W Elers and W J Tucker to pay the dividend to the first named.
You must get out of the house as soon as you can. Shortly measures will be taken to force you out by next week.
You would facilitate the transfer of shares by communication with the solicitors of the Company, Messrs Little & Whittingham, Rowcroft, Stroud.
Receipt of 5 shares. Kindly send the Probate of the will of the late Mrs Elers.
Please supply per bearer 4lbs of 4" cut nails
You are hauling timber over Stonehouse Swing Bridge without permission. I must ask you to stop until some arrangement can be made. You are responsible for any damage.
You are having some elm trees hauled from near Mr Davies' mill at Stonehouse. The haulier Mr Brunsdon is taking them over our wooden "swing"" bridge
Mr Brunsdon is felling elms and taking large trees over our swing bridge at Stonehouse without permission. I sent Albert Bassett down by the 10 train, warning him he would be liable for any damage. Tell him no weight more than 3 tons must be taken over. Trees to be cut to not exceed that weight. Bridge in good repair. Mr Workman says Mr Brunsdon must not take timber over until the bridge is packed, at his expense.
Mr Davies says you are taking the big tree round by the mill. I would be glad if you would take the others. I am afraid of an accident. You must not take heavy weights over the swing bridge without permission.
Re correct proportion of annual levy for compensation fund, kindly provide information. 1. Is £40 annual value of premises for License Duty?. 2. Details of tenant's term. 3. Did tenant deduct 10% from rent payable?
Rent 17s 7d owing. If not paid tomorrow, I shall ask Cos. solicitor to apply for an injunction order.
Post and rail fence on towing path near swing bridge at Ryeford dangerous. Needs immediate repair. No responsibility on Company if accident should occur.
Re use of towpath without permission. Our man placed to stop everyone. Mr Palmer, and his son, have no right to make use of part of towpath without permission. You must also be about. Two bicycle notices. Give one to Mr Daniels. 10 or 12 cartloads of ashes to Mr Camm?, 2s 6d per ton as soon as possible as William Bullock is going to put them on towpath.
Receipt of Transfer of 5 Stroud Navigation Shares, 5 Certificates, Power of Attorney for Mr Whittingham to claim shares, transmission of Dividends by post. Receipt for £1:5:0 for fees.
Value of Stroudwater Navigation shares 13 January 1906 was £60.
Tolls and charges re through traffic to and from Thames & Severn Canal year ended September 1905 £440:11:1d.
Re Ship Inn, Brimscombe. Let to Messrs Smith & Son, £40 per annum. Their tenant, Mr J Lee, paid £10 re Compensation Fund. Licence charges less than rent. Information needed re basis of Compensation Contribution paid.
Stroudwater Navigation Shares in names of R S Stokes, E A Elers, T W Price Nos.79.80.103.171 198.
Messrs Smith & Son pay Company £40 a year rent and deduct £8:4:0, paying themselves £1:16:0. Compensation should be charged on rent paid by tenant, not rent paid to this Company.
Re fishing in canal. Copy of notice enclosed. Can't let portions of canal. Ticket holders allowed to angle where they please.
Request for £27:1:2d. Two deposit receipts enclosed. Balance to Company's credit 16s. Money urgently required
Receipt of Probate of Will of late Lady Eliza Daubeney, certificates for two shares in Company. Request for authority of executors.
Four cheques "Acton unpaid"" returned by bank. 17s 7d to be paid by Saturday or matter in hands of Company's solicitors."
I enclose pass book to be made up to date and returned. Thanks for cheque, value £17 17s.
I note that you did not intend to set up a "public right of way to the door""
Return filled in as required by Board of Trade.
Death of Lady Eliza Daubeney registered. I return Probate of her Will and Certificates of Shares Nos.2 &125. I enclose form of authority for payment of dividends. Please fill in and return.
