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
Mr Hawker to permit Hooper, lock keeper at Dudbridge, to receive tonnage on all vessels coming up Navigation and going into T&S Canal.
Mr Jas Smith’s claim for drawback of eight shillings allowed.
Cost of new culvert near Lockham Bridge £600 16s 5d.
Drawback of 2d per ton on coals sent to Oxford successful in increasing amount of tonnage.
Mr Mason produced abstract of expenditure for 1839, 1840, prior to his appointment, and 1841, 1842 after, and list of work done since his appointment which occasioned increased expenditure.
Half Yearly General Meeting.
Mr Charles Hawker to reside in house at Wallbridge free of rent but paying rates and taxes.
Repairs of Organ’s house suspended. Mr Mason £30 for house, salary £120 until house provided.
Tonnage £2729 14s. Balance after wages, etc, £1804 15s 9d. Dividend of £9 declared.
Drawback of 2d per ton on coals confirmed.
S Aldum, owner of vessel ‘Princess Royal’ fined £3 2s 6d, and cost of £3 15s 6d, for defrauding Thames & Severn Canal Co of tonnage by reporting and paying for 6¼ tons less than conveyed by his vessel. Clerk Hooper required to explain. In case of Worcesters, measuring stick used and detected in three months 474 tons in vessels above certificates of cargoes on G&B Canal. ‘Princess Royal’, large barge, no means of ascertaining exact weight except by weighing cargo, entered at Framilode. Burbidge, clerk there, took weight of cargo according to certificate of Bullo Pill Company. Fraud discovered by comparing reports of various clerks and evidence of the person purchasing the coal at various places. Mr Mason to ascertain cargoes by appointing some person to occasionally see cargo unloaded. Musty, servant at Double Lock employed.
Mr Mason reported sale of coals at Wallbridge not so great as might be expected from Adams. Losses on tonnage. House occupied by Adams let to him at only £25 per annum. Allowance of £4 per annum and parochial taxes of house and garden made to him for services as wharfinger. Committee not satisfied with amount of coals sold.
Rebuilding of wall at back of cottages at Framilode to be resumed in Spring. Mud in basin and lock removed at convenient time.
Piling and planking at Dudbridge Wharf to be considered.
John Burbidge salary for two months. of £10 paid. Executors of late Geo Hawker salary bslance was £5 6s 6d. Charles Hawker quarterly salary of £20 paid.
Letters from Mr John Gurney copied into minutes. Mr Croome not present at meeting, consideration of them will be at future meeting.
Letter from A Goold requesting drawback of 2d per ton on 386 ton of coal. 91 ton exported from Junction 14 June, previous to Mr Trotter’s application for a drawback. 295 remaining there at present. Mr Trotter not entitled to drawback until coal exported and certificate produced.
All payments to be made by cheques, except for parish rates, weekly wages and taxes, except property tax.
Copies of Mr Gurney’s letters, re proxies. One from Mr Coney of Batcombe, two in which Mr Richard Hawker voted and Mr Gurney’s name appeared in both.
Mr Mason; several Worcesters gauged, gauging stick gave fullest amount of weight of cargo. Excess of only 7cwt above certified quantity. Ticket of the ‘Sampson’, cargo gauged on by Thames & Severn Canal Co at 3ton 5cwt above actual quantity.
Mr Mason reported that piling and planking at Dudbridge required 105 yards timber at a cost of £20, or stone costing £60. Timber to be used.
Drawback allowed to Mr Trotter on 91 tons of coals.
Mr Wilson, Clerk to Thames & Severn Canal Co, mentioned machine for weighing vessels for tonnage to be erected at Brimscombe Port. He thought Company ought to subscribe one third of cost, total £1100. Committee does not think it desirable.
Mr Wilson requested explanation as to our rating of weight of bricks.
Mr John George’s tenancy of part of wharf at Dudbridge expires at Christmas. Division of wharf with Frederick Nurse, while making weighing machine property of Company, to be discussed by Mr Mason.
