Aegre February 2006

AEGRE

From Aegre Issue 1

No.113

February 2006

Journal of the East Midlands Region of

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Aegre is published Š 2006 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association.

Chairman WRG

John Baylis, 215 Clipstone Road West, Forest Town, Mansfield NG19 0HJ Tel: 01623 621208

Vice-Chairman & Treasurer

Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End, Goxhill DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138

Leicestershire Branch Chairman

Carol McDonald, 30 Lutterworth Road, Leicester LE2 8PF Tel: 0116 283 0834

Lincolnshire Branch Chairman Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Chairman South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch Chairman Secretary

Dave Carnell. Contact address as above.

Region Planning Officer

Nancy Johnson, 37 Eastmoor, Cotgrave, NG12 3NU Tel: 0115 989 9612.

Mavis Paul, 116 Sandygate Road, Crosspool, Sheffield. S10 5AZ Tel: 0114 268 3927 Graeme Wade, 9 Swan Drive, Sturton-by-Stow, Lincoln.

LN1 2EA Tel: 01427 787727.

Mike Snaith, Hawthorne Cottage, 70 Main Street, Gunthorpe, Nottingham NG14 7EU. David Johnson, 37 Eastmoor, Cotgrave, Nottingham NG12 3NU Tel: 0115 989 9612.

Ian MacDonald, 30 Lutterworth Road, Leicester. LE2 8PF Tel: 0116 283 0834

Acting Editor for Aegre: Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeper’s Way, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0GQ Tel: 01507 602713. email: aegre@humbhony.demon.co.uk Collation

N&D Branch Members.

Printing

Terence Balchin, Inkers.

Cover Picture:

From the first issue of Aegre, 1974 / 75.

Inland Waterways Association, Registered Office, 3, Norfolk Road, Rickmansworth, WD3 1LT. Registered as a Charity No: 212342. Tel: 01923 711114. Fax: 01923 897000 Website: http://www.waterways.org.uk The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the East Midlands Region. They are published as being of interest to our members and other readers.

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AEGRE No. 113

February 2006 Contents Page 2 4 5 7 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 17 18 20 23 23 24 25 27 30 31 32

Colophon The editor’s Bow Button Round the region with the Chairman Trent Aegre dates 2006 IWA Diamond Jubilee Letter to the Editor Boaters ‘ware longtails!

WRG Christmas Bash 2005 Foxton - the facts News from British Waterways Holland’s Cruquius Pumping station News from Leicestershire News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire News from Lincolnshire News from South Yorkshire and the Dukeries Answers to crossword 7 Nancy’s Nostalgia 9 Goose Fair Gander WRG and Region Accounts Fun Crossword 8 Canal Societies in the Region Diary Dates

Next issue to be published in May 2006.

Contributions to the editor by the end of April 2006 please.

The space on the right is for local contact information.

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The Editor’s Bow Button No, not a button you push, but something that goes at the front of the boat and gets a bit squashed if you go too fast into a lock. First of all I must say the obvious things about trying to follow David’s excellent example, keeping the Aegre going with interesting material all this time. John has been kind enough to dig in his archives, and has passed on a long collection of past issues, even dating back to issue 1 in 1975. A difficult tradition to follow! To show proper respect for past efforts, the cover page of this issue is copied from the first one, way back in 1975. Yes I know it only shows three branches, but this is an invitation to members to produce a new version with all four. All contributions will be acknowledged, and we may even have a small competition to choose the best.

You may well ask why I do this editing business, and what persuaded me to take on the task, even if only on an “acting” basis. I have been interested in inland waterways ever since dangling a bent pin in the Grand Union in the hope of catching apocryphal fish. I even swam in it, though I probably wouldn’t do that now. I have also always been keen to see information presented in a useful and coherent way, rather than in the official-ese sometimes seen around in non-waterway topics. Over the past few years we have lived in a variety of places, and I have probably done more waterway miles (or kilometres) out of England than in it. This perhaps gives me a slight advantage when it comes to editing a journal like this, in that I have no built-in allegiance to any branch area. Of course I do live in one of them, only having one house, but you will have to trust me on that. At the moment, too, we have no boat of a livable size, which is a bit of an advantage as we have taken the opportunity to hire around the country. Very interesting - and pleasant - and it leads to my first “editorial” point.

Arriving as a hirer to a new boat-yard is fascinating. We have always found the hire people to be very helpful and pleasant, pointing out that the “the sharp end goes first” usually, and so on. However trying to look with the eye of someone new to narrow boating but keen to learn, I would have been quite unaware of the existence of IWA branches, or regions, and only just of the IWA itself. Is there a potential recruitment area being ignored? Is there any effort put into making some kind of publicity material available in the offices of hire companies, so that it would be visible to people coming to collect boats? I can hear rumbles of disagreement from people complaining about the silly antics of some hirers, but we all have to begin somewhere, and today’s novice may be your faithful committee member or working party member in a few years time. Just to steal an idea from another journal (all editors do it) I have left a space on the contents page for a stamp or sticker which could say something like “For more information on boating and canal-related activities in this area, call …”. Then leave a few copies in strategic places around your area. Not an expensive measure, done of course with the permission of those running the place concerned.

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What about the future of the magazine, then? In many ways it acts as a bulletin for the branches, and as a set of useful diary notes for all. I would like to make it clearer that each contribution comes from a particular area or canal. Remember that the region is quite big, and if I were to write something about “Ticklepenny Lock” I bet most readers would not know where it is, and have to look it up. Although all our valued contributors know their own area very well, perhaps not all of us are equally familiar. Pictures help to make a journal much livelier, and maybe a small map now and again? (Here apologies are due because we have had to postpone an excellent follow-up to the illustrated article on Thorne this time round, and part of the Goose Fair Gander). There are many local boat clubs and societies as well as the branches and listed trusts. Can we hear from them - perhaps with a profile and short account of events? Do you have a badge or a logo? Let me have a copy to characterise your piece. You just have to ask, and I can let you know the easiest way to try and streamline the process and make it easier for everyone, through to printing. But anything is welcome. Maybe not as runes carved on the edge of a menhir - our postman has a bad back - but although “the editor does not type”, we can usually work something out. Looking forward to hearing from you. The contact details are on the inside front cover. Best wishes for a successful season to come. Peter.

Region Chairman’s Notes As you will see from the inside front cover Peter Hill from Louth has taken over as Acting Editor, for which I am very grateful; I hope that he will soon drop the “acting”. As this is the end of the year it is appropriate for me to also thank Terence Balchin who has been doing the final layout of Aegre for the printer, liaising with the printer and purchasing the envelopes. Thanks also to Nancy and David Johnson and to Linda and Andrew Kemp for the “stuffin’ and postin’”; many hands make light work!

Peter, Terence and myself had a meeting in early January to discuss the method for producing and circulating Aegre and I am sure we all wish him the best. I have no doubt that Peter will reveal more of his past life as time goes on but so far it looks as though he might lead David Pickup in the kilometre area. If you have any items of interest or photographs please pass them on to Peter, as the photos would provide a useful database for future issues.

