Shroppie Fly Paper Summer 2015

Summer 2015

Page

Shroppie Fly Paper

Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Calendar 2016 We are delighted to report that the 2016 Calendar is at the printers and should be on sale from mid-July.

We've been fortunate to have access to some excellent photographs, a couple of which we reproduce on this page to give you a 'taster'. A version of the calendar cover image, which also adorns the front of this issue of Shroppie Fly Paper, won the Waterways World/Robin Smithett Photography Competition and the delightful photograph of nb Spey approaching Tyrley Locks won third prize.

Other excellent photos come from a number of different contributors, so we're pleased with the exceptional quality this year and we thank all those who have allowed us to use their work.

The calendar is the single largest fundraising project run by the branch, so we hope you will support it enthusiatically.

It will be available from our usual outlets at Aqueduct and OverWater marinas, Audlem Mill and Kings Lock Chandlery, as well as by mail order at a cost of ÂŁ6.30 including p&p from 7 Barnton Edge, Stone ST15 8ZR (cheques payable to The Inland Waterways Association, please.) It will also be available at the Shrewsbury Christmas Card Shop in St Mary's Church during November.

As always, we are very grateful for the goodwill and support of our sponsors who make the calendar possible. This year they are: Aqueduct Marina 01270 525041 - Bluerhodfa Consulting, Web Design & Hosting 07803 164802 - Cheshire Cat Narrowboat Holidays 07867 790195 - Kings Lock Chandlery 01606 737564 - M & L Canal Services and Mobile Engineer 07970 384047 - Mercia Marine Insurance 01684 564457 - Midway Boats 01270 528482 - Morris Lubricants 01782 410391 - OverWater Marina 01270 812677 - Swanley Bridge Marina 01270 524571 - Talbot Wharf 01630 652641 - Venetian Marina 01270 528251 Please in turn support our sponsors when you can, and do mention the calendar to them.

Finally we would like to thank branch member Edward Leetham of Downstream Print for his patience in dealing with our printing needs over the years. The 2016 calendar is being printed by Audlem Printers, confusingly located in Whitchurch.

COVER & THIS PAGE: Images from the branch's 2016 calendar. Cover image of Blakemere by Mark Welton Summer 2015

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page

The Editor's cut...

I write this on the day of the bi-centenary of the Battle of Waterloo, a seismic event that shaped the future of Europe and, arguably, the world for a hundred years.

"What's that doing in an IWA branch magazine?" I hear you ask. I mention it because it's a useful and topical 'hook' to remind ourselves that the Napoleonic War years gave us some of the most marvellous feats of engineering of the canal age including, of course, the soaring aqueduct – completed ten years earlier in the year of Trafalgar – that carries the canal high above the River Dee. That same year, 1805, also saw the extension of the Ellesmere Canal eastwards beyond Whitchurch to join the Chester Canal at Hurleston, in an acknowledgement that Telford's and Jessop's ambitious route to Chester through the Welsh hills would never be realised.

And there at Hurleston, on the first weekend in August, is where you can find your branch in action on our annual lock wind – urging passing boats to lift their fenders and hoping that they will be kind enough to donate generously so we can continue to support the restoration projects in our area. If you can, do please come along, have some fun and give us a hand (see page 10).

In other news (as bulletins are fond of saying) this issue sees extensive reports on the extraordinary activities that have been taking place this year to promote the Montgomery Canal from the English border into mid-Wales.

Michael Limbrey's account of these – stretching to four pages, strategically separated by a break to air other matters – is a testament to the huge amount of enthusiasm and commitment demonstrated by the entirely voluntary organisers of the Making Waves programme. I hope you have had the chance to enjoy some if not all of the wide variety of entertainment on offer and, if you read this newsletter in time, we hope to see you at our stand at the Welsh Waterways Festival in Welshpool in early July (see page 29).

Finally, I know it's much too early to be thinking about the autumn, but such are the vagaries of Shroppie Fly Paper's publishing dates that we have to mention these events now or it will be too late. Please see and, if you're interested, remember to book your places for the Inter-branch Skittles Challenge (page 14) and our Autumn Social Evening & Talk featuring Peter Brown (page 19). You can do it now – we won't mind!

Michael Haig Next copy date: October 30, 2015

Summer 2015

Page 3

Shroppie Fly Paper

The Branch Committee President & Chairman

Michael Limbrey 01691 654081

michael.limbrey@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer & NW Region Chairman

Alan Platt

alan.platt@waterways.org.uk

Secretary & Membership Sec.

Dawn Aylwin 01691 830403

shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk

Heritage & Planning Officer

Peter Brown

peter.brown@waterways.org.uk

Webmaster

Alan Wilding

alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

Vice Chairman & Newsletter Editor

Michael Haig

michael.haig@waterways.org.uk

Social Secretary

Val Haig 07976 280174

val.haig@waterways.org.uk

Committee Members

David Aylwin

shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk

Denis Farmer

denis.farmer@waterways.org.uk

Janet Farmer

janet.farmer@waterways.org.uk

Gerallt Hughes

gerallt.hughes@waterways.org.uk

Susan Wilding

alan.wilding@waterways.org.uk

Branch Web pages

www.waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury www.facebook.com/pages/IWA-Shrewsbury-Branch/388651831206061

Shroppie Fly Paper Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The Inland Waterways Association (IWA) with a membership of about 330. Nationally IWA has about 16,000 members and campaigns for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inland waterways. For further information contact any committee member.

Copy for Shroppie Fly Paper is welcome by email, on disk or in manuscript form. Photographs may be in any common computer format or as prints. Please supply a stamped addressed envelope if you require photographs to be returned. ‘Letters to the Editor’ intended for publication are invited, as are comments for the Editor’s private guidance. Copy and letters submitted for publication may be edited.

The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this branch newsletter but encourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unless stated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproduction must be acknowledged.

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England No 612245. Registered as a charity No 212342.

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 4

Summer 2015

From The Steerer Summertime! Possibly to their surprise, or yours, we have a new government. IWA used the election to get across the message that our waterways are important – to those of us who enjoy them, to the cities, towns and villages they pass through, and to the wider community.

With the election looming, candidates were asked to support a manifesto to protect our heritage, develop contacts with local waterway groups, work with IWA in Parliament, support the transfer of EA navigations to CRT and support affordable new off-line moorings. A total of 289 candidates signed up including a number from the branch area – would there have been more if more of us had asked?

However, so far as I am aware none of the candidates or their parties addressed what I find this summer to be the most pressing of issues: There are not enough weekends!

