Aegre July 2006

AEGRE

Cleaning up a mess on the Erewash No.114

July 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 5RZ 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 McDonald, 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.

Picture credits:

See page 12

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 July 2006 Page 2 4 5 7 8 10 12 13 13 14 15 16 16 18 20 21 24 25 26 28 28 29 29 31 32

Contents

No. 114

Colophon The editor’s Bow Button Round the Region with the Chairman Erewash Canall Clean-up British Waterways User Groups News from Leicestershire Branch Picture Credits News from South Yorkshire and the Dukeries Diamond Jubilee Dinner A long lost movie star Goose Fair Gander part 2 New Dawn Answers to the crossword 8 News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch Proposed Stainforth Marina News from Lincolnshire Branch New publications reviewed Lost and Found?

Harrington Bridge over the Trent Nancy's Nostalgia 11 Letter to the Editor Thorne Swing Bridge 2 Mikron Theatre Company Canal Societies and Trusts in the Region Regional Diary Dates

Next issue to be published in early November 2006. Contributions to the editor by the end of September 2006 please.

The space on the right is for local contact information.

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The Editor’s Bow Button With a lot of nervousness, the first issue of Aegre in 2006 got off the ground - or out of the front door to the printers - a little bit late on plan, but I hope it got to your door-mats before the end of March.

Everyone has been very kind about the inevitable mistakes here and there, including attributing Mike Snaith's excellent tale about the Goose Fair Gander to Nancy Johnson (deep apologies due here) and a number of failures to attribute photographs correctly. This is particularly embarrassing because proper attribution is something I feel quite serious about. However the part I feel most proud of is my major feat of civil engineering in connecting the top of the Erewash Canal to the Sheffield basin at Tinsley. This would once have been dismissed as a "slip of the pen". Nowadays it counts as a slip of "cut and paste", but I can think of an excellent area just west of the M1 suitable for moorings but which is currently cluttered up with car parking and a few shops.

On the subject of photographs, these are always very welcome, as John mentioned last time, and we will try to use as many as possible - though not necessarily all in the same issue. Really helpful would be to accompany each picture with the name of the photographer, so that it can be properly acknowledged, and a short descriptive title saying where it is. Many digital cameras these days will record the time the picture was taken, and identify the type of camera in the file, but nothing more. I have not yet seen a camera able to record a GPS position with each exposure; a simple idea I offer to the manufacturers for no extra charge. Although I shall probably be thrown out of the IWA for suggesting it, one bit of a canal can sometimes look just like another bit a few miles further along. As a change from the charming scenes often used on the front covers of canal magazines, this time I have used a less romantic, but still truthful view of the work done by the valuable co-operation between IWA members and BW staff. Several tons of rubbish collected from the canal over one very busy week-end, and seen at Potter's Lock on the Erewash.

This wish to identify places is also relevant to announcements of events, meetings, or working parties, and arises in part from your editor's attempts to find a way down to Potter's Lock in ever-decreasing circles in the back streets of Ilkeston.

Brian Dominic's press release about the Pinxton walk on April 2nd included references to a service called www.streetmap.co.uk. If you used the reference it produced a neat small map of the area concerned, with a little arrow pointing to the meeting point. We can't do this of course with the printed version of this magazine, but could include it with the version available to all on the IWA web site. But we could try to include (even if only for a lost editor) some guidance for a stranger to an area on how to find any given meeting place. Any format will do, depending on the type of site, and I can translate into whatever members feel is most helpful: National Grid; Post Code and street number, or something like "where Awsworth Road crosses Page 4

the canal in Ilkeston"; even, nowadays, latitude and longitude (WGS84 preferred).

What do you think?

In the last issue of Aegre we have tried to respond to letters in the November 2005 issue about including contact names if possible, for example in the list on the inside back cover, but again if there are any similar suggestions for additional helpful information we can try to include it. It is always good to hear from the canal societies and trusts in our region, and to pass on news of achievements and future events. In this issue I have tried to get the various addresses and phone numbers right, and also put in web addresses for those who can use this facility. Although as editor of a magazine like this I still believe in the effectiveness of ink on paper and a copy in your hand to browse, I am not against trying anything new, and it may help contact between members and the other groups in our region. Please let me know if your address or details are incorrect. Thank you also to all the other editors or publicity officers who send out the good word by means of copies of their productions.

I hope the better weather and longer daylight has stimulated more of us to get out on the water. In this issue of Aegre we have good news of fresh or expanded canal facilities - let's get out there and use them to encourage the people who have put their time, effort and money into all the complex work necessary to get them ready. Best wishes for a continuing successful season. Peter.

Round the Region with the Chairman I am sure that many of you will know Margaret Fletcher, Chairman of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal Society for 19 years. She was also Chairman of IWA North West Region for the last three years. Margaret was the wife of John Fletcher, our National Chairman, who at Margaret's insistence was at the IWA Jubilee Weekend when she died. At Margaret's funeral at Bolton Crematorium Christine and myself, David and Janet Stevenson and Chris and Steve Hayes represented IWA East Midlands Region and local canal societies.

This year, as the Erewash Winter Cruise was held in the Spring at Easter, we decided to continue down to Lincolnshire for a few weeks. We used to go to Lincolnshire fairly frequently but over the past few years we have tended to spend the night on the Torksey tidal moorings on our way to the Chesterfield Canal for its several openings at Shireoaks and up to Kiveton Park. Whilst mentioning the Chesterfield Canal next week I hope to take Tony Wilkinson, Chairman of the Grantham Canal Partnership, to see some of the British Waterways restoration work on Peter Robertson's boat. Peter moors at Shireoaks and is a member of the Chesterfield Canal Trust. Also in May, Christine and I went to a very pleasant informal dinner in Retford to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Chesterfield Canal Trust; it was good to see so many of the old activists at the dinner.

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Back on the Fossdyke and Witham we journeyed down from Bardney with more "fresh" than I have ever seen on this section, but it is long and wide and deep and there seemed to be little effect on the flow until you tried to moor up with a following wind.

After going down Anton's Gowt Lock the surfeit of water continued on the Witham Navigable Drains and the cruise on West Fen and Medlam Drains had to be curtailed as the boat was a few inches too high to go under bridges we can usually pass. On the Maud Foster Drain in Boston we were surprised that the water level was dropping after Friday lunch and by then was nine inches down. A rapid call to the Environment Agency, which controls this section, revealed that they were running some water off at low tide to give some capacity in case it rained over the Bank Holiday Weekend.

Fortunately, they stopped when the tide turned and the level crept back over night.

For a narrow boat I think the Maud Foster is the best place to moor in Boston as it is close to the High Street shops, pubs and a good Fish & Chip shop, but unfortunately the supermarket has moved into larger premises at the other side of town. It is disappointing that the EA have stopped mooring on the steps on the town side of the drain due to underwater obstructions. These are the remains of a collapsed wall. This has been rebuilt but the rubbish has not been removed; we will continue to press the EA. Also at these and the steps on the other side of the drain it would be useful to have some mooring rings; it's very difficult to knock pins into a brick wall. Despite being a single boater we had no trouble on the WND. Because of the low bridges we had to reverse about a mile in total as we could not reach the winding holes but this was little problem.