As I write this I am also preparing my notes for the Annual General Meetings in the East Midlands Region, all of which are in mid February. This year I have asked Peter to print the Region and Waterway Recovery Group EM accounts (on page 28), as they are normally only seen in the branch which holds the Region AGM. Along with some of the canal societies, IWA branches are suffering from shortage of active members on committees. Although it may be too late to get elected for 2006-7, it is not too late to offer your services as a volunteer and have a taster of what the work entails before committing yourself. My thanks at this time to all the committee members and chairmen in the region for their work, and help and assistance over the past year.

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I know that some of our members have written to their Members of Parliament to press our case regarding the possible change in the tax on Red Diesel proposed by the ending of derogation in the UK, Ireland and Belgium. The European Commission now requires that the UK Government prepare a Regulatory Impact Assessment [RIA] in defence of its stand to retain the derogation. What can IWA members do now? The answer is simple - Hold off writing to the Government, to MPs or to MEPs. The matter is now with officials and will be so for the next six months. Nothing will be gained by taking any further action now, as the officials in the UK are 'on our side' and are working hard to get the best case ready. It then goes to the Commission officials and the Commissioners. Nothing will be gained by writing to them, as they are required to carry out their evaluation within strict guidelines. It is only if we are forced to the appeal stage that we may need to call for additional evidence from members. Roger Squires, Chairman of IWA Navigation Committee said “My view is that we have the makings of a very sound case. The organisations between us will be able to 'fill in the gaps'. The officials are working with us and our government is 'on our side'. It is now a time to 'watch and wait' and let the case for continued derogation take its course.”

Up to a few years ago neither the IWA nor any other voluntary waterway organisation had any members in the Inland Waterways Amenity Advisory Council which was formed following the Transport Act 1968 to advise British Waterways on how it should run its canals. Audrey Smith, former IWA National Chairman, came in first followed by Mike Palmer of Waterway Recovery Group and John Pomfret for his ecological as well as boating interests. I am pleased to see that Cathy Cooke of Derbyshire County Council has now been appointed to the IWAAC. As supremo of DCC Countryside Services, Cathy chairs the Technical Officers Group of the Chesterfield Canal Partnership and was a great support for the IWA National Trailboat Festival in 2005 and previous events at Tapton Lock. Our good wishes to Cathy.

The National Lottery Fund has been trawling for bids for the Living Landmarks grant, which is proposed in the next two years and could be worth up to £35M. Most county councils and canal societies (I think seven in the East Midlands) have put in bids, in some cases two bids on opposite ends of the same canal; in total between 3 to 400 nationally. The short-listed bids which have passed through the first hoop will be available shortly. Those that are successful at this stage will then be granted a further sum to firm up their original bids for the judging of the final winner.

British Waterways are thinking about providing new facilities in Newark to replace the old sanitary station at Town Lock and to be more accessible than those in Kings Marina. On a similar line the IWA and others have suggested areas where moorings could be improved by rings, grass cutting and dredging. These will be mainly rural but if you have any favourite sites that could be improved, or sites that you would like to stop at but cannot or dared not jump off at – let me know on any of these issues; I will pass them on to BW and the relevant IWA branch. John Baylis

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Aegre, Aegir, Eagre, Haygir...

No, I’m not sure how you really ought to spell it either, but it is a fascinating phenomenon, and we are most grateful to the Environment Agency for their predictions for the coming year. These times are for Gainsborough, and are adjusted for the change from GMT to BST, but they say that it can be up to thirty minutes earlier depending on tides and possible strong east winds, for example. We have included only the larger occurrences, as some are not really perceptible. Stockwith should be about 20 minutes earlier than given, and Owston Ferry about 45 minutes earlier. For more details EA have a very useful leaflet giving some of the folklore and recommended viewing places, like Derrythorpe, Gainsborough itself, Morton, Stockwith, Owston and East Ferry, and Susworth. PH.

Date March 1st March 2nd March 3rd March 30th March 31st August 12th August 13th August 14th September 9th September 10th September 11th October 7th October 8th October 9th October 10th

Time 19:19 20:00 20:42 19:55 20:37 09:00 09:43 10:26 07:55 08:36 09:18 06:48 07:30 08:11 08:54

Forecast Large Extra Large Large Large Large Large Large Large Extra Large Extra Large Extra Large Large Extra Large Extra Large Large

IWA DIAMOND JUBILEE It has been suggested to me that the East Midlands Region should investigate holding an Anniversary Dinner in this, the IWA’s Diamond Jubilee year. Nationally, a dinner is being held in Stratford-on-Avon in early May and the Autumn has been suggested for the Region. David Stevenson has had an offer from the new pub at Foxton Locks, and has suggested that if we booked for October those attending would have the opportunity to look at the flight and works in daylight before the meal. It has been suggested that the Dinner would be best on a Friday evening to avoid the Saturday or Sunday public attendance and would cost in the region of £15 per head. If you are interested please let David Stevenson (01530 458257 or david.stevenson@waterways.org.uk) or myself know before the end of April so that we can make arrangements and, if there is sufficient interest, publicise the event in the next Aegre.

John Baylis Page 7

Letter to the Editor

Passenger boat Newark Crusader.

Dear Sir, Members who are familiar with the Trent around Newark may have seen the Passenger boat Newark Crusader on her daily trips from her base at the riverside pontoon, Farndon Ferry. Owned by the St John Ambulance, the boat gives free day trips on the river, between May and September, to the residents of nursing homes, those with learning difficulties or other disabilities and various other special needs groups in the East Midlands. Based on a wide-beam narrow boat hull, the vessel has been specially designed for handling wheelchairs. She is licensed to carry 12 passengers, at least two of whom will be professional carers. Operated by a crew of two, Newark Crusader has wheel steering, a single propeller and rudder and a bow thruster. She has a large cabin with observation windows, a galley, disabled toilet and a large open foredeck for sitting out in fine weather.

I am one of two part time skippers and from February 2006 will also be the manager of the Newark operation on behalf of the St John Ambulance. The boat operates from Monday to Friday on two or four hour trips, commencing at 11 am daily. In order to keep the operation running at that level this year we need additional skippers and crew who can commit to one or two days each week in the season.

Ideally, we seek two skippers to cover one day each per week or one person who can offer two days. Roughly the same commitment would be sought from crew members. In the case of skippers, an experienced boater, used to handling his or her own craft on the Trent, would be ideal. An RYA or other qualification for motor boats would be useful but for a candidate without a formal “ticket� the St John Ambulance will, after a short trial period as crew, arrange and pay for a short course leading to the Community Boat Association qualification. This is an entirely practical boat-handling course - no complex theory involved! People joining as crew may Page 8

also be considered for this course. St John pay a daily casual rate for both skipper and crew. However, those wishing to offer their help on an unpaid volunteer basis will be reimbursed travelling expenses.

Interested? Boating whilst enabling the less-fortunate to enjoy the river can be fun and satisfying. Please contact Captain Peter Adams, 62 Main Street, Lambley, Notts NG4 4PP or phone 0115 9312587 or e-mail peter@p.m.adams.wanadoo.co.uk for details.

Yours sincerely, Peter Adams, IWA member

Boaters ‘ware longtails!

Following the sudden death of Kevin Scraggs at Fradley, some boaters have asked about Weil’s Disease, also known as leptospirosis. We are most grateful to BW’s staff magazine for these details, which emphasise the care that should be taken by anyone around open waters. There were at least two cases in 2005; one person died and another was seriously ill after falling into open water whilst having open wounds, and canoeists have been affected over the years.

