Aegre November 2006

AEGRE November 2006

N o . 11 5

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

Editor for Aegre:

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

Collation & despatch

N&D Branch Members.

Printing

This is the web version

Picture credits:

See page 12. Cover picture: NB Jubilee and Boston Stump.

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 November 2006

Contents

No. 115

Page 2 4 5 7 9 10 12

Colophon The editor’s Bow Button Round the Region with the Chairman Long Horse Bridge Obituary notice News from Leicestershire Branch Exxon Mobil funding

12

Picture Credits

13 13 14 15 15 16

News from South Yorkshire and the Dukeries Three men in a boat Restoration and Improvement at Foxton High Marnham Bridge Letter to the Editor Notice of Annual General Meetings

16

Answers to the fun crossword 9

17 20 23 25 28 30 31 32

News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branch News from Lincolnshire Branch New publications reviewed Harrington Bridge over the Trent: more views Bridge piers Crossword - just for fun 10 Canal Societies and Trusts in the Region Regional Diary Dates

Next issue to be published in early March 2007. Contributions to the editor by the end of January 2007 please.

The space on the right is for local contact information.

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The Editor’s Bow Button Welcome to the November issue of Aegre, and I hope everyone had a good season, when there was indeed some good weather - even too hot sometimes - and successful boating and trips. It may seem strange to start with what is basically "no news", but one area where I was expecting lots of reports of trouble on our waterways was with that simplest component water. Where we live the months varied dramatically, with June having very low rainfall; most months having a low to middle figure; and only May, August and September being near normal.

And yet there have been no reports of serious hold-ups in the various waterways in our region. Presumably everyone has been careful / thoughtful in lock usage, so thank you to all those thoughtful people.

A main concern during the summer, which has been well ventilated in all kinds of journals including the national press, has been the financial situation affecting DEFRA and the consequential effects possible on British Waterways and Environment Agency. I will not enlarge on it here, except to endorse the need for as much personal action as possible. It is all very well to have your representatives argue the case, and they do it well, but I have heard an MP say that one independent letter of protest equals 3000 votes. So take heart, each one of you has 2999 supporters.

At the end of last year we said a sad farewell to David Pickup, who was off to "furrin parts" in his boat. He has been in touch again, having had a successful trip, and I hope to feature an article by him in the next Aegre. Some of his comments, when read in conjunction with John Baylis' article in the last February issue on the Cruquius pumping station near Haarlem, suggested to me that it might be interesting to have a short piece in each Aegre about places outside our locality not necessarily abroad - which are worth a visit if you are in the area. This last season we walked, and fought brambles and mud, to see what remained of the Chard canal, and although I dared not enter the portal (of course I always observe health and safety precautions) the tunnel above Wrantage looked quite navigable by something of canoe-type dimensions. The rather remote site was enhanced by an informative plaque provided by EA. We speculated a bit about how they could have got it there. So there is an invitation to all readers to send in something - it need not be long - about interesting places related to waterways that you may have visited recently.

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You will certainly have heard by now that the 2007 Trail-boat Rally is planned for May 26th to 28th 2007 on the Grantham canal, at the eastern end near Woolsthorpe. Several of our contributors this time have mentioned preparation work, but I hope to devote a good part of our next Aegre to the event, support needed, and also to trailable boats in general. This is something which many of us have never tried, but perhaps felt a bit of envy at the chance to set off into the wide unknown, boat safely attached behind, to explore waters otherwise unreachable. I have already had valuable input from the Wilderness Boat Club, Wilderness Boats themselves, based in Wiltshire, Sea Otter Boats based in Staveley, and the National Trailer and Towing Association. If any reader has direct experience, whether of suitable boats or suitable towing vehicles, do scribble a few words for the next issue.

A couple of people have suggested that some members may have difficulty reading this magazine, and I know that one or two others such as "Cuckoo" offer a large print version or an audio tape. If anyone would be ready to help in the preparation of something like this, please let me know.