After the WND we went up the River Slea as far as South Kyme village with about ten other boats. As there was no winding hole we paired up, with one going forward and the other in reverse. The EA had been doing work towards Cobbler's Lock where the full length winding hole is, but have left some rubbish in the channel at Halfpenny Hatch Bridge. This means the last two miles to the winding hole is inaccessible at present. Fortunately the Hume Arms has re-opened under new management and all the boaters enjoyed an excellent Sunday lunch. During the spring, along with Mike Palmer of Waterway Recovery Group, I went to Sleaford to look at a piling and slipway project that came second for the IWA Jubilee Grant. Although the IWA grant failed, money is forthcoming and hopefully the work will still go ahead.

Many canal restoration schemes as well as other local authority projects entered the National Lottery Living Landmarks award scheme where the final prize could be up to ÂŁ50M. This included seven canal schemes in the East Midlands. As far as I know only a project on the Derby & Sandiacre Canal got through the first stage of judging and has now been interviewed over several days for stage two. Those successful at this stage will be awarded several ÂŁ100K to carry out feasibility and similar studies. After judging these a winner will be selected to take the big prize. Among those failing were the Cromford Canal, and two on the Grantham Canal, one at Grantham and the other

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for the Trent Link. Other schemes included work adjacent to the River Trent and on the Chesterfield Canal.

Both British Waterways and the Environment Agency are concerned at the lack of winter rainfall and although May has been the wettest month since 2004 it has not allowed the underground aquifers to recover, particularly in the South East. I believe that we should be all right in the Midlands and North provided we are careful, but please take care. Share locks, wait turns and report leakages immediately to the navigation authority. John Baylis

EREWASH CANAL CLEAN UP British Waterways’ staff worked a tug and pan to remove rubbish from the water and also collected bags left on the lock sides and at bridge holes by the grapnel and litter picking teams. On the workboat Bollin three volunteers used rakes and baskets to remove litter and rubbish from the offside reeds and trees.

Over the weekend of March 25-26th the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association members, assisted by Waterways Recovery Group, IWA (Notts & Derbys Branch) and British Waterways, East Midlands Navigations carried out the annual Erewash Canal Clean-Up. The weather was a great improvement on that forecast and approximately 25 volunteers attended on each day. After booking in at Shipley, anglers from Cotmanhay Angling Club walked along the bank picking litter, whilst other volunteers went down to Cotmanhay to grapnel the bridges and Stenson and Barkers locks. Meanwhile

On reaching Barkers Lock for lunch, kindly organised by members Hazel and Alan Dilnot, and subsidised by BW, all took a welcome break. After lunch they worked similarly through Ilkeston, arriving at Gallows Inn at about 4.00 pm.

By that time the narrow pan had been filled with motorcycles, cycles and other large rubbish and the tug hold contained tyres, two freezers and three one-ton bags of light rubbish. This gave us time to sort out the rubbish and transfer some of the rubbish to fill a skip, making sure the boats were ready for Sunday. Our front cover gives more idea of the collection.

The work continued on Sunday from Gallows Inn to above Long Eaton Lock with a lunch break for hot beef cobs and

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chips at the Red Lion in Sandiacre.

During the day the wide hopper was filled with cycles, shopping trolleys, wood and another eight one ton bags were filled with light rubbish. Three Heras fencing panels were also recovered which will be put to good use by the regular ECP&DA working parties at Langley Mill. Anglers from Long Eaton came to identify the sites of sunken shopping trolleys and cycles for pulling out by grapnel. This year we once again tried to keep the rubbish segregated so that restricted rubbish such as tyres and freezers were kept separate. The hopper boats contained mainly scrap iron and timber and the light litter, while tins and plastic bottles were held in one tonne sacks. Hopefully, this makes disposal easier for BW.

Carole announced at the March ECP&DA meeting that this would be their last year of organising. John Baylis, IWA East Midlands Region Chairman, who organised the risk assessments with British Waterways at Newark said, “the volunteers and BW staff all worked excellently together and despite collecting as much as usual managed to finish on both days before the rain started at about 5.0p.m.” Caroline Killeavy, Manager BW East Midlands Navigations, said, “May I take this opportunity to express British Waterways' appreciation to all the volunteers without whose help this clean up operation would not have been so successful.” John Baylis

Mick and Carole Golds organised as usual, this being the 37th year they had taken part in the Erewash Clean Up.

But what's happening here? See page 21.

BRITISH WATERWAYS USER GROUPS At the Chesterfield Canal User Group meeting BW reported on work completed on Shaw’s Lock, Forest Top Lock and Swallow Bridge at Misterton. The next bridge repair is re-pointing at Whitsunday Pie Bridge. Both offside and towing path tree management started a two week contract in March 2006. This year they are doing Drakeholes to Wiseton and much of the length between Turner Wood and Kiveton Park. We asked that where towing path saplings are cut down the stumps should be treated to prevent recurrence of the problem. During last summer weeds and reeds were removed between Bracebridge and Misterton. During the next winter stoppages are planned at Forest Upper Middle Lock, Deep Lock and Shireoaks Bottom Lock.

The brickwork originally planned for the portals of Drakeholes Tunnel is now to take place in 2007-8.

BW is to increase the number of visitor mooring sites as a result of suggestions from IWA and the Chesterfield Canal Trust. They are looking at sites at West Stockwith, Gringley, Hayton, Osberton and Kiveton Park. New rings have already Page 8

been fitted on Retford Common and by ASDA in Retford. As part of the restoration of the Kiveton Colliery site BW are creating four angling ponds. Parts of these will be used for boating when this section of the canal is restored. The ponds have filled up over winter, and water quality samples are showing suitability for fish. BW intend to restock if the samples are OK in April 2006. BW has interviewed a short list of three organisations for taking over the tenancy, which will have 78 pegs on the ponds. The landscaping completion has been delayed due to wet ground conditions but there will be an official opening when this is completed. On the Chesterfield Canal it is good to see the co-operation between boaters and anglers, particularly on the two common problems of litter louts and dog dirt.

On the Erewash Canal new tailgates have been fitted at four locks over the winter but concern was expressed at the additional timber and steel on recent gates and the consequent excessive weight. All this year's gates are heavy to move. The question was asked "Must we have Grand Union gates fitted on all wide canals?" BW promised to check. BW reported all the weirs were clean, but boaters present asked why the rubbish was allowed to pile up over many months and not taken away.

On the River Soar concern was expressed yet again on the problems, still not fully rectified, caused by the Flood Alleviation Scheme in 1984. There was long discussion on the disposal of ashes from Asian cremations in the river following a newspaper report and suggestions of more appropriate places on the river for the practice. The Environment Agency has replied that the article exaggerated the problem and it is monitoring the situation.

On the River Trent a member has taken up the non-replacement of Long Horse Bridge at Derwentmouth with British Waterways through its complaints procedure.

