1774-1783
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/1/1
Minutes from 29 December 1774 to 9 October 1783
Held at the George Inn at Whitminster
Mr Baxter asks for an accommodation bridge on his land.
A proposal received from Messrs Gleaves and Houghton for cutting the canal from the Bristol to Wallbridge. Also from John Beswick the same.
Bricks made by Joseph Morris badly burnt and many unfit for use.
Agreed with Mr Thomas Barnard to make 1,000,000 bricks from clay that lies in the first and second filed above Butt Lane Bridge at 11s a thousand.
George Edwards proposes to make 1,000,000 bricks. Asked to attend next meeting to sign an agreement.
Mr Grazebrook to make agreement with Mr Hall for his boat.
Ordered Mr Pashley to make the lock gates at Bristol Road and all the remaining locks of the same angle as the lower lock.
Samuel Collins to take the tonnage of all coals brought up the canal to receive for every vessel of coals that is imported to the Bristol Road, 1s per ton for the use of the Company – the tonnage to be paid to Benjamin Grazebrook or his son Joseph.
Mr Pashley inspected and marked suitable timber of Mr James’s at Hereford and Mr Edmunds at Newent, whose timber at Minsterworth was suitable for making the cills of locks.
Mr Hall sold his barge for 50 guineas. An inventory of her tackling to be made.
Mr Pashley to take account of every barge load of coals as it enters the first lock. When it is unloaded it will be given a ticket for the weight and before it leaves the canal it must pay a charge of 1s per ton on the ticket.
Mr Pashley to pay Benjamin Grazebrook weekly the money collected.
Mr Lingard to measure all work done by Robert Perry.
The house at Bristol Road to be build of brick rather than timber. It must be finished immediately.
Extraordinary meeting to agree an advertisement in the Gloucester Journal, notifying the public that wharfage will not need to be paid on coal at Bristol Road wharfs.
‘Whereas attempts have been already made to enhance the price of coals that are brought up the Stroudwater Canal - in order therefore to prevent such impositions on the public and to the end that the poor as well as the manufacturers may have coals delivered to them on as cheap terms as possible - Notice is hereby given to those who now do or may intend selling coals on the present wharfs at the road leading from Gloucester to Bristol that all coals sold to wagons at a price not exceeding 12s 6d per ton shall be free of wharage and all sold above that price shall pay 1s per ton wharfage for the same.’
Robert Perry apologises for his irregular behaviour. On promising to behave better, he is allowed to continue working.
Richard Bigland paid for his work on the company Seal, which cost £20 16s. Seal to be kept at the house of Benjamin Grazebrook.
Benjamin Grazebrook and Mr Pashley to inspect oak timber of John Wall of Cam.
Mr Grazebrook to enquire where a waggon and horses could be kept, and what a waggon with 6in wheels can be purchased for.
Clerk to make account of all land belonging to company, specifying what is let and what is unlet.
Samuel and John Webb have agreed to sell two pieces of meadow land at Wallbridge.
Timber at Cam unsuitable for use.
Two horses and cart purchased. Charles Wheeler to be the company carter at 10s per week.
William Esthop appointed master of our vessel ‘Stroud’, to be paid 4 quineas for each voyage to Hanham (Bristol Avon) and Abbey Quarries (Wye). Bricks to be brought from Frampton at 3s 6d per 1000. All freight down to be place at credit to company.
Agreed prices with John Couch and John Hern for building locks and a bridge, the bridge at Bristol Road to be finished within one month.
Mr Martin has agreed to the use of his stable, he only to have the dung.
Posts are to be fixed into towing paths to prevent horses going upon it.
Richard Pavey’s quote for a waggon and a cart, both with 6in wheels accepted. Cart (£4) to be made in one month and waggon (£10) in two months.
Mr Lingard to inspect Mr Wathen’s rack of hay at Ebley and if properly thatched to buy it for £30 for 12 tons.
15 parcels of land owned by company, which make 15 acres, 3 roods and 35 perch, to be let by next Lady Day.
Mr Lingard to have earth moved to the banks in Saul Field for raising the banks by Messrs Perry and Gleaves and if they neglect properly finishing them and making good the puddling in Pool Field - to stop their money.
Mr Pashley to immediately finish cloughs at Wheatenhurst lock.