Leptospirosis is transmitted to humans by contact with urine, or water contaminated with urine, from infected rats. The bacteria survive for some time in warm dark conditions, but do not survive long in dry conditions and sunlight. They can enter the body through wetted cuts and scratches or through the mouth and nose. The conclusions are clear: make sure that any cuts or scratches are well covered with waterproof plaster, and follow good standards of hygiene. Wash hands thoroughly after contact with open water before eating, drinking or smoking, and wear suitable protective clothing.

If the disease is contracted, symptoms start a bit like ‘flu, with a persistent and severe headache and sickness. Later, the liver, kidneys, heart and brain can be affected. Doctors may not be familiar with it, as it is fortunately rather rare, but if you should see the doctor with these symptoms, make sure that he or she is made aware of possible contact with contaminated water, and also ensure that friends and family know about the possibility.

The EM Waterway Recovery Group already has a warning about Weil’s Disease in its risk assessment documents. PH.

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CHRISTMAS BASH 2005 For the second time in two years the Cromford Canal was the site of the Waterway Recovery Group Christmas Bash, designed to fill in that empty time between Christmas and the New Year.

Once again the work was at Ironville and the volunteers were accommodated at Waingroves Community Centre. Dave Hearnden (Moose) was the site organiser and Maria was head cook and bottle washer; both I am sure are known from their work at IWA National Festivals. All the work was carried out to British Waterways approved standards and its engineers visited the site on two days.

Following the British Waterways Reservoir Inspector’s adverse comments on the tree growth in the dam wall, this year’s work was concentrated on tree removal to make the first part of the Pinxton Branch look more like a canal route. On the first two days members of WRG Forestry were present with chainsaws. They cut down all the trees growing in or near the stonework of Codnor Park Reservoir dam wall, the listed stone bridge at the junction with the Pinxton Branch and some trees growing in the weir and bridge at the top end of the reservoir. In addition smaller alder trees growing in the stone towing path wall on the canal section towards Newlands Bridge were also removed.

Over the twenty years since the BW works on the reservoir a number of willow trees have grown in the bed of the

TREE SURGERY AT IRONVILLE

Pinxton Branch and the wall of the canal along this length. A number of these had broken, fallen or rotten branches and contained a good deal of rubbish. All the broken trees were cut down and the majority of the logs taken away by local residents for their log stoves; the remaining brash was burnt. In the spillway below the big weir a number of willow trees had grown in reeds on the concrete base of the spillway. The inspector wanted these removed before they damage the concrete or block the spillway. This work was started but due to adverse water levels access was poor and not all trees could be removed; this will need to be done later.

Despite the very cold weather and the sleety snow on two days, the work carried

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out was to a very good standard and nearly completed all that had been planned, although at approaching 30 people on site the attendance was greater than usual. The large fires were in great demand for keeping warm and three were kept in for the full five days. The local people walking round the reservoir and along the towing path seemed very pleased with the work and our thanks to Alan Birks at Waterside Catering for his help and advice during the work. JB.

Foxton - the Facts from David Stevenson, Chairman FIPT Work to improve the Foxton site, using the Lottery and associated matched funding, will be completed by the end of 2006. This should provide the BW “Visitor Experience” and include all necessary restoration work to the upper arm and lower basin but none for the plane itself, except for the tree clearance completed in the Autumn. Now the need is to maintain the momentum and interest resulting from the work being carried out on site. This was confirmed recently by Dave Fletcher, former BW Chief Executive, who has been very supportive of our cause and recently visited the site, attending a meeting of the Foxton Locks Partnership.

The partnership - led by BW but including representatives from all the local Councils as well as the IWA and the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust (FIPT) itself - has unanimously stated that its “Vision” and ultimate aim is that of restoration of the Plane to full working order. Now, therefore, is the time to take the next vital steps before this momentum is lost.

These steps are: 1. Reinstate the Inclined Plane Restoration into BW's Tranche 2. (It was removed by the previous BW Chairman two years ago) 2. Commission a full engineering feasibility study to follow on from the five-year-old Atkins Report which

suggested there were no obvious major problems to restoration.

3. The Trust (FIPT) to lead the way by setting up a Fighting Fund with the intention that the Partnership would give its support. (This proposal has yet to be discussed in detail by the Trust Council). This could be started by a major draw during 2006.

LAST TREE AT FOXTON?

Why should the plane be restored?

1. When in operation, it was one of the seven wonders of the waterways, It is worth restoring, as close in appearance as possible to the original, for its own sake.

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2. The Visitor Experience at Foxton can never achieve its full potential until the Plane is running again.

3. From a boating viewpoint, the bottleneck which faced the trading boats in the 1890s, and led to the decision to build the original Plane, is now replicated in the summer months at Foxton, where pleasure boats can wait up to 5 hours at peak periods to pass the double staircase lock flight.

4. The Grand Union Canal was intended to be a wide canal, and the restoration of the Plane would be a major step towards providing a North-South wide waterway, as proposed by the Association of Inland Navigation Authorities (AINA) a few years ago.

5. The opportunities for boats, both those en route and local trip boats, to “ride” the Plane would provide a superb attraction to crown the “Experience”. It could also provide an income to offset the costs of construction. Who would not be prepared to pay for the privilege of a ride to match that of the Falkirk Wheel? Full restoration has been the dream of the Foxton Inclined Plane Trust for 25 years - I am sure your readers will be willing to help make the dream come true. DS.

NEWS FROM BRITISH WATERWAYS The cycle of user group meetings has not yet started so this report will be briefer than usual. Most of the winter work is on the Erewash Canal where Trent, Sandiacre and Potters locks have been re-gated and Barkers is still to be done along with work at Cranfleet Lock. After the gates had initially been fitted they were very stiff; British Waterways staff have altered the balance weight and those tested so far seem now to be reasonable. BW workshops insist on making the gates far heavier these days and we are pressing them to get back to the old Erewash design; after all they are supposed to be looking after the heritage. I understand that work is progressing to programme on the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Leicester Section.

Last year I received copies of letters from some members who had complained to BW that its Chief Executive Robin Evans’ “Veg Pledge” had not been carried out by March 31st as promised. From my cruising the situation was patchy, with considerable lengths of the Chesterfield Canal and the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation having not been cut to the waters edge. Far too many saplings were growing from the towing path and BW has promised additional work on these in the coming years as well as trees on the offside. If you see areas where the towing path or offside trees have not been adequately cut, complain in writing or e-mail to the relevant BW Office or to Amanda Strang at BW Watford.

One of our members had an accident in Leicester and the East Midlands Ambulance Service had difficulty finding the patient. As the emergency services are now covering larger areas, in this case three counties, from a smaller number of Page 12

control rooms accurate detail on location is essential because the operator may not be from the area of the problem. The East Midlands Ambulance Service covers from the Chesterfield Canal down to Husbands Bosworth Tunnel south of Leicester, and from Melton Mowbray to near Burton-on-Trent. Not a small area by anybody’s reckoning. I have had a meeting with BW nationally to discuss the problem of adequately and accurately naming or numbering locks and bridges and the topic will be raised at the forthcoming user meeting. The Derwentmouth to Fradley section of the Trent & Mersey Canal is excellent for both naming locks and numbering bridges, and sets an example to the other waterway units. .