Mr David Edwin Hughes, agent for George Hennett of Bridgwater, and Mr James Smith attended. Erection of certain bridges and viaducts near Stroud for Railway Company required timber and other materials to be conveyed on Navigation by Mr Smith. Request to extend previous drawback to timber and materials brought to railway bridge at Stonehouse to Dudbridge and Wallbridge or intermediate places to make cost 1s 6d per ton. Agreed.
Mr Gurney’s proxies to be returned to him.
Special meeting. Widow of Thomas Critchley of Whitminster to remain tenant of house, but not warehouse, at £8 per annum.
Mr George declined occupancy of half wharf at Dudbridge. Would dispose of weighing machine and wooden fence round wharf for £55. £37 to be offered for engine.
Ice boat to be covered with iron, price not exceeding £15.
3 months notice to William Organ, carpenter, to leave Company’s service and house due to his incompetence.
Various frauds by making false entries of goods carried down canal by Chas Bosley, John Sims & Co., and Geo Nurse. Prosecution for offences if proved.
Frauds by Henry Field and George Williams. False reports of quantity of cargoes to clerk at Framilode. Prosecution required.
Mr Hawker wrote to Mr Latimer, agent to Messrs J & R Morrell, for information relative to weight of cargoes brought up canal by William Dangerfield. Mr Latimer’s request for indemnity against liability in respect of tonnages granted.
Copy of letter sent by Mr Hooper in respect of handing proxies to Clerk at last Half Yearly General Meeting, and consent of Mr Gurney thereto, entered in Minutes.
Covering of ice boat with iron suspended until next winter.
Part of warehouse at Bristol Road to be converted into house for a servant of the Company. Rent of £5 per annum. Outlay less than £40.
Mr Mason to pay Mrs Smith 10 shillings for lime.
James Nurse allowed to land coals at Wallbridge free of wharfage.
Special Meeting. Mr William Playne’s application for reduction of tonnage on timber and coal not allowed.
Messrs Biddle & Bishop’s application to have lyeby at Lodgemore extended at Company’s expense of £6 10s allowed.
Henry Field to pay £7 3s 3d for deficient tonnage and promissory note to Treasurer for £10.
Geo Williams paid his deficient tonnage of £1 5s 5d and £2 10s penalty. Residue of penalty remitted.
George Nurse paid his deficient tonnage of 19 shillings. Penalty reduced to £1.
Sims & Company paid £4 7s 2d. Penalty of £5 accepted.
Charles Bosley to pay £3 3s 9d and fine of £5.
Offer to John George of £37 for weighing machine accepted.
Mr William Playne again applied for reduction in tonnage of converted timber which is greater than on round timber. Worcester & Birmingham Canal Co have made considerable reduction on charges. Drawback of 1s 8d per ton from Dudbridge and 1s 10d from Wallbridge on present tonnage of 3s 6d per ton.
Frederick Nurse’s offer to rent two houses and garden at Dudbridge Wharf at yearly rent of £33 accepted.
Letter from Mr Willson, agent, and Mr Lane, clerk, of Thames & Severn Canal Co, in respect to weight and tonnage of bricks and converted timber are in violation of section 63 of one of their Acts of Parliament. Regulations designed by Company to secure continuation in trade in bricks on both canals. Thames & Severn Canal Co have solicited drawbacks in several cases, admitted necessity of controlling effect of clauses where trade in danger.
Necessity of Company being provided with tools necessary for raising lock gates and other purposes. Double function crab offered by Mr Montagu at 16 guineas to be ordered.
Special Meeting. Mr Willson, agent to Thames & Severn Canal Co, attended and stated unless Company strictly enforced wharfage of 3d per ton, their company would abandon wharfage at their wharfs. Usual wharfage of 3d per ton on materials left on our wharf at Wallbridge beyond 24 hours to be enforced.
Mr Willson renewed complaint as to mode of charging tonnage on bricks. Regulation of 3 August 1843 to be rescinded. Tonnage of 2s 6d to be restored.
Tonnage on converted timber not in violation of section 63 of Thames & Severn Canal Act.
Letter from Mr Hunt requesting wall of the Rack Leaze be repaired. Mr Snowden, his landlord, released Navigation from burden of maintaining wall.
