1885-1889
Gloucestershire Archives D1180/9/8
Letters written by WIlliam James Snape between October 1885 and May 1889
Committee understands that notice to give up portions of Stonehouse and Ryeford Wharves has six months to go. Also rent for portion of Bristol Road Wharf will be £2 per annum from 25 March next.
Footpath and kerb to be put down in view of large amount of mud, sand and road drift washed into the canal at Ryeford.
Wharfage charge of 2s 6d per day to be charged as from 28 October re stone on Stonehouse Wharf
Mistake in the notice to give up portions of Stonehouse and Ryeford Wharves. Card enclosed re Rowley Hall Stone (Granite) Co, equal to and cheaper than Clee Hill stone,
Mistake made in notice to give up use of portions of the wharves: therefore unload stone as usual with no charge made for wharfage. Please ensure all stone is sent by Canal not Railway.
Parts illegible. Please will a trial be made of the Rowley Hall stone at Eastington
Please try a load re list of prices enclosed. May I go with you to see quarry. I want the trade by water
Your letter re share certificates of the late Miss C Harris has been placed in hands of Company's solicitor.
Last selling price of Stroudwater Canal shares was £80 each.
If you reduce your rate on road stone, this would help us to introduce Rowley Hall stone which would come by water, and I am seeing the Stroud Highway Board to put this forward.
In order to introduce new water trade of Rowley Hall stone, instead of Clee Hill stone by railway, would you be prepared to reduce your rates.
Tithe cheque to be drawn at Committee Meeting of 21 December.
If this new water trade can be accomplished, your suggestions will be accepted. It may also involve boats to Gloucester. Meeting Stroud Highway Board to try to get an order.
Intended to make Deputation to Lord Stanley on the 29th or 30th November.
Required: contact details of person taking Cottage at Framilode, details of Wheatenhurst wharfage account at Stonehouse, dates Kimmins took 112 tons of grain
Stroud Highway Board have agreed to carry out a trial of Rowley Hall stone. Please send a sample by parcel post for my Committee.
Please call and see Clerk to the Board re carrying of 50 tons of Rowley Hall stone.
Stroud Highway Board have ordered 50 tons of Rowley Hall stone.
50 quarters of Barley at Portishead to come to Wallbridge. New trade, look after it, don't let it go to Railway.
See Mr Fawkes at once re 50 quarters barley. List required of those from Chalford and Stroud who ought to sign petition to Board of Trade.
Petition to Board of Trade re T&S Canal. Please give me a call or I must give you a call.
Petition to Board of Trade re T&S Canal. Difficult to read.
Find out railway rates on stone to Frocester and Stonehouse. Also write to Mr Shelton re Clee Hill compared with Rowley Hall stone.
3d per ton cartage charged for grain from Midland Railway Co siding through Canal Company's wharf. In future full canal rates will be charged where goods could have been brought by water..
Stroud Highway Board ordering more Rowley stone. What is your opinion of the stone.
Carriage rate on Rowley Rag Stone; speak to Mr Poulton, who has contract to build stables at Wallbridge for Wood & Rowe, re timber from Gloucester.
Mr T H Pearce refused to pay tonnage on coal at Butler's Bridge. Matter left entirely in your hands.
Use of Company stable when stable at Ship Inn occupied.
Cheque enclosed for £4.8s.3d. Re Tithe charge Eastington Parish
Cheque enclosed for £2.2s.0d. re 1 year's subs to Stroud Hospital.
Acknowledged receipt of 2 Coal Bricks?
No broken stone in stock, but will repair road over Ryeford & Stonehouse canal bridges when there is some.
Please advise re planting 0.75 acres of withy bed near Saul Canal Junction.
Letter received with information about Rowley Rag stone. Also received a newspaper cutting.
Cheque enclosed for £19.10s.0d. for 1/4 year's salary due on 25 December.
Cheque enclosed for £10.8s.0d. for 1/4 year's salary due on 25 December.
Asking if stone is being sent by GW Railway to Stonehouse by order of P Savage surveyor to Wheatenhurst Highway Board. Unfair as I have worked to introduce the stone to the District to be sent by canal. Request the railway rate Rowley to Stonehouse and Stroud.
Overflow drain from a tub in a garden near Dudbridge canal bridge causing a nuisance and obstructing traffic. Must be stopped or Company will hold you responsible.
Tonnage £1 10s due for 60 tons of gravel brought up by the Florence. She is now at Dudbridge and in way of traffic. Request to remove her.
Request for payment of 5d due for channelling now at Wallbridge wharf. A wharfage charge of 2s 6d will be charged beginning 25 Jan.