Don't you think that a campaign to double the number of weekends would do well?

As I am writing this, I look at a list of what has happened since the last edition of Shroppie Fly Paper thirteen weeks ago – in the pages that follow you will read about no less than fifteen events in those thirteen weeks, and we could have mentioned a few more had we not run out of space!

And that does not include the various meetings of committees, partnerships and groups where branch committee members represent IWA. In the words of the IWA slogan, we are Keeping Our Waterways Alive in the branch area. This means regular support for the projects in our area – the Shrewsbury & Newport, Whitchurch Arm and the Montgomery and promoting the wider appreciation of our waterways.

Take for example people we met at Shrewsbury River Festival: some were interested in canals; some were new to the area; and some were just visiting on holiday – and there was plenty to tell them all of course, about the canals of our area and what they offer residents and visitors.

In the weeks to come, the branch will be at Making Waves in Welshpool, part of a renaissance of the Montgomery Canal in Wales. This year has seen activities in Llanymynech and Welshpool, active support from the local Assembly Member and Summer 2015

Page 5

Shroppie Fly Paper

the Mayor and Town Council of Welshpool, a revival of interested by Newtown Town Council, the development of a volunteer team helping with maintenance in Welshpool and public trips on the boats of the Heulwen Trust – now you can take boat trips on the horse-drawn Countess at Maesbury, on the George W Buck at Llanymynech and on the Heulwen boats at Welshpool.

Our branch's own activity is put together by members of the committee, sometimes with friends from other groups. We are also helped by a small band of stalwart branch members. We could not do all we do without their help, and I am sure that like us they get a huge sense of enjoyment and satisfaction from joining with friends old and new in these events. Would you like to too? Would you help us in Keeping Our Waterways Alive?

Michael Limbrey – Branch Chairman

Membership Matters We are delighted to welcome the following new members who have joined the branch since the spring edition of this magazine and look forward to meeting you all during the summer months at one of our events.

Mr & Mrs Bryan from Moelfre; Mr Crowe from Arddleen; Rev & Mrs Dann from St Asaph; Mr Evans from Borth; Mr & Mrs Hirst from Red Wharf Bay; Mr Morris from Glyn Ceiriog; Mr & Mrs Wright from Dyffryn Ardudwy.

A number of members have recently requested to view this newsletter on the internet rather than receiving a copy through the post; great news but in one or two cases we do not have the necessary email addresses to send a quick message to announce the arrival of the next issue. If you omitted to include your details on the membership application form please email them to me or you might miss out.

Telephone numbers are also useful for your membership secretary to know, if you are happy to provide them.

As Shroppie Fly Paper is published only three times a year, it can be quite a challenge to keep up to date with all the changes and additions to events along the waterways. Due to circumstances beyond our control, times or locations occasionally change, so we try to keep members updated by email as well as offering event reminders, which we are told are helpful. If you have recently got or changed an email address please let us know. I promise you won't be inundated with lots of unnecessary messages from us, nor will we pass your details on to anyone else. Thanks for your help.

Dawn Aylwin Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 6

Summer 2015

Region Chairman writes In springtime some people worry about the impending Ashes series or whether they dare be seen in public with shorts on, but the canal lover's heart quickens at the prospect of another summer's boating, walking the towpath or generally enjoying the waterways. Not that these cannot be enjoyed all the year round, but to me it helps if I only need one layer of jumpers and the rain is not incessant. This year I also have the small matter of getting the boat through its BSS certificate. I have a growing number of redundant, but possibly still effective, fire extinguishers, and it does confuse me that my boat is subject to more regulations than my house, but at my age I'm easily confused so no matter.

We also have events to entertain and inform us. No Maesbury event this year but instead we have the cornucopia of delights that is 'Making Waves', about which more elsewhere, as well as the Whitchurch rally, the lock wind and a few open days at marinas. All of these require volunteers and assistance.

The year has started off with a number of these already. The Montgomery Triathlon, Shrewsbury & Newport Canal Trust Norbury Festival and Shrewsbury River Festival are reported elsewhere, as is the Audlem RNLI Festival.

In April we had an enjoyable Region get together at the Eldonian Village in Liverpool, where in the morning we had a stimulating open discussion about navigation and other matters of interest throughout the region, during which inconsiderate cyclists seemed to get a lot of attention.

l-r: Mike Haig (branch vice chairman). Dr Maurice Ward (STTV), Audrey Smith (Lancs & Cumbria), Paul Mills (STTV), Alan Platt.

(Gillian Bolt)

This was followed by a prize giving, where David Smith of Lancs & Cumbria branch was honoured for his long service to the IWA and Paul Mills and Maurice Ward on behalf of the Small Task Team Volunteers received the award for non-IWA service to the waterways. Anyone who's recently used the water points at Barbridge or Hurleston and has wondered where the muddy morass has gone has them to thank. At the same time this branch presented STTV with a cheque for ÂŁ200 to assist with tools and materials. This was warmly appreciated.

Summer 2015

Page 7

Shroppie Fly Paper

After lunch there was a short introduction to the lower end of the Liverpool Link by Dave Smallshaw, after which the fit and able were taken for an informative walk down the locks into Stanley Dock and then proceeded at a brisk pace towards Pier Head, at which point yours truly made his excuses and hobbled back to the car. A very enjoyable day out which widens the perspective from the purely local into what happens elsewhere in the region and I'm grateful to the few from the branch who made it.

Not content with crossing the Mersey once, I have just returned from a day at the IWA National Trailboat Rally at Crosslands on the Lancaster Canal. The Lancaster shares with the Montgomery and ancient Gaul the fact that it is in two parts. In the case of the Lancaster the M6 carved across the top two locks of the Tewitfield flight as a six lane dropped bridge, thus isolating the section to Kendal, some of which is in water and some dry, in one place leaving an isolated bridge in a field. As my £3 trip on Waterwitch showed it also shares with the Monty the fact that it’s a very pretty rural canal.

The event itself was part of 'Country Fest' – basically a county show – which kept this farmer's son happy, as there were rare breeds of sheep to look at as well as the attractions of the Young Farmers' mixed tug of war competition. Having a canal event piggy-back a larger show also has the advantage of getting the general public engaged, whereas purely canal events can sometimes consist of preaching to the converted.

In the afternoon I had the privilege of judging the boat handling competition. This required participants to go forwards down a slalom course then reverse back up, a manouevre that would be impossible in a narrowboat but is practical with an outboard. I noted the scores and was well on my way home before the winner was announced, but I think a small yacht, to whom I awarded bonus points for navigating the first part of the course under sail, won it.