Letter from Messrs T & S S Marling. Brick culvert conveying water to wool washing house on north side of canal out of repair so water is prevented from passing to washing house from stream on south side of Navigation. Repair when canal is out at Whitsuntide.
Mr Durden likely to have large quantity of cord wood from Forest of Dean. Request for terms of tonnage bring it up Navigation. Drawback to reduce rate of tonnage to 1s 8d per ton at Wallbridge and, for equal tonnage, 4d per ton at Dudbridge, depending on quantity.
One pen at Wallbridge to be let to Mr Durden, £5 per annum.
Copy of Messrs Thomas & S S Marling’s letter.
Half Yearly General Meeting.
Daniel Watts claimed shares nos.99,100, wills of Richard Watts and Nathaniel Watts.
Thomas Clutterbuck claimed shares nos.118,119, will of Betty Clutterbuck.
Motion by Mr Gurney and Mr Wood that clerk to erase with red ink part of resolution regarding Mr Gurney’s proxies from last meetings minutes. Amendment proposed by M P H Fisher seconded by Mr Beard that it remain part of proceedings defeated by 16 votes to 12 because of proxy votes.
£50 per mile for last six months on repairs, especially during winter months. Need to reduce expenditure by contracting with parties for keeping whole or separate part of works in proper repair.
Mr Mason to take up residence in house at Chippenham Platt now occupied by Organ, at salary of £120. Sum not exceeding £50 for repairs, but not by company servants.
Dividend of £15 6s 11d, but 6s 11d to be deducted for Income Tax.
Mr Hawker to give security for faithful discharge of duties.
Committee for next year: Mr P H Fisher, Mr Henry Beard, Mr John Stanton, Mr Henry Wyatt, Mr Frederick Eycott, Mr Richard Hughes, Mr John Holbrow, Mr William Wood, Mr William Fryer, Mr John Gurney, Mr Dan Watts.
Lithographed statement of income and expenditure to be sent to proprietors after half yearly meeting.
Mr Mason’s bond to be accepted in place of note for £250.
Letter from Mr Charles Shearman containing resolutions from meeting at Osborne’s Hotel, Adelphi, London. Resolutions and a copy of the Bill proposed to be submitted to parliament requested.
No response from Mr Sheraman. Parliamentary agent to be asked to supply copy of any Bill.
Edwin Bucknall and Thomas King claimed shares nos.9,94, will of John Gardner.
Mr Warman complained about damage to bridge at Ebley in consequence of Mr Marling’s bridge being so near. Clerk to ascertain arrangement between Mr Marling and Company.
Mr Eycott, Mr Beard and Mr Fryer to supervise progress on Mr Organ’s house.
Mr Mason to keep stock book with ccount of all timber, stone, bricks and other materials of Company used for repairs.
Labour and wages book to be produced at every General Committee Meeting.
Samuel Dunn, steerer of boat ‘Jane’ rendered false account of tonnage on 23 April to Burbidge, clerk at Framilode. Defrauded Company of 4s 7d on two tons and a half. Clerk to write to James Byatt, owner of vessel, demanding payment. £2 penalty if not paid by next committee meeting.
No further need of services of William Musty as wharfinger after Saturday 18 May. Salary of 15 shillings to cease from that time.
William Daniels wages to be reduced to 13s per week and J Clark to 11s per week.
Lock gates at Dudbridge and Bristol Road to be put into proper repair.
Mr Wood, Mr Fryer and Mr Gurney to decide whether brick or iron shall be used at Mr Marling’s culvert.
Letter from Mr Shearman regarding proceedings of Committee of Canal Proprietors and requesting subscription to general fund for promotion of Improvements in Canals. £1 per mile subscribed. Request for copy of statement submitted to Board of Trade.
Jas Byatt’s explanations of false account of tonnage. Tonnage 4s 7d to be received with fine of 10s only.
Stoppage at Whitsuntide serious inconvenience to Mr Biddle as he would be obliged to pay demurrage of £5 a day. Stoppage should not take place.
Bond entered into by Mr Charles Hawker and his sureties, Mr Joseph Hawker and Mr William Fryer, for £500.
Mr Wathen has written to Messrs Dorringtons, Parliamentary Agents re Bill.
