1922-1925
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/9/15
Letters written by Percy G Snape between April 1922 and April 1925
Committee will accept wharfage charge for coal deposited by railway as for the number of tons deposited during the same period last year
Re offer to pump out canal on Saturday at cost of around £20. Am arranging for my men to meet the Diver on Thursday. We are anxious to work canal on 10th March as two barges are coming down on way to Newport for shipment on 12th, but before that gap must be filled in and dam removed. Many manufacturers are dependent on reopening of canal
Enclosing letter from King & Co to put in file
Copy of Minutes of Meeting at which J Margetson was appointed Chairman, re right to sign for Company
Will do our best to open on 10th March but cannot promise anything as conditions are out of our control.
We hope to have canal open for traffic Monday next 12th
Repairs referred to in Notice of 8th Jan have been completed
Our taxes are in the hand of the Companies Auditors, Dudbridge & Sons of Stroud, who will contact you
Enclosing Statistics of Traffic for January 1923
While clipping the withy trees near Stonehouse Ocean you left a quantity of small brush on the canal. Please remove this at once
Calling attention to damage to swing bridge near works and holding them responsible for the damage and any accidents that may happen due to damage to bridge fencing.
Enclosing file of correspondence with Vowles & Son
Please phone re particulars of your charges re lock repairs so I can prepare Statement of Account
Thank you for very good report re Stonehouse Bridge. Re Bristol Road, I am preparing Statement of a/c. Could you please report blacksmiths fees for stank irons tomorrow
I wrote to Mr Vowles as desired on 15th and enclose his reply of yesterday's date
Enclosing draft minutes of last meeting. Need them returned by Wednesday for recording in minute book before next meeting
The gap at the aqueduct has been filled in. Committee express thanks and I add my personal thanks
Your boiler may be put on the wharf at Lodgemore for a limited time
Cost of repairs was £781 15s. Also solicitors fees of 15 guineas. The Chairman and another committee member will meet you on Wednesday morning. I can in the meantime show you how the amount is made up.
We have a stable vacant and a large area of wharf we could let. I could meet you to show the places
I have mentioned the gate to my Committee and will be pleased to see you. Re gap I instructed men not to leave until they have made a good job of it
Re application for £150 towards deficit of T&S Canal you are no doubt aware of the costs we have incurred due to accident at Bristol Road Lock. I have not received response to my letter of 22nd Feb re bad state of T&S affecting trade off our Canal (Signed by J Margetson, not P Snape)
Please forward £12 rent you owe for rent of Wharf at Stonehouse for 1921/2 and 1922/3
Enclosing cheque for £21 10s 6d being balance of cost of swing bridge less £3 deduction mentioned in letter of 1st Feb
Committee will not meet until 18th April, when I will put your letter before them
Our auditors, Dudbridge & Sons, are in touch with the Inspector of Taxes. Before you take any action suggest you write to the Inspector of Taxes at Stroud
At Committee Meeting on 25th Jan it was decided that no dividend would be paid for the half year ending the 31st Dec due to the state of the trade and the heavy anticipated expenses
Enclosing letter from King & Co
Shares are not quoted; but last sale took place in October 1921 @ £20
Enclosing letter of yesterday's date from Mr E J Gardom concerning T&S Canal
Acknowledging receipt of Probate for F F Wood deceased, share certificates 114 and 190 and postal order for 2s 6d. Have passed these to our solicitors, who will contact you. Fee will be 15s
As both letters referred to were written by our Chairman I have forwarded your letter to him
Enclosing probate and shares of Frederica Frances Wood
Due to cost of repairs and loss of trade following accident at Bristol Road Lock, and bad state of trade throughout the country, etc, the Company is not is a position to pay a dividend
Please let me have details of coal hauled by you over Wallbridge Wharf to Lodgemore Mills since 1st Jan so that the Wharfage charge can be ascertained
Please let us have the balance poles. My man told you how urgent it was. You promised to supply that week. Our man is calling again on Monday
Acknowledging receipt of 15s fee for transfer of shares owned by Mrs F F Wood deceased
Asking for immediate payment of £12 back rent for wharf at Stonehouse, otherwise matter placed in hands of Company's solicitors
Your letter did not produce a good impression on my committee. Committee repudiates your claim against our Company. To date no claim made by Company. In view of your position Committee instruct me to submit a claim for £403 15s
Committee has no objection to you making an examination of the bridge, at your own risk, providing you leave the bridge in the condition it is at present and do not interfere with navigation
Surprised not to hear from you. Will wait to Wednesday before handing matter to our solicitors
Acknowledging letter. Heard from auditors today. Will draw cheque tomorrow when Chairman returning
I notice that you have put a large quantity of material on Dudbridge Wharf. Committee will desire me to charge for this amount
Details of payments made in response to tax bill (£10), together with unpaid tax demands for £53
Schedule A, House Duty and Land Tax have been paid. Holding Schedule D until I hear from you.
