THE TROWA fie mltde-b-dftlmr$ - twfw ra nrttw tkr ~ ~ ckn& I Q

Transcription

1 THE TROWA fie mltde-b-dftlmr$ - twfw ra nrttw tkr ~ ~ ckn& I Q

2 COPY DATES SPRING 1st February SUMMER IstMay AUTUMN 1st August WINTER 1st November Content S Trust Council Notes Thames End Branch Western Branch Spill Weir Workparty The Sapperton Tunnel Trip Boating 88 Boats On The Cut Sales Letters to the Editor Dates TXE VIEWS & OPINIONS IN TEIS MAGAZINE W NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT VIEWS & OPINIONS OF THE STROUDWATER. THAMES I & SEVERN GN~ TRUST LTD. I Published by the Stroudwater, Thames & Severn Canal Trust Ltd., a Registered Charity. at 1 Riveredge, Framilode, Glos., GL2 7LH Printed by Earle & Ludlow, 77 Victoria Road, Cirencester, Glos. Pictorial "Barca Romana" arrives at the canal courtesy Romans Timber and Glos. County Council Community Programme Workshop (see page 14).

3 Trust Council Notes When you receive this Trow Summer will almost be gone leaving a memory of very little fine weather and an excess of rain. Ironically a lack of water at Coates prevented the trip boat starting into Sapperton Tunnel in April. Nevertheless, the trip boat operate as soon as the water level rises. On the Stroudwater Canal there has been an excess of water. On three occasions over the last year or so a large water main has burst emptying the reservoir holding some 2f million gallons into the canal. Fortunately this section had been dredged and spill weirs fully restored; but unfortunately severe damage had been caused to Ryeford Double Lock (see picture on page 19 ). Blunder Lock, recently cleared, has now over a metre of silt covering the bottom. At present there appears to be some reluctance from Severn Trent Water Authority insurers to accept responsibility for this damage. The Company of Proprietors is of course pressing a claim. Newtown Lock is completed and ready for gates. Our grateful thanks to the MSC team, led by Jim Conboy, worksite, and Jan Millin, administration, for making the final breakthrough. In June the Trustee Savings Bank kindly donated 2,000 towards the work. It was fitting that the presentation by Mr. D. C. Arbon, Regional Director, and Mr. Ian Bell, District Manager, took place at the bottom of the pumped out lock chamber. The HTV television cameras and the local press were present and gave good coverage of this most generous gift. County Councillor, Roy Nicholas, has recently won a major victory for restoration of the canal in Stroud. Speaking at a County Council meeting in July, he convinced the Council that it was putting the cart before the horse to spend 20,000 on environmental improvements to a non existent canal, filled in by the new East/West bypass. He was speaking against the Planning and Transportation Committee's proposal to give money to the Stroud Valley Project. He demanded that the unblocking of the canal at Wallbridge must be the first priority. He said that the effect of the infilling is that we now have a blockage which has stopped the Canal Trust's boat trips which were raising funds for restoration. David Boakes and I have been called to a meeting with the County Surveyors and Property Services Departments with a view to work commencing shortly. Over the next few years I am sure that we shall see many new developments along the two canals. The report commissioned by Stroud District Council In 1986 described the old mills as pearls and the canal that which strings them together. The first of these developments has been Ebley Mill which is now completely restored and will house Stroud District Conncil. The second development has just begun at Bowbridge, for years a derelict mill and builders yard. The adjacent canal is to feature predominently in this housing scheme. A third scheme of mill conversion with houses at Bourne Mill is currently seeking planning consent. This scheme will overcome a major obstacle of the infllled canal at the l i t hv nsino the River Prnm~ Tt will alsn hxve rr main-