Letter from Mr Rob Davies regarding bridge near his house and removing rubble taken from canal lying in his field. Rubble removed.
Mr P H Fisher and Mr Hughes having resigned from committee, general meeting to be called to choose other members.
Letter from Mr Mason tendering resignation as Clerk to Company accepted. To quit service of Company on 24 June. To be paid salary and money in lieu of rent and £7 10s for next quarter’s rent. Advertisement for successor to Mr Mason, with a salary £80 a year and house at Chippenham Platt, to be placed in Glocester Journal, Gloucestershire Chronicle andMidland Counties Herald.
4 dozen port wine, 2 dozen sherry, 2 dozen Bucellas ordered from Messrs Martin Washbourn.
Annual inspection on the Company Boat.
Lock gates at Foundry to be repaired.
Double Lock gates to be breasted.
Bridge at Davis’s to be repaired.
Bridge at Stonehouse Farm in dangerous state. Subcommittee to ascertain Canal liability.
Piling of Blunder Lock, Top Lock and Eastington Lock to be put in proper repair.
J Clark to pay for patch at Garden Ground occupied by him. 1s per annum for rent.
Garden at Bristol Road wharf to be divided. Portion to be fenced off at expense of George Perry. Materials from Company. Rent for it and cottage £5 per annum.
Mrs Critchley allowed 10s to repair oven.
Iron posts and chains to be erected at aqueduct on side of brook where it runs under canal.
Security required of new surveyor £150.
Swing bridge at Mr King’s mill at Ryeford to be repaired.
General Meeting. Another vacancy having occurred in the Committee by the resignation of Mr Wyatt, ordered that another special meeting of proprietors be called.
Agreed to subscribe £5 towards the expenses of an Act regarding canal tonnages. Ordered the solicitor to try getting certain clauses in an Act regarding our treaty with the T&S Canal Co.
Ordered that Mr Davies bridge be inspected and put in order.
Mr Mason reported that lock gates at the Foundry and Double Lock had not been repaired. Piling and posts and chains near the culvert at Lockham Bridge were in progress.
Ordered the Sub-committee to make further enquiries about the swivel bridge at Stonehouse and that all parties not legally authorized to use it be stopped.
A letter from Mr Clegram of the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co asking to deposit mud in our old channels at the Junction was agreed.
Tenders for the repair of the canal were read, and the Clerk was ordered to write to each person saying his tender was not accepted.
Testimonials from different persons as Surveyor were produced and some appeared. Mr Sherwood was elected Clerk.
Mr Gurney and Mr Wathen attended meeting to Committee of Canal Proprietors in London to arrange insertion of a clause relating to our relationship with the T&S Canal. Seal of Company to be fixed to petition to House of Commons in favour of Bill.
Mr Sherwood reported Mr Davies’ bridge partly repaired, workable order. Lock gates at Foundry repaired but not gates at Double Lock. Post and chains near culvert at Lockham Bridge complete.
Mr Golder of Gloucester, watchmaker, surety for Mr Sherwood.
Mr Mason to be paid £3 for papering two rooms at Organ’s house.
Mr Clark’s house at Stonehouse Wharf and the dock culvert to be repaired.
Explanation required as to why Mrs Hicks had cut a channel from canal to her house.
Mr Howell complained about water at Eastington overflowing road.
Bristol Railway Co. using water at Ocean. Subcommittee to review.
General Meeting to select new committee members adjourned until the October General Meeting.
Canal Companies Bill postponed.
Channel for conveying water from canal to Mrs Hicks’ house stopped up.
William Burcher to be paid 15s in addition to £2 3s.
Considerable quantity of mudding to be done and towing paths required repairing.
Contract to be made for raising 200 tons of gravel.
Mr Martin to meet Mr Sherwood at George Perry’s house at Whitminster and order what may be necessary to put it in proper repair, and any other houses of Company in area. Mr Watts and Mr Eycott to inspect houses at Dudbridge.
Samuel Phillips to be fined 10s for refusing to show ticket and not having name on boat.
James Nurse to settle his account for tonnage first week in every month.
Samuel Phillips paid 10 shilling fine.