The Grantham Canal has been the subject of a written update with repair work at Denton and Knipton Reservoirs. Work is planned for the listed Clarks Bridge and to repair Muston Bridge that has been damaged by a traffic accident. In order to prevent the problems caused on the Llangollen Canal by badgers, a sett has been moved and the holes in the towing path filled in. BW staff did the work with assistance from the Leicester Badger Group. There have been more incidents of stressed fish caused by lack of oxygen and BW have employed temporary aerators and monitored oxygen levels. BW is trying to increase the flow of water along the canal by the removal of inchannel vegetation. I believe this is often called a navigable canal! Waterway Recovery Groups from the south continue to help the Grantham Canal Restoration Society and WRG are looking for an accommodation site for the Fireworks Bash in November.

John Baylis

ECP&DA

FRIENDS OF THE CROMFORD CANAL

WINTER/SPRING CRUISE AND PIE & PEA EASTER APRIL 14th, 15th AT SANDIACRE LOCK COTTAGE Friday night will be the games night. On Saturday Pie & Pea refreshments will be available, price £3.50 Contact Carole Golds for bookings and please do not leave it till the last minute.

Call 0115 9328042.

PINXTON PUSH WALK APRIL 2nd FROM LANGLEY MILL CANAL BASIN AT 10 AM A sponsored walk to aid the restoration of the canal. Walk to the Boat Inn, about 6 miles. £3 per person to take part. Refreshments (extra) at Ironville Reservoir. Call 01773 833425.

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HOLLAND’S CRUQUIUS PUMPING STATION Much of Holland is at or below sea level and, since the North Sea flooding in 1953, the outer sea wall has been strengthened and barrages built across the main river outfalls in the west such as the Haringvliet and the Grevelingen.

For hundreds of years the ample river and water drains created transport routes for large barges and in some cases the routes became lakes due to peat extraction and subsidence. Prior to the sixteenth century these lakes were drained and became polders used for agriculture but the Haarlemmermeer between Amsterdam, Leiden and Haarlem was too large and deep for wind operated pumps to have made any impression so nothing was done until the early nineteenth century.

In 1834 and 1836 two heavy storms raged and pushed the water in the lake at dangerously high levels towards Amsterdam and Leiden. King William I started discussions on pumping out the lake and creating a fertile polder and there was considerable argument between the viability of windmills and the now more common steam pumps.

The wind is free, but calculations showed that up to 160 windmills would be needed and, due to the depth, three pumps would be needed to operate in series and pump the water out in three stages each with its own windmill.

with windmills, were not so used to steam pumps and called in Cornish mining engineers Joseph Gibbs and Arthur Dean to design and build three pumping stations.

Each was named after a famous Dutch hydraulic engineer and contained a single 350 horse power compound steam engine.

De Leeghwater was the prototype built in 1848 followed by De Lijnden and De Cruquius opened in 1849. Each was sited at a different part of the perimeter of the lake to pump into the ring canal. From the time all three pumps starting pumping it took 39 months to drain the lake of about 45,000 acres to a depth of 13 feet. When the bulk of the water was drained small dykes and ditches were dug to feed the pumps and to create thousands of small fields.

When the polder had finally been drained only two of the pumps were required for most of the time. In the late nineteenth century De Leeghwater and De Lijnden were modernized. De Cruquius became the standby until 1912 and was finally closed in 1933. From that date the pumping station came under the control of the Dutch Royal Institute of Engineers who were charged with the conservation and management of the pumping station as a museum. Thus De Cruquius is the only pump remaining in the original condition.

The three huge Cornish pumps had compound engines, that is the high pressure steam operated a small cylinder and its In 1840 work was started to create a exhaust at a lesser pressure then operated a dyke and canal 40 miles long round the larger cylinder. At that time engines had outside of the lake to stop water running these two vertical cylinders in line but in into the area from higher ground and to order to keep the height down these are take the pumped water away to the sea. annular; the high pressure inside and the The Dutch engineers, although experts low pressure round it. This gave the outer Page 14

cylinder a world record diameter of 12 feet, with an inner cylinder of 7 feet, with the wall between the high and low pressure cylinders being two inches thick and machined smooth on both sides. The single central connecting rod of the central high pressure piston and four connecting rods on the low pressure piston all terminate in a single iron block on top weighing 86 tons. At the top of the stroke the whole weight is rested for a few seconds on equalizing cylinders full of water for the steam valves to change. The main lifting action is then due to the weight of the cap, steam on top of the low pressure piston and the vacuum created underneath the cylinders.

cast iron cap. The outer ends of the beams are sited on eight vertical cylinders with rods and pistons in each. The cylinder has simple flap valves in the base to draw water from the lake (polder) and similar valves on the piston to allow the piston to move easily on the down stroke. On the up stroke the piston lifts the water into a large cistern round the top of the cylinders whilst more water is drawn in through the foot valves and fills the volume under the cylinder.

The stroke length of both the steam pistons and the pumps is 10 feet, the water rising over the top of the cylinders into the cistern until the water us sufficiently deep to flow into the drain canal, the total The unusual part of the pump is that distance from the lake level to the drain the engine is mounted in a large circular level being about 17 feet. Each pump brick tower founded on four hundred oak cylinder was about 6 feet so on one cycle piles driven into the bed of the lake. the eight pumps raised 2000 cubic feet of Arranged round the top of the tower are water or at the normal running speed of 5 eight cast iron beams about 35 feet long cycles per minute a total of 10,000 cubic balanced on bearings in the top of the wall feet. Enough to fill a broad lock eight feet with the inner ends all connected to the deep every minute. The engines and pistons were made by Harvey & Co. or Page 15

Fox & Co. of Cornwall and it was stipulated that the efficiency should be such as to raise 75 million pounds of water by one foot for the consumption of one bushel (94 lbs) of best Welsh steam coal. This implied an efficiency of only about 7% and was achieved in trials, but in order to reduce the running time after the lake was largely drained the method of operation changed and the efficiency was reduced to about 2%.

When built each pump had six Lancashire type horizontal boilers, which it was hoped would run on peat as there is no coal in Holland but this was too inefficient and they reverted to coal imported from England or Germany.

What is now Belgium had recently separated from Holland and so presumably for political reasons its coal was not used. In 1860 the number of boilers was increased to ten at each pump, still producing steam at 45 pounds per square inch, but in 1888 six new boilers

operating at 65 psi replaced them. This gave a final output of 500 horsepower. In 1892 De Lijnden was converted to two centrifugal pumps driven by vertical compound steam engines. These pumps are still in operation but now driven by Diesel engines. De Leeghwater was converted to Diesel driven centrifugal pumps in 1912. Both have now had several changes of Diesel engine.

The old De Cruquius remained on standby from 1912 to 1932 when the Polder Board decided to demolish the pumping station, however only the boilers were removed and the Dutch Royal Institute of Engineers agreed to conserve the pump and buildings. In 1965 considerable expense was encountered in restoring the fabric of the building and from 1982 plans were made in conjunction with the steel company Corus to make the pump operate hydraulically. The present operation is very elegant in that two large hydraulic

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rams are fitted in the cap guides at each side of the low pressure cylinder. Six of the pump pistons have been disconnected so that now only two on opposite sides operate and the excess water drains back through the unused bores into the bottom level. As this allows water to drain down to the top of the cylinders there is no retained water in the top cistern and the pump operation can be clearly seen.