4 A rather romantic view of the completed Newtown Lock (S. Standbridge)

5 bearing on the infilled Brimscombe Port. It is always encouraging to report events concerning our younger members. Apparently G.C.S.E. is providing an opportunity to turn work into pleasure or vice versa. Charlotte Woodward interviewed 21 adults at random in Stroud on 27th July as part of her project. Here are the twelve questions:- 1. Did you know that there is a canal in Stroud? Yes Do you know what it is called? No-14 Yes Are you aware that there is a Trust to restore it as a public amenity? No- l Yes To restore 6: miles of canals is costing 1.25 m. Is this too much?-about Right - 12 No- 3 Yes Should the money be spent elsewhere around town?- No-12 Yes Do you think it is a good idea to restore the canal as a public amenity? No- l Yes To help restore the canal an MSC scheme of people who have been unemployed for a year work on it. Is this a good idea? Yes Have you ever used the canal e.g. walked along the towpath? No- 3 Yes If facilities were provided would you use the canal as a recreational facility? No- 3 Yes Have you ever seen articles in the local papers about the canal? No- 4 Yes Do you think that there is enough publicity explaining the Trust's aims to open the canal as a public amenity? - NO-16 Yes When the canal is reopened as a public amenity do you think that visitors and the community will use it for recreation? No- l Yes - 20 It is comforting for Trust Council Members to be one step ahead. At last month's Council Meeting Richard Attwood produced a draught copy of aims for publication. Charlie Eustace, one of our regular working party members takes home some of the spoil from his labours. He has just won second prize in the Thornbury Horticultural Show for tomatoes grown in pure S.C.A.S (Strdudwater Canal Alluvial Soil) which is more comatonly known as dredgings!

6 Thames End Branch Tidying at the lock site has continued with some useful help from a friend of a friend who had a neat contraption called a "Microdigger". This is the sort of thing a McAlpine grandson might well find in his Christmas stocking and it apparently gets quite excited if you show it a pile of old bricks. The owner took one look at our rubble problem and went into a brisk pas-de-deux with the digger. Before you could say "hardcore" the problem was in the lorry and the busy digger was attacking the surrounding thicket, apparently having surplus energy to work off. The effect has been to make at least part of our Cerney Wick site look a lot less messy, and we are hoping that if we play our cards right, there might be a little more help from our friend when we get the crane and cement mixer out of the way. Other, more positive, activities include filling with concrete the gaps at the back of many of the coping stones, and putting in the large baulks of timber which support the rack gear for the side sluices. The actual rack gear is in place (none of your beastly hydraulics) but some support rollers are needed and are hopefully to be made by one of our number with a lathe. There is also an itsy-bitsy problem about the actual pinion shafts which appear to take a small round windlass. Our engineer hopes, without too much difficulty, to convert these to the large square form now used on most waterways, which shows that we are not totally opposed to progress. Back to the towpath. Norman Townsend attacks a tree with a chainsaw!

7 Western Branch The Griffin Mill pound and lock take their names from the nearby mill which Iies alongside the A419 between Stroud and Thrupp. The pound was originally cleared and rewatered by the Stroudwater Canal Society some twelve years ago. The canal bed was dredged and a dam was built at the head of Griffin Mil Lock to create the delightful environment which is enjoyed by many people. However, over the years the top end of the pound has gradually sllted up due to the stream running down from Rodborough Common and the growth of reeds m the shallow water had created a reed swamp and driven away most of the wildfowl. A small group of volunteers has been working in the area over recent months to remove the reed mat from the deeper water and create a canoe channel through the silted area. This work is almost complete and already the more common wildfowl such as coots have already returned. Just above Griffin Mil Lock at the mill wharf is Jubilee Bridge. This very attractive footbridge was built TO celibrate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria and replaces an earlier brick bridge which collapsed. Jubilee Bridge was restored and repainted in the 1970s. Over the years the paintwork has become tatty and the brldge abutments overgrown. Aided by students from Stroud Technical College, the bridge has been cleaned down and it is planned to repaint it later in the year. The landowner adjacent to the bridge has also done a splendid job of clearing the undergrowth around the bridge and along the canal banks. Spill weir from canal bed level showing the three ducts.(k. Bailey)