General Daubeney deceased. Receipt for 5s PO. Transfer of shares. Messrs Little and Whittingham, Rowcroft, Stroud, Company Solicitors.
Damage to Watermen's vessels from striking your trees overhanging canal between Bristol road lock and Parklands Bridge. They state that when the wind is blowing across the canal, their vessels strike the trees. Also when vessels pass earch other, there is a danger of the steerer being knocked off cabin. Kindly have trees taken down or cut.
Receipt of Dividend Request signed by Commander Daubeney and your documents.
£6:2:6d for timber purchased will be paid early in May.
Please place enclosed order for £3:17:8d to Credit of Company. Also make up pass book to date.
Stroudwater Navigation Share Certificates Nos.2 & 125, in name of H F Daubeney of Tatchley House, Prestbury, near Cheltenham, Commander Royal Navy.
I have received your two letters re Contribution to Gloucester Harbour Board. My Committee meets on 25 April.
Toll is 6d per ton to any place between here and Brimscombe, including Brimscombe Basin, 4d to any point beyond. Special rate of 3d on stone discharged on T & S wharf at Stroud.
Proceed with work at cottage at Dudbridge as per estimate, £3. Cost of glass to be paid for by tenant, Mr Thos Ely. Please get work done by Whitsuntide and give tenant few days notice.
Late Mr Critchley's share was sold to Mr Walter James Ruegg on 11 November 1895.
£6 due from company to 31 March, qualifying representative for seat on Gloucester Harbour Board. Stroud Navigation cannot continue to pay this amount. It will, if agreeable, contribute for current year £3, without representation. Mr Barrett Cooke's letter to Chairman. Neither I or Sir W H Marling recognise his remarks as "seeing the £6 paid""."
No shares sold between Feb 1904 and Jan 1906. 14 Jun 1905 value not fixed. In my opinion shares then and now worth £60 each.
Stroudwater Navigation shares £65 each. If purchaser comes to notice I will let you know.
You have made your watering place in the canal bank at Saul. In letter 28 May 1903 you allowed Company to deposit mud in your field. These conditions stand, but I will give you notice when we intend to deposit mud.
Receipt of letter of 26 May.
Three shares in names of Miss Alice Maud Stanton, Miss Ethel Sophia Martha Stanton, Rev William Darke Stanton, Nos.7,62,63.
Canal is a short one, staff small. I will fill in the columns in the schedule that will be of help to you. Kindly give me duplicate forms to keep as copies. Re "Section of Locks"" and reaches between locks would the 1890 return to the Board of Trade suffice
I shall arrange for a member of my Committee to inspect the house with me.
Washing sheep in canal near Stonepits Bridge.10s paid for many years by Mr Vick. No reduction can be made. Owing to damage to the banks, Committee decline to allow sheep washing in future. I will have a look at the place. I could put some mud in for you.
I acknowledge receipt of your letter 16 June, with enclosures.
Receipt of letter of 2 July, with Share Certificate No.197 in name of Mrs Harriet Ruegg deceased. Transfer and power of attorney re purchase of share and 10s fees. Dividend Warrant for £1:7:6.to executors.
You must remove your barge from wharf and tie her on the off side above Dudbridge Top Lock. You cannot tie her up at the Dudbridge Wharf. If not unmoored, I shall have her taken away and charge you with the cost.
Certificate of Share No.131. I will see about old share certificate held by Mr Scriven. 5s fee not enclosed.
Any evidence I could give before the Commission would be of little use. Company toll receivers only, local trade, same year by year, T&S Canal more or less closed for some years. Trade with a few local boat owners with practically no competition.
Ship Inn Wallbridge. Enclosures: Old lease 29 August 1898, date of surrender, 6 July, of new lease granted by Company to Messrs Smith & Son 7 July.
Re house Stonehouse Canal Wharf. You are executor of late Mr Critchley. In the Tenancy agreement he agreed to keep premises in good repair. The stable which he let and for which he received rent is badly in need of repair. Charge to estate of Mr Critchley. Estimate of repairs to house £6, to stable £4.