Land to be purchased up to road to Bridgend.
Mr Beswick’s price for cutting accepted with abatement for puddling the banks.
A barge load of stone is to be weighed to ascertain the quantity brought by each vessel.
Mr Collins to pay 3d a ton wharfage for every ton landed that stays at the wharf longer than 24 hrs.
The cloughs at Wheatenhurst Lock not finished for lack of stone.
Mr Grazebrook has been with Mr Ellis-James and Christopher Gardner on behalf of Mrs Ball but has come to no agreement about land. Delegation to meet Mr Gardner next day to treat with him for Mrs Balls land.
A barge load of stone brought from Hanham by Deague weighs 51 tons and upwards.
Mr Keck desired to purchase some oak timber in Worcestershire.
Messrs Lane & Jepson’s bill to be paid, and at the same time they are to deliver all papers in their possession relative to the Navigation to Mr Grazebrook, and that Mr Jepson be desired to pay the arrears on his shares.
Farmer Kersey’s horse be purchased for 15 guineas, after a few days trial.
Mrs Ball’s land sold to the company at £57 an acre.
Mr Lingard to draw a plan showing the line of the canal as it breaks into the churchyard at Stonehouse and find a piece of land in exchange.
Call on subscribers for 10% to be placed in next Gloucester Journal.
Mr Lingard told to tell barge masters not to throw clay into the canal nor leave it on the bank, but take it back to the River Severn.
Mr Lingard should order names of owners and steersmen to be placed on a conspicuous part of the vessel.
Samuel Simmons to be master of the company vessel – Stroud – on same terms as agreed with William Esthop.
Mr Ellis James invited to meet with the Company of Proprietors at dinner.
Ellis James agreed with the committee to sell his land at 34s for 35 years per acre.
The men who are inhabiting Mr James’ house are to quit it or pay him rent.
Bricklayers to be given notice to forbear trespassing upon Mr King’s wheat by making a road across it.
Offer from William Price of Gloucester for oak scantlings at 1s 9d per cubic foot as agreed with Mr Keck.
The cranes at Churchend Mill and at the Common Platt are to be removed.
The banks on either side of Framilode lock to be piled with oak as soon as timber procured.
Edward Edge, our surveyor of masonery work, inspect the bridge at Bristol Road and ensure walls are tight and water proof.
James Dallaway and William Hopton, executors to William Dallaway of Brimscombe, made claim for shares 4, 5 and 6.
AGM
Money received for tonnage, £214 14s 6s, to be applied to completing Navigation,
Anthony Keck voted in as member of committee.
Advertisement to be placed in Gloucester Journal for the Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament for making the Navigation are to meet at the George Inn, Stroud, on 1st May.
Edward Keene to go to Broad Oak to seek best terms for oak timber of Thomas Powell.
James Bough to set forward lock at Bristol Road.
Mr Lingard to set at least 8 men to cut the lock at the upper end of Cocksey’s work and have the ground set out from there to Chippenham Platt and the other two locks to be cut out.
Mr Lingard to Gloucester Fair to buy three horses if any fit for purpose.
Mr Powell’s oak timber is onboard company barge, but cannot be brought to Framilode till next spring tide.
Edward Keene to agree with Mr Lewis of Woolerstone for oak scantlings for one or more lock, and to value the company’s wheelbarrows and planks.
Mr Bough recommended making 500,000 bricks near Bonds Mill for use at Chippenham Platt.
Mr Lingard ordered to level and sow the banks of the canal as far as it is finished, and that the canal be cleared and bottomed to the lock at the top of Westfield.
Mr Lewin to deliver scantlings for one lock as soon as possible.
Canal is open to the lock at Westfield.
Account of use of Lord Middleton’s land to show canal and towpath separately from banks tresspassed upon.
Mr Bough to go to William Price of Gloucester to give directions for proper scantlings for lock, and to Hanham to give proper directions for stone for locks, such stone to be scabbled.
Executors for Able Grey made claim to shares 156 & 157, to be transferred to John Colborne.
Horse purchased for 14 guineas.
Richard Davis to deliver oak scantlings for lock to Chippenham Platt by 7th June, and immediately cut out scantlings needed to finish Bristol Road lock.
