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 Martin requested to attend Committee of Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co on subject of future repairs of Walk Bridge.
Frederick Nurse to pay balance of rent due. Mr Sherwood to recover Chas James' rent.
Report on Tetbury traffic showed that the expense of carriage by common carriers and railway was more than by canal to Dudbridge.
When James Nurse has removed coal lying beyond boundary allotted to him, he is not to place any more there.
Dry ragstone wall to be erected at foot of Foundry Lock.
Proposed that Frederick Nurse's rent to be reduced to £25 for wharf house and beer shop. Now pays £33 per annum.
Immediate repair of leakage of wall at foot of lower lock at Double Lock.
Thomas Clark allowed 7s 6d for inner door at house at Stonehouse Wharf.
Mr Sherwood to examine bridge at Ocean and report on what needs to be done.
Mr Shewood to engage carpenter in lieu of Hanman.
John Griffin to remove barge in brook next dock at Chippenham Platt.
Mr Martin reported that the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co solicitor would write to our solicitor re Walk Bridge.
Mr Sherwood reported that Charles James had promised to pay the rent he owed in quarterly installments.
Mr Sherwood reported that a repair to the face of the wall at Double Lock would cost £3 10s and he recommended putting concrete at the back of the wall. Agreed.
Mr Sherwood produced an estimate and plan for a new swing bridge at the Ocean. Agreed.
Letter from Messrs Wilton, solicitors of Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co. Liability extends only to building, erecting and completing the two bridges, and not to repair.
Mr Cambridge’s application to Company to repair fence leading up to ascent to bridge at Whitminster adjourned.
In consequence of Mr Vick's having altered his Clock in conformity with the one kept at the Railway, our time of Meeting in future shall be 9 Minutes later that that at Mr Vick's, and our Clerk is directed to keep his Watch accordingly on the days on which the Committee is called together.
Mr John George requested drawback for carriage of certain railway materials down canal to reduce tonnage to 6d per ton. Allowed.
All parties wishing their vessels to enter the dock to be repaired shall make application to surveyor. Admitted in precedence of application. Days and names of vessels entered on a list hung up in a conspicuous place at the Dock.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3430 11s 10d. Balance after wages, etc, £2532 9s 9d. Dividend of £12 10s declared.
Resignation of Mr John Gurney and Mr John Stanton as members of Committee.
Two bye laws of 16 June received the seal of the Company
Special Meeting. As John Gurney and John Stanton had resigned, ordered that a General Meeting be held on 17 November be advertised in two Gloucester papers.
General Meeting. Henry Wyatt and Mr Warman were elected to the Committee. Thomas Clutterbuck Croome was not elected.
Thomas, John and William Salt claimed shares no.56, will of John Stevenson Salt.
Company not liable to repair fences to the approaches to the bridges at Whitminster and Saul, yet as serious accidents may occur, desirable that some security should be afforded to the public. Immediate repair to fences under protest to Surveyors of Highways of respective parishes.
Spouts at Ship Inn at Wallbridge out of repair. Iron spouting at Framilode intended for warehouse to be used.
George Williams of Framilode applied for repairs at his house.
3 dozen Port wine ordered at Messrs Martin.
Estimate by Thomas Spiers for repairs of houses inhabited by George Williams and Chas James at Framilode, £24. Company will pay half if George Williams will pay other half.
George Perry, application for painting, cupboard doors and chimney top.
Joseph Cottle, wharfinger at Dudbridge applied for a mackintosh. Allowed £1 to purchase one.
Tide gates at Framilode to be repaired.
Special Meeting. Clerk, Mr Hawker, had received notice from Wilts & Gloucester Junction Railway stating desire to cross our canal, coal wharf and other premises stated in schedule requesting 'assenting', 'dissenting' or 'remaining'. He had returned answer 'dissenting'. Committee confirmed answer.