Best wishes, Peter

Round the Region with the Chairman I am sure that most of you are aware that both British Waterways and the Environment Agency are threatened by a cut in Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA’s) Grant in Aid (GIA) of around 15%. This is in order to finance DEFRA’s fine from the European Union for not making agricultural payments in time. It is most unfair penalizing other national institutions for DEFRA’s incompetence. BW and the EA are working out how the loss of GIA will reflect on their services and presumably manpower. In the East Midlands BW manpower is much less than the average of other waterway units, and I hope that services will not be too severely affected. However, restoration will be curtailed and there is the threat of the closure of less well used or expensive navigations.

BW have indicated that the licence rise for 2007 will be kept at 2.7% but that in years 2008-11 they will be looking at 10% plus. The EA are already looking at licence increases in excess of 10%. The IWA is looking at a campaign cruise outside the Houses of Parliament after the London Boat Show and this will be coupled with lobbying in Parliament on the day. I understand that there may be a similar cruise in Birmingham but so far we have no details. It would seem that many MPs are not fully aware of the local implications of the reductions of GIA funding to BW and EA and letters to your local MP would be welcome.

It is now thirty years since the last major IWA reorganisation when the present regions and branches were formed and, early in the year, Council Page 5

authorised a professional report on the present structure. I recall a late night meeting in Sheffield when we decided that for logistic reasons it would be better to split the Midlands Region into East and West to keep travelling down to smaller areas that more closely covered the boating areas of the members. Since then our only local change has been the formation of Leicestershire Branch from the old Nottingham, Leicester & Derby Branch, however splitting some of the larger regions has formed three new regions. Some straightforward changes have already been carried out, and at the National AGM the Branches and Regions were asked for their comments on other recommendations. This is still open to comment, so talk to your Branch officers.

Over the past few months I have cruised some of the southern canals and seen that the “Veg Pledge” given by Robin Evans, the BW Chief Executive, to cut the towing path down to the water's edge at least once a year has failed, particularly in some areas where saplings now have 5 or 10 years' growth. I know that some of you have complained about other areas in the region, but we must keep pressing BW to make mooring easier and in many areas make mooring possible. I was pleased to see that the Trent & Mersey Canal is now making good progress after being held up by late delivery of their small tractors. With BW’s funds being reduced, I can see that this is one area where cuts (if you will pardon the pun) can be made, but I have always contended that if the towing path is levelled and kept trimmed it will be much easier and cheaper to maintain. Vince Moran, who is BW’s new operations director as well as personnel director, spoke to some users early in October and I think that he has a lot to learn about the problems we have been putting up with for too long.

I have recently returned from one of Sheila Smith’s coach trips for boaters and friends and this year we went to the Rhine Valley, near the Lorelei in Germany.

The size and number of boats was amazing, with sometimes as many 10 boats between 1250 and 5000 tonnes in view on one section. Not all were trade, as there is a thriving traffic of 350 foot long passenger and hotel boats and next time I think this must be the way to see a longer section of the river. What was also surprising was to have main line railway along both sides of the river with heavy freight trains amongst the very regular local and express passenger services. It seemed to me that Railtrack could increase the UK freight traffic if they studied Germany’s example. The evenings of the visit highlighted the fact that the nights are pulling in, the days getting colder and winter fast approaching, so I take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry Christmas and Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you out and about next year.

John Baylis Page 6

Long Horse Bridge In 2002 IWA East Midlands tried to get Long Horse Bridge, at Derwentmouth near Shardlow, listed as an historic structure following its closure by British Waterways. This failed and in 2003 BW demolished the bridge at very short notice. Since January this year John Cooke has been trying to get consultation reopened on the replacement of the bridge as he feels the village and boaters were left out of the vital stages of the discussion.

John continues the story: In July 2005 Derbyshire County Council approved plans drawn up by BW as a result of DCC and BW discussions. The plans relocate the bridge over the Trent Navigation 140 metres upstream of Derwentmouth junction, so making it impossible to tow a boat between the Trent & Mersey Canal and the Trent to or from Sawley. The visual impact of this heritage feature would be lost. In December 2005 it was revealed that sale of land required for the new bridge had not been agreed and that compulsory purchase was required which would take months. This prompted me to try and get the plans reconsidered, as it was felt that the consultation process had so far failed to seek or take into account the views of villagers or waterway users.