Have reported your payment of £6 and desire for more time for 1923 rent. Committee insist £6 be paid immediately or proceedings will be taken to recover amount
Dudbridge & Sons have requested letters sent, and I presume are seeing you on the matter
Herewith notice re payment of taxes of 24th, for payment by 1st May. Should we pay or not?
No dividend was declared for the last half year
Give me the number of tons hauled to Lodgemore over our wharf so I can place it before the Committee
Will you be using the craft you bring into the canal for trade below Sharpness? Is there likely to be any River trade to this Navigation?
Lock keeper at Dudbridge, Albert Bassett, has met with accident. He is likely to make claim so send form
Enclosing Statistics of Traffic for February 1923
Re your assessment of House and Land at Chippenham Platt of £28, can you tell me name of the occupier so I can take this further
Enclosing draft minutes of last meeting for approval
Immediate attention to forwarding £6 outstanding required by Committee. PS Last opportunity before handing it to solicitors
Amount of rent from Mr Whiting, since 1920, is only £25 per annum. Kindly alter assessment
Have you done anything with bridge?
Re letter of 2nd, please let me know whether you use the River below Sharpness
Kindly let me know if you use, or are likely to use, the River Severn below Sharpness
I believe your reason for using railway instead of canal is the detention of your barges at Sharpness owing to the large numbers of Steamers that arrive there for Shipment of coal for export. I should like the coal trade to be transferred to the canal.
Wharfage charge for coal brought from Railway over our Wharf at Wallbridge is 1s 7d per ton
Enclosing letter from Vowles & Sons re Swing Bridge at Stonehouse
Our man had to use pinch bar to open bridge, and boatmen complain about bridge working badly
Thank you for your letter, and your kindly interest in this canal
With regard to the Truck Hire let me know who I should write to at the colliery. As to tipping charge I will talk to the Dock Company
Price was reduced while canal was closed, but has been 1s 7d since
Letter concerning Albert Bassett, who has not yet started work (purpose of letter illegible)
Returning form filled in for Albert Bassett. He went into Stroud Hospital after paying £2. Has not yet started work
If £6 rent for Wharf at Stonehouse not paid by end of month you will be given notice to quit
With reference to Motor boats Committee do not favour Motor traffic
I hope you will see your way to take more of your coal per canal. Could the coal coming by road be loaded into boats at Sharpness
Enclosing letters re Stonehouse Swing Bridge
Letters and particulars of claim re Mr Ward
Re your letter of 16th you will facilitate matters by contacting our auditors, Dudbridge & Sons
Re your letter of 17th I am unable to follow Mr Whiting's statement that he pays £28 per annum as the rent for the premises at Eastington is £25 as previously stated
Dr Smith saw Albert Bassett at Stroud Hospital. He was provided with a truss.
Returning probate of will of Frederica Frances Ward deceased and enclosing share certificates 144 & 190 in the name of Mrs Mabel Bonsall Walker
Will Albert Bassett be able to resume work as before after his rupture?
If committee decide to dredge canal, could we hire your dredger again, or could you undertake the work?
Catch on paddle on towing path side of Shallow Lock is missing. Can your carpenter have a look and do the necessary? PS The towing path gate at Walk Bridge is broken and should be repaired
Saw Bassett today. He is unable to start work and has to go again to Hospital on Monday
Traders complaining of 9d per ton for Truck Hire from Forest to Sharpness is detrimental to Stroudwater traffic, and suggest reduction to 6d per ton, which would be 100% above pre-war rate
Re use of Steam Crane boat at Tardebigge. Asking for details of conditions for hire, and number of tons she can raise per hour
Traders complaining of 9d per ton for Truck Hire from Forest to Sharpness is detrimental to Stroudwater traffic, and suggest reduction to 6d per ton, which would be 100% above pre-war rate
Traders complaining of 9d per ton for Truck Hire from Forest to Sharpness is detrimental to Stroudwater traffic, and suggest reduction to 6d per ton, which would be 100% above pre-war rate
Traders complaining of 9d per ton for Truck Hire from Forest to Sharpness is detrimental to Stroudwater traffic, and suggest reduction to 6d per ton, which would be 100% above pre-war rate
Asking for reduction in tipping charge at Sharpness for coal from forest. Traders say truck hire costs too high. PS E T Ward quote 1s 6d for ton with minimum of 12 tons Sharpness to Stonehouse
Much obliged for letter re Albert Bassett
Thanks for information in your letter of 2nd June. I would be interested in the views of the Coalmens Association. I understand that one of your potential customers, Howard & Powell of Wallbridge Mill, are taking their supplies by rail
Returning letter from Ministry of Transport. Enclosed notices show charges authorised by Ministry. They have not changed since 1st January 1922
Need estimates for cost of dredging canal. In 1920 you estimated cost at 3s 3d per cubic yard, but perhaps it would be less now
Re circular notice on River Frome. Please supply name of local representative. When can I see the Severn Map?