Accounts of every trader on canal to be produced at every Committee Meeting.
Mr Hewlett received £2 for papering two rooms at house at Chippenham Platt. Mr Mason repaid £1.
Mr Willson, agent for Thames & Severn Canal Co, submitted proposition of drawback of 4d per ton on all coals to any place below Siddington Lock and 6d per ton on all coals taken into Wilts & Berks Canal on condition that Thames & Severn Canal Co reduce tonnage to 1s 8d and Wilts & Berks to same.
Mr Close applied for payment for repair of boat used by Mr Mason.
Richard Moffat’s petition for subscription towards raising his vessel declined.
Notice to Sam Adams to quit house at Wallbridge on 25 March.
Mr Sherwood to give William Musty a month’s verbal notice to quit.
Application to Mr Ravenhill for payment of rent due for part of Stonehouse Wharf. Measures to be taken to distrain timber lying on wharf.
Mr Hyatt and Mr Charles Bosley proposed rates of tonnage on goods brought from Bristol.
Complaint by Jas Nurse against William Hooper for neglect of duty. To be reprimanded and admonished.
William Organ incompetent in duty as carpenter. Service to be dispensed with 12 October.
Mr Sherwood’s bond not properly executed. Mr Holbrow to get it executed by Mr Goulder, the surety.
Mr Watts inspected premises at Dudbridge. Repairs being done.
Notices to Samuel Evans and William Musty given. Musty wanted to take own time about removing from house. Solicitor to take proceeding to get possession of house.
William Daniels to be appointed lock keeper at the Double Lock in place of Musty.
Mr Sherwood to procure from Musty all tools belonging to Company.
Mr Sherwood had distrained on Mr Ravenhill’s timber and procured £5 12s 6d due.
William Organ had quit service of Company. Asked for compensation for attending to water and locks at Chippenham Platt. Paid £3 for services as lock keeper since May.
Tonnages on merchandise reduced to same amount as coals. Drawback of 8d per ton on all goods delivered at Eastington, the Ocean, Davies’s Mill, Stonehouse Cross, Ryeford and bona fide consigned to local parties.
2d per ton on coals entering canal at Framilode and carried up G&B Canal to Glocester.
Letter to be sent to directors of Forest of Dean Railway Co asking for reduction of tolls.
Mr Fred Nurse had railed in part of wharf at Dudbridge and would not allow coals to be landed in such enclosure. Mr Watts and Mr Fryer to meet Mr Sherwood and settle matter with Nurse.
Bill sent by Mr Mason’s son contains no report from Mr Wyatt as to its correctness.
Vessel sunk in Whitminster Level near Junction. Capt Clegram declined to draw water down to raise vessel. Letter to Capt Clegram calling attention to clause in Act of Parliament giving power to Stroud Canal Co. to draw such water.
Committee Room at Wallbridge to be painted.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Present Committee of ten members to remain.
Tonnage £3895 5s 1d. Balance after wages, etc, £3008 3s 6d. Dividend of £15 6s 11d declared.
Persons who open any swivel bridge without any lawful reason, or do damage, to pay £5 for every offence.
Where, for want of water or other reason, any vessel shall stop or be detained in Navigation, imperative to moor opposite towing path and not in middle or centre of Navigation, or £5 penalty.
Where more than one vessel stopped they must moor in successive line astern, or £5 penalty.
Master, manager, captain or owner to produce to any officer or servant their Letpass, ticket or document with number of tons carried. Failure or refusal, £5 penalty.
Claiming drawback when there is a lack of entitlement, £5 penalty.
Mr Sherwood’s bond properly executed and given to Treasurer.
William Daniels to be admitted to house at Double Lock while lock keeper there.
Piece of oak belonging to Jas Ravenhill on wharf at Stonehouse to be taken in lieu of £2 for rent.
Drawback on coals to be extended to stone, Framilode to Gloucester, and also to coal, stone and other articles carried on G&B Canal between Junction and Sharpness Point.
Letter to Chairman of Severn & Wye Railway and Canal Co., Thomas Shearsby of Lydney, about toll reduction.
Alteration in road through wharf at Dudbridge proposed by Mr Fryer and Mr Watts.