8 Spill Weir Workparty In recent weeks anybody passing the Eastington work site may have noticed several cars (and Doug Blake's van) parked in the compound but nobody actually in sight. On careful inspection you would notice a hoard on the workshop door showing that we weren't far away, just down the canal a couple of locks towards the M5. Here exists a large and complex spill weir which has, over the last couple of months, emerged from beneath a tangle of undergrowth and silt. The exact purpose of the weir itself is still a bit of a puzzle to those who have been to look at it. The weir appears to be able to operate at three levels. Firstly, to maintain the canal at its working height by draining surplus water either coming down the canal from normal lock usage or from emptying the nearby dry dock and also taking the cross flow comina into the canal from Meadow Brook. Secondly, it is possible to lower the canal height by nearly six feet. This would be sufficient to allow work to be carried out on the paddle gear of Dock Lock and the coal wharf below the spill weir. Thirdly, it is possible to drain the canal completely via a trap door in the bed. This would probably ohly be carried out on very rare occasions when repairs to the canal bed were required or where work was to be carried out to the head of Meadow Lock a few yards downstream. The weir is constructed of brick topped with large coping stones (it takes four people to roll them). The low level canal drain consists of a timber duct (probably elm) which runs from three feet out into the canal bed

9 I,: The structure from the c2 ~el. The wooden frame is in place for rebuilding of the arch. f i U W : Bill Evil1 stands in the middle of this fascinating spill weir structure. (K. Bailer)

10 right through under the structure to emerge out into the base of the vertical outflow shaft. The structure was originally surrounded by vertical stanchions set into the coping stones with a single handrail around the top. The bent remains of the rail and some of the stanchions are still on the site but it is unlikely that any of these items can be reused. 9 Several tasks have already been carried out as part of the reconstruction process. A tree stump had to be removed from the front of the central archway, This was carried out by cutting most of the roots and then physically winching the stump from its resting position. The remaining roots are being dug out seperately. The main overflow level stones had been pushed forward out of position by plant growth down the saps. These stones which are ahout fourteen indaes square and vary in length between two and four feet, were all lifted out of the way, cleaned and reset. The main outflow shaft, some nine feet six inches deep, has been cleared of debris. When we originally arrived, it was possible to easily climb down onto the rubbish from the top. It took the best part of a day and a half using spades, a pick and a couple of buckets on ropes to remove about a hundred cubic feet of debris which included conputer keyboards, electrical fittings, four toilet seats, two car leaf springs and a lawn-mower. A couple of coping stones from the top surround were left in the outflow tunnel as it was only just possible to drag them, let alone lift then, to their original position, and that problem has still to be overcome. In order to carry out any work in either the bottom of the outflow shaft or in the culvert leading off towards the River Frome it is necessary to continuously pump as water rapidly gathers and at present is unable to flow away as the stream has become badly silted. At one point it has been partially filled with soil from some building works. Although the flow of water down the surface of the "dry" canal bed is only small, a surprising quantity flows under the silt at the clay puddle level and it is this water which we are at present unable to divert. Over the last few weeks not only have the usual band of local volunteers been working both Saturdays, Sundays and the odd evening, but we have also had two visiting work parties. The first were a party of Scouts from, Hampton, London, who did a grand job clearing the canal bed of undergrowth and also digging out some of the silt. The second group, I think eleven in all, were part of the Waterways Recovery Group, London Branch. They continued the digging out, started on the bricklaying task and also put some concrete footings in. It was interesting to note that the three girls in the group seemed to be doing the heavy tasks, like wielding a pi&, digging and keeping the cement mixer filled. The fellows on the other hand got on with bricklaying,levelling concrete and pushing the wheelbarrows. The work is expected to take at least six months to complete. It is hoped to eventually dam off the present route of the canal into the stream to reflood this section so that water again flows through at least part of this unusual structure.