Regular readers, if I have any, may detect a note of levity, possibly down to a touch of being 'demob happy' as the end of my six years as Region Chair looms.

However, I intend to remain involved behind the scenes and will continue to serve on the CRT North Wales & Borders Partnership, for which I promise a more interesting public meeting in the autumn than last year.

The work of your committee also is pretty unrelenting, and they need and deserve all the help you can give them. This is one of the most active and productive branches in the IWA, and that does not happen without a lot of hard work.

Alan Platt - Region Chairman

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 8

Summer 2015

Himalayan balsam – a pretty destructive invader - Why not join in the balsam bash at Black Hut, Newport on July 11? Most of our readers will already know that in recent years IWA has organised and supported numerous work parties across the country to tackle Himalayan balsam, one of a number of destructive invasive species that are taking over our canal and river banks.

With up to 800 seeds per plant, which are released explosively from seedpods and can travel for up to seven metres (22ft) from the plant, Himalayan balsam spreads rapidly, especially when carried on the waters of streams, rivers and canals.

Balsam grows in dense stands, taking over whole areas of river and canal bank before dying back in the winter when, with no roots left to strengthen the bank, the bank becomes increasingly susceptible to erosion.

Himalayan balsam takes over canal and river banks (Alison Smedley)

This year IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch is supporting a balsam bash on the Newport Canal on Saturday, July 11 from 10.00am, and it would be great if lots of our readers, their families and friends were able to join in for a couple of hours.

Organised by Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust, the group will meet at Black Hut, Water Lane, Newport (TF10 7LD) to tackle the watered stretch of the Newport Canal, which is infested with Himalayan balsam. If left unchecked the colourful invader will wipe out the native plants that have helped to make this a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Volunteers will need to bring gloves and wear suitable footwear for working by the canal. If the balsam bash makes it into the area to the west of Town Bridge volunteers will also need protection from tall nettles.

Michael Haig

Summer 2015

Page 9

Shroppie Fly Paper

Branch Lock Wind - Hurleston Bottom Lock 1st and 2nd August 2015 After the very successful event last year the annual lock wind will once again be at Hurleston Bottom Lock during the first weekend in August, when we hope there will be lots of boaters cruising up and down the Llangollen Canal.

The lock wind is one of our major fund raising events so please support your branch by either coming along to help wind locks or by providing things to sell; surplus fruit and vegetables from your garden, home-made cakes, pies, pickles and jam are very popular and every year we run out of supplies.

If you can spare the time we would welcome your contributions and especially your presence, even if it is just an hour or two!

Last year several helpers came for an hour and stayed all day - there was no pressure; they actually enjoyed the experience so much they just stayed!

2014 lock wind at Hurleston (Michael Haig)

You are very welcome to join us by boat but please let me know beforehand as CRT has asked how many boats are likely to attend. There is plenty of mooring space on the Shropshire Union Main Line, with room to turn round if you need to return to your mooring after the event.

You are equally welcome if you come by car. There is plenty of parking space on the old road, which is just after Snugbury's Ice Cream shop on the A51 Chester and Tarporley road out of Nantwich. You can't miss it. Just turn off the main road by the 'Free Range Eggs' sign, park, then walk down to the bridge and turn right along the tow path.

It's not just a working weekend; the lock wind is a social event with an opportunity to talk to fellow canal enthusiasts. So please come and enjoy the fun. We look forward to meeting you all.

Dawn Aylwin

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 10

Summer 2015

Bits and Bobs from Whitchurch Whitchurch Waterway Trust (WWT) is now on Facebook! If you use Facebook, please visit and “like” us - www.facebook.com/whitchurchwaterwaytrust.

Each year, Sainsbury’s stores partner with a local charity and WWT has competed to be the Whitchurch Sainsbury’s Local Charity Partner for 2015. Five local charities each gave a 10-minute presentation to a dozen Sainsbury’s staff. We have made it into the shortlist of three, for which shoppers will vote in the store and online at www.sainsburyslocalcharity.co.uk during the second half of June. The winning charity will organise fundraising events in which Sainsbury’s volunteers will participate alongside the charity's own volunteers.

WWT has produced a “Boaters' Guide to Whitchurch”, aimed at encouraging visiting boaters to go into the town, which is displayed on the noticeboard on the Arm and is also available as a PDF from the WWT website: www.whitchurchwaterway.uk.

We hope you find it useful if you come to Whitchurch on a boat. It shows where the supermarkets and public Des res for ducks at the Whitchurch Arm winding amenities are, where to get the hole (WWT) nearest pint of milk, the walking route into town, and, of course, where the pubs are.

A grant of £500 has been received from Whitchurch Town Council towards a new noticeboard for the Arm to replace an old one, which has expired, and two new banners to advertise the boat rally on roundabouts on the routes into Whitchurch.

Warm thanks are due to the Town Council and also to WWT's membership secretary Joan Crump, whose efforts and determination procured the grant.

Thanks also go to our IWA branch, which has very kindly agreed to fund £200 towards the shortfall from the town council’s notice board grant and to provide leaflets to publicise the boat rally.

And, talking of the rally, don't forget to come to it on the Whitchurch Arm on the weekend of September 5-6 (see page 19 for details).

Helen Brockman - Secretary, Whitchurch Waterway Trust Summer 2015

Page 11

Shroppie Fly Paper

Waves on the Monty – The Full Story (part1) Never let it be said again that the Monty is a quiet rural canal where nothing much happens! Michael Limbrey has been deeply involved right from the start with the Making Waves programme and much else besides, and here tells us all we need to know about everything that matters.

March 21-April 28: Making Waves Powysland Museum display The first Making Waves event in Welshpool was a display in the Powysland Museum. This is one of the most notable surviving canalside warehouses, but the museum is for the town rather than the canal, with a range of fascinating displays.

The six-week Making Waves display was put together by Tony Lewery and Andrew Jenkinson with narrowboat painted items, models, pictures and articles from the boatman's cabin. It also told the story of the first geological map, published 200 years ago by canal surveyor William 'Strata' Smith.

April 25: IWA/CRT Restoration Workshop Topics included Local Plans, Local Enterprise Partnerships and Funding, the EU Water Framework Directive and its effect on canals, interpretation (that's noticeboards and other presentations of the canal story), lining the canal channel, and the challenges of restoration – presented as Epic Engineering, 'showcasing what can be achieved when restoring our waterways'. Information from the event is on the CRT website www.canalrivertrust.org.uk/ restoration/restorationdownloads. The most memorable "Ready for the off" at Newtown on the cycling stage of thing I have come away with is the Montgomery Triathlon (Michael Limbrey) that economists calculate the net economic benefit of restoration by the formula: AI = [GI x (1-L) x (1-Dp) x (1-S) x M] – [GI* x (1-L*) x (1-Dp*) x (1-S*) x M*]!