These pumps were designed to move massive quantities of water by only a small vertical distance as against mine and water supply pumps in England, which lifted a smaller volume, by a much larger distance. The Cruquius pump is, I think, unique in steam pump design and the station is well worth a visit when in the Haarlem area of Holland. The buildings are open for most of the year and the guided tour demonstrates the hydraulic operation of the pump as well as many other interesting pumps, windmill models and three dimensional models of how Holland was drained and is now protected from flooding.

John Baylis, September 2005

News from the Leicestershire Branch From David Hastie Roger Hutchinson of Leicester City Council Regeneration and Culture has compiled a document “Navigation Leicester - The development of the River Soar through Leicester” with a view to creating a partnership of all users of local waterways to establish an exhibition and possibly a floating classroom for educational purposes. Its aim is to “create a greater awareness of the City’s greatest geographical and environmental treasure”.

A welcome report on Leicester Riverside Development was that in 2005 only nine incidents had been reported on or along the waterway through Leicester and only one of these was boat related.

A planning application had been submitted for a housing development on Wolsey Island, between the river and the canal near to Abbey Park Road. At Foxton, an observation point has been proposed at the end of the upper arm that would give visitors a good view of the Inclined Plane and the surrounding countryside. Drawings were being prepared to show possible designs. An application for planning approval for the Loughborough Wharf was passed by 7 votes to 5 at a planning meeting in December 2005. However the approval has now been called in and awaits a Regulatory Committee meeting.

The proposed clean-up dates for Loughborough and Leicester are April 8th and 9th 2006.

Page 17

News from Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch From Nancy Johnson Hope you all had a great festive season. Our Christmas Buffet at the Arena in West Bridgford proved to be very enjoyable and almost fifty people attended. Although we missed his usual assistant, Carol, Mike Golds kept us all entertained with his slides of the Chesterfield Canal. Many thanks to all who helped to make a most successful evening and to members who contributed with food, snacks and raffle prizes.

The social evening on Friday January 20th was both entertaining and informative when Phil Speight, the renowned character from the canal boat painting world, kept us enthralled with his stories of events over the years. It was also very nice to see his wife Zeta again.

This brought back happy memories of our early days at Shardlow when we first started boating, and attended parties at the Navigation Inn or wherever else things were happening. We could stand the pace in those days. My better half can’t keep up any more.

building, although still ultra modern, is a far more acceptable development than the original plans that we most strongly objected to. It is anticipated that the work will take up to two years.

We are also blessed with some very original plans for the River Trent near the Meadows area. This will depend on successful results of an application by the City Council to the Heritage Lottery “Living Landmark” fund. This is the same fund that the Grantham Canal hopes to tap for a new proposed “Trent Link” using the old railway line from the old Cotgrave Colliery.

The Nottingham Eastside development is still looking as though it might be a disappointment to canal enthusiasts, but all is not yet lost as our planning officer, Mike Snaith is still corresponding in very strong terms with the City Planners. Let’s hope we might still have the old Popular Arm back, keep your fingers crossed.

With the Grantham Canal Restoration Society a lot of activity continues with WRG due to help with the slipway at Denton Wharf. It is anticipated that this work will be carried out on February 18th and 19th We intend to replace the concrete block with a lockable barrier so that the slipway can be used - there were several requests last year from trail boat owners. There should also be time to do a bit of old fashioned scrub bashing. The funding for this work is from the Notts & Derbys IWA via the Exxon Mobile Volunteer Involvement scheme organised by Mike Snaith.

Restoration to navigation for the A1 to Redmile section is the subject of a Lincolnshire County Council bid to the Big Lottery Fund.

Clegg Construction are due to start work in April on the £26M River Crescent waterside apartment project near to the Park Yacht Club. The

Bill Whalley, the Chairman of the GCRS has now retired after taking the chair for the last eight years. A big thank you for all the hard work and arguments

Page 18

won over the debating table. Volunteers are required for his replacement, please step forward, the rewards are great and you would be working with a good group of enthusiasts.

Derby & Sandiacre Canal A development Committee has been formed to maximise the involvement of the local business and political communities. Land required for the canal restoration north of Breaston has been acquired by Sustrans and negotiations are in hand for further purchases. The restoration of the canal through Spondon is progressing with the announcement by Heartwood Homes of their interest in re-aligning the canal route through their proposed residential development on the Acordis site.

Unfortunately plans at Swarkestone have faltered due to a landowner under the misapprehension that we have a bottomless purse. The Erewash Canal Society is helping with a work party on the Derby arm near the Sandiacre Lock Cottage on February 18th & 19th All volunteers are welcome.

Cromford Canal Volunteers from WRG spent between Christmas and New Year on the Cromford Canal. See the separate article (page 10) on this cold but successful effort.

fair amount of criticism from boaters due to the effort required to operate them.

Please make a note of their canal clean up weekend on March 25th and 26th and a Pie & Pea Supper on April 14th and 15th .

You need to book early as these events are very popular.

Several events are planned for this year but as yet we have no fixed dates.

Anticipated events are Newark on Water in June, Belvoir Steam Fair 20th May, Denton Village Fair 1st May, IWA Diamond Jubilee Cruise from Trent Lock 2nd June, Cropwell Bishop Fair in June, Owthorpe Village Fair in July, Nottingham Riverside Festival 5th and 6th August, Goose Fair Gander 7th and 8th October.

We need your support for the success of these events. Please join in, you are always welcome, members or not.

Finally we are in urgent need of a social secretary now that Mavis has resigned after five years hard and very successful years. Our thanks go to Mavis for some extremely entertaining socials, and the extra help at other events.

Erewash Canal The canal at Tamworth Road in Long Eaton now boasts a brand new footbridge leading to the new school. I wonder if the newfound pride will extend to the reduction of litter in the vicinity. The replacement gates on the canal seem to be attracting a Page 19

News from the Lincolnshire Branch From Dave Carnell I cannot believe that it is time for the first edition of the 2006 Aegre. I am writing this on the last day of 2005, with several inches of snow and ice on the ground. The reason for this early report is that with this weather Penny and I feel inclined to hibernate and are shortly going to recharge our batteries in warmer climes, having recently being honoured with the presentation of a Richard Bird Medal for many years service to the IWA. Members of our Branch Committee and I are all long serving in these posts, and are looking for assistance. Speaking personally I feel that new blood with new ideas would be very welcome. Please give some thought to the future of the Branch activities and IWA`s contribution to the developing waterways in Lincolnshire.

(CAMS) and the EA are required to consult a wide range of interested organisations in determining the amount of water available for abstraction, without damaging the natural environment. The Branch responded to the initial report and has now studied the draft document.

There appear to be no detrimental proposals to affect navigation and leisure aspects. Another EA study for the Ancholme is a “Catchment Flood Management Plan”. Our response to these proposals concerns extra siltation in the upper reaches of the river caused by Anglian Water plc requesting an increase in the water flow for their treatment works and an omission to mention a previously proposed flood plan in agricultural areas instead of erecting flood walls through the historic town of Brigg.