Mr James allowed gravel at 6d a cart but he must screen it through a screen we will supply.
Committee requested reasons why bridges should be present width and not contracted to near the width of the locks.
It was agreed that new bridges would be of the same breadth as the present ones.
Mr Clutterbuck to be paid rent for fields up till Lady Day 1778, and his lands used for the canal to be paid for.
Meddal’s Meadow to be cleared.
Leakage at Pool Wall. Need to be re-puddled.
A bridge is to be made at Nassfield Tyning, being the Old Road.
No more money is to be paid to Mr Herne until the parapet walls on Bristol Road Bridge be taken down and rebuilt.
Mr Pashley agrees to build swivel bridge at Bonds Mill for 8 guineas, company to find materials and carriage.
Call of 10% to be made for subscribers to pay by 1st August.
Mr Grazebrook to tell William Price that if he does not immediately fulfill his contract Mr Lane is to be consulted as to lawful mode of proceeding.
Mr Pashley to deliver bill of scantlings required for lock to Richard Davis.
Baskets to be procured for measuring slack coal.
Table showing penalties attending to breaches of act be put up at entrance to canal.
Sam Smith to report on quantity of good bricks approved at each yard.
Bricks at Wallbridge to be sold [culvert has been built].
William Price to deliver timber for another lock in 2-3 weeks.
Edward Keene submitted proposal to erect swivel bridge, and hang lock gates.
Stone to be removed from towing path near Bristol Road.
Nathaniel Davis to return company planks used for fencing his land.
Mr Bough to finish first lock at Chippenham Platt at a charge of 21s per 1000 bricks, but is to receive 24s per 1000 for next four locks and the bridge.
Completed locks and bridges to be measured and settled for, and stone lying on wharves to be measured and valued.
Mr Keck to write to William Price re non-delivery of timber needed for first lock.
Table of penal clauses to be set up by house at Bristol Road.
Mr Bough produced plan for sea wall at Framilode. Advert to be placed in Gloucester Journal for 3 weeks asking for proposals to build sea wall.
Articles for building locks at Chippenham Platt signed by Messrs Bough and Edge.
Whitminster Mill Pool to be widened by Robert Perry.
Warrant applied for arrest of William Morris for stealing coals in January.
Warrant granted against William Morris and he paid 10 guineas as a compromise of non-performance of his contract.
Wallbridge culvert needs repairing and securing by oak posts.
As no more bricks are needed at Wallbridge all hands needed to make bricks in Mrs Ball’s field near Bond’s Mill.
Company barge needs sheathing. Ordered it be sent to Broad Oak for repairs. Mr Lingard to hire barge to carry on work.
No vessel not laden with material for the locks at Chippenham Platt to be allowed beyond Bristol Road.
Mr Lingard and Mr Bough to go to Mr James land and fix the place for the fifth lock.
Scantlings for first lock delivered to Framilode. Mr Price given order for 3 more sets.
Samuel Simmons engaged two men to sheath the Company barge on the bank of the canal.
The cut above the fifth lock must have the hedge preserved adjoining road.
Mr James requested that the towing path through his land be on the side next to the turnpike road.
Leaking upper lock gates at Bristol Road to be repaired by John Pashley.
Bricks on Mrs Ball’s land unfit for use as they were not properly burnt by Mr. Barnard.
An arched brick bridge is to be built in the upper field of Mr James’s land for a Mr Phillips.
Fencing and rails to be put up between Westfield lock and Court Orchard.
120 oak trees ordered from Endall and Evans of Monmouth.
Agreed with Ellis-James for him to have the gravel between the two brick yards. for £15. Any damage to be paid for by him by it’s removal.
Call of 10% on subscribers to be paid by 1st November.
Mr James must take to the banks as soon as it is levelled. He agreed providing the banks were properly levelled and sowed.
John Pashley to hand over keys to lock and tonnage receipts to Mr Grazebrook and quit house.
Bristol Road Bridge to be covered in stone and gravel to a depth of 8 inches more than it currently is.
The stank at the first lock at Chippenham Platt to be cut out so that the feeder can supply enough water to convey materials up to the works.
Timber from Monmouth to be landed at Bristol Road if there is not sufficient water to take it to Chippenham Platt.
Mr Barnard to level ground in Mr Martin’s field, and pay for trespass.
