1831-1846
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/1/4
Minutes from 16 February 1831 to 23 October 1846
of the Committee of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2742 2s 2d. Balance after wages, etc, £2253 16s 9d. Dividend of £11declared.
Suspension of order 25 April 1832 for drawback on flour exported made from corn imported,
Minutes of survey of canal of 13 August not recorded in this book to be added after these minutes.
Following enclosure of waste water weir near Oil Mills, Mr Lewis is required to fence off his own land from the weir and land of Company and to remove fence separating same from towing path or adjust same or make a gate to allow free access of Company to weir.
Belated minutes of Committee who surveyed the canal.
New pair of gates to be for Wallbridge Wharf. Carpenter to submit plan.
Weir at Oil Mills near Ebley, Mr Lewis has extended his fence in front of the weir. Right of Company to weir to be preserved.
Swing bridge at Ryeford to be repaired.
After alterations near Ryeford Mills made steps to be taken, including placing meer stones, fixing rent to be paid by Mr King or other means, to preserve right of Company to land and perpetuate evidence thereof.
Reparation of fences of fields on south side of bridge near Stonehouse Cross, dividing fields from road, belong to owners of land on each side of road. Duty of repairing road by Canal Company to bridge alone.
The front and wall of weir near carpenter’s house and dock at Chippenham Platt to be repaired. Foundation of privy there to be underpinned forthwith.
Wing wall to be built on north side of tail of Dock Lock and corner of wing wall of Westfield Bridge to be repaired.
Coping of Bristol Road Bridge to be restored and repaired.
Mr Wakefield, Mr Sims and Mr George claimed compensation for loss from stoppage of canal by accident at Dudbridge Lock. Mr Hawker to write to Mr Allan Mason claiming compensation for injury done by his servant in breaking lock at Dudbridge.
Mr Allan Mason explained accident caused by his boat to lock at Dudbridge with view to reduce charge for damages. Remit of £5 of amount claimed; charged £20.
Letter from Mr Henry Newman, clerk to Commissioners of Lightpill to Birdlip road, respecting hedge or fence of garden near the Anchor read.
Request from clerk of Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co requesting permission to convey materials from Framilode to Gloucester free of tonnage on our canal approved.
Letter from Mr John George requesting abatement of tonnage. Drawbacks for this.
Crane at Wallbridge wharf insufficient. Mr Holbrow to make enquiries at Gloucester as to price of crane competent to raise about 5 tons.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3359 18s 8d. Balance after wages, etc,£2963 16s 7d. Dividend of £14 10s declared.
Committee for next year: Mr Cosham, Mr Thomas Croome, Mr T C Croome, Dr Darke, Mr Eycott, Mr P H Fisher, Mr Jos T Fisher, Mr Samuel Parker, Mr John Holbrow, Mr William Stanton, Mr George Wathen, Mr William Wood, Mr Henry Wyatt.
Charles Harrison’s estimate for building wall at Wallbridge accepted.
Letter from Mr Allan Mason re claim on him and copartner for damage to lock at Dudbridge, restating his objections. Committee has offered to submit question to References. In case of his refusal, Committee to sue for damages, unless otherwise advised by Counsel.
Enclosed space to be set apart at Company’s expense on Wallbridge Wharf for depositing coals by Mr N S Marling, at his request.
Letter from Mr John George referred to Committee.
Special Meeting. Charles Harrison proposed to dig out and put in a good weather stone wall, 2 feet wide at least, near the Broadwater in the canal [Ocean] near Stonehouse Church Bridge to support towing path for 11s 6d per perch to underside of flagging. To furnish supply and lay down flagging, 80 feet, each stone 2 feet 6 inches high, 10inches deep, to be joined to other stone with two iron dowels at 2s 10d per foot. Whole to be done with clay lime except backing. Accepted.
Solicitors to write to Mr Allan Mason proposing a reference to two gentlemen, one chosen by him, one by Committee, and requesting his decision in 14 days or he pays £20 required.
Special Meeting. Mr W Southern of Gloucester has crane capable of raising 7 tons, price £100. Mr Holbrow to purchase it for use of canal.
Mr Basham, contractor, proposal to remove mud and silt from bason of canal above first lock at Framilode for £15 accepted.