However, as he was not happy with its comments the Waterways Ombudsman is now looking at the evidence and I had a meeting with her in early May. Lower down the River Trent we have expressed our concern at the mooring of BW work boats and commercial boats, sometimes on moorings restricted to pleasure boats, or for long periods in inappropriate places such as just below Meadow Lane Lock. With BW’s disposal of Trent Lane Wharf, and the proposed changes of use at Newark Repair Yard and White House Wharf the problem is getting worse, and BW need to provide moorings for its working boats and commercial craft. White House Wharf at Newark is being considered for a residential development but the plans so far include a sanitary station and floating landing stage. We have pointed out the need for an on-line pumpout facility.

On the Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigation concern has been expressed about the lack of security at Sheffield Basin Moorings and problems with the electricity supply. I am pleased to see that BW have finally accepted that there is a problem with lack of visibility of indicator lights on the control panels on the Aire & Calder Navigation compared with those on the S&SYN. John Baylis Page 9

News from Leicestershire Branch From Ian McDonald The branch has been busy since last Aegre with a full programme of meetings on different topics such as a visit to Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough and to a post windmill in Kibworth Harcourt, near to the Newton flight of locks, along with more traditional fare.

We also had a successful stand at the wonderful Loughborough Canal Festival where the crowds were immense, how do they keep it up? Our congratulations to the very hard-working team that run it so well.

Shortly after that we had a week with Jubilee. This worked out reasonably well in the end, though we had many worried times over how we would get it all together. David Blagrove delivered her to David Stevenson at North Kilworth in time for David and crew of Clem & Marj Clemanson to entertain an MEP, a district councillor and other guests on May 14th from there through to Foxton. An afternoon was spent there before they set off with other guests to the overnight stop in Harborough. The following morning she had officers from Harborough plus councillors for the trip back to Foxton.

A wet afternoon without guests brought her to Kilby Bridge, from where on the following day we had the mayor plus other councillors and officers from Oadby & Wigston through to Crow Mills.

Here it was all change for the Leader of Blaby District plus another councillor and officers through to Kings Lock.

Amazingly it was a fine day, as was the following morning when we had the Leader of Leicester City Council with us

through to Castle Gardens where the Council laid on an excellent buffet and some officers visited Jubilee. Sadly no other members or officers cruised with us that day, which terminated at Mountsorrel. A local councillor cruised to Loughborough, where the mayor and others joined her to look her over, before setting off with us to Zouch.

Here we gathered together in the Rose & Crown to see her off with three of our members who volunteered to take her to Lincoln. Not the best meal we’ve had, but it was good to see our efforts successfully completed. It was disappointing that so few of the people we invited actually took the trouble to reply, despite our including a reply slip. It made organising the road transport for returning people to their starting points a bit last gasp, but it seemed worthwhile in the end to receive the letters of thanks. We also got a half page spread in the Leicester Mercury featuring Jubilee and setting out what her trip was all about, together with worthwhile publicity for our Festival in June.

Yes we have been busy with our Festival organisation, even if we forgot to mention it in Aegre last time. We had to move it to June because most of the branch committee was travelling by boat to Beale Park and there is no way we could cruise back from there in time to set up and run a festival ten days later. So June 3rd and 4th were the dates and as I write this we just hope that the rains will stop to let the river fall. There is a very full programme of events on the adjacent

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park and road so we hope for a really fine evening followed by a pleasant successful rally with a good show of adjournment to a local hostelry. decorated boats going for the first prize of £125, kindly donated again by Riverside Sadly Leicester City Council has lost Housing. one of its Riverside Rangers. In Pete and Adrian they had a wonderful pair of At our AGM the committee stayed as people dedicated to keeping the waterway before and Beryl gave us a very varied in good order and to educating people slide presentation on Rallies then and about the riverside and how to look after now, going back to those she attended by it. Unfortunately Pete got fed up with the canoe. Nicholson mentions the Bell bureaucracy and has left for a post in Foundry, as does our Guide to the teaching. There has been a wholesale reLeicester, yet many of our members have organisation of departments in the City so never visited this fascinating factory. We we hope they will still hang together for were fortunate on the day of our visit in the good of the waterway. We arranged a that bells had been cast that day, but for clean up with them on their GreenLife all that we could see little of them as they boat to pick both litter and also pull out were buried deep in sand to cool slowly to Floating Pennywort, a blanket weed that let the metal crystallise appropriately to threatens us all. Several skip loads have ring correctly. There is a fascinating been pulled out by the rangers, and there museum as part of the Foundry and yes, was little left for us, though we certainly they used to have their own wharf. If you filled the boat with other sorts of rubbish. haven’t been before, get in touch with them; you will find it well worth a visit.

The post mill at Kibworth Harcourt is one of only 40 left in this country. Post mills are constructed around a massive central post, and everything hangs off this post. Unlike the more usual tower mills where just the cap turns into the wind, on a post mill the miller turns the whole mill into the wind and everything is, as a result, much smaller. The particular mill we visited has had three locations in the village, and probably everything in it has been replaced at some time with the possible exception of the central post which could have been first erected in the 1400’s though the current mill dates from the mid to late 1700’s. We are fortunate to have one of our members as a trustee of the mill who not only ran the visit and told us all about it, but also organised a

All in all an interesting few months come along and see what is happening down our way. If you get to Foxton you have a choice of pubs at the locks now as Tony & Mary Matts have now got the new Bridge 61 open for a simple pint and simple food. Things progress on the inclined plane, on the top arm and interpretation panels, and they now have a person employed to guide people through

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what is going on there. In Loughborough the wharf arm is closed off and the buildings are being demolished prior to the new development. We fought hard, and we will watch to ensure that the planning consents are complied with. We will probably have to do the same with the new developments in Leicester as work progresses on the site between Lime Kiln and Belgrave locks. The old British United shoe machinery site has outline consent sought for 1250 apartments, restaurants, nurseries and a road bridge

and foot bridge across the navigation.

Development is starting in the centre of the island between the navigation and river at this point, and nearer to West Bridge two new apartment blocks are nearing completion. Next to them the latest proposal is for a 26 and 22 storey block! Nothing as high as this anywhere else in Leicester and other sections move forward on the re-development of the city.

Yes it’s all change; whether it is for the best, we don’t know.

And what's happening here? See page 21.

Picture Credits We are most grateful to all of the following, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance this issue of Aegre: Hannah Livesey of Lincoln University Canoe and Kayak Club; John Lower; John Baylis, Ian McDonald; Dave Carnell; Brian Dominic; Beryl McDowall; and 20th Century Fox Film Corporation.

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News from South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch, from Mavis Paul Isn't it nice now the warmer weather has arrived, along with the lighter nights and hopefully plenty of boating, walking or fishing along or on the canals and rivers. The branch AGM and social was very well attended, and the video shown

by Wayne Goodinson was of excellent quality and up to the standard of a professional production. It is always nice to follow Wayne and his wife in this way, and we look forward to seeing many more of their shows.