May 9: Montgomery Triathlon There was a change in the arrangements for the fourth Montgomery Canal Triathlon. Previously the cycling had ended at Welshpool Wharf and been followed by a canoe section. The arrangements were changed this year, making it easier for entrants and organisers: the cycling section continued to Pool Quay, making the first leg 17 miles; the next 11 miles to Morton were on foot, with the final 7 miles to Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 12

Summer 2015

the Weston Arm being by canoe. At the start the Mayor of Newtown was delighted to hear that people had come from Kent, Cornwall, Lincolnshire, Manchester and South Wales. Many had taken part before, some were there on the recommendation of friends, and others said they would come again. As well as the participants, there were over 60 marshalls, and our thanks go to the IWA members who helped. The whole event was thoroughly good-natured and is a credit to the Montgomery Canal, and especially to Judith and Peter Richards who organised it again.

May 17: Making Waves with Canoes The intention of Making Waves is to encourage people to realise the opportunities the Montgomery Canal brings to Welshpool. The canal is used by the local canoe club and by Red Ridge outdoor centre from Cefn Coch, midWales.

Making Waves with Canoes offered taster sessions aimed at youngsters, but at least one grandmother had a go too. At first it was not clear how the day would go, but people came, and told their friends through social media, and we were busy all day.

Sylvia Edwards was able to use the event as part of the consultation process for the Making Waves with Canoes (Michael Limbrey) Lottery bid (to be lodged in the autumn). Many thanks to Red Ridge for the instructors and to Chris Bushnell for the canoes and equipment – another day of activity at Welshpool Wharf.

May 18: Liverpool University presentations CRT commissioned Liverpool University to look at Ellesmere, Trevor, Llangollen, Llanymynech and Welshpool – all with very different opportunities for the future.

The project involved developing a vision for these places in fifteen years' time.

Peter Brown and I were among those who gave initial presentations, and these were followed by site visits and consultations: I went to the consultation in Welshpool where the Liverpool team were surprised at the number who came, including Welshpool's Mayor, Russell George AM and Glyn Davies (hoping for reelection). The students presented their interim conclusions in May and it is planned that final reports for Llanymynech and Welshpool will be shown at the Montgomery Canal Forum on 6 July. (continued on page 28)

Summer 2015

Page 13

Shroppie Fly Paper

IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch - Diary 2015 All branch members are welcome to join us at our regular branch business meetings, which are preceded by an opportunity for supper and socialising. Meetings begin at 7.00pm, with supper from 6.00pm. To give our venues an idea of numbers please let the branch know if you would like to attend. shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk

July 4-5

Welsh Waterways Festival, the culmination of the Making Waves programme at Welshpool. See page 29. Are you available to help the branch at this event? If so, please call Dawn 01691 830403

July 6

Montgomery Canal Forum, 2.30pm at Assembly Room, Welshpool Town Hall - a fascinating afternoon, everybody welcome

July 11

Himalayan Balsam Bash, Black Hut, Water Lane, Newport TF10 7LD. See page 9

Jul 11-Aug 2

Eric Gaskell Linocuts Exhibition at Audlem Mill

July 19

Church Minshull Aqueduct Marina Open Day

July 25-26

Audlem Gathering of Historic Narrowboats and Festival of Transport

August 1-2

Annual branch lock wind at Hurleston Locks. Help for part or all of the event and gifts of items to sell most appreciated. Windlasses provided! See page 10

August 10

Branch business meeting at Narrowboat Inn, Whittington SY11 4NU

September 5-6

Whitchurch Gathering of Boats. See page 19

September 26

IWA Members' Meeting and AGM at Salwarpe Village Hall, Salwarpe, Droitwich (Worcestershire), WR9 0AH. www.waterways.org.uk

October 10

Inter-branch Skittles Challenge, Stafford Boat Club. See below

October 12

Branch business meeting at Narrowboat Inn, Whittington SY11 4NU

November 9

Autumn Talk - "Crime on the Shropshire Union" with Peter Brown.

See page 19

Inter-Branch Skittles Evening - Saturday, October 10, 2015 7.30pm Stafford Boat Club Maplewood, Wildwood, Stafford ST17 4SG - 01785 660725 A good-natured three-way contest in the annual Inter-branch Skittles Challenge at Stafford Boat Club last autumn saw North Staffs & South Cheshire hold onto the trophy for another year, beating off a spirited challenge from Shrewsbury & North Wales while Lichfield struggled to find their best form.

So come along, see if you can help our branch recover the trophy, and enjoy an entertaining social evening in Stafford. Overnight moorings may be available - contact SBC for more information.

Based on last year, the cost will be around ÂŁ7.50 per head including food and skittles, though when we went to press we were still awaiting exact details of the set meal and prices. You can pay on the night, however we need to know by September 30 (for catering) how many will be attending. Please contact val.haig@waterways.org.uk or 07976 280174 as soon as possible to book your place. Why not do it now before you forget?

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 14

Summer 2015

Millenium Memories We moved to Shropshire in 2001 and joined the branch in April 2002. It was the start of many new experiences, the first of which was watching Saturn, the last example of a Shropshire Union Fly Boat, being taken down the Montgomery Canal to Queen's Head, pulled by Geordie, a Welsh Cob. Saturn was subsequently towed in relays to Wheelock where she underwent restoration We had attended an IWA National festival but had never helped to organise an event.

That all changed in the Spring 2003, when the opening of Aston Locks on the Montgomery was celebrated with a Head of Navigation rally at Queens Head.

Limited to 30 boats and opened by John Craven with a VIP trip down to Gronwen Wharf it was the start of a new era.

So when in 2004 a May Day Canal Festival at Norbury Junction was initiated by our branch, we found ourselves on the organising team and invited SNCT to join us.

This was the first event at which we organised WOW activities hard work but great fun.

It has been very rewarding to watch the event grow and expand under the Trust.

Summer 2015

Page 15

Shroppie Fly Paper

In 2005 the bi-centenary of the Ellesmere Canal and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was celebrated with various activities from March to November.

We organised a raffle, the profits from which paid for the repainting of Shropshire Lad, and commissioned a wooden model of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct for children to build - it can still be seen at the visitor centre at Trevor and is apparently still very popular.