Detailing condition of Albert Bassett. If truss successful may be able to work again. I will be glad to hear whether progress is made in allowing him half wages
Returning assessment for workshop at Wallbridge. Assessed at £30 yet rent since 1920 has been £26
Sorry to hear that you are unlikely to reduce charges without the concurrence of the Forest of Dean Freight Association
We have a large wharf here at Wallbridge, and I shall be pleased to arrange a place for Howard & Powell's coal
Thanks for copy of map of River Frome, which I will return to you as desired
I have written to the Dock Company re the reduction. Perhaps the Forest of Dean Freight Association may influence something in this direction
Bassett is trying the truss. He has not had any trouble previously. He was only closing lock gate
As truck hire is the same no matter how long they are held up, and our traders rarely hold them up, this should be taken into consideration in a reduced rate
When the canal was Steam Dredged some years ago we did it ourselves. Do you have a dredger for hire?
Please quote for English Oak as follows … continued on 168
Continuation of 167. PS Large piece for balance pole will have to be cut to shape. A man will call
Oak pieces to be quoted for delivery to Eastington Canal Yard
You have not settled our account. It will be placed in hands of solicitors. Send cash by bearer of this note
The tenant of the warehouse at Wallbridge Wharf, Stroud has recently installed additional machinery. Will this be in order?
Order for timber
Mr Lambert has complained of leaks in tile roof of Wallbridge stable. Mr Hopson to send in estimate for replacing tiles with slate.
What size pipe do you intend to put from the canal to the pump?
Re R.G.2350 Painswick, which I take it is a reference to Mr Hopson's tenancy of our Wharf and Warehouse at Wallbridge. His rent is £26 2s per annum
Re Scarifying material, engines, etc on Dudbridge Wharf, Committee say I should make usual charges
Please reply to my letter about the dredger before the next Committee meeting
My Inspection Committee noticed you have occupied Ryeford Wharf. I was surprised to see coals on the wharf after many requests to remove them on to your wharf
Re Drain from Highway at Stonehouse Cross Bridge. The question was discussed with Mr Whittingham in 1909. Highways Committee were unable to admit to any liability
Continuation of 177 relating to the laws that apply to drainage
Continuation of 178. Owner can claim compensation if it contains silt or sand under Public Health Act of 1875
Continuation of 179. In 1894 when we reported a similar problem the County Surveyor arranged for the clearance of the silt in the canal
Continuation of 180. In 1909 County Surveyor refused to admit liability to a similar claim on the T&S Canal
Continuation of 181. in Dec 1910 Mr Whittingham decided that the 1875 act only applied to Urban District Councils
Continuation of 182. Highways Authority deemed liable to keep catch pits clean to avoid causing nuisance
Continuation of 183. Re our claim for £7 17s 6d, Committee adhere to our claim, being advised that County Council are legally liable. However, claim is too small to take further at this time
Re material and engines on Dudbridge Wharf, can no longer afford to provide free accommodation, Must charge you 1s 6d per day for engine and usual wharfage charges for material
Charge for wharf from 1st July will be £1 per week for the 570 sq yds you occupy. I give you a weeks notice to quit the wharf on 30 June
Thought you might make offer for stone tile roof on Dry Dock at Eastington
Thought you might make offer for stone tile roof on Dry Dock at Eastington
Thought you might make offer for stone tile roof on Dry Dock at Eastington
Committee have set the rent for your use of the wharf at Ryeford at 5s per week, with a weeks notice
Please cut back the branches overhanging the canal at Ryeford. Barges much inconvenienced. If they make a claim we will have to take action against you
Committee wish to draw your attention to the trees overhanging the canal on your land at Stonehouse
Committee wish to draw your attention to the trees overhanging the canal on your land at Ebley Court
Order for timber
Committee note damage done to canal bank by your pigs near the Swing Bridge at Stonehouse. Have bank repaired.
Enclosing letter sent in by Lock keeper White on 14ht March re Swing Bridge at Stonehouse
Letting of premises on wharf at Wallbridge subject to signing agreement, costing £1 1s. You will be liable for 10s 6d of this plus cost of stamp
I draw your attention to the trees overhanging the canal on your land at Ebley Court
Enclosed letter from Mr Moresby of Dudbridge re tenancy of Warehouse on the Wharf
Acknowledging receipt of letter of 27th
Acknowledging receipt of letter of 2nd re Dudbridge and enclosing wharfage account for £9 7s 6d
Enclosing Statistics of Traffic for April 1923