On Friday April 7th, three branch committee members set out to move Jubilee from Stanley Ferry to Thorne, having only one day to do this due to other commitments. Unfortunately the throttle cable broke and couldn't be fixed until midday. We missed out on what would have been a lovely trip, but our thanks go to Peter and Elaine Scott for getting the boat to Thorne in time for passage on to the Trent on the Sunday morning.

The canal cleanup held on April 9th was once again well attended, with kind weather, and followed by pie and peas in the Tinsley Marina's social club. Our thanks go to the Abbeydale Rotary Club

and also to Dave Walker of BW. Without his help we wouldn't be doing the cleanups.

The meeting on April 12th saw Mike Kelly give us a talk on the Cromford Canal. It was very interesting, and you can see the possibility of restoration in the future. Unfortunately this meeting wasn't very well attended, which could have been due to lack of publicity in Aegre.

Unfortunately due to a lack of a social secretary a speaker hadn't been booked when the last issue of Aegre went to press. If any one fancies having a crack at arranging the speakers for the socials please give me a ring.

The last social was on Wednesday June 14th as a barbecue at Strawberry Island Boat Club. This has worked well in the past as it enables members to socialise. The committee provided sausages, burgers, jacket potatoes and salads.

The latest news we have on the proposed development at Stainforth is given in the short report on page 20. No doubt we will hear more of this later.

DIAMOND JUBILEE DINNER In the last issue of Aegre I asked for expressions of interest in an East Midlands Dinner to celebrate the IWA Diamond Jubilee. However as no members expressed an interest the Region Committee decided not to proceed with the idea. John Baylis

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A LONG LOST MOVIE STAR Friends of the Cromford Canal unearthed a long-lost movie star on Saturday 1st April. Colliery Office Bridge near Pinxton Wharf featured in the 1960 film Sons & Lovers, based on D.H. Lawrence's book. At the start of the film, there is an underground explosion and people are shown rushing to the mine, with some of them crossing a canal bridge. The bridge was Colliery Office Bridge, which stood at the end of the section of the Pinxton Canal that is still in water, beyond the Boat Inn. Thanks to help from J.C. Balls of Ambergate, who lent them a JCB digger and driver for the day, the Friends were able to locate the remains of the bridge, which was demolished many years ago. Finding the foundations of the old brick arched bridge will assist in the plans for a new swing bridge which

The bridge as seen in the film, courtesy 20th Century Fox Film Corpn. Š 1960 will be needed once the canal is restored from Pinxton to Pye Bridge.

The Friends of the Cromford Canal hope to reinstate the section of the canal across the Smotherfly opencast site, using the artificial channel that UK Coal used to divert the river Erewash whilst opencasting. This channel is almost exactly on the original canal line. If the Canal is restored using this channel, it would allow a trip boat to operate and also provide facilities for canoeing, rowing, fishing, walking and as a haven for wildlife.

Your Region Chairman (nearest the JCB) looking intently at a hole in the ground!

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GOOSE FAIR GANDER Part 2 from Mike Snaith In the last Aegre Mike ended during a tour of Nottingham city centre. Mike continues:

Nottingham and the ships came right up to the jail, beneath the Galleries of Justice. In those days the River Lean was navigable and yes, it came right up to the back steps We learnt not to be smart alecs, of the Galleries of Justice. It had initially thinking we all knew that Fletchergate was been diverted into the centre of that part of the city where the arrow Nottingham by the Romans and it was makers (fletchers) set up their historical only when the Nottingham Canal was built business adjacent to a gate in the city wall. that the River Lean reverted back to its It was really Butchers Street, from the original (and current) course.

German "fleischer"!

The whole tour and morning was both Fascinating little gems like this were informative and really interesting, Chris flowing thick and fast from our guide but has a genuine enthusiasm for the city, a I’ll keep it to a couple of short snippets wealth of knowledge and a talent for and then you can all go on one of Chris’ getting the message across. tours to hear the rest. Firstly, take a trip yourself to the Galleries of Justice on High We left the Lace Market and headed Pavement and look at the arches above the back to the boats. The only clue I can’t three entry/exit doors. Look at the point get after all this time with these quizzes of each arch and you will find a small was still driving me mad. I’d got that sculpture of a face and head. You enter “part of a book” was “spine” but what has the Galleries through the central door and “Trees” got to do with parts of the body. arch and have your case tried by the We assembled on the Towing path for Judiciary – the face on this arch has a the traditional Brandy Snaps, the results wonderful uncertain, nervous and and our farewells. Of course, “it’s a Palm quizzical expression to it. After your case (Tree)”, isn’t it. Quizzes produced by is tried, you’ve been cleared and you Mavis and Brian White, very handy they would exit back to the street by the door were too. Of course “it’s a Palm” is going and arch on the left. The face on that arch to stay with me until next year. has a wonderful “Phew!”, relieved expression on it. The third and final door If you did come to the 2005 Goose and arch on the right is for those being Fair Gander I hope you enjoyed it as much sent down, as they have been found guilty, as I did. If you didn’t come, you really the face on that arch is screaming with missed a treat, please do come next year. rage and the flames of hell are licking the With more people it would be even better. hair. It’s all on your doorstep but you just Put the date in your boating diary now, it’s don’t see it! The second snippet is, did you the weekend of the Goose Fair, October know, many of the convicts sent to the 7th and 8th. We hope 2006 will be even USA and Australia were deported from better than 2005.

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NEW DAWN -

(Yes, she will have a mast and sail for use on the Trent).

Chesterfield Canal Trust are proud to announce the New Dawn Project: the recreation and operation of an accurate, full-sized wooden boat of the unique type that carried cargoes on the Chesterfield Canal. Towed by a horse, the boat will promote the canal and its restoration, be a means of studying the handling of such craft, and act as a focus for a wider understanding of the past. For school visits the cargo-hold will be capable of transformation into a floating classroom. The boat will also play a central role in a research project based on the 1840s - finding out the cargoes carried, the sources and destinations, and the boatmen who formed the usually two-man crews.

To build the boat, money is required. If we can raise the funds by our own methods it will avoid the time delays and uncertainties inherent in approaching national funding bodies. It would also follow the lead of past centuries - throughout its history friends and people associated with the Chesterfield Canal have ascertained what needed to be done, worked out how to do it, and just got on with it locally. The building of the vessel will be undertaken by an experienced boat-builder with personal knowledge of such craft, but assisted by volunteers who wish to obtain the knowledge and skills involved.

Answers to “Just for fun� crossword number 8, with thanks to Malcolm Fielding.

ACROSS: 1 Bath; 3 Bass; 6 Drips; 7 Stern; 10 Bollard; 14 Deck; 15 Cut; 16 Beer; 19 Bathers; 22 David; 23 Radar; 24 Dash; 25 Ahoy.

DOWN: 1 Bury; 2 Tipton; 4 Astern; 8 Fradley; 9 Charles; 11 Lough; 12 Ice; 13 Lee; 17 Basins; 18 Breach; 20 Hard; 21 Lady.

Page 16

HELP HER SET SAIL

The first priority is to raise £8,000 to purchase the timber, ironwork, fitments and hull coatings. The timber will then have to season for two years before it can be used.