In May '05 the Branch revived an old favourite for raising funds, but a first for me: working the lock at Quoisley on the Llangollen Canal for a donation.

This idea has now been extended to selling garden produce, cakes and jams over a summer weekend at Hurleston bottom lock and has become one of the major fundraising activities thanks to the support of our members.

In 2006 we experienced two ‘firsts’. In conjunction with BW's Powys Liaison Officer we organised a lock paint at Burgedin.

The work was started in October, but rain stopped play by making the balance beams too soggy to undercoat so we returned in November to finish the job. We even had time to prepare and varnish two canal-side benches.

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 16

Summer 2015

The second experience of the year was helping out on the Santa Cruises on George Watson Buck at Llanymynech.

David was Santa and I was one of his little helpers - the elf hat being the fashion statement of the year!

The branch has since contributed funds for the craning out of the boat for re-blacking (handing over the cheque is shown in the photo).

In March 2007, to support the IWA campaign against the cuts to BW's budget by DEFRA, we organised a Life Ring Race or 'Pooh Sticks with a Purpose' at Trevor (Quita Brown's idea), which was great fun but carried a very serious message.

With so many entries from canal societies, local youth groups and Anglo Welsh apprentices, heats had to be arranged before the final race, which was started by Martin Jones MP. As Denis Farmer mentioned in the last edition of Shroppie Fly Paper, the Dinghy Dawdle was a regular event on the Montgomery but it took until spring 2007, when it was organised by SUCS, for me to take part and set foot in a canoe for the first time.

The Dawdle was later taken over by the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and has since developed into the very successful Triathlon, which is supported by the branch.

Summer 2015

Page 17

Shroppie Fly Paper

We returned from an extended holiday to find the branch had come up with the concept of Monty 08; a season culminating in two festivals at either end of the dry section to highlight the need for restoration.

In absentia we had been elected to organise the event at Maesbury, a festival that would take over our lives and become a regular event!

Monty 08 was launched at Llanymynech by then MP Lembit Opik with his then fiancĂŠ (Cheeky Girl) Gabriela Irimia.

In 2009 we received a surprise donation from Miss Jean Evans who requested that the branch put a bench in the established nature reserve at Aston Top Lock and plant three oak trees during the National Tree week in 2010 at the newly created reserve at the bottom lock.

Later in the year Jean was taken on a cruise from Maesbury to Queens Head and particularly enjoyed her first time going through the locks.

Finally, 2010 saw the birth of the branch calendar, an idea that came from branch member Sue Russell, although the first edition did not appear until two years later.

Collecting the photographs (one of my favourites is shown) and designing the calendar was another first for me.

Don't forget to look out for the 2016 version, which will be on sale from July.

Dawn Aylwin Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 18

Summer 2015

Whitchurch Gathering of Boats September 5-6, 2015

We would like to welcome you all to the Whitchurch Boat Gathering, being held two weeks earlier than in the past few years, on the Whitchurch Arm of the Llangollen Canal at Chemistry.

If you would like to come with your boat the entry fee is £12.50. If you trade from your boat there is an additional fee of £12.50. A social evening for boaters to include a meal is £6.50 per person and starts at 6.30pm. We supply everything except chairs, drinks and glasses.

Stall holders are very welcome also. The fee for commercial stalls is £20.00 and for charities and societies the fee is £10.00.

If you just want to come along to see the decorated boats and stalls it won't cost you a penny and car parking is free in the nearby carpark.

Details are available at www.whitchurchwaterway.uk where booking forms can be downloaded.

Booking forms can also be obtained by contacting Lindsay Green, Chemistry Farm, Whitchurch.

SY13 1BZ or telephone 01948 662779/07968 339335 or e-mail wwt@mybtinternet.com

IWA Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch Autumn Social Evening and Talk

Monday, November 9, 2015 - 6.30 for 7.00pm supper

Brooklands Hotel, Mill Road, Shrewsbury SY3 9JT We are delighted to announce that Peter Brown, our very own historian and expert on all things about the Shropshire Union system, has agreed to present our Autumn Talk, chillingly entitled

"Crime On The Shropshire Union" Join Us For Supper £10 for one course or £13 for main course and dessert Mains Steak & ale pie or Goats cheese, spinach & red onion canneloni with tomato sauce and salad Desserts Fruit crumble & custard or Cheesecake

Please book with Val Haig (contact details on page 4) by November 5 (for catering numbers) and pay cash on the night.

VOLUNTEERING You will find reports of various volunteer activities that have been taking place in our branch area throughout this issue . If you would like to get involved in future activities please contact: STTV: Paul Mills, 0151 336 1049 / 07947 887909, exelbee@sky.com or Maurice Ward, 01942 260459 / 07791 350207, drmdward@hotmail.com SUMBA: Graham Russell, 01270 522731 / 07853 275222, ggtr@btinternet.com

Summer 2015

Page 19

Shroppie Fly Paper

Volunteering News from STTV, SUCS and SUMBA The Small Tasks Team Volunteers have been as busy as usual over the past few months. At the end of March the first phase of the construction of a waste bin compound at Nantwich Services area was undertaken. During the second phase of the task, planned for end-June, the area will be covered with compacted sand and block paved to permit access if required in the future. In addition further work was done on the adjacent sanitary station.

On the nearby Nantwich embankment, previous boaters on the long term moorings had put down a variety of marker flags and staging, which had deteriorated over the years and looked very unattractive and posed trip hazards. All this detritus was removed, topsoil laid and the area re-seeded. Improvements were also made to the signage with new totem posts and signs, and broken or missing mooring rings replaced.

Nantwich embankment moorings after the STTV treatment (STTV)

Between 29 April and 1 May the Small Tasks Team Volunteers were back in action above the top lock at Hurleston on the Llangollen Canal.

With the aid of a CRT tug and hopper, two JCB excavators, two powered minidumpers, two wacker plates, a vibrating roller, 55 tonnes of stone and a crew of very willing and able volunteers, the principal task was to construct about 140m of new path, 2.5m wide, from the top lock to beyond the water points.

On the Montgomery Canal the second of the year’s SUCS ‘restoration’ work parties took place at the Weston Arm picnic site, originally set up by the Society some years ago. The work involved repair and renovation of the benches and their surrounds, towpath, water points, car park and waste Hurleston Towpath work party (STTV) disposal area. Although the work party saw the majority of the restoration volunteers in action, the work done could more accurately be described as enhancement rather than restoration. The venue, Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 20

Summer 2015

and the nature of the work, was because the continuing delay to the issue of a newt licence is preventing the start of work on the Pryces to Crickheath section.