John Pashley to be discharged.
Mr James’s water to be let into the cut.
Advertisement to be placed in Gloucester Journal offering 10 guineas reward for information on who stole the lock on the swivel bridge on 3rd September.
Mr Lingard to enter in a book details of work completed each day.
Mr King to charge to be paid the Company for water from Wheatenhurst Mill during cleaning out the mill pond.
Benjamin Pashley to be given charge of Framilode Lock in place of his father.
Christopher Gardener demands tythes for the parish of Stonehouse and Easington
Gutter to be cut for puddling.
Committee met Revd Mr Pettat to discuss glebe land in Bedersfield.
Samuel Smith to rent piece of Mr Martin’s land till next Lady Day.
Benjamin Pashley to do capentry work on locks at price quoted by father.
Stank to be made near Chippenham Platt to prevent land flood bringing mud into canal.
AGM
Tonnage since 1st April amounting to £177 19s 3d to be applied towards carrying out the works.
Commissioners appointed by Act of Parliament to be asked to meet at the Golden Cross at Cainscross on 1st November.
A sum of money not exceeding £10,000 should be raised by additional subscription among commissioners for completion of Navigation.
Messrs Bearland & Kerman & Cooper to be retained as Counsel by Mr Lane.
Mr Lane to be consulted about legal tender of payment to Mr Stephens for land already cut and wanted for a wharf at side of canal.
Board of rules has been put up at Bristol Road.
Lower lock gate at Westfield, and at second lock, to be hung immediately.
Agreement made with Thomas Ellis re use of his lawn and orchard for canal.
Lingard ordered to give the height of every lock from Chippenham Platt to Nassfield. The Eastington lock is to rise 12ft.
Agreements reached for the purchase of land from Mr Dymock, Mr Knight, Richard Pettat and Mr Halliday, but not with Mr Stephens, Mrs Phelps or Mr Chance.
Lingard ordered to hang upper gates at Westfield, and turn the culverts.
Lingard ordered to survey the whole canal twice each week to ensure that work is carried out properly.
Mr Lingard to be discharged for refusing to survey as he was directed.
Samuel Smith to superintend and take account of work done.
Mr Andrews to exchange for land purchased from Mr Pettat.
Order that warrant be obtained for Joseph Madely coming into the canal without the owner and steersman name on the barge. Also for giving a false account of his tonnage of coal.
Joseph Madely paid penalty of £5 for false account.
Edward Keene offers to provide carpentry for two locks below Wallbridge.
John Gleave appointed inspector of puddling and other works at 18s a week, less 5s for every day absent.
Ordered Mr Beswick to set out the ground for the canal from Wallbridge to Dudbridge.
Ordered Mr Gleave to set as many men as possible to raise limestone out of the canal.
An acre of Mr Stephen’s land next to Westfield be measured for the coal wharf, and enclosed in rails.
Slip in Court Orchard should be repaired using Elm piles.
Road leading to Bond’s Mill is dangerous and needs to be repaired as a swivel bridge is to be erected.
Bough and Gleave to settle the size of the lock at Eastington and one above, to determine what scantlings Mr Keck should order from William Price.
Mr Lingard’s bill to be paid when he delivers level, tools and books.
Limestone to be fresh piled, several in middle up edgeways.
Mr Beswick ordered to put on 40 hands within a fortnight or be replaced by another cutter.
A call for 10% to be paid by subscribers by 1st February 1778.
Mr Winchcombe to contract for a quarry of stone on Rodborough Hill to build a bridge at Dudbridge, and other purposes.
Clay to be dug on Mr James’s land to provide 2 million bricks but that George Edward’s old account be settled before he draws any money upon the future brick making account.
The worst of the limestone is to be burnt as soon as possible to see if it will work as lime.
Mr Bough ordered to buy bricks from the brickmakers of Frampton for all he can procure on the best terms he can; also procure a supply of limestone.
Richard Hall offers his quarry on Rodborough Hill for one year at £1 1s.
Mr Gleave to put a stank at top and bottom of Stonehouse level to fill pound so that puddling can be finished.
Mr Beswick to put men on raising the lower end of the island, and the ground opposite it, on the level of the Westfield lock.
Benjamin Pashley to make valve at the swivel bridge near Mr Eycott’s.