Your Company's wall and gate by our cottage garden at Stonehouse Wharf in very bad state. Needs immediate repair.
Need to check boundary of the Ocean at Stonehouse re affect on Farm Yard of Stonehouse Court Property. Kindly meet me there, giving two days notice.
Extracts from Canal Survey Report re Swing Bridge at Ebley and condition of wall at Ryeford.
22 April 1884, Sir W H Marling, on behalf of Trustees of Stonehouse Court Estate, signed plan. Boundary of Ocean approved by Committee. Could you or your representative meet me on spot so boundary could be pointed out. I should like to keep spare Conditions of Sale and plan,
Repairs to floor of stable, Stonehouse. Cost to exceed £4. About 9 sq yards to be relaid £4:5:2d.
Thanks for enclosures of 25 July with easement Agreement with Joseph Vick 30 June 1902 and 2s 6d cash. I have received 10s from Mr Harding.
Re delivery of machine. Nowhere to put it on Stonehouse Canal wharf. By side of wall exposed to weather and public, no one to keep an eye on it within 2 miles. Keep it in a shed until I am ready.
Quantity of grass deposited on this Company's land adjoining tennis court at Lodgemore falling into canal. Needs moving.
Refusal to pay for storage of machine. Order given to assist your representative before his holidays.
I enclose printed notice of intended stoppage of canal at Eastington 15-12 September 1906.
Supply to Eastington canal yard ½ cwt white lead, 2 galls boiled linseed oil, 4 Galls raw linseed oil, 1 gall patent dryers, 1 pound Prussian blue, 2 Galls best turps.
Details and prices for Committee of pieces of oak and elm.
Wall and gate Stonehouse Wharf. No reply to my letter. I have to report to my Committee on Tuesday.
Please supply and deliver at Eastington Canal yard iron, rivets, nuts.
£3 17s 8d M. Order and Pass Book enclosed. Please make up to date and return.
I am having new Weighing machine put in at Stonehouse Canal Wharf. Bartlett & Co inform me that it is usual to notify you when they intend to fix it and arrange for you to be there when it is completed and ready for the stamp.
Re Stoppage Notice 10 Sep 1906. Repairs completed 22 Sep 1906.
Bartlett & Co will send fitter 10 Oct. 2 days to fix. Ready on 12th. Bring your weights. Send me bill for testing and stamp.
A C Jones, Inspector of Weights & Measures, at Stonehouse Wharf 12 Oct. Fitter there 10 Oct. 2 days to fix.
Received lease of Messrs Dickinson, Prosser & Cox for premises at Stonehouse
Send fitter tomorrow. Inspector there 11. Must not be kept waiting with weights. He will charge his time to Co. Changing day has given me unnecessary trouble.
If Inspector is kept waiting on Friday I shall deduct any extra charge from your bill. 6 men here this morning. Man sent to tell them to be here in morning.
I shall see machine at work, even with Inspector's stamp. Your fault. Fault in plate. Cause of broken plate on Weigh Bridge at Dudbridge Wharf replaced by you.
Value of Stroudwater Navigation Shares 17 October 1906 was £55..
Enclosed is a Withdrawal Notice and Deposit notes amounting to £50 13s. I wish to withdraw £46. Please send cheque and place balance £4 1s 3d to credit of Company.
Re Critchley deceased. Receipt of £15, £10 for repairs and £5 rent to 29 Sep. Receipt for £10 enclosed.
New Weigh Bridge Stonehouse. Cheque enclosed for £46, No.52114, drawn on London City & Midland Bank Ltd through Chancery Lane Safe Deposit Co Ltd London.
Receipt of Messrs Davis & Champion's cheque £1 11s 2d re J Acton's rent.
Please supply and deliver English oak and elm at Eastington Canal Yard.