Letter from W O and W Hunt on part of South Wales Railway Co. giving notice of amendment on Bill brought before Parliament in last session and stated in an annexed schedule with a view to crossing our canal and requesting answer. Company 'dissenting' from Bill,
Notices served on Surveyors of Highways for Saul and Frampton parishes with reference to repairs of fences on the approaches to Saul and Walk Bridges. Mr Sherwood requested to attend Saul parish meeting.
George Williams declined offer with respect to improvements in two houses. Mr Sherwood estimated cost of repair at £4 16s 6d. Repairs to be made.
Bristol stone brought up canal for lime charged same rate of tonnage as road stone.
Mr John Vizard requested payment of £5 1s 4d in lieu of tithes due to Rev Thomas Peters of Eastington for lands belonging to Company. Company exempt from all taxes.
Mr Hawker to negotiate with Mr Willson on tonnage of corn brought from Gloucester and going to and beyond Brimscombe. Subcommittee to receive Mr Hawker's report.
Subcommittee Meeting. Mr Willson of Thames & Severn Canal Co suggested that Company repeal all restrictions on coal, grain, salt, iron and merchandise between Capel's Mill Viaduct and Brimscombe. The Thames & Severn Canal Co to give up right to receive 1s 3d per ton on coals brought up their canal from Stroudwater Canal and in lieu to receive one half of tonnage charged by Stroudwater Canal Co to their wharf at Wallbridge. Thames & Severn Canal Co to charge between entrance of canal and Capel's Viaduct tonnage equal in amount to that allowed by Stroudwater Canal Co.
One uniform rate of tonnage of 3 halfpence per ton per mile on Stroudwater Canal on corn, grain, iron and salt, and on entering T&S Canal 8d per ton only to be received by Stroudwater Canal Co. Thames & Severn Canal Co binding themselves to charge not less than 4d per ton between entrance of canal and Capel's Viaduct. Propositions to be embodied in agreement bearing seal of each Company.
Subcommittee Meeting. Mr Holbrow and Mr Sikes had seen Mr Kimberly about tonnage on grain. To regain lost traffic on grain drawback allowed of 4d per ton to Brimscombe and 7d per ton to Stroud and below Brimscombe.
Company liable to repair road over Saul Bridge as far only as masonry extends. Walk Bridge same.
Mr Martin to see Mr Vizard and arrange amount to be paid for tithes to Mr Peters.
Request from Mr Henry H Wilton for Mr Sherwood to be allowed to enquire into causes of flood on lands adjoining River Severn at Hock Crib. Mr Sherwood to make necessary surveys.
Mr Martin to see Mr Rowles respecting his servant Thomas Hyde. Misconducted himself, convicted before magistrates. Penalty was £5. £1 10s accepted in lieu.
Special Meeting. Letter from Mr Gurney recommending Memorial being presented to Lords Commissioners of Admiralty about the South Wales Railway Bill being presented in the House of Lords still containing a proposal bridge over Severn at Hock Crib despite their veto. Memorial to be sent to Capt Berkeley requesting him to present it recorded in minutes.
Mr Willson to allow drawback of half penny per ton and reduce tonnage to 1d per ton per mile on grain, etc, provided 500 tons brought up and down canal by any one party within 6 months.
In response to a change in Stroudwater tolls, Messrs Biddle and Bishop discharged part of a cargo of wheat at upper wharf at Wallbridge. Intention to continue to do so unless Company charge them only 1s per ton, including back tonnage of flour discharged at Lodgemore or Wallbridge. They would agree to land all corn in Stroudwater Canal and not carry it by railway. Company to charge 11d per ton on flour exported if corn landed on T&S Canal wharf.
Mr Spire offered to put in a pair of lock gates for £11. Two pair of lock gates to be completed without delay.
Special Meeting. Copy of petition to House of Commons recorded in minutes. South Wales Railway Bill. might not afford to Company such accommodation for supply of coals as hitherto from Forest of Dean. Introduction of clauses required to prevent monopoly by South Wales Railway. Meeting adjourned as solicitor not then present.