Thomas Davis of Frampton to provide 50,000 bricks at 11s 6d per 1000, and 100,000 at 11s per 1000.
No more Shropshire stone as we have offer of a full supply from Hanham.
Clerk to call on John Organ and ask if he will undertake the charge of Framilode Lock and the tonnage account.
Mr Gleave to secure the guard walls of the bridges.
Committee objected to Mr Barnard’s charge of digging and wheeling clay out of the river.
Mr Smith to stack up good bricks at all brickyards, laying aside those unfit for use.
John Couch to supply stone and limestone for all remaining locks to Wallbridge.
All the remaining stone taken from the canal be sold and no more burnt for lime.
Mr Beswick to put in the foundation of the bridge leading from Stonehouse Farm to Mr Beard’s and also the bridge at Eastington Road. Men on work to be paid 20d per day.
First 1,000 tons of coals landed at Chippenham Platt, to be charged 15d per ton tonnage. Same tonnage to be applied to coal landed at Bristol Road.
Mr Beswick’s men are to take turfs off and wheel them a distance away so that they don’t get mixed with clay and gravel.
Whitminster and Westfield locks are incommoded with mud and gravel. Proper implements to be made to clear them.
Great complaint that the road leading to Eastington is very dangerous and impassable. Ordered to get faggots to lay on the road and cover them with damaged bricks and gravel.
Mr Grazebrook can build a temporary warehouse on waste land at Chippenham Platt if he supplies all of his own materials.
Mr Beswick’s men refused to move the soil and turves to a long way away. They shoul be threatened with non payment of wages.
12 handles for clough have been made but 8 more are required.
Earth on Mr Phillip’s land to be moved to his land over the Old River.
Boat sank by carelessness in the canal must be raised by Alexander Clark.
Carter to take out horses by 9am and not leave work before 4pm.
Complaint about the canal overflowing on Mr Hugh Smith’s land.
Mr Beswick’s men still not complying, so another lot of men to take soil away and charge the cost to Mr Beswick.
Samuel Smith is to raise boat sunk in canal and charge the expense to Alexander Clark.
Mr Dadford reported that hollow quoins in several of the locks are disjointed and must be better hewn and freshly laid with Barrow lime mortar from Leicestershire.
Greater attention must be paid to ramming the backs and ends of the locks with proper clay.
The sides of Westfield lock have come in by 5 or 6 inches. Mr Dadford recommends that the regulating weir to be taken up and put on the lower or south side of the lock.
Earth to be cut down to the 24ft Land Tyes on both sides of the lock.
Holes may be made about 3 inches square and about 6ft below the lower gate of every lock to drain the sides.
The quoins of the fifth (Court Orchard) lock to be new laid with Barrow lime mortar.
The sixth (Easton Road) lock to be made to use 14ft 6in.
The seventh (Nassfield Lock) begun on the wrong level. To be built with 12ft 6in fall where Mr Dadford has directed.
Mr Dadford advises two locks between Ryeford and Ebley provided the fall exceeds 16ft, and aqueducts to be built over the brook at Ebley Mill and the Mill Pond.
Cuckold Brook to be conveyed by culvert under canal and Painswick water by a wooden trunk.
Detailed instructions for constructing locks recorded in minutes (p.184)
Mr Dadford engaged on sundry Navigations so suggests Mr Clews as a surveyor.
Mr Dadford to be paid 15 guineas for expenses of journey and surveying.
Mr Pashley to sheet the inside of all upper gates.
Sam Simmonds has raised the boat.
The canal is being raised over Hugh Smith’s land.
Soil in future to be removed to the depth of 9in where deep enough.
Mr Grazebrook to measure Mr Edward’s work in digging in Mr James’s land and settle the account with him.
Wharf at Chippenham Platt to be drained.
Ragg stone to be procured from Rodborough Hill for the foundation of the culvert at Ryeford.
Company to pay £50 for taking down stable and coach house on Mr Cook’s land.
Mr William Franklin to build a strong stone bridge at Dudbridge with rag stone for the foundation to the water edge and above, good weather stone.
Mr Baylis to write to Mr Yeoman to recommend a superitendent of works who could be present at all times.
The rod for measuring the width of the lock be marked by the clerk and kept in a safe place.