Mr Cosham, Mr Eycott and Mr Wood to inspect canal and ascertain where there are accumulations of mud and silt and have them removed.
Mr Holbrow to purchase 8 baulks, 20 feet long, of Memel timber from Gloucester for balance poles, one for lower gates at Framilode and one for upper gates at Five Locks.
Piece of oak to be procured from Mr John Dimock for new breast for one of upper gates.
New lower gate to be kept in store to replace that put in lately at Dudbridge Lock. Price from Mr John George for suitable oak timber.
If Mr George uses a barge in his Gloucester trade, tonnage on weight of goods carried. If he uses a Worcester or vessel of that description, charges for each up and down voyage on 20 tons at least. Drawback to be allowed Mr George on all coals brought by him up canal and landed at Dudbridge wharf if sent on beyond Tetbury of 6d per ton.
Mr Cosham and Mr Joseph Fisher to arrange letting Mr George the garden near the Anchor Inn as wharf for landing goods.
Job Guy servant of Company more than 20 years, deceased. £5 to widow for funeral expenses. Widow and son 5s per week for looking after wharf and water from his death, 27 May, until next Committee meeting.
Mr Charles Harrison applied for residue of garden near Anchor Inn on south side of brook, as a wharf. Mr Cosham and Mr Joseph Fisher to arrange setting up requisite walls, bridge or other fences.
Injury to lock by bargemen of Mr Mason; opinion of Counsel to be sought as to liability to pay for injury.
Mr Basham spent £17 4s 4d in removing moving mud from Framilode basin. £18 instead of £15 for his expenses.
Suggested that in future locks on canal should be opened by Company’s own servants for passage of vessels. Subcommittee to consider same.
Mr Southern declined to sell crane. Mr Holbrow to report on possible purchase.
Mr George to purchase oak timber for lock gate.
Committee to inspect canal on 18 August.
Annual inspection on a on boat.
Wall south side Lodgemore Bridge to be repaired with stone. At Cuckolds Brook mud, gravel and silt on south side of canal to be taken out.
Double Lock wing wall on north, and Stonehouse Bridge on both wing walls, not properly repaired by day work.
Ocean wall not done according to contract. Mr Harrison to meet Committee.
At Top of Five Lock the stonework under sill of upper pair of gates to be planked.
Basham to have two dead trees in hedgerow for 10s.
At Chippenham Platt paint outside of houses occupied by Critchley and Organ. Leading trunk for rainwater to be put up at Organ’s house .
Dock Lock: query Harrison’s work at wing wall.
At Bristol Road two elm trees to be cut down, one near bridge and one on canal bank.
At Lockham Bridge withey bed, remove all posts into store.
Crib at Framilode to be repaired. One barge load of Bristol stone to be bought for this.
Carpenter and surveyor to alter ties of the feeder at Ebley in conformity with suggestion of Mr Marling under direction of Mr Cosham and Mr Wood.
Inspector to be appointed to superintend general management of canal. Post to be advertised in County papers.
John Burbidge to be lock keeper at Dudbridge. 12s per week and house.
1s a week to Nurse, wharfinger at Dudbridge, discontinued from 30 September.
Wages of Hairs [Ayers], lock keeper at Double Locks reduced to 12s per week.
Application to Mr Thomas Wall for immediate payment of rent.
Special Meeting. Application by Clerk of Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. to Mr Hawker to allow timber purchased by them of Mr John Dimock, about 3000 cubit feet of beech, to pass through Navigation free of tonnage allowed.
Penalties on masters, owners and managers of vessels incurred in violation of byelaws, giving false account of quantities on vessel, whence brought and where intended to land to be strictly enforced.
John Burbidge appointed as inspector. Salary 16s per week and house at Chippenham Platt.
William Hooper of Brimscombe appointed lock keeper at Dudbridge in room of John Burbidge. 12s per week and house.
Samuel Critchley to put up fence at own expense to separate wharf at Chippenham Plat from highway for security of coals he lands there for sale. Proper gates with duplicate key for use of wharfinger. Access for use of traders generally. Samuel Critchley to leave house near wharf.
Clerk to apply to Messrs Charles Stephens & Co. for 1s, year’s rent for use of enclosed wharf at Ryeford.
Mr King to be applied for 1s for 2 years rent for land thrown into road to his mill at Ryeford.