Adjourned Meeting. Proposal that Messrs Croome and Harris to watch South Wales Railway Bill before Parliament was rejected by 6 to 2. Solicitor to negotiate with South Wales Railway Co. or agents for introducing necessary clauses.
Special Meeting. Mr Gregory, Parliamentary Agent, having stated that our petition was liable to technical difficulties, our solicitor presented another draft, which was approved and sealed.
Petition notes that South Wales Railway Co intend to cross canal and towing path at certain place in Saul. Plans will be cut off from accustomed channels of supply to Company. Company deem it not expedient that the railway should be altered or extended from Chepstow to Great Western Railway or Cheltenham branch at Standish in County of Gloucester. No public and local advantage to connect with Monmouth & Hereford Railway and with certain collieries and works in Forest of Dean and with town of Swansea, Llanelly Copper Works and Haverfordwest.
Mr Spiers refused to sign contract for making two lock gates to be put in at stoppage of canal. Mr Sherwood and Mr Martin to obtain gates at best possible term.
Gallows Bridge had been knocked down by the 'Caroline', owner Jas Poole. To be repaired by Mr Poole without delay.
Circular from Mr Thomas Wilson, Hon. Secretary to Aire & Calder Navigation Co, regarding Canal Proprietors meeting at Osborne's Hotel, London on 22 April.
Frederick Nurse allowed £5 towards erection of garden wall at Dudbridge Wharf, 4½ feet above ground, 2 feet thick at bottom, 18 inches at top.
William Knee allowed £2 3s towards expense of whitewashing and colouring his house. Also allowed coal pen for him on wharf at Wallbridge for £7 per annum.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £3091 4s. Balance after wages, etc, £2538 9s 3d. Dividend of £12 10s declared.
Subcommittee formed to discuss alterations of tonnage requested by Thames & Severn Canal Co.
Mr Sikes reported that Mr Kimberley and Mr Partridge could not agree to restrictive terms of drawback offered to Thames & Severn Canal Co.
Committee for next year: Mr G H A Beard, Mr Fred Eycott, Mr Wm Fryer, Mr Jas Holbrow, Mr Richard Martin, Mr Geo Wathen, Mr Wm Wood, Mr Dan Watts, Mr Henry Wyatt, Mr John H Warman.
Special Meeting. Two letters from Gregory Faulkner & Co. South Wales Railway Bill No.2 to be brought before Committee Group, Monday 11 May. Solicitor to ascertain if any objection to be made to introduction of clause giving same advantages in tonnage in carrying coal from the pits to shipping place at Brimpspill as allowed to conveyance of coal between pits or Brimpspill to Gloucester. Meeting adjourned.
Adjourned Special Meeting. Clause with reference to tonnage of coals carried on South Wales Railway between pit's mouth in Forest of Dean and Glocester. All passengers, goods, cattle, articles and things coal and mineral produce carried on Forest of Dean Railway when purchased by South Wales Railway Co. and extensions between Dean Forest Railway and Stroudwater Canal at a rate per ton per mile, including all charges for wharfage, loading and unloading, tolls and locomotive power, not exceeding those charged on main line of South Wales Railway or any part thereof. Reference to be made to carriage of coal between Brimspill or Lydney and other shipping place, and Gloucester.
Mr Poole to find timber for repair of Gallows Bridge.
Messrs Hunt wrote expressing acquiescence of South West Wales Railway Co to our clause being inserted. Solicitor to negotiate on introduction of compensation clause into Bill similar to that in Glocester & Bristol Railway Act, in event of interruption of traffic during works of Railway.
Mr Sherwood could put in one pair of lock gates at the Blunder Lock, repair Dock Lock with pair of new breasts and put in new paddle at Lodgemore Feed, provided water not let out of canal 6 o'clock Saturday 30th and night of 8th June.
Mr Willson to charge 1d per ton per mile carried on T&S Canal but must be charge for 25 tons on Summit Level whether boat contained quantity or not.