11 The Sapperton Tunnel We are grateful to the "Wilts & Gloucestershire Standard" who have given their permission for a reprint of the following article. The report appeared in the paper on July 8th It is interesting to note the pessimistic attitude when compared to today's expectations, but it must be remembered that our Canal Trust did not exist then! I The recent attempt by a party of Servicemen on an initiative test to explore the Sapperton Tunnel has temporarily brought this remarkable 1 engineering feat into the news. This tunnel and indeed, the whole of the W s & Svern Canal, is quite a remarkable heritage left us by the 18th century. When it was opened in 1789 the two and a half mile tunnel was the longest in the country and the wonder of the age. Today it lies blocked and forgotten, while the whole length of the canal is filled with stagnant water or choked by weeds, except for a few places where it has been filled in. A scheme for joining England's principal rivers (the Thames and the Severn) was first planned nearly three hundred years ago. The first positive step was taken in 1775 when an Act was passed by Parliament for the Stroudwater Canal, eight miles in length, to connect Stroud with the Severn at Framilode. When this work was completed an Act was passed in 1783 to complete the scheme, by joining the Thames at Lechlade, with a branch leading to Cirencester. Work started immediately but it took more than six years to pierce the Sapperton Tunnel, which was cut through solid rock for 3,808 yards. This remember was the time of the French Revolution several decades before the invention of the steam engine, yet the tunnel was cut under Hailey Wood to carry the canal under its most formidable obstacle. Boring the tunnel was begun from each end, and the method used was to dig pits every 220 yards over its course and then run the tunnel from one pit to the next. 'he deepest shaft measured 270 feet from ground to surface. The labourers were paid E5 a yard, out of which they had to find candles and gunpowder. The tunnel is far from straight and this is sald to be because the mason miner Charles Jones, the only person who could keep a straight couse underground, frequently "went on the booze". During the absence of Jones the tunnel went off course and the loops were of considerable length, since it took Jones several weeks to get back into a true line. In July 1788 King George I11 visited the scene of the operations and about a year later the first coal barge went through the tunnel. The whole canal was opened in 1797, having cost the colossal sum of 200,000, of which more than 30,000 went on the Sapperton Tunnel. The canal played an important part in the network of waterways which at that time covered the country. At its western end it joined the Stroudwater Canal, which communicated with the Gloucester & Berkeley Canal, offering access to Sharpness and ocean trade. By means of the River Severn to Worcester and then by canal again, there was a direct route to Birmingham and the Midlands. At its eastern end the Thames

12 and Severn Canal joined the Thames at Inglesham, forming a link with Oxford and intervening places. While at Cricklade there was a junction with the Wilts and Berks Canal with access to Swindon and consequently a link with the Rennet and Avon Canal and another junction with the Thames at Abingdon. At the entrance of the Sapperton Tunnel the donkeys pulling barges would be unharnessed, to be led over the hill to the other end of the tunnel. For the dark journey through the hill, professional "leggers" would take over, to propel the barge through the tunnel by sheer physical strength lying on their backs on the barges and moving along by "walking" on the roof of the tunnel. The task of the "legger" must have been as strenuous as almost any occupation ever devised, and it was no wonder that inns were provided at either end of the tunnel where they, with the bargees. could rest from their labours and slake their thirsts with ale. At the Coates end, the famous "Tunnel House" served this purpose, and at the other side of the hill they built the "Daneway Inn", which stands near one of the 40 locks which enable the canal to rise from Stroud to a hei& of nearly 350 feet. From the first the canal was not a very flourishing project and although opened in 1797 no dividend was paid to its shareholders until The real death blow was struck the canal by the opening on Whit Monday 1847 of the G.W.R. line from Swindon to Gloucester, which follows much the same route as the canal and in time took most of the trade. Work on the railway tunnel at Sapperton began in 1837 and it was intended to construct a longish tunnel at a low level, similar to the canal. But to save time and money the present tunnel, which is 113 feet higher than the canal, was constructed. Because of this there is a fairly steep gradient to the railway line as it runs up the Golden Valley, through Chalford, to the tunnel entrance. Things went from bad to worse for the Canal Company, but in 1882 they came up with an idea that must have caused no small panic at the head office of the G.W.R. In that year a Bill was introduced in Parliament to authorise the Canal Company to close the canal and in its place to construct a Thames I and Severn Railway to link Stroud and Cirencester. This railway would, of course, mainly follow the route of the canal and would make use of the Sapperton Tunnel. As has been explained the canal climbs the Golden Valley much less steeply than the G.W.R. line, which would have given the proposed, railway certain advantages. There can be no doubt the Canal Company was quite serious in its intention to set up a railway, but the Bill was not well received in Parliament, and the G.W.R. was able to step in and buy the Canal Company out. Needless to say the G.W.R. did not make any great efforts to improve the position of the canal, which was still a potential competitor. Protests were made to the Board of Trade about the management of the Canal and Sir Courtenay Boyle was asked by the board to look into the position. He reported that while he did not think any deliberate attempt had been made by the G.W.R. to "starve the canal" it was "eminently desirable that the management of the Canal should vest in persons more nearly interested than l