Mr Joseph Clutterbuck to complete plan of Company’s land near Ryeford Mill and alterations made for Mr King.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3421 2s 1d. Balance after wages, etc, £2852 3s 0d. Dividend of £14 declared.
Bosley’s complaint against Mr Purcell allowing a stone barge to enter canal before the packet of Bosley on 28 October last. John Knight, owner, present when Purcell’s explanation appeared to fully justify him.
Dock gate to be repaired.
Quick to be planted and fenced near Blunder lock. Piling to be done there.
William Hairs [Ayers], lock keeper at Five Locks, to be dismissed.
Request from Mr Richard Parker to be allowed credit on his account refused.
John George in arrears. Must pay on each vessel comes up.
Mr Ayres, late lock keeper, has not quitted house at Double Locks. Immediate ejection.
Messrs Fisher to apply to John King of Ryeford Mill to pay for use of enlarged road to his mill. In default Company to dispossess him of road and restore wall.
Boundaries of wharf at Ryeford to be marked with meer stones to separate it from land of Mr Critchley.
Special Meeting. Charles Hobbs, owner and master of vessel, Worcester, called the ‘Patience’, on 7 March came to clerk to clear vessel for going down Navigation with converted timber. Ticket from T&S Canal of 6 March, freight 12 tons. Actual weight when weighed at Dudbridge, 22 tons 13cwt. Penalty of 40s for every ton of goods. Order that £20 be laid on owner of the ‘Patience’ and goods detained until sum is paid. Thanks to person in Thames & Severn Canal Co for the communication which brought circumstances to light.
Clerk to make enquiry on other frauds on tonnage of converted timber.
Enclosure on Wallbridge Wharf for securing coals for W H Hyatt.
Special Meeting. If any person should offer to pay quarter’s rent due for houses and premises at Dudbridge Wharf for Thomas Edward Wall, Dudbridge Wharf, Mr Hawker to accept. If on part of John George, he is to refuse as George not accepted as tenant.
Robert Tucker Allaway and Arthur William Allaway claimed shares nos.123,124,125,126, will of Ann Allaway.
Letter from Mr Clegram, Clerk to Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co, regarding permission for stones for building a wharf to pass our canal free of tonnage. Clerk to request information about nature of work, quantity, use of wharf, sole use of Canal Company.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3054 8s 4d. Balance after wages, etc, £2641 14s 3d. Dividend of £13 declared.
Committee for next year: Mr William Cosham, Mr T C Croome, Dr Darke, Mr S Fisher, Mr Joseph I Fisher, Mr Frederick Eycott, Mr P H Fisher, Mr John Holbrow, Mr William Wood, Mr George Wathen, Mr Henry Wyatt, Mr W Stanton, Mr Henry Beard.
Drawing off of water necessary on Bristol Road level for repairs of Bristol Road Lock. Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co, Capt. Clegram engineer, request to cut passage, at their expense, through south bank of Navigation, a little above Whitminster lock, and conduct water through land of Mr Cambridge, whose permission he has obtained, into rein ditch. Also coffer dam in Whitminster Lock above lower gates to continue to feed their canal through lower level. Reinforcement of Navigation bank, puddling of same, removing coffer dam and all soil and silt, repairing of any damage permitted but not as precedent.
Subcommittee appointed to consider Mr Charles Harrison’s request for land as an exclusive wharf on western end of garden near the Anchor.
Special Meeting. Letter from Mr Clegram, engineer of Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co, requesting permission to fit stop boards into grooves in wing wall of Whitminster Lock at upper end to enable stank to be made for keeping water of level below Whitminster Lock when Bristol Road level is drained. Permission granted without prejudice to rights of Navigation to draw down lower level. No right to interfere with locks or water without permission.
Letter from Henry Waddy, clerk to Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co, accepting permission granted 22 May.
James George and Edward Francis Colston claimed shares nos.21,26,39, 174,184, will of William Jenkins.
Annual inspection on Company’s Barge.
Competent engineer to inspect crane at Dudbridge.
Navigation of canal impeded by mud. Plan for removing mud throughout whole line of canal. Application for tender for bag and spoon with proper vessel for raising and removing mud.
Coping on part of wharf at Stonehouse to be taken off and reset.