Recommended that future locks be 5ft 6ins above the sill, 4 and a half bricks thick.
John Pickston has not taken his men off Mr Reddall’s land as told, or from Church Yard. If he does not set them to work at Burryfield immediately he will not be paid anything next Saturday.
Mr Grazebrook has reviewed the level from Nassfield Lock to the lock on Mr Andrews' ground, and nicked out the line of the canal in Mr Wyatt’s and Mr James land.
Clerk to write to Sam Bowley for a proper quantity of white clover seeds to sow the banks.
Sam Smith to receive the tonnage for coals at 1s 6d per ton at Chippenham Platt.
Sam Smith be allowed £5 towards his rent over and above his wages.
Benjamin Grazebrook to get a barge to bring bricks from Frampton to Chipman’s Platt, and to enquire for a house to be taken to erect a temporary forge.
Company carter to take on a boy to assist him, of wages not exceeding 5s a week.
Benjamin Grazebrook unable to procure a barge to bring bricks from Frampton.
Mr Phillip’s house to be taken at 30s per annum for a company forge.
Joseph Grazebrook is to let the wharf at Chippenham Platt till Xmas 1779 for £3.
The wharf at Bristol Road to be free to all people paying 2d per ton wharfage and 15d per ton tonnage.
A vessel unhung a lock gate at Bristol Road – if done carelessly the company wants to bring the owner before a magistrate.
Samuel Collins is landing coals on waste ground near Chippenham Platt which is interfering with the work of the company. If he lands any more means will be used to prevent it.
Call on subscribers to pay 10% by 6th May.
Mr Frewin to survey the works and give committee his opinion and observations.
A winding hole is to be formed in Mr Webb’s Lower Meadow.
The carter is to do three trips a day from Chippenham Platt to Ryeford.
A house is to be built in Mr James’s upper field upon a platt of ground.
Rev. Pettat will not allow the canal to be cut through the graveyard at St Cyr’s Church until an equivalent piece of land can be purchased in exchange. Some of Mrs Ball’s orchard might be suitable.
Huts built near Mr Phillip’s bridge must be taken down.
Wharf at Bristol Road to be fenced to stop Samuel Collin’s illegal use.
Cutters to use the porcupine in the puddling.
Thomas Taylor to engage the trows in their return from Bath to freight with his stone and deliver it in our canal at Chippenham Platt.
Mr Trewin to be paid 3 guineas a week, and 2 guineas travel expenses.
No more huts are to be built on any part of the Navigation without leave from the committee.
The porcupine is to be used at every part of the puddling.
Clerk to write to Mr Bayley at Stourport to forward the Barrow lime by the first barge that comes with Staffordshire coal.
The clerk to go to Newnham one day this week and engage a vessel to go to Hanham for Limestone and also to bring bricks from Frampton.
John Gleave and Thomas Trewin are to plan a method of conveying a feeder from the canal near Mr Phillip’s Bridge to Chippenham Platt. But the feeder not to be used until necessary.
Mr Bigland to procure a quantity of broad clover and grass seeds.
Mr Trewin to give a plan for conveying the Painswick River under the canal, specifying the dimensions of the trunk and the recommended execution method.
Samuel Simmonds to procure a mast for our barge at Bristol.
Fencing of Bristol Road wharf has been completed.
If cutters do not use the porcupine as ordered then John Gleave is to employ men to use it to be placed on John Beswick’s account.
If any dispute arises between Mr Beswick and his men relative to the measure of their work, John Gleave is to measure it on behalf of the men.
Mr Grazebrook to use his barge to carry bricks from Frampton.
Messrs Knight, Ellis, Hollings, White and Grazebrook go to Dudbridge to determine where the bridge should go and to pay Mr Chance one hundred pounds in part for his land.
Richard Evans to bring no more sand up the canal until further orders, but go immediately to Frampton for bricks.
Mr Hill of Berkeley to procure Aberthaw limestone at 5s a ton.
Mr Frewin suggests locks at Eastington to rise only 11ft, Nassfield 8 ft and that a lock built between the two to rise 7ft 2 ins.
The bridge at Mr Halliday’s to be a swivel bridge.
No goods whatsoever to be carried by any of the company barges unless for use in the construction.