Further letter to be sent to Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co re raising vessel sunk in Whitminster level.
Byelaws to be printed after inspection.
James Nurse to pay £5 a year landing coals on Dudbridge Wharf instead of wharfage.
Clerk to register Company under recent Act of Parliament.
Clerk to write to Charles Clutterbuck concerning fraud reported by Mr Sherwood.
William Close to remove his boat without delay.
Mr Sherwood to purchase of boat to carry mud and gravel.
Special Meeting. Bristol & Glocester Railway Co likely to compete in carriage of timber. Mr Sherwood to obtain more information.
Mr Sherman had seen Capt. Clegram on subject of stop gates at Junction and had ordered Miles the lock keeper to close them when required.
Salary of auditor, Mr Edwin Cooper, 15 guineas a year.
William Close's claim for hire of boat to be referred to Mr Mason.
Boat offered by Mr Pendry of Hereford at £40 to be purchased by Mr Sherwood.
Piece of land at Junction to be let to Mr Biddle.
Thomas Clark given notice to quit Stonehouse Wharf next Midsummer.
Mr Sherwood to sell old ice boat and obtain new one sheathed in iron.
Special General Meeting. Notice from Messsrs W O & W Hunt re projected line of South Wales Railway. Company dissents from proposed Bill.
Notice from Mr Charles Lawrence re proposed Monmouth & Hereford Railway. Company dissents.
Committee to watch both proposals.
William Henry Pigott and John Edgecumbe claimed shares nos.61,68, will of John Spencer.
Thomas Clark, Stonehouse, appeared re notice to quit house: to be persisted in.
Notice given to William Close to remove vessel or face proceedings.
Letter from Mr William Dunsford of Wilts & Berk Canal complaining of detention of boat at Framilode for arrears incurred in 1842. Money levied by Burbidge to be returned.
Letters from Mr Cambridge and Capt Clegram re repair of the Walk Bridge.
Letting of Adam's house at Wallbridge to be advertised.
Frederick Nurse to be on same terms of wharfage as brother James, subject to alteration at wharf not being objected to.
Mr Sherwood to purchase deal timber for two pair of lock gates and two oak sills for Double Lock.
Gates at Junction not in workable order. Capt Clegram to have them repaired during summer stoppage.
Mr C O Cambridge spent 5s on the Walk Bridge. Paid sum as equivalent to ground rent due at 1s per annum for five years.
Samuel Adams' application for payment of fixtures at Ship Inn and shed erected against wall. Fixtures valued and charged to incoming tenant. £5 for shed.
4 applicants to rent Ship Inn and carry on coal trade at Wallbridge Wharf: Mr Bevan Smith, farmer and corn dealer of Harescombe; Mr William Merrett employed in Pin Manufactory at Lightpool; Mr Jos Cottle, shoe maker of Dudbridge and Mr Will Knee of Wallbridge, barge owner and coal dealer. Let to Mr Knee for £25 per annum. Mr Knee to pay Poor Rates and all taxes. Not allowed to sell or land coals, salt, timber or other merchandise on Stroud wharfs of T&S Canal without permission. Shed and buildings erected by Samuel Adams and garden ground adjoining wharf house garden not included. William Knee to lock up wharf gates at night and open them in morning. Portion of wharf for him to land his coals, etc. Usual charge for wharfage. £5 off rent for selling more than 1500 tons of coals, £10 for 2000 in a year.
Mr Gainer to erect pen on Stonehouse Wharf. £1 per quarter.
Letters from Mr Howard Luckcock, Chairman of Subcommittee of Worcester & Birmingham Canal Co. re petition to House of Commons re comparative charges of goods and passengers on railways.
Letter from Mr Helps asking company to subscribe £100 to oppose South Wales Railway deferred.
Petition on comparative rates to be forwarded through Mr Richard Hawker to Duke of Beaufort and Sir W B Codrington,
As Gloucester Corporation are not objecting to South Wales Railway nothing to be done at present. Subcommittee to watch South Wales Railway proposal.
Pen at Wallbridge Wharf for Mr William Helme to land coals.