Roofs of sheds of dock yard at Chippenham Plat to be repaired.
Mr P H Fisher produced original title or ticket of share 91. Lost seal to be reaffixed.
James George, Edward Francis Colston and Thomas Hele Phipps requested new tickets for shares nos.21,26,39,174,184, claimed on 22 June.
3,000 feet of oak slabs to be procured from Ambrose of Gatcombe.
Clay lying near Whitminster Poor House to be removed to Company’s land at Chippenham Platt.
Floor of enclosure, the pen, used for depositing timber at Chippenham Platt, to be levelled, covered with cinders and coating of gravel.
Well dug at Framilode by Williams and another to be walled and windlass and rope provided.
Charles Boseley & Co, who has taken to the Gloucester Packet and Bristol Carrying the trade of J E Wakefield & Co, to be allowed credit for their tonnages.
Well at Framilode to be walled up and proper drain made.
Bag and spoon be provided for dredging mud to raise 5cwt. at a time.
George Basham’s tender 5½d per ton accepted.
John Burbidge produced book of Minutes, which was examined by Mr Hawker. John Burbidge £1 per week at end of first year’s service.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2835 10s 5d. Balance after wages, etc, £2445 15s 10d. Dividend of £12 declared.
Posts and a rail on each side of road leading down from canal bridge at the Ryeford, as fence to road to prevent accidents.
Estimate from Joseph Small for supplying and putting up new crane at Dudbridge Wharf, equal to that belonging to Messrs Price & Co. near the Anti dry rot Company wharf at Gloucester for £125, using cog wheels of present crane, accepted.
George Henry Augustus Beard claimed share no.177, will of Charlotte Beard.
Mr Wyatt proposed on behalf of Joseph Watts that house and wharf at Chippenham Plat occupied by Critchley be let to him. Rent of £10 per annum.
Special Meeting. Thomas Perry claimed shares nos.72,188,152, will of James Perry.
Joseph Small’s amended estimate to include masonery and extended chain agreed, £130 (£125+£5).
Thomas Jones claimed shares nos.132,191,195, will of Thomas Jones and shares nos.98,5,6,93,127, standing in name of Thomas Jones and Thomas Roberts, will of William Battersby.
Mr Eycott to report on alterations in wall at the Ryeford asked for by John King.
Credit to Bristol Carriers reduced to 3 months.
Slabs and gate timber nearly exhausted. More to be procured from Gatcombe in the Forest of Dean at average of 2d per foot. John Burbidge and Organ to look out for 5000 ft.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2956 16s 2d. Balance after wages, etc, £2529 0s 1d. Dividend of £12 10s declared.
Committee for next year: Mr G H A Beard, Mr Frederick Eycott,Mr P H Fisher Mr Samuel Fisher, Mr George Wathen, Mr William Stanton, Mr William Cosham, Dr Darke, Mr J I Fisher, Mr John Holbrow, Mr Robert Hughes, Mr Henry Wyatt.
Henry Wyatt appointed Treasurer of Company.
Messrs Isaac Marshall & Co. of Birmingham applied for order or guarantee for crane applied for to them by Joseph Small.
Special Meeting. Representation of Mr Rasher, tenant of farm at Stonehouse belonging to Mr Carruthers. George Basham to make drain along lower side of canal bank at the Ocean near Stonehouse Church to catch water leaking under bank. Drain into brook.
Mr Hawker to write to Messrs Marshall for price per cwt and probably weight of castings for crane at Dudbridge. Guarantee if amount corresponds with order by John Small.
Special Meeting. Joseph Small & Son of Birmingham to furnish whole crane. Timberwork of best seasoned oak.
No one present.
Charles Harrison applied to be paid residue of bill for work done near the Ocean in 1836, £29 3s 8d, for flagging.
Thomas Hanman to frame pair of lower lock gates for Framilode lock for £12.
Special Meeting. Robert Vaughan Richards claimed shares nos.199,102, will of Matthew Chalis.
Upper floor of warehouse at Wallbridge Wharf occupied by Mr Biddle to be cased with half inch elm.
Annual inspection on the Company’s Barge.
Bearer on which end of swing bridge rests when shut to put it level to support Lodgemore Bridge when shut.
Ryeford Bridge upper level wants pointing.