13 I 12 the present proprietors in keeping the canal in thorough repair and good working condition". The G.W.R. offered to sell the canal provided they were given what they paid for it. This was a hard bargain indeed since the canal was of little use to the railway company and they had paid more than it was strictly worth in the first place to eliminate a possible competitor. Also the 1 canal had further depreciated durlng the period of the G.W.R. ownership. Negotiations for the canal came to a deadlock and on Dec 28, 1893, the I G.W.R. announced their intention of closing in two days time the canal 1 from Chalford to Inglesham. Local protests were immediately forthcmhg. I l A meeting of Stroud Chamber of Commerce, under the chairmanship of Sir William Marling, passes a resolution viewing the closure with apprehension and arranging a deputation to the Board of Trade. Earl Bathwt presided I 1 at a meeging of landowners and others interested held at the offices of hssrs. Mullings and Ellett in Cirencester, when a strong protest 1 was made and Mr. Ellett was authorised to make protests to the Canal, Company, the Board of Trade and other bodies. I These protests had some effect, and the "Wilts and Clos Standard" does 1 record in 1904 that a coal barge had arrived at Cirencester having used the Sapperton Tunnel. The barge was propelled through the tunnel by 1 means of "tunnel sticks" taking over three hours and the Captain reported that it was "in capital order throughout". Occasional use continued to be ( made of the canal and tunnel until 1911 when it was finally closed. For the past 50 years the canal and tunnel have been falling into an 1 increasing state of disrepair so that the tunnel is now completely blocked and there can be little doubt that it will never be used again. Water transport may be slowbut it is also cheap and quite suitable for such bulky commodities as coal and petroleum products. It seems a criminal I waste in an age of increasing road congestion that this remarkable canal 1 should be so completely neglected. 11 l 0 Membership Matters This quarter we are pleased to welcome the following new members:- Mr Field Mr Hobdell Tim Ingham Mr Munns Mr Jef fery Mr Millar Mr Waters Leckhampton Dursley Stroud Stonehouse Stonehouse Chumleigh, Devon Market Drayton, Shropshire. lil l I l l

14 Trip Boating 88 Although the weather hasn't been too kind to us lately, the Ryeford trips are doing well with only two Sundays since the start of the season being total wash-outs. Our main problem is, however, still a shortage of volunteers to operate the trips. As restoration progresses, potential venues for tripping are increasing and we should be expanding this activity to give the maximum input to Trust funds. We now have a splendid new boat built by Gloucester Community Programme, with timber donated by Romans of Gloucester. She was launched prior to the Raft Race and on running trials proved an excellent 'swunmer', stable, and with a good passenger capacity. It is to be hoped that she can be fitted out and operating before the end of the season, but with our present volunteer crews fully committed to Ryeford, it is unlikely. It is essential that the Trust is seen to be making the maximum use of its assets. The operation of trip-boats is a positive demonstration of the 1 benefits of restoration, invaluable publicity and a source of income the I Trnst badly needs. If you are considering active participation in Trust 1 activities, please consider the trip boats. ' TONY JONES. From The Archives - well, only just! This photograph comes from only two years ago, even though it sometimes seems longer. The scene is from our "lost" stretch of canal near Wallbridge which is now buried under Stroud Bypass. me following letter explains further. To The Editor, The enclosed was taken on the afternoon of Sunday October 26th 1986, the last day of trip boat working under the viaduct. It was a lovely day! Thought you might like to compare this with the picture from the bypass in the Summer Trow. It was taken by my Grandson, Edgar Martin, then aged twelve. Best Wishes, J DENLEY.