Subcommittee meeting. Memorial to Board of Admiralty explaining links to Stroudwater. By South Wales Railway Bill, it is contemplated to erect two bridges across Severn to southwest of entrance of Stroud Canal at Framilode which will entirely obstruct free and open navigation of river. Proposal to cut a ship canal from Hock Crib to Framilode across isthmus, the Horseshoe. Without canal impossible or extremely dangerous for vessels to navigate river. Impossible to enter at Hock Crib except at high tide, and cannot exit until next high tide. Hock Crib extremely dangerous when south west wind prevails. Humble submission not to sanction scheme.
Subcommittee meeting. Capt Berkeley to lay Memorial before Board of Admiralty. Subcommittee deputation will accompany him if requested.
Subcommittee meeting. Subcommittee asked solicitor to obtain two Bills, the Railways Clauses Consolidated Bill and Land Clauses Consolidated Bill.
Subcommittee meeting. Only two present. Drew up rough draft of petition. Asked our solicitor to go to London as the Bill was ordered to be read a second time on Monday.
Special Meeting. Petition to House of Commons read and ordered to be sealed. Letter to Capt Berkeley thanking him for presenting Memorial to Board of Admiralty and informing him of petition to be presented to Parliament.
Subcommittee meeting. Copies of clauses to be introduced into South Wales Railway Bill to be sent to Mr Hunt, a parliamentary agent, by solicitor.
Subcommittee meeting. Parliamentary agent has been contacted.
Mr Joseph Randolph Millings claimed share no.154, will of William Colston.
Monmouth & Hereford Railway Bill to be referred to subcommittee of South Wales Bill. Mr Sherwood to consider its proposal to alter the Dean Forest Railway.
House at Stonehouse Wharf to be advertised in Gloucester papers.
Notice to William Hooper to quit Company's service and house. One week's wages in lieu of notice.
Joseph Cottle elected wharfinger and lock keeper. Extra 12s a week in wages and present house rent free.
William Knee allowed not exceeding 3 months credit on his tonnage account.
Solicitor to write to Mr John King demanding quit rent due for road at Ryeford.
Increase of £20 a year to be recommended for Mr Charles' Hawker's salary in consideration of expense of coals, candles and great attention paid by him to affairs of Company.
Blank page.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3582 8s 11d. Balance after wages, etc, £3061 6s 10d. Dividend of £15 declared.
Mr Sherwood to ascertain whether stop gates at Junction work properly.
Increase of £20 on Mr Hawker's salary approved.
Committee for next year: Mr John Holbrow, Mr John Stanton, Mr Fred Eycott, Mr Geo Wathen, Mr G H A Beard, Mr William John Wood, Mr John Gurney, Mr William Fryer, Mr Daniel Watts.
Mr Mason’s bankers note on his depositing bond.
Subcommittee meeting. Mr. Gurney to go to London to attend meeting of Canal Proprietors and see Mr Hunt re South Wales Railway
200 copies of byelaws and penalties to be printed.
Mr Sherwood to put Walk Bridge in temporary repair. Responsibility for repairs to be determined.
Mr Willson submitted views of Thames & Severn Canal Co on amalgamation of two canals.
Mr John George of Brimscombe requested extension of credit on coals taken up to Brimscombe for stock. Proper security to be given.
At request of Mr Cambridge repair of towpath gate at Walk Bridge. Repair belongs to Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. Mr Sherwood to contact Captain Clegram.
Renting of house at Stonehouse at £10 and half wharf at £4 10s proposed by Robert Thompson and Thomas Croome Dacencey. Robert Thompson selected.
James White and Crook applied as tenant of house occupied by James Cottle. Crook of Dudbridge selected.
Report of Mr Sherwood on information given to Mr Walker, the Admiralty Engineer and Capt Vidal respecting tides and currents in Severn. Traffic and other matters in reference to plan of crossing river by means of two bridges, one at Hock Crib and the other at Framilode. £20 gratuity to Mr Sherwood.
Letter to Samuel Critchley following complaint made by Mr Sherwood of ill feeling between Sherwood family and Critchley family causing annoyances. If similar complaint is made against him or family, he will be required to quit house,
Subcommittee meeting. Solicitor to attend Committee on South Wales Railway Bill to have clauses inserted that have been agreed by Railway Company.