Proposed that in future Company to charge 1s 6d per ton at terminal at Wallbridge, 1s per ton on all merchandise passing into T&S Canal and landed below Brimscombe, provided that Thames & Severn Canal Co charge 4½d per ton in addition on all landed between entrance of their canal at Wallbridge and below Brimscombe. No bonus to land any goods on their wharfs. List of tonnages for other locations on Navigation.
Robert S Davies having complained of state of bridge leading to his house, committee to meet him at bridge during August inspection.
James White to quit house he rents from Company.
Gloucester & Berkeley Canal Co allowed 2½% on average balance of money. Application to be made to County of Gloucester Banking Co to be allowed same rate of interest.
Mr Hawker to inform Mr Willson of Thames & Severn Canal Co that Committee agree to terms proposed in alteration of tonnage.
Special Meeting. Committee of Thames & Severn Canal Co attended. Further consideration necessary. Stroud Navigation Committee considered 100 yards above first milestone on T&S Canal should be boundary of all restrictions. Thames & Severn have objection unless Lodgemore introduced into first clause.
Annual inspection in Company’s Boat.
Garden wall at Dudbridge not yet built and Frederickk Nurse will not build some kind of fence.
Few loads of rubble stone to be put on wharf at Dudbridge behind James Nurse's Counting House.
Gate at lower end of Dudbridge Wharf to be repaired.
Mr Davies met Committee and complained of insecurity of bridge. Wish for new one to be erected. Opening of stone work too narrow for some of trading vessels to pass. To be widened, and bridge repaired.
Mr John King of the Ryeford met Committee, relative to right of road to his mill and also to title of Company to fee of road. Mr Hawker to look through documents.
Lock keeper at Five Locks to have £2 a year for looking after them.
Two new bars to be provided for use of dock. Floor to be repaired and new step ladder provided for upper end of dock.
Lock gates at the Five Locks and Whitminster to be repaired.
Mr John King shown deeds of conveyance that showed land belonged to Company.
Mr Wood reported intimation of great neglect by Mr Sherwood in looking after business of canal. Proposed that notice to be given to Mr Sherwood. Proposal by Mr Beard and Mr Watts that Mr Sherwood be reprimanded and retained rejected. Original resolution carried.
Mr Peter King's letter of tonnage on wheat and flour. Tonnage to be same as Messrs Biddle and Bishop. Allowed to export same weight of flour free that he imports of wheat. 1s per ton for surplus of flour exported.
Letter from Mr Robert S Davies. Bridgeway to be widened by taking down wall on north side and widening bridgeway, without injuring opening of bridge.
Crane at Dudbridge Wharf worn out. Enquiries to be made about new one.
Complaint from Mr Thomas Croome on rate of tonnage on bricks. To be same as other merchandise.
Roof of back kitchen to be repaired at the Ship, Wallbridge.
Notice to be given to Thompson to quit house he rents at Stonehouse Wharf.
Committee found balance in Treasurer's hands smaller than expected, so request for interest be relinquished.
Notice given to Mr Sherwood to quit Company's service at end of three months from 25 September.
Front part of ground floor of warehouse adjoining Ship Inn to be partitioned off from cellar and allotted to Mr Biddle. Doorway communicating with Ship Inn to be walled up and other doorway and back kitchen to be widened and an open shed erected between back kitchen window to unite with the present shed.
Mr Sherwood to bring summary book for Mr Cooper's examination.
Half Yearly General Meeting. Tonnage £2833 15s 10d. Balance after wages, etc, £2117 2s 8d. Dividend of £10 10s declared.
Mr John George about to make arrangement with Great Western Railway Co. for conveying coals and merchandise from Gloucester by railway to Cirencester and places beyond but proposing to convey them from Wallbridge instead of Gloucester to the Stroud station on condition of being allowed drawback of 1s per ton on equal quantity entering T&S Canal and carried up to Brimscombe. Adopted.