After taking the matter of consultation through the BW complaints procedure and the BW Ombudsman with no satisfactory outcome, I also wrote to Mark Todd, our local MP, and the waterway press. Following many letters objecting to the current proposal, BW held an informal discussion on September 21st with three of the user group representatives and myself. Unfortunately there was no change to BW's stance, and they believed that they had consulted adequately.

BW believe that the minimum width of bridge to meet DCC’s requirements of a bridle path for horses is 3.5 metres and the costs presented were: • £1,071,000 for a 2 metre wide bridge on the original site, with no contribution from DCC • £1,310,000 for a 3.9 metre wide bridge on the original site, with £280k contribution from DCC • £881,000 for a 3.9 metre wide bridge on the new site, with £280k contribution from DCC

The cost to BW therefore could be £1,071,000 or £1,030,000 or £601,000. It is the general view that there is no requirement by the users for such a wide bridge, particularly as the horse path could be by a different route, and that DCC should support a 2 metre bridge at the original site. This could reduce BW’s exposure to £791,000. The County Council's contribution of £280k is solely from grants that DCC have obtained plus £15k from Leicestershire CC, although DCC will take over future ownership and maintenance of the bridge from BW. However, the Ombudsman had referred to an internal BW report in mid-2004 quoting £780,000 for a 2.0 metre wide bridge.

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BW's position is that there are currently insufficient funds available to build the bridge on the original site, and it is their view that the heritage and functional issues that drive the campaign for a bridge on the original site do not justify transfer of BW funds currently allocated to other projects. They say they can only support the £601k contribution. BW suggested that they could be forced to spend more, but that would then impact on a list of projects that was shown to the user representatives. There was some acknowledgement from the IWA that such a trade off would not be in the best interests of the region's waterways – but there may be an alternative, discussed below.

If the current proposal goes ahead it will be considered by many users and local people as a great disappointment. People want a bridge at the original location. They do not want a 3.9 metre wide bridge carriageway because of potential misuse, noting that we have enough problems already with unauthorised motorcycle and vehicle use off-road, as well as itinerants. The Warren Lane part of the Mid Shires Way (running from Kegworth to Sawley Marina) is used by all types of user and is a public road. Yet for a length far longer than the proposed bridge, it is only 3 metres wide bounded by hedge and ditch. BW said that 3.9 metres width is required by legislation to accommodate the Mid Shires Way bridleway, but DCC minutes of September 2000 suggested that full bridleway status on the bridge is not essential - just the ability to lead horses over the bridge.

There may be a viable alternative by providing another route for horses. The County Council could work to upgrade the footpath on the Leicestershire side of the river between Longhorse Bridge and Cavendish Bridge to a bridleway, for pedestrians and horses only (no surfacing required). Horses could then cross the river at Cavendish Bridge. All other users could use a 2.0 metre wide Longhorse Bridge at the original location. If the costs could be held at the mid-2004 level of £780k, and the DCC contribution of £280k held for this multi-user solution, then there would be a cost to BW of £500k plus £60k commuted maintenance within the existing budget.

We urgently need some dialogue with BW and DCC to work out a solution such as the above. At the Shardlow Parish Council meeting on October 4th there was great concern at the lack of consultation, and wide opposition to the BW/DCC proposals. It was resolved that the Parish Council should ask DCC for a meeting of all parties to examine the funding of a 2 metre wide bridge at the original site.

There is more information on the Shardlow Heritage web site, http://homepages.which.net/~shardlow.heritage/index.htm John Cooke

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OBITUARY - John R Marshall I am sorry to report the death of John Marshall in July at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness. John Marshall gained a doctorate in organic chemistry at Oxford University and in 1949 joined the Boots Pure Drug Company Research Department with a number of other chemists as part of an enlargement following the Second World War. When I joined Boots in 1958 John was well established making agricultural fungicides and insecticides for trials at the Boots Lenton Research Station.

At that time John and two other chemists jointly owned a large river cruiser Tringa that they moored at Meadow Lane, Nottingham where the sanitary station is now located. One of the other owners was somewhat mean, and stories of muddled maintenance and cruises across the Wash to the Great Ouse were very amusing. At that time John was a bachelor and keen to support his technical assistants, although he found it difficult to understand the language and tactics of some of the lads from Ilkeston.