The work on the towpath, car park and waste disposal area involved removal of vegetation and resurfacing with compacted stone. A three-tonne excavator and two power barrows moved the forty-odd tonnes of stone around the site. The material was spread by hand by the volunteers and a compactor plate ensured a smooth finish. Work on the picnic furniture involved replacement of a small number of pieces of timber and application of wood preservative. The result was six picnic benches which look as good as new! The area around the benches was covered in wood chippings which were produced from brash from SUCS's winter hedge-laying site at Arddleen. Finally the brick-built enclosures for the two water points were rebuilt.

One notable aspect of the work at Weston Arm was the sight of the large number of boats travelling on the canal. This is, of course, something of a novelty for a group whose idea of a canal is a dry channel. However, the thought that these boats will one day be able to travel to Crickheath does act as a spur to the team’s restoration efforts.

Over the weekend of April 11-12 SUMBA Picnic tables being made by Reese celebrated its first anniversary - and completed its Heath students (SUMBA) biggest and most publicly noticeable project to date as Cholmondeston Lock and the surrounding area received a very much overdue visual transformation.

Once loose and flaking paint had been rubbed down and removed (very difficult), re-painting began on the balance beams, lock and lock side furniture, mooring posts and bollards, fences and gates. The brickwork around the lock was weeded & silica sand brushed in, and the brick hut will be repainted later this summer.

Later in April and May, SUMBA concentrated on the installation of barbecue stands and picnic tables at locations on the Middlewich Branch, as well as creating the Church Minshull Circular Walk, a canal walk via bridges 11 and 14, with an alternative route through the bluebell wood. Rebekah Fuller's signage design brief, which includes an information board describing the village, further boards about canal artefacts and directional signs along the walk,was presented to the Parish Council at its May meeting.

Maurice Ward, Paul Mills, Rich Hamp, Graham Russell Summer 2015

Page 21

Shroppie Fly Paper

Do you know your Slumbering Monk from your Green Monkey?

Many IWA members came on the branch brewery tour at Joule’s Brewery in Market Drayton in May last year, so probably do. The tour, however, was oversubscribed so some didn’t get to attend, while those that did seemed to enjoy it a lot!

On Wednesday, September 23 you’ll have the chance to check them out again.

Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust has organised a social event at Joule’s Brewery as a fundraiser for SNCT’s Wappenshall Crisis appeal. The brewery, very generously, will only be charging their costs with the rest of the proceeds going to the appeal, which is raising match funding to secure Wappenshall Wharf’s Heritage Lottery Fund award.

Visit to Joule's Brewery Wednesday 23rd September 2015 7.00pm

Have a great night out and help raise funds for the Wappenshall Wharf Appeal To include a brewery tour and a Gloucester Old Spot pork bap with crackling, stuffing and apple sauce Ticket £10 a head

In case you are flummoxed by the introductory title, they are actually the names of just two of the beers brewed by Joule’s, a once famous Stone-based brewer that vanished after being taken over by Bass Charington in the 1970s.

SPONSORED BY

The Joule’s name has now been revived, under licence, at a new custom-built brewery in Market The Brewery, Great Hales Street, Market Drayton, Shropshire TF9 1JP Drayton. The new brewer has access to the same spring water as the original Joule’s Brewery as well as the original brewing methods, recipes, trademarks, notes and, most importantly, the yeast.

The event is at Joule’s Brewery in Great Hayes Street, Market Drayton TF9 1JP at 7pm on Wednesday, September 23, starting with an introductory talk about Joule’s heritage and the new Market Drayton chapter in their story, while sampling their fine beers. We will then be taken on a guided tour around the brewery. After the tour we return to the hospitality area and can check if the beers have changed while we have been away. At the same time we will be treated to a “Giant Joule’s Hot Pork Bap” which is sourced from local organic Fordhall Farm. (Vegetarian options are available) The evening will end at about 10pm.

Tickets cost £10 each and places are limited, so please send your cheques, made out to Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust, to 7 Barnton Edge, Stone ST15 8ZR

by July 26. If you have any queries please call 07976 280174.

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 22

Summer 2015

New Pontcysyllte history and guide book available Britain’s most recent World Heritage Site, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal, near Wrexham, comes under the spotlight in a new lively, combined history and guide book.

Written by historian Dr Peter Wakelin, it examines how and why the aqueduct and canal were built just over 200 years ago, how they influenced the Industrial Revolution and what visitors to the canal can enjoy today – the aqueducts, tunnels, cuttings, embankment, wharfs, settlements and remains of industries. For further information visit https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/news-and-views/news.

Six Mile Summer Walk at Brewood When the branch decided to plan a walk along the Shropshire Union at Brewood, we issued an appeal in Shroppie Fly Paper for a volunteer to research and lead the walk.

Barry Witts stepped forward (or did everyone else step back?) and so we had our summer walk in flaming June. The possibility of it being too hot to walk did occur to some but, this being Britain, that most definitely wasn't a problem!

Stepping out in the rain at Brewood (Dawn Aylwin)

Starting from the Bridge Inn car park, a select group of hardy walkers set off in the rain towards the Wharf (once a busy location with warehouses, limekilns, a weighbridge and gas works, now the base for Countrywide Cruisers) and turned left along a footpath to Lea Fields Farm at Shutt Green. The next section took the walkers along bridleways close to Belvide Reservoir which was designed by Telford and modified several times over the years, and on to Watling Street, the Roman road which is now part of the A5. From the main road the route went through a farm yard near the White Gates Plantation, across fields, through woodland and down onto the towpath by Lapley Wood Bridge, and back to the pub for a change of clothes and a well deserved lunch.

Our thanks go to Mary and Barry Witts who led the walk and to Peter Brown for producing the historical notes which are available on request.

Dawn Aylwin

Summer 2015

Page 23

Shroppie Fly Paper

Restoration Round-up WRG's Mike Palmer awarded MBE IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group chairman, Mike Palmer, has been appointed an MBE for voluntary service to the restoration of British waterways.

Mike, a WRG volunteer for nearly 40 years and chairman for the past 19 years, is one of the leading figures in voluntary restoration work on the UK’s inland waterways. He has been involved in countless restoration projects throughout the UK, including Aston Locks on the Montgomery Canal and Hanbury Flight on the Droitwich Canal. These and other restoration projects have brought substantial social and economic benefits to many waterside communities.