Extra funding will be necessary for insurance cover, tools, cargo items and packaging, licences, educational items, research costs, promotional work, horse hire and general running costs. The plan is to raise the money by asking for donations equivalent to parts of the boat, starting at only £5. Also available will be "nominal shares" valued at one-twelfth of the timber total, that is £670 each. Donations will be via the accounts of the Chesterfield Canal Trust, which will accrue Gift Aid taxation benefits. A way of displaying the names of those who contribute to the scheme will be devised, possibly on a tarpaulin covering the hold, or as addressees on the various items of cargo.

Please help to launch this project by funding one or more parts of the boat - then come and see how the shutts, shearings and headleadges all fit together to make a vessel unique to the Chesterfield Canal. Or take a share of the timber costs. Please make cheques payable to Chesterfield Canal Trust, and send to: John Lower, 92a Tapton View Road, Chesterfield S41 7JY.

Page 17

News from Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch From Nancy Johnson I hope that all you boaters are now all geared up for another "boating season".

Easter weekend saw quite a few boats out for a few days cruise and the weather was almost kind and acceptable.

successful bid for the Living Landmarks application for funding and they are now awaiting the results of a review visit scheduled for April 24th and 25th. We wish them luck.

Our social last March had us in a panic due to "the man from Canal & Riverboat" letting us down at very short notice but thanks to Judy & Doug Flack of the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society we were saved. They gave a very professional presentation and update on their canal. We had a very enjoyable evening and ended up presenting Judy with a cheque for ÂŁ300 to help finish the work on the Borrowash Bottom Lock.

Judy was the main mover behind the

The Erewash Clean up weekend on March 25th & 26th was the usual happy weekend, with British Waterways and lots of volunteers organised by Carol and Mick. A full report is on page 7, and of course this provides our cover picture.

Your committee gave ÂŁ500 to the Friends of the Cromford Canal after a request from Mike Harrison. This was used for exploration work to find the remains of Colliery Office Bridge near

Clarks Bridge Renovation Inspected Page 18

Pinxton. This bridge and wharf were featured in the 1960's film "Sons and Lovers", based on the book by D.H.Lawrence. There was an underground explosion at the local pit and people are seen running over this bridge.

See page 14 for more details. We now know the best way to encourage volunteers. Take a leaf out of the book of Friends of the Cromford and give everyone a free pint of ale. This goaded some 220 into action to join their sponsored walk. Our own John Baylis has now retired from the Vice-Chairmanship of the Friends but don't feel sorry for him, he still has about 999 other jobs to do.

ÂŁ1,000 from our branch funds, courtesy of the Exxon Mobil grant made to Mike Snaith, our planning officer. WRG also did a great job on the weekend of May28th. They removed the remaining tree stumps etc. near to Blue Hill. This work was continued by the GCRS on May 13th whilst the permit from bird protection interests was still in force.

On the May 10th we attended a very difficult meeting at the Cropwell Bishop Village Hall when the GCRS hosted a presentation made by David LynehamBrown of the Grantham Canal Partnership proposing the formation of yet another group to be called the Friends of the Although not successful with the Grantham Canal. Of the 30 odd members Living Landmarks bid, Grantham Canal present not one came out in favour. supporters have been full of action Although we had sympathy with the recently. On February 4th we were invited proposed aims of the new group, it was to inspect the renovated Clarks Bridge. felt that this could be achieved under the This is a grade II listed structure and has auspices of either the partnership or the been rebuilt as nearly as possible to the canal society, and that the formation of a original at a cost of some ÂŁ150,000. It new group would be "history repeating looks magnificent and about 200 years itself". However formed it would be old. On February 18th & 19th Waterway perceived as a repeat of years ago and Recovery Group BITM together with another split in the society. It was also members of the Grantham Canal thought that as the existing group Restoration Society and IWA carried out committees still had vacancies, from a major assault on the vegetation in where would the manpower come?

Harlaxton Cutting. Also on parade was . the still new-looking aluminium boat that Wednesday May 17th was designated was the Christopher Power Prize. This as "Spirit to Serve the Community Day" piece of kit enabled us to clear trees and by the Marriott International Group. This debris from the middle of the canal and group has a hotel near to the canal line in otherwise inaccessible places.

Grantham and we benefitted from a litterpick and general tidy up carried out by the The Denton wharf area now has a staff. We also recently attended two new "Drop Down" bollard on the slipway, events with the publicity stand; Newark & two new picnic tables and a new fence.

Notts Show at the old airfield near This was carried out by a party of some Newark and the Belvoir Steam Fair at eight volunteers from the IWA and GCRS Belvoir Castle. Both these events were and made possible by the donation of plagued by the most unpleasant weather Page 19

which did nothing for the attendance figures and the order of the day was "bring your wellys".

Can I please ask all who have web access to log on to www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk and then link to "The future of Holme Pierrepont Water Sports Centre" under "we want your views". Voting for "A" seems to be our best bet but please make sure that you fill up the comments box. We want a link from the river into the Grantham Canal.

Written views tend to make a better impact so please put pen to paper and write to Cllr. Chris Baron, Member for Culture at the County Hall, Trent Bridge, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7QP. Good news at last regarding the Trent Basin Development. We attended a meeting on Tuesday May 23rd at British Waterways and although this was a very preliminary discussion, the developers

seem to want our views and we have put forward all the demands that we could think of; let's see what happens. The total work is expected to take as long as ten years.

Health & Safety has at last won the day at the Nottingham Riverside Festival and the decorated / illuminated competition will this year be static. After last years collision by a boat without lights who did not "book in" and apparently knew that he had a cable problem with his steering, neither myself nor the City Council felt that we could any longer be the "Named Person" required to appear in court before the Health and Safety Executive should there be an accident.

Don't forget that we need your support at all the events and socials.

Without you these are non-events.

PROPOSED STAINFORTH MARINA DEVELOPMENT With the decline of the coal industry in Yorkshire many areas have suffered a marked reduction in employment. It is good to hear recently that there is a proposal to develop a marina, restaurants, bars, shops, residential buildings and a community building promoting educational projects at Stainforth on the Stainforth and Keadby Canal.

The company Waystone, who have carried out several developments in the Yorkshire area, including Glasshoughton and Barlborough, are going into partnership with Stainforth Town Council and Stainforth Waterside Regeneration Group for the 25 million pound scheme. An application for funding has been submitted to the National Lottery Living Landmarks Fund. If this application is granted Waystone will provide match funding and manage the project. The community centre, to be located at the entrance to the development site, will be called The Masts giving a focus to the whole site.

It is hoped that the project would provide many jobs locally in an employment black spot. The marina will supply much needed off-line moorings on the canal. The project will be built on a brownfield site and as such will be re-using redundant industrial land. Malcolm Fielding Page 20

News from the Lincolnshire Branch From Dave Carnell With the onset of Spring comes a number of waterway activities. The students at Lincoln University have carried out a litter pick around Brayford Pool, both on land and water. Fourteen students from the Canoe and Kayak Club plus five other volunteers took part. Items recovered includud drug users' needles, traffic cones, plastic barrels, road works signs and 19 bags of paper, plastic wrappers and bottles. The exercise received good coverage from the local press and TV stations, making the point that young people do care about their environment. Due to the success of the day a similar event is planned for September. See the pictures of the team around this issue of Aegre.