15 Boats on the Cut The Trust's fleet received another boost in June with the delivery of our latest trip boat, "Barca Romana". This solid looking vessel was built for us by Gloucestershire County Council Community Programme Workshop headed by Graham Burford. It was constructed in two connecting sections with timber kindly donated by Romans Timber of Gloucester. It is planned to eventually use the boats for trips into Sapperton Tunnel later in the year. Our grateful thanks go to John Sparrow of Romans and to Graham Burford's team. Their support is most welcome. The boat was launched on the morning of this year's Raft Race which was.a minor success despite the dismal weather and abundant duckweed! Due to lack of space this time I hope to enclose a full report in the Winter "Trow". 11 DAVID JOWEIT ABOVE: "Barca Romana" part one is lowered into the Stroudwater OPPOSITE ABOVE: The new trip boat returns from its maiden voyage. OPPOSITE BEUIW: The first few contestants line up for Raft Race 88.

16

17 Paper Round Waste paper, for some members of the Trust, has become an obsession/ addiction. Garages, garden sheds and the Secretary's old cars have become the collecting points for the neighbourhood. Volunteers are on duty at the skip in London Road Car Park each Saturday from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm. Much is collected up during the week by those with car trailers. The Home Farm Trust of Avening, a residential home for adult mentally handicapped people has recently started to help in the scheme. Mr. Tony Buckland, Assistant Manager, wanted to find a way of giving the residents real life experience through work and an opportunity to meet with the general public. The immediate locality to the Home has been leafleted and a regular paper collection round is now being established. Local industry is l also included. If you know of a regular source of paper, please make contact with any, Trust Member whose name and address is listed in the Trow. They will arrange for its collection. BRUCE HALL Members' Walk The final Members' Walk for this year takes place on the 4th September and starts from Walk Bridge. This is the first bridge over the Stroudwater Canal towards Stroud from Saul Junction. The guide for this walk will be Bruce Hall as I shall be exploring the waterways of the River Sevre Niortaise in Western France! The wa&s in 1988 started in January and have continued every first Sunday of the month up to September. Except for two very wet walks, there have always been at least twelve walkers and on two fine days nearly forty. I am planning a further series of walks in 1989 starting at %ster. Watch this space for details. RICHARD ATIWOOD Stop Press Western Branch members be warned! There will be no meeting on Monday 5th September, but there is a special initial planning meeting for next year's Carnival Weekend on Monday 19th September at The "Bell" at Wallbridge in Stroud. - I Everybody is welcome, so put on your thinking caps and come to let us know your good ideas. BERNARD DONOVAN

18 Cal ling Small Boaters The Stroud Canals are coming back to life! From Pike Lock at Eastington through to Bagpath Bridge at Thrupp there is now a useful length of canal suitable for small rowing boats and canoes. If you have a small boat, then make use of this amenity and explore Stroud by water!! Xmas Puds! No, it's not too early to place your order: Margaret Boakes has again kindly offered to produce Christmas Puddings at E1.75 per pound. Either write or phone your order. which can be collected nearer the time from Stroud on a Saturday morning. h GRAND DRAW PROCEEDS TO STROUD CANALS RESTORATION Pnzes- 1st nd- 100 loxflo To be drawn by (he Chairman of Stroud D.C. on Friday Sth Saptomber 1988 \ r' Function Room Btb Pion 3nn Skittle Alley Garden R.A.O.B Brian & MO Boulton r' HiehStrstt. CRICKLADK Swindon. SN6 6DD Tel: Swindon \

