Kent & East Sussex Branch Interim IWAKES Chairman’s Piece

Your Branch still needs you!

We all know that there are many shades of waterways interest within IWA. What I don’t know is which of these shades are represented amongst the members of our branch. As we are set apart from the connected system, other than by tidal passage or overland, I am sure that many of us, as I do, spend time taking part in activities beyond the branch boundaries. We do have however, within the branch area, a number of subjects of interest such as heritage ports, tidal rivers and long abandoned navigations. Our committee members, small in number, report from time to time on these aspects. Some of these accounts you will see written in this newsletter. Are there other areas of interest or other waterways activities , that would be of interest to a wider audience and which would benefit from being more widely known. If you know of any I should be pleased to hear from you.

By the time you read this note we shall have held our first social meeting of the year at Strood. We have others planned for later in the year also at Strood which is a venue that seems to suit the members we see there. It would, I think, be good if we could find a more westerly venue which might attract others to meetings. Whilst the position of social secretary remains vacant we will have d ifficulty in progressing that ambition. If there is anyone out there who has the time and is able to help with putting on an event, even if this is a one off, perhaps in conjunction with another group anywhere within our branch area please get in touch.

The branch AGM will be held in Maidstone. I am sure that Les Etheridge , whom most of us know well, will have lots to tell us about recent developments and future ambitions for IWA. I hope to see you there.

Peter Wilkinson

Thames & Medway Canal Association

We were very sad to hear that John Epton , a long-time member of the TMCA, had passed away. John was Chairman of the Association for many years until forced to resign due to illhealth. Subsequently, he and his wife Ann compiled, edited, printed and distributed our newsletter, Cut-A-Way. Our sincere thanks go to them both for their tireless dedi cation and support.

We have not found a volunteer to take on the role, and printing and postage costs are rapidly increasing. It has now reached a point where a loss arises purely from subscriptions, with production of the newsletter now subsidised by kind gifts and donations. We have decided that Cut-A-Way will be replaced by a monthly newsletter emailed to members. Our Web site has general information , as has our Facebook page with over 600 “members”, but only paid-up members will receive this regular emailed newsfeed. Membership details, including an annual update , will be posted once a year to keep costs to a minimum and maintain a direct contact. Although the wider public’s interest in using canals may be increasing, the interest in committed support to clubs or groups such as ours is reducing.

Our general tasks kept us busy over the winter; keeping the canal and towpath clear of litter, cutting back overhanging trees and developing more areas to encourage both people and wildl ife. Work stopped briefly over the Christmas break but will resume again on 10th January. Our ongoing project around the Obelisk at Canal Road Higham is to clear the dense foliage in the canal bed and southern bank which should make it look attractive in the spring with daffodils and a grassed area.

The slipway area needs little work over the winter as it is primarily almost a lawn which is used for launching boats and other water transport as can be seen in the photo.

Every time the Trust puts on any event our Facebook page membership expands and our traction with the public increases. We now have over 2500 “Friends of Dartford and Crayford Creeks ” .

River Medway news from Mike Marsh

On January 2nd 2023 a boat broke free from its moorings and became stuck under the Broadway Bridge in central Maidstone with the river at a high flow. Two fire engines attended and the boat was recovered to the riverbank. The boat awaits recovery when river conditions allow. The picture shows a lifting barge in place at Ringlestone on the River Medway to recover a sunken narrowboat, caught out by fast changing river conditions.

Environment Agency – Sluice news update….

• Allington sluice: All gate refurbishment work is now complete.

• Hampstead sluice: A contract has been awarded via a tendering process to Land & Water Ltd, for work to be carried out in February. The pen from Hampstead to Sluice weir will be drained down for the work to take place and a road closure put in place. The old sluice and penstock will be removed and made safe. Work will take four weeks to complete.

• Teston sluice: Is progressing as planned. Subject to final permiss ions the work is scheduled to begin in the spring and run until the autumn. The old sluice and gantry will be removed, and a new fixed crest weir and eel pass constructed. Other works to the lock and landing stages will be carried out in parallel as well as landscaping of the area. The temporary works access track will be removed at the end of the project.

• Visit the EA Medway website [https://therivermedway.co.uk] for more information on Notices to Mariners, updates on recent industrial action, maps, river information, charges, links to tide times, FAQs, etc.

Kentish Lady….

Kentish Lady at Allington Lock on her way in early January to Port Medway marina for the dry docking.

https://kentishlady.co.uk

Look out for all the Kentish Lady cruises when published later in the Spring. She operates from Easter to early October.

The River Medway – A brief history ….

Origins: Also known as Medwege, the River Medway was given the name Vaga by the ancient Britons. Later, the Saxons added the syllable mad, meaning “middle”, as the river ran through the middle of the Kingdom of Kent.

Where it flows: The River Medway is an iconic river that rises in High Weald, Sussex and runs 113 kilometres across the south east of England. It continues to flow through Tonbridge and Maidstone before emptying in to the Thames Estuary near Sheerness.

Tributaries: The best-known include River Eden, River Bourne, River Teise, River Beult, Loose Stream and River Len. The main source of the river is Turners Hill in West Sussex. From here, the river continues to flow until spilling into the Thames Estuary, becoming tidal after Allington Lock

History: Areas around Aylesford are notable Stone Age sites, and home to a group of Neolithic chamber tombs. There are also bronze age ornaments that have been found along the river, as well as pre -Roman Iron age finds. The river was a site of historical significance during several wartime moments. Specifically, the Roman invasion of Britain which was named Battle of the Medway, and the Second Anglo-Dutch War in 1667 named Raid on the Medway. The River Medway played a key role in the history and development of communities. For example, over 200 sites exist along the Medway where the river’s power was harnessed to mill corn, make paper, generate electricity, and pump water. One of these mills is still working for commercial trade today.