Forwarded Income Tax paper from G Darke of Dudbridge. Tax charged on £30 for Mr Ward. Rent is now £25 and figure should be reduced to that. Alterations should have been made last year.
Why is Income Tax to be paid on £30 when the rent is £25. Why should Mr Ward pay the difference when not legally bound to. Request an explanation.
Request confirmation when Withy Setts will be received. Men are on special duty between Feb 7th and Feb 11th and during that time will not be able to put them in.
Request as to who to apply to for tonnage (30s) due on Florence lying at Dudbridge. Also request to remove Caroline and Emily lying at Eastington as they are in the way.
Stroudwater Navigation Shares. Last shares sold for £80 each on Jan 2 1886
Enclose cheque £24 15s 5d in settlement of account for Income Tax. When are other taxes due.
Enclose bill for £3 3s 4d tonnage due and request immediate payment. Barge Florence is now lying at Dudbridge having been detained for tonnage. Also £1 due for wharfage on stone lying at Wallbridge. Details on next page.
Enclosure with previous page: Accounts for Egelstaff's vessels Nelson, Annie, Samuel, Caroline, Florence.
Request reply to No 134 19 Jan 1887 as the matter will come before the Committee at next meeting
Wharfage on stone increasing daily. By tomorrow will be £2 2s 6d. Request stop this increase by selling at once. Something must be done with the barge as she is very much in the way.
Please send 2000 persh setts - same as last supplied to Eastington Canal yard as soon as you can oblige.
Understand that notice to discontinue use of Stonehouse and Ryeford wharves for stone breaking to expire on 25th March next. Re Bristol Road wharf a charge of £2 per annum will be made commencing on 25th March next.
Meet at Ebley Bridge at 10.30 when the men have unloaded the ashes and put them on the land at the Ocean as 2000 osier setts ordered from Mr Jackson to be planted. We have to repair roadway over Ebley Bridge. Also repay Mr Savage for that used at Ryeford Bridge. Mr Mills will write about the ashes at Ryeford.
Boat House Ebley. Request a meeting at Canal Bridge at 10.30 in the morning.
Replying to request. Stone to any part of the Stroud Canal as far as Wallbridge Wharf is 6d per ton. Bricks 4d per ton Pipes 6d per ton. Fancy Brick yard goods 1s per ton.
Charge tonnage on 40 tons of blue bricks dead-weight, also for Rowley stone. Gauge stick to be made.
Any cut into the bank and opening into the canal will be piled and slabbed up, unless you pay £1 per annum.
Please cash up the dividend warrant of 1 May 1886; we want to finalise our accounts.
Explanation of mistake made in weight of bricks in letter of 17 Feb.
Repairs to Framilode Lock Top Gates required to stop leakages.
Cut and send osiers for planting at Stonehouse Ocean; also good setts, last lot mixed.
Details required of your report concerning the leaks at Framilode locks; also charges for brick and weight of Rowley Hall stone.
Repairs at Framilode Lock to be carried out next week; however, leaving the gates open at Whitminster Lock wastes far more water. Please ensure supervision. Also cut back the rushes on the Canal Bank. Continued ...
From last page: Also gravel the towing path and take out some mud below the Junction Lock.
Telephone wire, Rowley Ragstone and brick questions to be placed before Committee meeting on 15 March.
Originals or copies required of specified ticket numbers. Also, what did you report about weight and charges on Rowley stone and the blue bricks.
Not yet got a purchaser for Canal Shares as not been out of the office.
Copies required of specified ticket numbers. Concern on how you have used information from my letters.
Could you let me have a copy of Railway & Canal Traffic Bill.
When boat loaded, let me know weight separately of the quarries, cress. and copings bricks.
Reply to letter passed on from Thames & Severn Canal Co giving toll charges on stone carried between Junction and Wallbridge, plus toll charged by Thames & Severn Canal Co to Upper or Stroud Wharf.
Cheque enclosed in settlement of account for osier setts.
Copies of certain tickets still required. Answer required to concern over use of my letters.
Unable to commence work on Framilode Lock until 17th. May I use your carpenter for a few days?
I shall place the copy of the Railway & Canal Traffic Bill you've supplied me with before the Committee.
Enclosed stamps for print and postage of Railway & Canal Traffic Bill and copy of correspondence between Board of Trade and G W Railway Co re closing of T&S Canal.
Reply required to last part of my letter of 2 March.
Reply required to last two letters. I'm putting the matter before my Committee at next meeting.