Board of Admiralty having refused consent to any bridge being erected across Severn it is no longer necessary to watch South Wales Railway and Hereford and Monmouth Railway Bills.
No line or rope to be fastened to any handrail, paddle start or any part of lock gate. Penalty 40s, no less than 20s.
Any person obstructing, opposing or hindering any agent, lock keeper or other servants of Company liable to penalty not exceeding £5.
Liability for repairing towpath gates at Walk Bridge contested by Capt. Clegram.
James White agreed to take house at Dudbridge occupied by Joseph Cottle at 6 guineas a year.
Letter from Mr Gurney re South Wales Railway copied into minutes, reporting his attendance at Committee of Commons on the Newport & Pontypool &South Wales Railway Bills. Mr Brunel, in cross examination, declared clauses ought to be granted to Canal Company. Mr Gurney wished Committee would consider what sum they would advise Proprietors to take for the purchase of the canal.
Solicitor to attend before Committee and endeavour to get clauses inserted in Bill.
Committee of opinion that the subject of purchase ought not to be considered.
Letter from Mr Caleb Trotter, on part of Bilson & Crump Meadow Coal Co, with regard to reduction of tonnage on coal. In case of reduction all traders will be allowed to benefit.
3 dozen Buccellas ordered from Messrs Martin & Co.
Sovereign to Widow Critchley towards repairing house.
Special Meeting. Mr Gurney gave particulars of what had taken place in Parliament respecting South Wales Railway Bill. Seal of Company to be fixed to petition against projected tunnel in lieu of bridge across Severn. Injurious to canal.
Solicitor, Mr Wathen, had no report on the South Wales Railway Bill.
Special Meeting. Proposal that £15 be appropriated towards Mr Sherwood's and George Williams' expenses to London. Amendment by Mr Wood seconded by Mr Martin that attendance was not directed by Company. Expenses ought not fall on them. Motion carried 4 to 2.
Subcommittee meeting. Solicitor to take requisite attempts for opposing South Wales & Monmouth & Hereford Railway Bills. Mr Wood's opposition. Neither bill contemplates crossing of River Severn. Needless incurring of ill feeling of public. Original motion carried.
Crown of Walk Bridge repaired.
Robert Thompson’s rent reduced to £14 10s as a smaller proportion of wharf had been allocated to him.
All rents collected except for Frederick Nurse £16 10s and Henry Moore £2 5s.
Thomas Clark requested £5 for doors and windows.
Mr Sherwood to recover £5 5s from Charles James.
Letter to George Perry re £3 15s due.
William Knee allowed to erect stable on Wallbridge Wharf at his own cost.
Mr Hyatt asked about tonnage of timber brought from Bristol, landed at Dudbridge, and conveyed to Tetbury. Mr Sherwood to see Mr Brown the builder at Tetbury to ascertain likely trade.
South Wales & Monmouth & Hereford Railway Bills do not require further watching. Subcommittee dissolved.
Annual inspection of Company’s boat.
Defective state of embankment at foot of Foundry Lock to be made good by ragstone wall instead of piling.
Frederick Nurse complained too much of his wharf taken away and asked for a reduction in rent. James Nurse asked for more frontage. Part of wharf appropriated to public only sufficient to accommodate two barges unloading at same time.
Wall next to fields at Double Lock bulges so that water runs in stream behind.
Surveyor to give notice to all persons whose shrubs, trees and hedges overhang canal.
Sedges need cutting on sides of canal.
Thomas Clark to be allowed for door leading from kitchen to the parlour in house at Stonehouse Wharf.
Bridge at Ocean to be put in good state of repair.
Lower gates of first three of Five Locks seriously out of repair.
Heel of lock gate next to dock wants repairing.
Floor of dock to be repaired by being pitched with weather stone.
Two step ladders wanted at dock, one at each end.
Plank in gate next to bridge below dock wants repairing.
Curb stones of Lower Lock against Severn require to be new set. They overhang the wall.
Quick fence to be planted on lower side of piece of land opposite the Lower Lock. The wooden fence there sufficient to secure it until grown up.