Perhaps through me John became interested in canals and became secretary of the Grantham Canal Restoration Society, a post he held I think for over 25 years. In the 1970s John received a bequest that he had to spend on charitable purposes and his first purchase was an old JCB3 excavator, followed a few years later by a Ruston Bucyrus 3RB excavator. Although these were bought for the Waterway Recovery Group and intended for the Grantham Canal, they never actually worked there and were based at Langley Mill. The JCB has long since gone, but the 3RB dredged out the Fellows Morton & Clayton arm in Nottingham, installed a concrete culvert on the Nottingham Canal at Trowell and excavated John Cooke’s mooring basin in Shardlow.

The 3RB has been repaired several times and had a major re-fit about three years ago. It has worked continuously with the Erewash Canal Preservation & Development Association, largely on the extensions of the Cromford Canal north from Langley Mill. John’s main claim to fame on the Grantham Canal was getting permissions to remove the railway embankment at Woolsthorpe, which led to the replacement of Casthorpe Bridge. However the 3RB was not deemed suitable to do the work intended. John married late in life, retired early from Boots and then set up two nursing homes. We offer our sympathy to his wife Sylvia, his children and grandchildren.

John Baylis Page 9

News from Leicestershire Branch From Carol McDonald In the last edition we hoped for good weather for our Festival on the weekend after Crick Show. That was almost a washout, but in Leicester we had wall to wall hot sunshine and the crowds flocked to the two days of events that had been arranged for them.

There were three trip boats plying their trade and they were busy all the time on both days.

The bright evening meant we could have a leisurely ‘Hot Picnic’ (BBQ to others), not having to dash off to get the illuminated boat procession organized.

This year there was an interesting display of decorated boats, with several reflecting the IWA diamond jubilee.

Voting was undertaken by members of the public, who fell in love with the clever Wind in the Willows decoration made by our Secretary & Waldy. They walked off with the top prize, but all the efforts were greatly appreciated by boaters and visitors.

Having such a cracking success with the June date, the same weekend is booked for June 2nd and 3rd 2007. The city council obviously loved having such a popular event and we are optimistic of continued support in setting this up. When stall holders have had a successful event, they are more likely to book again. We would love to see you filling the mile straight.

Things have happened at Foxton, not all as planned. We were advised by

one of our members that they had been stuck waiting to go up the flight, on about the hottest day of the summer, by a lock gate being displaced. The damage had been done by one of British Waterway’s contractor's boats. BW tried to arrange a crew to sort it but they got stuck on the motorway. Fortunately the contractors borrowed one or two bits from Tony Matts of Foxton Boat Services. They put things to rights and then got things working and queuing boats cleared.

We have an fuller update on works at Foxton from James Clifton on page 14, but just to summarise; the bottom basin has been stanked off again, and this time the bottom arm has been dredged and repairs made to the walls.

Snazzy new footpaths are being created on both sides of the locks, no longer rolled stone surface, but now the very expensive ‘glued’ gravel surface on a concrete base. The only potential problem is that in my experience it is not terribly durable, especially as it is on a sloping surface.

I had a meeting about Memory Lane wharf in Leicester with Jerry Harrison, Development Manager for BW from Leeds, and Kim Dale of BW Newark office. It appears that over the next two years the land is going to be used as additional car parking space for the nearby college, after which plans are proposed to build some 450 low-rise flats. It is also proposed that a boaters'

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facilities block be provided. The proposed plans are going to be made available, and consultation with our branch will be on-going.

I also went with other committee members to Loughborough and met Neil Harvey of BW on July 6th. They discussed the waterspace mooring layout and facilities for the development. Neil said that BW welcomed the involvement of the IWA, and that it too will be ongoing.

footbridge just upstream of West Bridge across to Castle Gardens is at last being renovated and brought up to a standard that the council will adopt, allowing it to re-open.

The Melton & Oakham Waterways Society (MOWS) is holding its AGM at 10.30 am on Saturday November 18th at the Sysonby Knoll Hotel, Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray. After the formal business, Bob Payne will give a talk about the history of the navigation.

The dreaded floating pennywort is growing hard again on the Soar. We have expressed our major concerns to BW & the Environment Agency.

Leicester City Council are working hard to keep it out of nature areas adjoining the river. BW has apparently pledged to keep the channel clear, but this lovely late summer warm spell will be helping it to keep on growing rather than dying back.