Can't reduce toll in this instance as it would damage our Bristol and Chepstow trade. However, certain that the Rowley Stone people would meet you..
Repeat of information required and why use was made of contents of my letters. Matter going before my Committee at next meeting.
Cheque enclosed re connection of sewage to Wharf House Stonehouse. Don't send your men to the Double Locks until weather better.
Your duty is to this Company, do not pass on Company's business to others or else suffer the consequence. Plenty of water for Framilode pound from Bristol Road Lock Gates. .
Please cut off drain from your house at Dudbridge into the canal at once.
Instructed by Committee to ask you to meet me re path and Ryeford Bridge.
Do not require your man at present at Framilode Lock because of bad weather. Will give you a few days warning when weather better and water low.
Committee: No objection to telephone company going over or under canal, at their own risk. Rowley Hall Trade new to you, but causes a loss in the Bristol & Chepstow trade to us. Continued next page...
From last page: We have pushed use of Rowley Rag and urged it at meeting with Gloucester Authorities. Re blue bricks, lack of uniformity of charges; however Committee reciprocates kindness of your Company.
The Trow Florence in way of vessels unloading. Please move her to Eastington. Needs pumping out.
Charge to be made for trespass on towing path from your field to the Swing Bridge.
Bill enclosed for use of water from canal. Please settle at once or you may have to pay more.
You are neglecting your duties. Other arrangements to be made if you don't attend to these matters.
Confirmation of weight of Eglestaff stone taken from Wallbridge by C Ratcliffe.
Cheque enclosed for quarter's salary. Plus request for all tickets and cash for close of half year.
In attempt to introduce a new trade of wool by water rather than railway, request for date of arrival of Schooner into London Docks so as to contact Captain re costs per ton including everything.
Request for use of their carpenter at Framilode Lock. There will be a 3 day stoppage.
Please inform boat and barge men of 3 day stoppage at Framilode Lock on dates set out.
3 day stoppage from 6 o'clock Monday 18 April until Wednesday night 20 April 1887.
Answers to 3 questions in Mr Sully's letter re how bales are pressed, weight of bales, and insurance.
Collect rent from Frederick Cook and cash from Mr Peyton and Mr Field and bring to Mr Fallows on 2 April.
Details of suggested meeting of various people re a suggested trial of carrying wool by water so that comparison of the cost can be made with the cost by rail.
Follow-up letter hoping that people in previous letter have called on Mr Buckler and that he is able to accommodate the trial.
How did the meeting yesterday with Mr Buckler go?
Wharfage charge applies after 2 hours unless other arrangements made. You will be allowed 3 clear days to move the 3 or 4 loads of stone expected.
Regret that cost per ton plus time taken is too great to give sufficient margin over railway costs. Continued…
From last page: try and negotiate costs down, also get cost of insurance.
As you have refused to pay but are still taking water from canal at Ryeford, the matter is to be passed to Company's solicitor.
Prepared to give leeway on wharfage of stone at Stonehouse wharf, but please be aware that everyone else pays and we have to pay rates and taxes.
Mr Saunders will call on you for cash and ticket for bricks unloaded at Eastington
Get cash and ticket for the bricks unloaded at Eastington and take to Mr Fallows.
What is address of boatman who brought last load of bricks to Eastington as he was overcharged.
This is what I have done so far re bringing wool by water. Are you able to assist me? Continued …
From last page: When next in London, please check the rates given are correct, and see Mr Buckler.
You've made a mistake and not read my letter carefully. The information contained therein referred to one particular load and not to the trade generally.
Enclosed postal order and stamps for reimbursement of sum overcharged to boatman for load of bricks.
What is cost per ton of taking stone from Rowley Quarries to Rodbourne Dock, Swindon.
Let them know if the bricks to be put on your two boats are to be "blue on edge"" or ""blue on flat""."
Should be able to let you know in a day or two re rates to Rodbourne Dock, Swindon.
My letter was very clear, you could not have misunderstood it. You must not talk about the Company's business to others. You have interfered with my orders before. Continued …
From last page: Explain these irregularities re way bills and don't let them happen in the future.
The rate for stone from Rowley to Rodbourne Dock, Swindon, including labour, tolls, etc.
Cheque received for rent of wharves at Bristol Road, Stonehouse and Ryeford and Dudbridge Wharf. Do you still intend to give up Stonehouse and Ryeford. No Rowley Hall stone coming up the canal. When will you start work on the footpath over Ryeford Canal Bridge.
The toll for cast iron pipes including wharfage and use of crane plus tolls on T&S Canal are competitive with the G.W. Railway.