Mud to be dredged opposite Mr Stephen’s coal pen above Ryeford Bridge and near Double Locks.
Bridgeway leading to W Davis’s mill and canal on both sides of bridge to be dredged at Stonehouse.
At the Blunder Lock and Pike Lock roots of poplars on leaze ground have penetrated puddle bank into masonry and entered lasher holes. Gates to be unhung to cut roots.
Complaint by Mr Snowden of manner in which Mr Biddle has used the feeder at Lodgemore, penning up water of his brook to aid his navigation of brook to be considered at next meeting.
Salary of Robert Miles, at the Junction, to be increased by 1 shilling per week.
Messrs Marshall & Son to supply crane for Dudbridge Wharf for £140 and to erect it for £15, similar to Messrs Washburn & Co of Gloucester.
Revd William Colston claimed share no.154, will of Alexander Townsend.
Notice to be given to Mr Joseph Blackmore to pay wharfage due for wood deposited by him on wharf at Dudbridge and remove wood or it will be sold at auction.
Large stout great coat and mackintosh or camblet cape to be provided for the inspector in his duty in inclement weather and night attendance.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3002 2s 8d. Balance after wages, etc, £2502 15s 3d. Dividend of £12 declared.
Mr Robert Davies complained of delay in passage of vessels through canal bridge, opposite his mill at Stonehouse. Impediment in canal or width of bridge walls, despite removal of mud. Some barges, particularly belonging to James Nourse, of unusual width.
Special Meeting. Tonnage on stone reduced to 1s per ton on stone carried from Wallbridge Wharf, or intermediate places to Bristol Road Wharf, to G&B Canal or the Severn. Wharfage and cranage of stone 3d per ton on blocks not exceeding 2 tons.
12 pair of blocks of cast iron to be fitted to lower lock gates to prevent injury by violent striking of boats or barges.
Auctioneer to sell rods or poles on 17 November.
John Burbidge to be paid £10.
Accounts examined and paid bills.
Special Meeting. Letter of Messrs Osborne, Ward & Sons, solicitors to Bristol & Gloucestershire Extension Railway Co, on assent or dissent to Bill for making said railway. Plans deposited with clerk of parish of Stonehouse. Committee to dissent. Request for copy of Bill with plan of passing canal and towing path.
Accounts examined and bills paid, including Isaac Marshall & Sons for crane £155, J P Brisley for books £16, Joseph Small for expenses to Birmingham £4, S Clutterbuck for timber £23.
Special Meeting. Messrs Osborne, Ward & Sons suggested similar clause in Bristol & Gloucestershire Extension Railway Bill to that in Cheltenham & Great Western Union Railway Act for protection of T&S Canal. Mr Fisher’s draft of such clauses approved.
Accounts examined.
Letter to Messrs Marshall & Sons in response to theirs of 15th.
Clerk to purchase timber for new swivel bridge at Framilode.
Daniels paid £1 for assisting getting iron out of boat at Chippenham Platt.
4 dozen sherry wine from Messrs Martin & Co., Gloucester.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3332 10s 8d. Balance after wages, etc, £2711 5s 4d. Dividend of £13 10s declared.
Committee for next year: Dr Darke, Mr G H A Beard, Mr William Cosham, Mr T Croome, Mr Frederick Eycott, Mr George Wathen, Mr Richard Martin, Mr John Holbrow, Mr Robert Hughes, Mr Henry Wyatt, MrP H Fisher, Mr J I Fisher, Mr Samuel Fisher.
Clauses for protection of Navigation not included in Bristol & Gloucestershire Railway Bill. Solicitor’s agent to confer with Mr Brunel and prepare petition to House of Commons. Steps approved. Mr Brunel and Mr Osborne refused to admit clauses without exception to liability. Exception admitted.
Clerk to offer to pay half Messrs Marshall’s bill without prejudice.
Cranage on stone at Dudbridge Wharf: 1 ton 3d per ton, 2 tons 4d per ton, 3 tons 6d per ton, 4 tons 9d per ton. Above 4 tons 1s per ton.
Rent of Gas Company reduced by cost of gas lighting provided.
Paving stone brought for Commissioners of town of Stroud passed free of tonnage to this date. In future proper tonnage on paving stone to be paid.