This Society is in the early stages of getting restoration organized for this old navigation from its junction above Junction Lock on the Soar. They have got some useful partners on board but have much to do to bring reconstruction about. What they are doing is greatly improving the waterspace through Melton downstream. They have undertaken work to plant the Memorial Gardens alongside the river in Melton I mentioned in the last issue that we and to greatly improve the footpath had lost one of our Riverside Rangers in alongside the navigation. They run Leicester. There has been a major reregular boat trips along the river, though organisation in the city council and heavy weed growth has restricted these there was a degree of concern and trips of late. uncertainty over the on-going workings of the Riverside team. Latest info is that If you want to help, they have work things are looking a bit better, and there parties on November 5th and is a new ranger temporarily in place. It December 3rd, starting at 10 a.m. also seems that, perhaps somewhat Contact John Rudman 01664 562648. belatedly, the council is inserting into its planning consents a scheme for For our social programme, please payments from developers towards see the details on the back page. future works on the waterway through Carol the city. Finally in Leicester, the Page 11

EXXON MOBIL weighs in with VIP funding for the IWA Members of the Notts & Derbys branch of the IWA and the Grantham Canal Restoration Society recently spent an evening together at the Shardlow Heritage Centre, near Derby. Following a guided tour of the area and the many listed buildings, members attended a presentation of cheques to the IWA and the GCRS, through the auspices of Mike Snaith our Planning Officer. At the Heritage Centre Mike explained the details of the Exxon Mobil “Volunteers Involvement Programme“ (VIP). He then presented a cheque of £1000 to Nancy Johnson, Chair of the Notts & Derbys branch of the IWA. This cheque was then presented by Nancy to Chris Tizzard, the Chair of the GCRS, and Project Manager Colin Bryan to help with the valuable work on the Grantham Canal.

Picture Credits We are most grateful to all of the following, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance this issue of Aegre: John Lower; Keith Reedman; Peter Stone: John Baylis; Ian McDonald; Dave Carnell; Brian Dominic; Beryl McDowall; and Nancy Johnson.

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News from South Yorkshire and Dukeries Branch From Mavis Paul Hope you all had a good summer; the weather has certainly been kind to us. Once again the weather for our Barbecue held in June was very good, everyone enjoyed themselves and an added bonus was the quiz that Strawberry Island Boat Club arranged to take place after we had eaten.

The next meeting on October 11th will have been and gone by the time you read this. Peter Scott, a member from West Riding Branch, gave a talk entitled ‘My namesake, his exploits and the IWA’. I will tell you more about Peter's talk in the next issue.

We are having another canal cleanup on Sunday October 29th. We will be meeting at Tinsley Marina at 10:00 a.m. This time we will be working down the locks, not only litter picking but also cutting back shrubbery and painting out graffiti. BW will once again be supplying us with pie and peas at around 1:00 o’clock so if you get

your Aegre in time and if you intend to join us please let me know so that I can supply BW with numbers for the pies and peas. This is a very pleasant social event so do try and join us.

The meeting on December 5th will be the Christmas Social, Pie and Peas once again with a game of Boatle and hopefully a Quiz. If you wish to attend please give me a ring to book your pie and peas on the telephone number on page 2.

From January the dates for our bi-monthly social meetings will alter from the second Wednesday of the month to the third Wednesday in the month. This means that first social after Christmas will be on February 21st. The AGM will take place before the social. We are still desperately in need of both a social secretary and a sales officer. Even if you don’t fancy these jobs don’t let this stop you from applying to be on the committee. There are still places, and new faces bring along new ideas which every organisation needs. Mavis

Three Men in a Boat John Baylis and Peter Robertson induct Tony Wilkinson (centre), Chairman of the Grantham Canal Partnership, into the pleasures of narrow boating on the Chesterfield Canal in June. Tony was thrilled with the trip, the fish and the water voles and, in return, organised his usual trademark litter pick.

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Restoration and Improvement at Foxton From James Clifton - British Waterways’ Project Manager I am delighted to report that the Foxton Locks Partnership’s exciting programme of works, to improve access to and restore major elements of Foxton Locks, is in full swing with works to the Bottom Basin and path improvements well underway.