River Ancholme The mechanisation works at South Ferriby Lock had to comply with the Listed Structure status of English Heritage. Following much negotiation between them and the Environment Agency, the present barely visible operating systems have been successfully proven. Electrically powered “Rotork” motors operate the lock paddles and the gate balance beams are operated by a solid rubber tyred wheel moving across the lock quadrants. Having satisfied the manual health and safety aspects of the operation, the greatest danger to the operators is now the heavy volume of traffic on the A1077.

Louth Navigation Trust. A decision on the previously mentioned wind farm has been put on hold until the end of 2006. I understand similar applications across the country have also been subject to this delay. The Trust are in the process of producing three walks leaflets and information lecterns to promote the public use of the waterway corridor.

There is concern as to the future management of the warehouse, in which the Trust have an office. Groundwork Lincolnshire have increased other occupants’ rents and are now trying to charge the Trust a commercial rent, despite earlier conditions stipulated in funding for the restoration of the building. Legal advice is being sought.

When the weather improves a detailed inspection of the Bailey bridge near

The Ancholme falls within the Grimsby and Louth “Catchment and Abstraction Management Strategy”

Page 20

Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership.

Work continues on the Water-Rail Way cycle track and footpath along the River Witham, from Lincoln to Boston. The present stretch from Five Mile Bridge to Bardney should be completed for Spring Horncastle and Tattershall Canal. this year. It is hoped that the Fiskerton HATCH. To date HATCH has operated Nature Reserve and Bird Hide will also be as a part of the “Tattershall and Coningsby with Thorpe Rural Challenge” opened at this time. It is great news that Lincolnshire Enterprise are supporting the project. This is shortly to be disbanded.

As a consequence of this and the positive proposal to construct an “off-line” marina, feasibility report there is increased support off the Slea Navigation, at Chapel Hill.

This will provide much needed moorings from the Horncastle area. A meeting to and job creation, so important in funding draw up a new constitution and take the applications for waterways restoration. project forward is being considered.

Further dates for EN/CAMS River Care litter picks are also being discussed.

Fenland Link. On the River Welland navigation is obstructed by the 1.6 m high Four Mile Bar bridge. This is to be Sleaford Navigation Trust. Much replaced by a new higher bridge that will hard work was put into preparing a give easier access for walkers, cyclists and detailed and costed bid for the IWA those with limited mobility. Also on the Jubilee Award. This covered works to Welland a 3 km length of bank has been raise the low concrete foot bridge; opened as a cycle path that connects with replacement by a new lift bridge, and the Peterborough Green-wheel and provision of a boat/canoe slipway and turning area. It was disappointing to learn Sustrans National route number 12 near Spalding. An 18 km length of bridle way that the bid was not successful, but undaunted by this and being determined to along the South Forty Foot Drain (the main navigation route) has also been benefit from the presentation, talks with other bodies have already produced half of prepared. Whilst not part of the Fenland the money required. Further meetings and Link project, Spalding saw a Water Taxi Service in operation. This was provided applications are taking place. A boat

by South Holland District Council and the gathering is also planned at South Kyme Springfields Centre, with sponsorship over the late May Bank Holiday. It is from Broadgate Homes. This proved so possible that IWA boat Jubilee will be successful that it is due to run again from able to attend, subject to tide and time constraints. The Trust entered the recently the Spring of 2006. restored and opened Navigation House, in Carre Street, in The Waterways Trust Brayford Pool. At the time of writing Renaissance Award competition. Having there is still no decision on the future been visited by judges this has passed an management of Brayford Pool or the initial visit and awaits a more detailed Planning Application for 100 executive inspection. apartments on the former Cox`s Boat Yard. One event that did attract the public was a Trafalgar Day celebration.

Tetney will be made to determine the work required to raise it to a navigable height to meet AINA standards and obtain the necessary planning consents.

Page 21

Decorated boats from the Sea Cadets, Lincoln Boat Club and Brayford Trust paraded past dignitaries and ran the gauntlet from the firing of a cannonade and Brown Bess muskets. This, coupled with a British and Continental Market, was rounded off by an illuminated boat parade. Can this be a way forward to liven up the Waterfront Festival?

DC

EREWASH CANAL CLEAN-UP March 25-26th 2006 The Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association has been cleaning the rubbish out of the Erewash Canal for well over thirty years and for a considerable number of years this has taken the form of filling rubbish boats or hoppers crewed by British Waterways staff. For the past few years members of IWA Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire Branch have helped, but this year Mick Golds wants you to make a special effort to attend so that we might do all the work in reasonable time, without greatly overworking the regular supporters. I have completed the “Risk Assessment and Method Statement” for British Waterways in the usual Waterway Recovery Group format and I hope that members of IWA and WRG will come along to help.

boats collecting floating rubbish and picking up the bags of litter. Volunteers are recommended to wear safety boots or Wellingtons and bring your own waterproofs. If you have a High Visibility vest or jacket and hard hat bring it along but some will be available for those who don’t have their own.

Please give Mick Golds a call on 0115 932 8042 to tell him you are coming and for what times so that he can arrange work schedules etc. Transport back to your car will be arranged as we go along.

We usually manage to fill at least two boats and collect several motorbikes so come along and enjoy the fun.

The format will be much the same as usual starting from Shipley Lock on Saturday, March 25th at 9.00 am. with a lunch stop at Barkers Lock and finishing at Gallows Inn Lock. Soup, chips, cobs and tea will be available or bring your own sandwiches. On Sunday, March 26th the start is at Gallows Inn Lock at 9.00 am with a lunch break at the Red Lion, Sandiacre, finishing at Trent Lock. Lunch is hot beef cobs or bring your own. Work will range from walking along the towing path collecting litter to working from the Page 22

John Baylis

South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch From Mavis Paul I hope you all had a good Christmas and New Year. Brian and I decided to spend New Year on our boat, the weather was quite good and we had a very convivial evening in the local hostelry.

Now January is over we are on the way to spring and the beginning of the boating season, doesn’t time fly by.

The Christmas social held by the branch was quite well attended. The food was good as always and having a quiz and a game of boatle meant that people actually socialised more than usual. On February 8th we had the AGM with Wayne Goodinson to show us a video.

Details in the next Aegre if you didn’t manage to get to Strawberry Island to see it.

The next meeting is on April 12th.

As yet we have not got a speaker but we are going to try and get someone from a canal society.

One date that is definitely fixed is the next canal clean-up. This will be on Sunday April 9th and we will be meeting at Tinsley Marina (by the lock cottages) at 10:00. We are hoping to persuade BW to provide Pie and Peas again. Please let me know if you are coming so that I can let BW know the numbers to cater for (phone number at the front of the magazine).

Since Sheffield Basin was redeveloped, the branch has never had much need to get involved with developments in our area apart from monitoring applications to see if there would be an impact on canals. This could all come to an end shortly as there is a lottery application going in for a marina and associated housing development at the old colliery staithe at Stainforth. The branch hope this is successful as it would give a new lease of life to what is really an eyesore.

Answers to “Just for fun” crossword number 7, with thanks to Malcolm Fielding.

ACROSS: 1 Heel; 3 Post; 6 Alert; 7 Stort; 10 Chalico; 14 Fens; 15 Keb; 16 Bows; 19 Freshet; 22 Acids; 23 Bight; 24 Over; 25 Clay.