Special Meeting. Mr Hawker produced receipt for 10s 6d paid to James Withey, owner of Gannicox House and Garden, for use for 7 years of land at bottom of Gannicox Garden, for road between garden and canal to feed at Lodgemore and place where boathouse was.
Map showing layout of road and culvert at Lodgemore.
Mr John Biddle, owner of Stratford’s Mill, allowed to make excavation in bank of canal at eastward end of wing wall of feeder or works at Lodgemore, for mooring barges there for loading and unloading of corn for mill, 7 feet wide. Our works to be protected by his continuing wing wall as far as excavation extends inward to north east. Bank to be well piled. Width of cutting not to exceed 7 feet. Wall to be substantially built under superintendance of surveyor.
Complaint from George Bengough of the Ridge, complaining of obstruction to flow of River Frome from Fromebridge Mills through culvert near Lockham Bridge. Accumulation of mud, soil and silt. Damming up of water by Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. at Whitminster Mills to throw water of stream over new weir for feeding their canal. Letter referring Mr Bengough to Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. Impediments in river above culvert. Letter to clerk of Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co.
Mr Robert Davies’ complaint of want of repair for bridge across canal to his mill at Stonehouse. Committee to view on next tour of inspection.
Inspector Burbidge to go to Brockweir on River Wye to choose oak slabs belonging to Mr Swift and purchase about 6000 feet.
Baulks of memel timber to be purchased from Messrs Price, Washborne & Price of Gloucester, 1 for sheathing mud boat and 8 for swing poles for lock gates.
Job Blick permitted to raise about 40 feet of wall at Stonehouse Wharf near bridge at own expense.
Annual inspection on board Company’s barge.
Stroud level wants mudding in several places.
Crown of the Roving Bridge, immediate repair on lower side.
Iron work of bridge leading to Stonehouse Mill to be repaired. Bridge to be painted to accommodate Davises.
Bushes and trees on banks of canal to be removed. Basham to trim and cut them, lops to be given to proprietors of adjoining land.
Breast of lower pair of Double Locks when convenient.
Masonry work to be done at first of 5 Locks.
Geo Basham to keep canal, roads. wharfs, roads over bridges in repair for £110 for three years.
Lower wall of Westfield Bridge under coping to be repaired.
Sub-committee to consider office of Clerk, alterations in duties, number of persons, residence, salary/ies.
Trunks to be provided for aqueduct near Lockham Bridge in preparation of the operation for cleaning mud.
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Job Blick’s rent for wet dock at Chippenham Plat reduced to £20 per annum.
House occupied by Thomas Critchley at Bristol Road wharf to be altered by raising roof to make additional room to plan of Philip Perry, carpenter of Whitminster for £25. Mr Critchley to give £8 per annum, £2 increase on present rent.
Inspector Burbidge reported water leaks through G&B Canal locks at Junction and raised water on our lower level above proper height causing injury to adjoining cottages. Small weir to be made on bank of canal near Moor Street Bridge.
Clerk to thank Mr Denyer for letter and book of regulations adopted for T&S Canal.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2866 6s 2d. Balance after wages, etc, £2347 18s 8d. Dividend of £11 10s declared.
Sub-Committee on office of Clerk to continue.
Accounts examined and bill paid.
John Stanton claimed share no.57, on marriage to Mary Darke.
Jonh Stanton claimed shares nos.145,92,135,136,137,144,176, left to his wife in the will of William Weale Darke.
Thomas Clutterbuck Croome claimed shares nos.46,186, will of Thomas Croome.
Planks to be purchased for repair of swivel bridge at Stonehouse leading to Messrs Davis’s mill.
Messrs Thomas and Samuel Marling applied for permission to remove bridge at Ebley Mill to west and use towing path for conveyance of materials for new buildings. Mr Cosham, Mr Beard, Mr Croome to see Messrs Marling.
Mr Hooper, lock keeper, allowed a great coat.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3561 3s 3d. Balance after wages, etc, £2965 17s 11d. Dividend of £14 10s declared.
Committee for next year: Mr Henry Beard, Mr William Cosham, Mr Fred Eycott, Mr Joseph I Fisher, Mr P H Fisher,Mr Sam Fisher,Mr John Holbrow, Mr Rob Hughes, Mr John Stanton, Mr George Wathen, Mr Henry Wyatt, Mr Richard Martin.