The Bottom Basin has been drained and its fish relocated, so that repair works identified during the draining last autumn can be carried out. Re-pointing of the basin walls has begun and about 200 metres of natural stone coping stones will replace missing or existing concrete copings. The central walkway, to be linked with a floating platform, is to be rebuilt. Once the Basin is re-watered, we will install a swing bridge in its original position across the Harborough Arm. This will allow villagers and others much better access on to the site, providing an alternative to the rather steep Rainbow Bridge.

Improvements to the site’s paths, especially the towpath, are on programme, although laying the top finish has been delayed because of the recent exceptionally hot weather. The paths will still have a gravel appearance but this will be ‘glueddown’ so that they will weather better.

Works on the Upper Arm are due to start in August, with huge sheet piles, as high as 1½ double decker buses, being driven into the towpath to ensure stability when the Arm is rewatered. A plastic liner, plus a protective concrete cover, will then be laid along the bed. Although this isn’t a traditional solution, English Heritage agreed with us that it is the least disruptive option for such an important historic structure, as less excavation will be required. There will be a viewing area next to the Upper Arm’s stop lock while the works are in progress, with panels giving information about the works. A series of guided tours, giving visitors the chance to see restoration in action and find out more about this exciting programme of works, was also organised.

On the domestic front, the Gumley Road car park has seen some improvements with refurbished lavatories, repaired picnic benches, new signage and cycle racks, all thanks to generous financial assistance from East Midlands Tourism. The Bottom Lock car park has also been resurfaced, with the final dressing delayed until after the summer holidays to allow the base to become well bedded-in. The area outside the Foxton Locks Inn will also be resurfaced at the same time. The new facilities building is also taking shape, with the completion of

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an attractive natural slate roof and a compound to screen the many necessary rubbish bins.

Our grateful thanks go to the Heritage Lottery Fund and Welland SubRegional Strategic Partnership, as well as East Midlands Tourism, without whose generous support this project would not have been possible. To see more about the works at Foxton including a pictorial record, please visit www.fitp.org.uk

Departure of High Marnham Bridge

When High Marnham Power Station was built in the 1960s a suspension bridge was built across the River Trent to allow workers resident in Lincolnshire to keep within the county and walk across the bridge to work rather than make a detour to Dunham Bridge and pay a toll. With the closure of the power station the bridge has been removed and a landmark on the lower river has gone. However the railway bridge remains intact.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, I was reading Aegre No.114 and was sorry to learn that Mick and Carol Golds will no longer be organising the Erewash Clean Up. They should be congratulated on achieving 37 years; it would have been nice for them to reach the big 4 0.

I know Mick and Carol personally, and they would not give up Waterway cleanups and probably restoration as well unless they knew someone was taking over that they could trust. They are probably taking a well earned rest on their boat.

Yours, B.Parsons, Ex Robin Hood Boats Page 15

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the East Midlands Region of the Inland Waterways Association and its constituent Branches will be held as follows: South Yorkshire & Dukeries Branch. At Strawberry Island Boat Club, Milethorn Lane, Doncaster on Wednesday, February 21st 2007 at 8.00 pm.

Leicestershire Branch. At the Oadby Tennis Club, Oadby, Leicester, on Thursday, February 8th 2007 at 7.15 pm.

Lincolnshire Branch. At St. Mary-le-Wigford Church Hall, Lincoln, on Monday, February 12th 2007 at 7.45 pm.

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch. At the Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, on Friday, February 16th 2007 at 7.45 pm.

East Midlands Region. At St. Mary-le-Wigford Church Hall, Lincoln, on Monday, February 12th 2007 at 8.15 pm.

AGENDAE 1. Apologies for absence 2. Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting 3. Matters arising.

4. Report of the Chairman.

5. Report of the Treasurer and presentation of accounts.

6. Statement of committee size 7. Election of Committee members.

8. Address by Member of Council.

9. Any other business.

Nominations for election to the committees must be in writing, signed by the proposer and the seconder and containing the consent of the nominee. They should reach the relevant Branch or Region Secretary not less than 14 days before that meeting. JB.

Answers to “Just for fun� crossword number 9, with thanks to Malcolm Fielding.