As part of British Waterways` national towpath tidy, staff members and volunteers recovered 25 bags of assorted rubbish, timber and a metal railway line chair (support) from the banks and waters edge along the Fossdyke. These informal events allow the opportunity for volunteer groups to meet various BW staff members who otherwise are names on e-mails or voices at the end of a telephone.

River Ancholme The long planned slipway for small trailable boats at Brandy Wharf near Waddington is now completed. This project, funded by the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership and private investment from the family-run leisure park, also provides a kids' play area, bike hire, moorings, toilet/shower and laundry facilities. At Brigg the local rowing club and canoe clubs have arranged activities over the summer period. Due to low rainfall over the winter there has been insufficient water to flush a silt build-up through the lock into the River Humber. Unless the Environment Agency can remove this it is likely to affect larger craft wishing to enter the river.

To help fund navigation facilities the EA are proposing to increase navigation fees by 14% per year for three years. This it is hoped would attract extra funding from Defra to further improve facilities and remove a backlog of work. The Anglian Region Navigation Group have NOT approved these proposals, being concerned at the relative lack of facilities available compared with the Thames and considering that the Hire Boat Industry

Page 21

would be decimated unless their multiplier is abolished.

receive a highly commended plaque to be displayed in the centre. Over the late May Bank Holiday weekend a boaters' Louth Navigation Trust. The Trust's gathering was held at South Kyme objections, along with others, to a village. The IWA narrowboat Jubilee was proposed windfarm on the coast have there and open to visitors, prior to been over-ruled by the government. There crossing the Wash, for the Rivers are new walk leaflets available from the Welland and Glen.

Trust, see address on the inside back Work parties continue on the second cover. These are called: ”Reservoir Sunday of the month and have been Rover”, “Two Sea Forts and a Canal” and repairing the lower wing wall of the listed “To the Sea with LNT”. They have also Cogglesford Mill Lock in Sleaford. published a new book on the historyof the Having received an award to raise the navigation - reviewed on page 24. profile of the Trust, a new trailer, gazebos Following a request from a local College and display boards have been purchased. of Technology, 14 students and two teachers spent a day studying the history Grantham Canal Restoration Society and walking to Alvingham village.This continues to hold work parties in addition was part of their community project and to hosting Waterway Recovery Group was followed by a question and answer Canal Camps. The full details are given in session.

Nancy Johnson's report on page 19. A further walks leaflet, Denton village to HATCH: Horncastle and Tattershall Denton Reservoir, is available from / Coningsby Heritage. A funding seminar Lincoln Conservation Services on 01522 was attended to pin-point bodies that may 782020. fund other studies required for the restoration works. An enquiry to provide Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership. material for a dissertation is also being In addition to the Brandy Wharf slipway followed. Another local school, Queen being completed there has been an official Elizabeth's, worked with the County opening to new amenities at Saxilby, on Council access promotion officer Debbie the Fossdyke. On a blustery and showery Braund to research the route, history and afternoon over 50 villagers supported by wild life of a 2 mile walk alongside the invited guests from the local authorities Horncastle canal. The route starts at the turned out to hear BW Area Manager town's swimming pool, goes to the top Caroline Killeavy welcome everyone. lock, then returns along the water Conducted tours were given by members meadow and wood on the other bank. of the Local History Group explaining the Copies of this and other walks can be origins of place names and the obtained from Lincoln Conservation importance of the waterway history of the Services on 01522 782070. village.

Sleaford Navigation Trust. Having Another completed project is the entered the restored Navigation House Fiskerton Fen bird hide and nature visitor centre in the Waterways reserve. This is accessible by the Lincoln Renaissance Awards we were pleased to to Fiskerton village road and by water Page 22

where a new mooring is in place on the River Witham.

The work of the LWP was also recognised in the Waterway Renaissance Awards by winning the partnership category. There was also a commended award to Lincoln office of EA for the production of a water safety CD, ”Don`t Go In The Water”. Well done all of them.

Our picture below shows the presentation to Mary Powell. If you meet this lady around the waterways, greet her and say thank you for the sterling work.

the report we have commented on the proposals. Many are detrimental to providing the valuable open water space presently there for the citizens, and would fail to attract waterborne visitors to the city.

A planning application for two blocks of 9 storey high apartments on the Marina site in the pool has also been objected to, on the bases of the tunnel effect created for the waterway and the loss of over 100 parking spaces, loss of boat maintenance area and slipway facilities.

Brayford Pool. Still no firm decision on the management of the Pool, although we understand the City Council officials are in favour of a partnership of the university, the council and the Trust.

Local press reports indicate an £8 million scheme over a number of years is required. Having seen only appendices of

Brayford Waterfront Festival is now being organised by the Business Improvement Group of Lincoln. The event is to take place on July 22nd and 23rd comprising a boaters' rally, historical maritime enactment, model battleships, boating displays, a continental market and many other attractions.

Mary Powell of Lincoln Waterways Partnership is presented with the award by Mr Chris Bennet of sponsors Morrison Construction and Mr John Craven, VP of the Waterways Trust.

Page 23

New Publications Reviewed Chesterfield Canal 2006-7, by Christine Richardson and John Lower.

What do you want from a canal guide book? Certainly all the basic information such as “Can I get my boat in, wind, and get out again?”; “Where can I get supplies or a good pub lunch?”; “Are there pleasant walks and good scenery?” and so on. As well as these basic needs there are practical issues like the book being easy to handle and sitting open when you need to look at it with the other hand on the tiller. If it is possible to combine all these needs with a pleasant and imaginative use of high quality colour reproduction and put in background information such as historical notes and access information for walkers, then an almost ideal result is possible.

This new publication hits the target in all these areas, and looks professional even to the extent of being registered with Whitaker's for an ISBN number – not often done for this kind of publication.. My previous information about the canal had come from Derek Bowskill's 1986 book “Northeast Waterways”, and it was interesting to compare both the factual basis – he found the head of navigation at Morse Lock – and his rather broad brush approach, with much space given to the friendliness of the services at West Stockwith; no doubt true then and now, but academic if your boat draws a foot too much. Comparison with an old guide recalls the inevitable change affecting any guide or pilot book, and here the present authors offer a service of updates either via their web site or sent in response to a stamped addressed envelope. All at a very reasonable price, excellent value and quality. PH. Published by Richlow, PO Box 3994, Sheffield S25 9AZ. ISBN 0-9552609-0-6.

Price £4.50 including postage or £5.00 with optional plastic cover.

Http://www.richlow.co.uk.