Messrs Marling permitted to remove bridge at Ebley Mill to point opposite intended gates into new mill yard about 300 feet west of present bridge at own expense. Same width of waterway to be left at intended bridge, banks at site of old bridge to be restored. Permission to continue wall across southern end of lower culvert under canal at Ebley. Use of towing path between site of bridge and upper gates of new mill as a road. Costs to Messrs Marling.
Very infirm state of Mr Hawker’s health. Retirement from more active duties, but to continue with accounts. Committee to obtain tenders for other services at salary of £120 per annum with house.
Superintendent John Burbidge to move to Framilode and dispense with services of William Purcell.
Anthony Scott claimed shares nos.85,11,37,38, will of Susannah Scott.
Special Meeting. Mr Hawker, after 27 years service, noting his great age and infirmities and as an inducement to faithful servants of Company, it is expedient to continue his salary for discharge of restricted duties.
Advertisement in Gloucester papers and Midland Counties for office of Clerk of the Navigation. Salary £120 per year. House occupied by Organ at Chippenham Platt to be for new clerk.
Special Meeting. Letter to be sent to all proprietors advising against making promises and getting proxies supporting candidates for Clerk made by P H & S Fisher.
57 applications had been received for the position of Clerk and eleven needed further examination.
Further consideration of the tenders of service.
Special General Assembly of Proprietors. Mr Martin proposed and Mr Hughes seconded election of Mr Edward Wood Mason of Painswick for office of Clerk at salary of £120. To be appointed at time fixed by committee.
Committee to review who should be clerk at Framilode.
Points respecting title to shares, mode of transfer, right of survivorship in case of joint ownership and giving of new ticket to be reviewed by counsel, conveyencer or equity barrister.
Special Meeting. Complaint from Messrs T & S S Marling of Company’s servant Hooper taking water at feeder at Ebley. William Hooper reported paddles up Monday 13th. Taken up on previous Saturday. No water had come in. 10 o’clock Monday Messrs Marling sent him to shut down paddles which Hooper refused to do until canal had been supplied. Paddles put down 5 or 6 o’clock Tuesday, canal still 3 inches under level. Paddles up 9 o’clock evening of Tuesday 14th, Mr S S Marling being present. Remained up till ¼ past 5 o’clock Wednesday morning 15th. 8 o’clock evening canal 4 inches under level. Again drew paddles. No water came in, 3 vessels waiting, so up till 9 o’clock evening Friday 19th. Canal full, paddles down. 16, 17, 18 no water into canal. Solicitor to write to Marling’s about company’s authority for taking water and their desire to supply canal by mode and time least injurious to mill’s owner. Much of difficulty caused by alteration or obliteration of stream to reservoirs of Messrs Marling. The current mill is not the one mentioned in the Act.
Annual inspection on the Company’s Barge.
Messrs Fisher reported that they have written to Messrs Marling. Mr Marling attending the meeting, it was proposed that water could be taken from Ebley feeder when water was passing over the mill weir.
Dudbridge and Stonehouse bridges to be repaired.
New pair of upper gates at 5 Locks.
Cargo of oak slabs to be purchased at Chepstow.
At culvert below Lockham Bridge, mud and rushes opposite Mrs Hawkins withy bed to be dug out. Basham to remove rushes and other accumulations at upper side of aqueduct near Lockham Bridge.
Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co to be requested to clear canal so that gates at Whitminster Lock can be opened and shut.
Warehouse at Framilode to be repaired, and brick wall near cottages to be rebuilt.
Mary Ann Beale claimed shares nos.193,194,158,159, will of William Beale.
Messrs Marling suggest taking charge of feeder near mills at Ebley for 12 months. Messrs Marling to be offered key of paddles of weir but only at the pleasure of committee.
Messrs Marling having taken down the Ebley Mill referred to in the Act and enlarged the new mill erected by Mr Clissold 24 years ago, and taken more water into their new large reservoir than the old mill used, it is deemed desirable to guard rights of Navigation. Vigilance is necessary in respect of altered state of property at Ebley. Attention of proprietors to be called to this subject.
Mr Mason, the new clerk, to enter into the post of 29 September.
Four pieces of baulk timber to be bought for pair of lock gates.
No business transacted as only 3 member present.