ACROSS: 1 Arun; 3 Acts; 6 Fosse; 7 Ochre; 10 Leawood; 14 Beer; 15 Adz; 16 Hemp; 19 Snorkel; 22 Mills; 23 Barge; 24 Earl; 25 Isle.

DOWN: 1 Avon; 2 Ulster; 4 Cuckoo; 8 Logbook; 9 Compton; 11 Wader; 12 New; 13 Dee; 17 Angler; 18 Delays; 20 Aire; 21 Ague.

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News from Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch From Nancy Johnson It must be my age but I feel the autumn coming and as usual we have not achieved half of what we planned to do.

I don’t know whether to increase the “Phyllosan” dose or take some of the traditional “God help me” like Grandma used to recommend.

Port Carlisle who had travelled all the way from Garstang Marina on the Lancaster Canal. The finale fireworks were the usual unbelievable display and were seen by some 50,000 people.

Our highlight of the summer was in August when a trip was arranged by We did however have a pretty full Sheila from the Erewash Canal Presersocial diary starting with a very sucvation & Development Association for cessful visit and guided tour of the area us to visit the 50th anniversary of the around the Port of Shardlow using the Tall Ships Race in Antwerp. The sights Heritage Museum as an assembly point. were quite spectacular, both on the river To swell the numbers on this occasion and in the harbours. There were also a we were joined by members of the few other spectacular sites on a certain Grantham Canal Restoration Society street, when we had a job getting some and took the opportunity to present a members past the shop windows. It cheque for £1000 to Colin Bryan, the proved to be a long journey back when Project Manager, and Chris Tizzard the we were diverted to the ferry, having Chairman of the G.C.R.S. to help with already waited for several hours to travtheir restoration work. See a picture and el on the Eurostar train. This was due to details on page 12. During June and Ju- a fire in the goods train tunnel. ly we also attended both the Cropwell Bishop Village Fair and the Owthorpe Country Fair with our publicity stand to spread the word. We also made a few shekels.

The annual Nottingham Riverside Festival was held over August 4th to 6th. Unfortunately Health and Safety rules had to be obeyed and the Illuminated Boat Parade was reduced to a static display; even so we still had some good efforts and the first prize was won

by Helena and Alan Oliver on n/b FireOn September 17th we were honchick dressed up as Thomas the Tank oured with a site visit to inspect the Engine. The “Highly Commended” work that British Waterways have carprize went to Mr & Mrs Marshal on n/b ried out on the Knipton Feeder. Richard Page 17

Leigh, their engineer, gave us a guided tour and was on hand to answer all the technical questions. The work has taken almost a year, and contrary to previous belief it seems that there will be adequate water for the Grantham Canal as the reservoir never seems to run low even in time of drought.

there being no news yet of the Trent connection, we still plod on. Taz Tarrant and Jo (Smudge) Smith, who got married only last week, will be leading a Waterway Recovery Group camp for a week starting October 21st. The task will be to restore the abutments on bridge 19 at Cropwell. This will be followed by the W.R.G. Bonfire Bash when some 170 volunteers will stay at St Hughes School in Grantham while they are clearing and repairing the Knipton Feeder and if time permits, installing environmentally friendly wattle fencing and making a possible assault on the overhanging trees in Harlaxton Cutting. We can also look forward to further work by BITM (the bit in the middle) group at a Christmas Scrub Bash during December,

We spent the rest of the day with Dave Carnell from our Lincolnshire Branch surveying the area around the “Dirty Duck” at Woolsthorpe in anticipation of the IWA Trail Boat Rally to be held next spring bank holiday. This event will test our work at the Denton Slipway.

The Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust, having got through the first and second stages of their bid for the Living Landmarks funding bid, were unfortunately out of the running after a two day visit by the people from the Big Lottery.

Although this was obviously a big disappointment it must have impressed the funders enough to ask Judy Flack to Colin Bryan has now retired from give a workshop presentation at the the post of work party organiser on the forthcoming Joint Conference organised Grantham Canal and will help in a less by IWA and the Heritage Lottery Fund time consuming, more consultative role. in Birmingham on November 17th. This We will certainly miss his expertise and is indeed a great privilege. local knowledge. This job will now be carried out by Leigh Hood with help After the retirement of Alan Jeffrom other GCRS members. We wish freys, Chris Madge is now the secretary them the best of luck, it’s hard work. for the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Trust.