People and Boats: a history of the Louth Canal, by S.M.Sizer and J. Clark We all get a bit depressed sometimes by the paper-work and delays associated with restoration and similar work on canals, associating it with the bureaucracy of the 20th and 21st centuries. Here we have a very well-researched and fascinating book showing, amongst many other details, that things have not changed much since the 1750s. If it had not been for the paperwork, the Louth Navigation might have been in place before Sankey Brook (St. Helens Canal) or Brindley’s Bridgewater, as the engineer’s report and willing subscribers were in place by 1757.

Page 24

This is a well produced book in A4 format, soft covers and over 100 pages, with excellent quality illustrations in both monochrome and colour. The material covers everything from the initial survey and building costs; the owners of the land; and construction techniques through to the familiar decline in traffic and the final, real disaster when a river flood in 1920 destroyed much of the town and the Riverhead dock installations. One particular feature of this navigation is the shape of the top six locks, made like parts of barrels to resist the pressure from the marshy surrounding land. This technique is thought to be unique in this country, and comparable to that used in Riquet's Canal du Midi. A very well presented volume, where a few typographical problems do not detract from the interest and readability of the content. We look forward to a second edition, hopefully with more descriptions of the continuing work to raise bridges, restore locks, and bring back boats to the waters. PH. Published by Louth Navigation Trust, Riverhead Warehouse, Riverhead Road, Louth LN11 0DA. ISBN 0-9536451-1-8. Price ÂŁ8.75; ÂŁ10.75 including UK postage and packing. Http://www.louthcanal.org.uk Journals received.

We have received copies of these journals from our colleagues in the various societies, partnerships, and trusts. Many thanks to all concerned. Anyone wishing to subscribe to any of these could contact the appropriate address, given on page 31.

The Cuckoo, from Chesterfield Canal Trust. The Packet, from Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society. The Portal, from the Friends of the Cromford Canal. Grantham Canal News, from the Grantham Canal Partnership. LWP newsletter from Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership.

Lost and Found.

Found in Castle Lock, Nottingham: a planed teak post about 2 feet long by 5 inches wide, with a rounded top and an etched stainless steel cross with the inscription "John's Peg RIP". Any claimants ask John Baylis.

Page 25

Harrington Bridge over the Trent Harrington Bridge, over the Trent just south of Sawley, has recently been the target of major engineering works to bring it up to current standards. Like most major river crossings, it has a fascinating history. For hundreds of years travellers between Nottingham and Birmingham followed a route through Long Eaton, Castle Donington, Ashby and Tamworth. The crossing with the main route between Leicester and Derby became known as Sawley Cross Roads, even though it was on the other side of the River Trent from Sawley village. An early vital link was a ford or ferry between Sawley and the Sawley Cross Roads, recorded in 1493 with a ferry charge of one penny.

Following the opening of Brindley's Grand Junction Canal, now called the Trent & Mersey Canal, low waters in the River Trent between Shardlow and Nottingham became a major problem. In 1783 William Jessop was employed to survey the river and as a result Sawley Cut was made in 1793 and Cranfleet Cut in 1797. On the Sawley Cut, as well as the main Sawley Lock, Sawley Flood Lock was built with a bridge over the navigation channel. The masonry bridge over the river weir channel known as Harrington Bridge had been built between 1786 and 1790 with "six arches of stone, about fifteen feet wide and 100 yards long with approaches, and a toll house" at a cost of about ÂŁ20,000. Tolls were payable by all except the Lord of the Manor and the inhabitants of Sawley and Hemington (oddly not Lockington). Probably the inn had been named for William Stanhope of Elvaston, first Earl Harrington, and the bridge followed. It is not at all unusual for there to be an inn by a ford or ferry crossing, for travellers to wait.

The ancient masonry bridge was swept away in serious floods in 1905. A two span steel girder bridge was built to replace it in 1906, retaining the original stone approach arches. This is one of the main road bridges over the River Trent but few have seen it from a boat as it is over the weir stream section. However, many boaters have crossed the bridge as it is just before (or after if you are going the other way) Sawley Bridge Marina. Many will recognise it as "that bridge by the Harrington Arms on the edge of Old Sawley village". The whole route from Nottingham to Birmingham was called the A453 in the road numbering exercise between the wars, but this section has since been re-numbered B6540.

Various maintenance works have been carried out on the structure over time, including most recently repairs to the parapet in 1978 and waterproofing of the deck and repainting in 1988. However inspections in 2003 showed serious deterioration of the paintwork and corrosion of the parapets and outer girders, as well as seizure of the bridge sliding bearings at each end - these are essential in any large structure to allow for expansion and contraction with temperature change. The rain-water discharge from the road gulleys was falling on to the beams, and salt from road gritting was not helping the corrosion problem. To give an idea of the scope of the work, the bridge has Page 26

two spans each of which consists of four riveted iron deep-section beams 29.3m long.

The bearing surfaces are clearly visible on the stone land abutments, and additonal steelwork has been added at the bearing ends. The width is 8.53m to the inside surfaces of the parapets. The central pier is two steel caissons connected by a cross girder and is founded on the bedrock.

Major repairs were planned by Derbyshire County Council at a cost of ÂŁ558,000.

The planned work included removing the parapets and replacing them; much steelwork replacement; new PTFE sliding bearings at each end and new asphaltic plug expansion joints above them; removal of an 11kV electricity cable from the side of the bridge to a duct within the road surface; and complete re-painting and resurfacing. The work was done by Norwest Holst Construction between July and November 2004, and involved jacking up the structure to allow the replacement of the bearings, and considerable efforts to maintain traffic flow whilst ensuring safety. The new finish to the bridge shows a handsome piece of civil engineering, which should continue to carry heavy traffic in the years to come.

Acknowledgments This article has been compiled using information from the Structures Section of Derbyshire County Council, Richard Albery, and John Baylis, to all of whom our grateful thanks. Any errors of interpretation remain the responsibility of the Editor.

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Nancy's Nostalgia 11 (As Nancy is at such a tender age, anything previous to 1983 is narrated by her Granny)

Report from Shardlow - 1958 On the main A6 road, between Loughborough and Derby, where the road crosses over the Trent and Mersey Canal, lies the village of Shardlow. When driving over the Trent Bridge with the Wilden Ferry below, few people realise the importance of the canal port hidden from view.

General merchandise from the Humber Ports comes up the Trent to Nottingham, where it is transhipped to smaller craft of 40 tons capacity for onward conveyance to Shardlow. The warehouse in Shardlow can accommodate some 2500 tons of merchandise and is used as the main distribution point by British Waterways' lorries, mainly south of the Trent.

With the help of a 10 cwt electric hoist and a one ton electric truck, up to ten thousand tons of merchandise is handled every year. The staff at present consists of Superintendent F G Tracey; hoistman and senior warehouseman A Chambers; and warehouseman T Gallagher who all live in nearby houses. They are also helped by staff from the Nottingham Depot as required.

In January of that year comment was passed regarding the amount of foam that was being observed at Gunthorpe weir. The Nottingham housewives were blamed for using too much detergent in their washing machines. A photograph was published showing the tug "Little John" enveloped in soap suds whipped up by the water passing over the weir. (Information gleaned from various publications around 1958)

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, Many thanks for publishing my letter seeking volunteers to help run the St John Ambulance passenger boat Newark Crusader this summer. We had an excellent response from readers of Aegre, enabling us to find just the people we were seeking.