Restoration Photography Awards at Wappenshall Wharf Over 200 photos were submitted to the joint IWA/CRT photography competition ‘Lost Wonders of our Waterways World’, which showcased dozens of volunteerled canal restoration schemes across England and Wales.

Luke Walker, IWA’s Restoration Committee deputy chairman, and CRT chief executive Richard Parry presented winner David Youngs and runner-up Angela Marks with their prizes at SNCT’s AGM on June 6.

Luke Walker (left) and Richard Parry present the prize to David Youngs (John Stevens)

The winning photographs will feature in IWA's Waterways magazine as well as CRT publications and will be used in marketing and promotional materials.

Help keep WRG on the Move – £120,000 Appeal IWA has launched an appeal to help Waterway Recovery Group raise £120,000 to purchase four vans, with the aim of buying two vans in 2015 and a further two in 2016.

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 24

Summer 2015

Since WRG got its existing vans around eight years ago, they have travelled a total of 400,000 miles. That's the equivalent of going round the world sixteen times!

WRG’s vans play a vital role transporting volunteers, equipment and tools on its week-long Canal Camps and weekend digs across England and Wales, and without them WRG couldn’t continue to support canal restoration. The current fleet of four much-loved Transit vans needs to be retired and it is time to find new sets of wheels for the next generation of volunteers.

We can’t do this without you. The appeal needs the support of people like you who are passionate about waterways restoration to help reach the target. If you would like to help WRG get the essential equipment for restoring canals then please make a donation or get involved in one or more of the many exciting events and activities that will take place throughout the appeal.

What's on in our area?

From 22-29 August, WRG volunteers will be working on the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals at Meretown. Twenty volunteers will be using excavators to re-profile the banks and laying geotextile lining materials to make the canal waterproof on the Forton Skew Bridge to Meese Aqueduct section of the canal.

WRG volunteers at Meretown in 2014 (Alan Harding)

Other planned work throughout the week includes completing the stonework on the Meretown lock wing walls as well as constructing a new towpath and wooden footbridge over the canal. The work should enable SNCT to re-water this section after the camp.

You can donate online: See www.wrg.org.uk/wrgvanappeal for how to donate via the Virgin Money Giving appeal page.

Or by cheque: Make cheques payable to The Inland Waterways Association and send them to WRG Van Appeal, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA. If you would like any further information on the appeal visit www.wrg.org.uk/ wrgvanappeal or contact Toby Gomm at 01494 783453 ext. 611.

Toby Gomm IWA National Fundraising Officer Summer 2015

Page 25

Shroppie Fly Paper

The Norbury Canal Festival We had wonderful weather for the 2013 and 2014 festivals, so three in a row was possibly too much to ask for. The 2015 Festival started in the rain on Saturday but the weather gradually improved over the weekend, so that Sunday afternoon was a bit grey but otherwise fine and Monday was excellent.

This year we managed to achieve a long term goal, with the help of a friendly local farmer, by creating our car park right next to the canal, across the road from the pub. The new car park gave quick access to the festival through a new entrance directly on to the towpath, so visitors did not need to walk on the road.

Norbury Festival scenes (John Stevens)

Also, for the first time, CRT allowed us to reserve some moorings to the

north of the road bridge, so we were able to book in a record number of visiting boats.

The festival now extends along over half a mile of canal bank and meant that our harbourmaster, Ray Buss, was kept even busier than in past years. This year we had a greater number of trading boats moored along the towpath and unfortunately we had to turn some away.

The trade stalls along the towpath and in the field behind the pub were even more varied than usual and the crowds that came, particularly on the Sunday afternoon and Monday, had plenty to keep them busy.

The evening events went off with a bang as well. The opening event of the Festival was the traditional Boaters’ Meal on the Friday evening, when a record fifty-one people sat down to enjoy a fantastic carvery, all washed down with some good ales.

In the marquee the bands for Saturday and Sunday evenings’ “Jammin at the Junction” played music to suit all tastes and had everyone up and dancing! Roll on 2016 when I am told we are due some better weather.

Bernie Jones Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 26

Summer 2015

Audlem hosts 2015 RNLI Festival and new wheelyboat charity The branch was pleased to support the Audlem RNLI Festival at OverWater Marina again at the end of May, and our volunteers would have been even more pleased had the event not suffered from heavy rain and an unseasonably biting wind, blasting across the Cheshire plain, over the marina and into our gazebo!

We managed to avoid the tent lifting off into the waters of the Shropshire Union and, although our presence suffered somewhat from the diminished number of visitors, we were arguably more comfortable than the intrepid competitors in the annual raft race. Not only was the rain seemingly trying to sink the event but competition got a little out of hand as well, when holes were discovered in the hulls of the homemade rafts just before they took to the water! Fortunately OverWater’s comprehensive workshop facilities were on hand to save the day.

Although attendance this year was slightly down due to the rain, we are told that plans are already afoot to make next year's RNLI Festival even bigger, better and more exciting.

In separate news, the Overwater Wheelyboat, a local community charity, is due to launch on The Shropshire Union Canal at the end of June, providing free pleasure trips for disabled children and adults so that they can enjoy seeing the wildlife and countryside and even go fishing! The 17ft boat has been specially designed for people with mobility issues allowing easy roll on/roll off access for wheelchairs.

The OverWater Wheelyboat (OverWater)

Rodney Cottrell, chairman of Overwater Wheelyboat Project said "Boat trips from the marina are extremely popular but inaccessible for anyone who can't climb into a boat from the jetty. This new boat allows us to take those people on two-hour journeys along a lovely stretch of the canal offering fantastic views and no locks!"

Thanks to the extreme generosity of several charitable organisations, local businesses and individuals, the new charity has raised the more than ÂŁ30,000 needed to have the boat built, together with its special access jetty, the required licensing and immediate running costs.

Michael Haig Summer 2015

Page 27

Shroppie Fly Paper

Waves on the Monty – The Full Story (part 2) June 5: Towpath opening, Llanymynech The improvement of the Montgomery towpath in Wales has been going on for some time now. The latest opening was of the section from Four Crosses to Llanymynech. Participants were taken in a (big) bus down (little) lanes to Bridge 99, where the opening was preceded by brief speeches from Brenda Harvey, who chairs the North Wales & Borders CRT Partnership, and CRT Trustee John Dodwell. The formal opening was by Russell George AM, assisted – as is no doubt necessary – by a 6ft water vole.