19 Sales As planned in the last issue of the Trow, we have attended two major local events during July. Both the Cirencester Carnival and Stroud Show were well supported but would have been a far greater success had the weather been kinder. Even so, a great deal of interest was shown towards the Trust and can only help toassertour position in a serious charitable organisation in the area surrounding the canal. An event that was briefly mentioned in the last Trow was the 'Fii-st total navigation of the canal since 1911'. This will take the form of a two day canoe journey along the exact line of the canal from Framilode to Inglesham, a distance of about 37 miles. Mark Loxton and myself will make the trip using single kayaks - afloat wherever possible! The main purpose of the exercise is to set a standard for future competitive events over the same 1 route, and it is hoped it will eventually become a regular 'London to Devizes' type challenge. We are hoping for local press and television coverage, so please look out for us during these two days. We will start from Frsmilode at 9 am on 17th September and reach Inglesham as near to 5 pm as possible on 18th September. Don't forget the following events: Monday 29th August Sat/Sun 10/llth Sept. Sat/Sun 17118th Sept. Chalford H111 Fete (Bank Holiday Monday) Stonehouse Transport & Engine Show. The Great Canoe Challenger The following are a selection of some of the items available from me by post at: The Courts, 27 Walton Road, Clevedon, Avon, BS21 6AE. Please add 40p per order under 20 to help towards postage and packing costs. Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to "S. T&S. C. T. Ltd". Pens 20p Pencils 20p Large Badges 3 0 ~ Note Book 45p Address Book 45p Book Mark 4 5 ~ Tea Towels 1.85 Trow back issue 30p 5 Canal Walk Sheets El Books A Canal Walk Through Stroud E1.25 Canal Boat Cookery (Bryce) 4 0 ~ Cotswold Churches (Verey) E4.50 Canal Walks (Squires) 9.95 Old Thames Valley Recipes E1,l0 Stroud As It Was (Tucker) 2.15 Town & Country Wildlife 1.50 A complete list of all products on sale via the Trust is available from the above address on request. CHRIS JONFS

20 Dear Sir, Letters to the Editor I am writing to express my thanks to all involved with the Severn Meander on May 22nd. I am a new member of the Trust and have never done a sponsored walk before but I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The route was mainly level walking through some beautiful countryside and the organisers even booked perfect weather. Add to this the sight of the Sea Scouts' Flagship Royalist making its way down the Gloucester - Sharpness Canal, and the treasure hunt, and you have a morning to remember! S M STANDBRIDGE Churchdown, Gloucestershire. Dear Sir, I am forwarding for publication an interesting picture of Ryeford Double Lock showing the damage caused to the north wall by water from a mains pipe which burst in Some readers will not be aware of the fact that this is the second occasion on which the lock wall has been damaged by water running down the high bank. This fine structure was built by Keck in 1779, but soon after the canal opened the wall collapsed and legal action forced Keck to rebuild. In order to prevent S repetition he installed circular drainage trunks in the wall in order to assist bank drainage. Although some of these were lost during the recent collapse, two have survived and are clearly visible in the photograph (taken by Mr. R. Phillips). The new wing wall is also visible. TERRY WILLIAElSON Dursley, Glouceste~