DOWN: 1 Helm; 2 Earths; 4 Optics; 8 Pinfold; 9 Tinsley; 11 Leeds; 12 Inn; 13 Cob; 17 Bridge; 18 Aerial; 20 Echo; 21 Ahoy.

Page 23

Nancy’s Nostalgia - 9 (As Nancy is at such a tender age, anything previous to 1983 is narrated by her Granny)

Boat Kids at School The School Boat, a converted barge, is no longer moored on the cut. It used to serve as a school for canal boat children.

They went in for lessons whenever their boats tied up nearby.

The teacher would never know how many children to expect on any particular day, sometimes as many as twenty would attend, sometimes none at all. They were all ages, from five to fifteen. Sometimes they only attended for half a day, sometime for a whole week and then they went away again for months at a time.

The average attendance was only about three weeks in any one year.

With cramped conditions in the boat and no room for storage of books or equipment the teacher had a hard job to actually do any teaching. The children were very intelligent and were more streetwise and mature than most. They could easily reach the standard of “town children” given the opportunity.

In October 1956 the School Boat was moved to a mooring near an infant’s school and so a large dining room and a playing field became available. The weekly menu was pinned up on the wall every Monday morning and always caused great excitement. Even the children who could not read soon learned to recognise the words “Roast Beef”, “Fish and Chips” and “Lemon Curd Tart & Custard”.

Dinner was served in their own dining room, which could also be used as a play room. It also had many toys and games and a camp bed in the corner so children who felt ill could rest.

An assistant teacher was employed from 1958 so that the school could stay open for six days a week, closing only for two weeks in August, and Bank Holidays.

At this time music, singing and dancing were added to the subjects taught. At a later date a hostel was built near to the school and this enabled the children to attend every day. Medical and dental treatment also became available and the children had the same chance to learn as the town children.

On leaving school it was thought they would have a better chance of other work but still the majority of the children chose to work on the boats with their parents. For them that was the best way of life. One may argue that this is still the case.

(Information gleaned from various publications around 1959)

Page 24

GOOSE FAIR GANDER

It’s that time of year again, Nottingham Goose Fair is in full swing, it’s early October and we’re all starting to think that winter is around the corner. So it was a great opportunity to get the boat out and go to the Goose Fair Gander Rally. Thankfully the waters were at summer levels and who cares about the rain, we’re Boaters!

Don’t you always wonder, when you have a good time, why you still remember the little things. One of my abiding memories of the 2005 Goose Fair Gander Rally is the "body quiz".

My cruise started on “Rum Do Too” (affectionately known as The Beast) at Trent Lock about 9 am on Saturday when “Sarah Kate” drew alongside at the pontoon with cries of “Are you ready?”

So off we went. I immediately knew it was going to be a good weekend because I had to wind the beast in front of the Scout hut, with the massed ranks of the Long Eaton Scout troop looking on, before heading downstream to Nottingham.

Perfect pirouette, spontaneous applause and cries of “Nice boat, Mister, wish we were coming with you”, rather than other more anecdotal phraseology.

Cranfleet Cut was quiet, the sun was just peeping through the high clouds and the crew from “Sarah Kate” had set the

lock so I just breezed in. The Trent was magnificent from there down to Beeston, no other boats apart from the two of us.

Herons, cormorants, moorhens, swans, no chill on the breeze, perfect weather, peace and tranquillity.

Had to pull onto the lock landing at Beeston waiting for the lock. Again Sarah Kate’s crew set the lock. But the Beast was playing up here, gusting wind off the weir pinning the bow to the landing. Brief game of in, out and shake it all about before the lock wheelers came to the rescue. Now, I didn’t quite expect a foot to be used in quite that way but hey!

What’s sauce for the Goose….

Gentle cruise down the Beeston and Nottingham canals, a few more boats out by now, so it was nice to have a good natter as we passed by. Before you knew it, we’d arrived at the Rally near Nottingham Castle Marina. What a really great trip for a Saturday morning.

We checked in with the organisers and were told it was an informal afternoon, with entertainment in the evening as well as tomorrow. So, they said, put your feet up, let the world go by and here are a few quizzes to exercise your brain. Now these people have done this before, they knew it was going to rain and they knew those quizzes were going

Page 25

to torture the life out of people. Now I ask you, “What’s the letter”, “Biscuit Quiz” and “Parts of the body”… Parts of the Body… hmm!… the first clue I saw was “Trees”… evil.

We were also very lucky as Boat Folk had a guest with them for the evening, Dave, on the guitar. So, as Boat Folk left the stage for a well earned break, Dave took to the centre and we had from Eric Clapton and Queen to Spanish flamenco As I don’t live in Nottingham and I and even a classic bit of Bach thrown in. don’t get the chance to go there very Tremendous stuff and a tremendous often, this was my ideal opportunity to go applause from the audience as Dave do some shopping and seeing what there is bowed out and Boat Folk came back on. I to see. Naturally it rained, but hey! we’re hope Viv, Barbara and Dave read this Boaters and I still had a great time. Sad missive because by the end of the evening, person that I am, I actually did some with all the shakers going and the feet hassle-free Christmas shopping. A tapping the floor, I reckon we must have novelty I have not previously encountered given the Karaoke folk down below, food and I’ll go to the Rally again, just for that! for thought with the noise from above. – take a bow Ladies and Gentleman, you Feeling good that I had worked out; made it a very memorable evening. Thank “Not a Long Loaf” was a Shortbread you.

(Biscuit) and that “What letter is a Sheep” was a U (Ewe), I was still puzzling with a After a leisurely breakfast, Sunday part of the body to do with “Trees”, when beckoned and although I’m still working we arrived at “The Grove” where the folk out what part of the body is “Trees”, the group “Boat Folk” were putting the morning saw us all assembling on the finishing touches to their set.

Towing path before making our way up to the Galleries of Justice for a guided tour of “Boat Folk” are Viv and Barbara and the Lace Market area of the city of they are really talented. They did some Nottingham. We were met by our guide, traditional folk songs as well as some Chris Slade and he had a most interesting cracking renditions from Don MacLean tale to tell as the morning progressed. (remember “Vincent”) and John Denver – Jet Plane, Rocky Mountain High. It Did you know that the oldest part of wasn’t long before they had everyone Nottingham is not around the castle but singing along. Furthermore, on a central around the Lace market area. It goes back table were a stack of rattles, tambourines to Roman times when the natural caves in and shakers. You just couldn’t resist, the rock were developed into a settlement, soon everyone in the room was shaking Tigguo Cobauc. Then along came the and rattling, it was great.

Angles and Saxons from central Europe (mostly the Germany area, as we know it

Page 26

today). These Saxons, being from a part of Europe, Snott (but that could also have been the name of the local chieftain), were known as Snottingas (“inga” is the Saxon word for “of the people”) so now you can start to trace the derivation of Nottingham.

We were taken to one of the lesser known, but still preserved, possibly oldest streets in Nottingham, Malin Hill, with a great view over the road to London as well as the ancient set of short stairs up to High Pavement. Intrigued? I was. We were taken to where Nottingham folk believe is the narrowest “two way” street

in the world, Maiden Lane (and its 4’ 10” wide).