We have been fortunate in finding a second skipper who has the right combination of qualifications and experience which we need to operate our boat. Many of our passengers have disabilities which would make them particularly vulnerable in the case of marine accidents and we were thus very pleased to be put in touch with such experienced and capable boaters.We are making our twice daily trips from Farndon, near Newark, from May until mid-September. Aegre readers mooring up nearby will be most welcome to drop on board and `make their number`.

Best wishes, Peter Adams Page 28

THORNE SWING BRIDGE 2 Following up our report in the November 2005 issue of Aegre, after some initial teething problems with the software and the hydraulics the bridge now seems to be working satisfactorily . Boaters were having regular problems and were having even more when trying to report breakdowns via BW's emergency phone number. It seems that the West Midlands Ambulance Service, who operate the emergency answering service on behalf of BW, did not know of the bridge’s existence. At the last User Group Meeting this anomaly was highlighted and it was agreed that BW should inform the Ambulance Service about the bridge and tell them who to contact in case of breakdown.

The official naming and opening ceremony took place on Wednesday October 12th 2005 and was conducted by Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.

The bridge was named “Princess Bridge”. Malcolm Fielding

Mikron Theatre Company The Mikron Theatre Company are well known for touring with exciting shows in their narrow boat Tyseley. This year they are bringing two shows, a play about "Mrs Brunel", wife to the famous engineer Isambard, and "Carrying On", about building the future at a Northwich shipyard. Their tour will come to our area later in the year, and their booked dates at the moment are listed below. For more general information contact their base at 01484 843701 or check www.mikron.org.uk. For bookings please call the phone number shown for the venue.

GRANTHAM Thu 17th August 7.30pm "Mrs Brunel" at the Black Horse, Bolton Lane, Hose, near Melton Mowbray. Tel: 01949 860336.

RIVER SOAR Fri 18th August 8pm "Mrs Brunel" at the Swan in the Rushes, The Rushes, Loughborough. Tel: 01509 217014.

TRENT & MERSEY Sat 19th August 7.30pm "Carrying On" at the Clock Warehouse, London Wharf, Shardlow. Tel: 01332 792844.

Mon 21st August 8pm "Mrs Brunel" at the Victoria Hotel, Dovecote Lane, Beeston, Nottingham. Tel: 0115 9254049.

Tue 22nd August 8pm "Carrying On" at the Victoria Hotel again.

GRANTHAM Wed 23rd August 7.30pm "Carrying On" at the Black Horse, Bolton Lane, Hose, near Melton Mowbray. Tel: 01949 860336.

RIVER SOAR Fri 25th August 8pm "Carrying On" at the Swan in the Rushes, The Rushes, Loughborough. Tel: 01509 217014.

RIVER TRENT Sat 26th August 7.30pm "Mrs Brunel" at the Bromley Arms, Fiskerton, near Newark. Tel: 01636 830789.

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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 9 r F u n

Down

1

Wey and ? Junction Canal. 4

1

Stratford's river. 4

3

Passed by Parliament to enable canals to be built. 4 Old name for ditch or moat; shortened, it's a river in York. 5

2 4

This canal runs for 45 miles in Northern Ireland. 6 Boat or bird on the Chesterfield Canal. 6

It colours the water around Harecastle Tunnel. 5 Pumping Station on the Cromford Canal. 7

5

Another word for being agile and alert. 4

8

Some boaters keep one when cruising. 7

14

A good ? is always welcome. 4

9

15

Old tool used in the US in wooden boat building. 3 Ropes used to be made from this. 4 This is used in a submarine, not in a canal boat. 7

6 7 10

16 19

First lock built by Brindley on the S&W Canal.

7 11 A heron is classed as one of these. 5 12 See 22 across. 3 and 5 13 Chester's river. 3

22

Peak Forest Canal sweet smell location. 3 & 5. See also 12 down.

17 You will often meet one on the bankside. 6

23

Canal boat or a violent push. 5

18 These can happen when you least want them. 6

24

? Of Thanet's canal. 4

25

? Of Dogs canal, now part of SW India Docks. 4

20 Leeds' own river. 4 21 Old word for fever. 4

Page 30

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 Melton & Oakham Waterways Society Old Union Canals Society Sleaford Navigation Trust Trent and Mersey Canal Society

Milton View, 39 Hill St., Elsecar, Barnsley S74 8EN Tel: 01226 287571. www.bddct.org.uk Keith Ayling, 16 Pinchfield Lane, Wickersley, Rotherham S66 1FD Tel: 01709 700223 www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk C/o Jeffery Jones Partnership, 43 St Peter’s Churchyard, Derby DE1 1NN Tel: 01332 576037 Lesley Reaney, 318 Osmaston Park Road, Allenton, Derby DE24 8FB Tel: 01332 601699 www.derbycanal.org.uk 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 www.fipt.org.uk Mike Kelley, 50 Beech Avenue, Alfreton, Derby DE55 7EW Tel: 01773 833425 www.cromfordcanal.org.uk Chris Tizzard, Tel: 0115 953 1153 www.granthamcanal.com John Stanbridge, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 610539 www.louthcanal.org.uk Richard Booth, Sysonby Knoll, Ashfordby Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0AH Tel: 01664 563563 http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp?

WCI=SiteHome&ID=6595 36 The Ridings, Desborough, Kettering NN14 2LP Tel: 07010 705103. www.fipt.org.uk/Local.htm Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460 www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk 1 Pinfold Cottages, Back Lane, Little Haywood, Stafford ST 18 0UL. Tel: 01889 882770 www.trentandmersey.btinternet.co.uk

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

Strawberry Island Boat Club, Milethorn Lane, off Wheatley Hall Rd., Doncaster. For information call Mavis on 0114 268 3927

Oct. 11th

Social, Wednesday, 8 pm.

Dec. 6th

Christmas social with pie & peas. Please call Mavis (above) to book pie & peas.

Leicestershire Branch

Usual Venue

Oadby Tennis Club, close to Leicester Racecourse.

For details call Beryl on 07710 029247

Oct. 12th

7.30 p.m. Details to be announced.

Nov. 9th

7.30 p.m. Details to be announced.

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch

Usual Venue: Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford at 7.45 p.m. For details call 0115 989 9612 Aug. 5/6th

Nottingham Riverside Festival, Victoria Embankment.

Sept. 15th

The canals of Sweden and France,

by David Stevenson.

Oct. 7/8th

Goose Fair Gander. Boat gathering on the Nottingham Canal, near Sainsbury’s.

Oct. 20th

Role of a BW Patrol Officer, by Steve Cropper.

Nov. 17th

Mountains, Lochs, and Glens, by Stuart Bramwell.

Dec. 15th

Work on the Erewash and Cromford canals, by Mick Golds; followed by the Christmas Social and Buffet.

Lincolnshire Branch

July 22/23rd

Brayford Waterfront Festival, Lincoln Page 32