21 Dates for your Diary Sun 4 Sept Members' Walk - Walk Bridge near Saul Junction Fri 9 Sept GRAND DRAW! Have you sold your tickets? W/E 10/11 Sept Tues 13 Sept Stonehouse Transport & Engine Show Thames End Branch Meetlng Thur 15 Sept W/E 17/18 Sept Western Branch Noggin & Natter The Great Canoe Challenge Mon 19 Sept Western Branch Carnival Weekend Planning Tnes 20 Sept IWA EVENT - see below Meeting. a W W/E 24/25 Sept Thames End Branch Working Weekend Non 3 Oct Tues 11 Oct Western Branch Meeting Thames End Branch Meeting Em =cl Weds 19 Oct IWA EVENT - see below i3!3 Thur 20 Oct Western Branch Noggin & Natter &a Tues 25 Oct IWA EVENT - see below 8g W/E 29/30 Oct Thames End Branch Working Weekend 32 9c4 B0 Mou 7 Nov Western Branch Meetlng Tues 8 Nov Thames End Branch Meeting a h Tues 15 Nov IWA EVENT - see below 2 ~ - H W Thur 17 Nov Western Branch Noggm & Natter a.4 LI WIE 26/27 Nov Western Branch Working Weekend E -2 a wa Mon 5 Dec Western Branch Meetlng S15 Tues 13 Dec Thur 15 Dec Thames End Branch Meeting Western Branch Noggln & Natter WESTERN BRANCH VOLUNTEERS WORK ON THE TRIP BOATS AND ON RESTORATION PROJECTS ON MOST WEEKENDS. PLEASE RING FOR MORE DETAILS IWA EVENTS Tues 20 Sep Weds 19 Oct Tues 25 Oct Tues 15 Nov 'M3 WILTS & BERKS CANAL An illustrated hlstory, by Jack Dalby at Tewkesbury Marina Yacht Club 7.30 pm NATIONAL WATERWAYS MUSEUM present WATERWAYS ON FILM with John Huntley, at the New Olympus Theatre, Barton Street, Gloucester 7.30 pm CREATING THE MUSEUM We are joining with the Friends of the Museum for a talk by curator, Tony Condor, at the Schools Room, National Waterways Museum, Gloucester Docks 7.30 pm THE CLYDE PUFFERS An illustrated talk by Hamish Dawson at Tewkesbury Marina Yacht Club, Bredon Road, Tewkesbury 7.30 pm FRONT COVER: "Barca Romana" passes under Newtown Bridge (and a low pipe!) BACK COVER: Is this really our canal? St Cyr's Church near Stonehouse (photo: S. Standbridge)

22 > Who's Who in the S. TGS. C.T. Ltd. I DEPARTMENTS MEMBERSHIP RICHARD ATWOOD 7 H~dcote Close, Eastcornbe, Stroud, SECRETARY Glos., GL6 7EF (Brimscornbe ) PUBLICITY (Nailsworth 2384) 1111 PRESS & BRUCE HALL Springers, Watledge, Nailsworth, Glos., Ill CHRIS JONES The Courts, 27 Walton Road. Clevedon, Avon, BS21 6AE (Clevedon ) EVENTS JEFFERY SHAW The Cleeves, Nailsworth, Glos., ORGANISER GL6 OPA (Nailsworth 3373) l VACANT Please contact the Secretary or Treasurer if you would like to volunteer for this post. SECRETARY DERYCK WATKINSON 12 Hampton Grove, Meysey Hampton, Cirencester, Glos., GL7 5JN (Poulton 661) TREASURER NICHOLAS MELCHIOR 28 Grove Hill, Highworth, Swindon, Wilts., SN6 7JN (Swindon ) WESTERN BRANCH CHAIRMAN BERNARD DONOVAN 10 Mount Pleasant, Bisley Old Road, Stroud. Glos., GL5 1NA I (Stroud 77541) I I SECRETARY TONY JONES 7 Stringers Close, Rodborough, Stroud, Glos., GL5 3RB (Stroud 2915) TREASURER ALEC WHITEHOUSE 37 Cotswold Green, Stonehouse, Glos. GLlO 2ET (Stonehouse 2284)..WORKING PARTIES WESTERN DOUG BLAKE 19 Stratton Rd., Gloucester (Glos ) BRANCH THAMES END NICHOLAS MELCHIOR 28 Grove Hill, Highworth, Swindon, BRANCH Wilts., SN6 7JN (Swindon ) WASTE PAPER BILL EVILL 20 Victoria Road, Brimscornbe, Stroud, COLLECTION Glos. (Brimscornbe ) THE TROW EDITOR SE23 1JZ ( )

23