We learnt not to be smart alecs, thinking we all knew that Fletchergate was that part of the city where the arrow makers (fletchers) set up their historical business adjacent to a gate in the city wall. Nothing of the sort, “Gate” or “Gata” is the Viking or Danish word for “Street” and Fletcher is a corruption from our German Saxon friends who were Fleischers (butchers).

So Fletchergate is really Butchers Street!

Sorry, next edition of Aegre for more of the hidden secrets of Nottingham.

IWA Waterway Recovery Group East Midlands Accounts For the last two years Waterway Recovery Group East Midlands has operated as a branch of IWA for accounting reasons. As there is no membership, the accounts are approved at the IWA East Midlands Region Annual General Meeting, however it seemed appropriate to publish the annual accounts with the Region accounts on the following pages.

Most of the work of WRG EM these days is plant repair or work for the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association or the Friends of the Cromford Canal.

However, we do some steel works such as for Sandiacre Cottage in 2004 and lifting gear in 2005 for the ECP&DA or mooring rings in 2005 for Derbyshire County Council on the Chesterfield Canal and for a BW contractor in Nottingham. Not all the income and expenditure account figures balance as some money may have been carried over from one year to the next. I will be pleased to answer any queries.

John Baylis, WRG East Midlands

Page 27

INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION EAST MIDLANDS REGION

2004

EXPENDITURE

2005

855

Aegre printing & production

855.00

790

Aegre postage & distribution

749.21

1645

Total

1604.21

1553

Per Capita fromHead Office

INCOME Interest received Donation

1637.30 18.76 200.00

1571

Total

1856.06

1645

Less expenditure

1604.21

Surplus for yesr

251.85

-73

BALANCE SHEET FOR YEAR 2005 824

Balance at January 1st 2005

750.64

-73

Surplus / Deficit

251.85

751

Balance at December 31st 2005

1002.49

Represented by:751

Bank accounts

1002.49

751

Total assets

1002.49

Liabilities

751

Total funds

Page 28

1002.49

WATERWAY RECOVERY GROUP EM BALANCE SHEET FOR YEAR 2005 2004 EXPENDITURE 2005 Manufacture of mooring rings

769.10

152 76 736

ECP & DA General ECP & DA Lifting gear ECP & DA Cromford Canal

777.91 765.67 682.14

384

Sandiacre Cottage Security

219 611 29

Ironville Working Parties Plant repair Other

899.50 99.31 63.66

IWA Festivals Preston Brook

178.71

2351

4236.00

Total INCOME

1797

Erewash Canal P&DA IWA Notts & Derbys Branch

440 5 170

2513 2351

2233.47 20.00

Derbyshire County Council

662.70

Friends of the Cromford Canal

514.15

Bank Interest

9.65

Mansfield Mechanics IWA Festival Preston Brook

100.99

Sale of mooring rings

129.25

Total

3744.80

Less expenditure

-4236.00

Surplus

-491.20

1198

Balance at January 1st 2005

1359.71

1360

Balance at December 31st 2005

162

Page 29

868.51

1

2

3

6

4

5

7

8

9 10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19 20

21

22

23

24

25

Across

J u s t F o 8 r F u n

Down

1

This city can be found at one end of the Kennet & Avon canal 4

3

At Burton on Trent Coors sign was? 4

1

Manchester Bolton and ---- canal. 4 Two Nationals have been held here. 6

6

2 You often get these down your neck in a 4 tunnel. 5

7

Towards the rear of the boat 5

5

10

A concrete or wooden post for securing the boat. 7

8

You get this at the seaside but not on the canals. 4 You will find The Swan here. 7

14

You walk on this on board. 4

9

15

Short name for the canal. 3

16

Good refreshment after a hard day’s cruising. 4

11 An Irish lake. 5 12 This was not a working boatman’s friend in winter. 3

19

We don’t like to see these, especially in locks. 7

13 Ex Chesterfield Canal arm near Worksop 3 (also 21 D)

22

One half of a famous waterways publishing company. 5 (also 9 D)

17 These can be found mainly at the end of the cuts. 6

23

We don’t need this to find our way round 18 This was used as an excuse to close many the canal system. 5 canals. 6

24

We should leave enough time to avoid the mad ---- at the end. 4

20 A shallow reach in Norfolk. 4

24

An old sailors’ greeting. 4

21 Ex Chesterfield canal arm near Worksop. 4 (also 13 D)

Page 30

Towards the stern 6

The other half of a famous waterways publishing company. 7 (see 22 A)

Canal Societies in the EM Region Barnsley, Dearne & Dove Canal Trust Chesterfield Canal Trust Ltd Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society Erewash Canal P & D Association Foxton Inclined Plane Trust Friends of the Cromford Canal Grantham Canal Restoration Society Louth Navigation Trust

Milton View, 39 Hill St., Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8EN Tel: 01226 287571

Melton & Oakham Waterways Society Old Union Canals Society Sleaford Navigation Trust

Richard Booth, Sysonby Knoll, Ashfordby Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0AH Tel: 01664 563563

Trent and Mersey Canal Society

Brownsfield Cottage, Brownsfield Lane, Lichfield WS13 3EH Tel: 01543 255410

Keith Ayling, 16 Pinchfield Lane, Wickersley, Rotherham S66 1FD Tel: 01709 700223 Sawley Bridge Marina, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 3AE Tel: 01332 873459 318 Osmaston Park Road, Derby DE24 8FB Tel: 01332 368746 Howard Smith, 1 Millfield, Kimberley, Nottingham NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 9384129 Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 Mike Kelley, 50 Beech Avenue, Alfreton, Derby DE55 7EW Tel: 01773 833425 6 Elms Court, Bassingfield, Nottingham NG12 2LG Tel: 0115 9696239 Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 606044

2 Nithsdale Crescent, Market Harborough LE16 9HA Tel: 01858 461483 Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N Hykeham, Licoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689 460

Page 31

Regional Diary Dates 2006 All members of any branch, visitors, and non-members are all welcome to attend

South Yorkshire and the Dukeries Branch Usual Venue

April 9th April 12th

Strawberry Island Boat Club, Milethorn Lane, off Wheatley Hall Rd.,Doncaster. For info. call 0114 268 3927 Clean up at Tinsley, 10.00 am.

Programme to be announced. (8 pm).

Leicestershire Branch

Usual Venue

Oadby Tennis Club, close to Leicester Racecourse.

For info. call 07710 029247 April 8/9th Clean up at Loughborough (8th) and Leicester (9th) Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Usual Venue: March 17th Mar. 25/26th April 2nd

Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford at 7.45 pm. For info. call 01636 671726 A funny thing on the way to the print room, by Derek Pearson from Canal & Riverboat magazine.

Erewash clean up at Tinsley. See page 22.

April 14/15th April 21st

Pinxton Push Walk, from Langley Mill, 10.00.

See page 13.

Chesterfield Canal clean up at Killamarsh. Call 0114 247 3932.

Erewash Pie & Pea & Cruise. Call 0115 932 8042 Fruit flies like a banana, by Steve Haywood

May 19th

Boat handling training, by Ray Cullis

June 2nd June 16th

IWA cruise from Trent Lock A visit to Shardlow Heritage Centre, with Pat Clifton

April 8/9th

Page 32