The more able guests tried out the new towpath, walking to Williams Bridge where we were shown the possibilities of a lift bridge (as at Wrenbury and Talybont, Powys), before returning to Llanymynech on the promise of sandwiches and presentations about the coming lottery bid and other elements of restoration including the Pant dry section. As the party included guests from authorities on both Russell George AM (2nd left) opens the new towpath (Harry Arnold) sides of the border, there were some very useful discussions, and I know that some left Llanymynech understanding much more about what the canal has to offer.

June 8: The Bargee, Welshpool One of the more novel features of Making Waves was the request to Flicks in the Sticks to show the sixties comedy The Bargee in their regular programme of films in Welshpool Town Hall. After they had resolved the question whether they could show such an old film, we publicised the event locally and through social media – as you will know if you get branch emails (if you don't, why not drop us your contact details, at shrewsandnwales@waterways.org.uk?). We were pleased by a good attendance, including one visitor who had seen the event in Waterways World. It was a treat to look behind the actors and see the working Grand Union of fifty years ago. If you haven't seen the film, I don't want to spoil the story for you, but I can say that you might have been surprised at the youth of some faces that will have been familiar in more recent years.

June 13: Making Waves with Rafts Making Waves with Rafts brought the youngsters of Llanymynech to the canal.

The first stage was to build the rafts using ropes, empty drums and timber boards.

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 28

Summer 2015

Then came time trials, from the Visitor Centre to the first basin and back.

Unfortunately that brought light rain too, but the teams were undaunted. I am not sure if at the end the timing was entirely meticulous as the rafters became wetter and more disorganised, but that did not diminish their enjoyment. Thanks to Chris Bushnell for the equipment and for supervising the 'craft' on the water, and to Llanymynech Visitor Centre for hosting the event.

June 27: Making Waves with Coracles While Shroppie Fly Paper was being printed, an unusual event was due to take place as Welshpool was to become the centre of the coracle world. Once commonplace along the River Severn between Newtown and Bewdley, coracles were to come to the canal for a selection of coracle displays and events, including the first public appearance of the newly-built recreation of the Welshpool coracle.

The Trewern or Welshpool coracle was recreated from accounts of meetings with former local coracle characters, fortunately recorded and donated to the Welshpool museum by Coracle Society President Sir Peter Badge.

Morning events were due to include coracle racing, with teams of four competing in relay races across the canal and back, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, followed in the John Davies demonstrates navigating a coracle afternoon by a traditional Coracle Regatta. As well as demonstrations of how to make a coracle, coracles were to be provided for experts and perhaps would-be experts to take part in races or challenges, such as picking up a replica fish or trying to complete as many 360 degree turns as possible in a given time.

July 4-5: Making Waves in Welshpool – the Welsh Waterways Festival I cannot report on this as it will not have happened before Shroppie Fly Paper goes to press, but I can say that boaters are bringing steam, electric and motor boats from Norfolk, Kent, Sussex and South Wales – some via the National Trailboat Rally on the Lancaster. There will be music, Morris dancers, specially commissioned performances by Day-Star theatre, decorated boat processions and boat-handling competitions, not to mention boat trips, model boats, canoes, fishing and coracles. For this, the showpiece of Making Waves, we have been delighted to receive goodwill messages from IWA National Chairman Les Etheridge, long-time supporters Timothy West and Prunella Scales and from The Prince of Wales. I don't think the Montgomery Canal in Wales will ever sleep again.

Michael Limbrey Summer 2015

Page 29

Shroppie Fly Paper

The Anderton Lift For over eighty years after the excavation of Anderton Basin on the north bank of the River Weaver in 1793, transshipment of cargoes between the canal and the river, usually in a downwards direction, was achieved by the use of two salt chutes and an inclined plane, supplemented by cranes in an effort to attract cargoes to the river for upward movement onto the canal.

Significant quantities of salt and pottery-ware moved between canal and river fifty feet below, though the proportion of delicate pottery that survived the descent is unclear! Suffice to say that by 1871 the Trustees of the Weaver Navigation had determined the need for a fully-fledged boatlift at Anderton to bypass the enormous cost and effort of the transshipment, and the lift finally opened in 1875.

The lift design eventually selected comprised two tanks (or caissons), each capable of accommodating two narrow boats side by side or one wider barge, with each caisson weighing 91 tons empty and 252 tons full. Each caisson was raised and lowered by a hydraulic ram and these were interconnected so that the weight of a descending caisson would help to raise the ascending one. Unfortunately the hydraulic system used the canal water, which was so contaminated with salt, amongst other things, that corrosion soon became a problem.

To overcome this, the Trustees eventually agreed a proposal to convert the lift to rope and pulley operation driven by electric motors. A new structure was erected around the original with the operating mechanism mounted on the top. As the caissons now operated independently, 252 tons of balance weights were provided for each one, suspended over the side of the structure. The work was completed in 1908, with just three stoppages to traffic totaling 49 days over the 27-month conversion project.

The lift slowly deteriorated over the years and was closed in 1983, at which time the operating system and its associated weights were removed for safety reasons, but during the repairs to the lift, which were completed in 2002, the pulleys and gearing were placed back on the top of the structure. The cables and balance weights were not reinstated and the latter now form a maze adjacent to the structure. The lift once again operates with hydraulic rams, but now using oil, with each ram being of 3ft diameter and extending from 56 to 106ft, with each one costing ÂŁ1 million.

During the branch visit on May 16, the highlight for those with a head for heights was the "Top of the World" tour. A friendly and informative Canal & River Trust Guide took several groups of us around and over the impressive structure, culminating with the array of pulleys and gears on the top. The size of these cannot Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 30

Summer 2015

really be appreciated from the normal viewing angles of the lift, with some of the 72 geared pulleys weighing 3.5 tons and the drive shafts having a diameter of 8 inches. P R Jackson of Salford made the double-helix cast gears, and though popularly attributed to the French company Citroen (whose chevron logo looks similar), it seems probable that this is a waterways myth.

As well as the tours, participants also joined the CRT trip boat Edwin Clark, named after the designer of the original lift, to experience a descent of the lift and also a short cruise along the Weaver to the outskirts of Northwich. Fortunately the weather was fine, although a little breezy, especially on the top of the lift and a good time seemed to be had by all.

Hugh Appleton

The Anderton Boat Lift (Vic Smith) It's a long way down! Boat in the lower caisson (Michael Haig)

Summer 2015

Page 31

Shroppie Fly Paper

Anderton Boat Lift 2015 - Up Close and Personal

One of our groups heads for the Top of the World tour (Vic Smith)

Ascending boats (Vic Smith)

The now decommissioned counterweight pulleys and gears on the roof of the Boat Lift (Michael Haig)

Shroppie Fly Paper

Page 32

Summer 2015