Future work on the Grantham Canal We wish him well and all the best to is already in the diary and should add to Alan on his long planned extensive the progress already made. In spite of boating.

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British Waterways and how it will affect our canals and rivers. With the reduction being in the region of £7m it will have far reaching implications. We don’t see why our waterways should suffer and pay the price of inefficient government departments and the consequential fine from the E.U. We need a concentrated campaign with letters to your M P asking them to ask questions of the Ministers responsible. This is one campaign where we can help British Waterways: we have a common purOur National A.G.M. held on Sep- pose. We can ask questions that British tember 29th in a beautiful setting near Waterways dare not. If you can get your Bromsgrove proved to be full of hard MP to ask a question of a Minister, it hitting presentations with plenty of meat has to be answered. John has summato digest. Mike Snaith, our Planning rised the situation in his notes from the Officer, helped to make up a formidable Chair, but this issue needs every emphaforum to ask questions and settle any sis it can get. misunderstandings, especially when I thought that Head Office could plunder our branch funds. The day left us with a May I remind members of the lot to think about regarding new consti- forthcoming socials to be held at the tutional proposals and accounting proRushcliffe Arena They are listed in the cedures. A great deal of time was spent events list at the end of the magazine; discussing the Grant in Aid reduction to with details below for 2007.

The Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society are very active at the moment and are involved in a number of fund raising activities with “Rally Round the Ring” which sounds a complicated logistical nightmare of boats, bikes, bus rides and walks. Paul Birtles is in a frenzy of fund raising with the sales stand and caravan.

We are being true couch potatoes and just giving £300 towards brickwork on the Borrowash Bottom Lock.

January 19th - John Lower on the Chesterfield Canal (very professional presentation about a great success story) February 16th - 8mm nostalgic film on the Grantham Canal by Percy Draper, preceded by the Branch AGM (promised to be not too long) Your support is important please; these socials are great fun and take time to arrange.

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News from the Lincolnshire Branch From Dave Carnell Great news just broken. We have just learned that a Land Fill Tax grant of ÂŁ50,000 has been awarded to the Head of Navigation Project in Sleaford. This, along with funding from the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership and IWA means that the whole project, including installation of a new footbridge with a movable span for navigation, and provision of a winding hole and launching slipway for trailboats can now go ahead. A WRG camp will contribute significantly to the completion of this project

Drakeholes to Ranby section where we were reduced to tick over.

There was surprisingly little boat movement; we met three on the way up and eight coming down. Are boaters deterred by the tales of narrow locks? We found the answer to that at Strett Lock. The last ten feet and our deepest draft would not enter. Despite much flushing of the top paddles and reversing the prop to increase water depth it was no go. Suggestions of a office safe being dumped there were discounted when the BW staff arrived, advising that some boat builders leave It is now many years since we last an excess on the base plate and with boated the Chesterfield Canal and with the extra draft of the boat this was all the progress that has been made it jamming on the lock invert. Later was long overdue a visit. On June 28th enquiries have revealed that this lock we entered the canal and stayed the had been shaved to widen it but this night at West Stockwith basin. On our was restricted to above the low water last visit the Lady Line Chandlery was level. To quantify the numbers still there, now replaced by toilets and experiencing this problem the shower blocks kept in an immaculate Chesterfield Canal Trust are asking condition. The showers were very people who have had similar welcome due to the fantastic weather. experiences to contact them to request Another bonus is the provision of the shaving of the wall below water electricity on the linear moorings at level.

Misterton, now alas minus the canalside pub.

River Ancholme. The build up of There was little sign of the silt at South Ferriby Lock was dreaded weed; four visits to the weed removed by excavator in time for the hatch over the entire trip was spring boating arrivals. The acceptable with the water cooling the Environment Agency introduced a 30 relevant limbs. One concern I had was day licence for their navigations. This that the guides showed the navigable appears straight forward but has depth of two-feet-six-inches draft. Our caused some confusion with their staff, boat draws more than this but we had who have asked boaters to move on little real problem except in the before the licence expires. This has Page 20

been taken up with the EA's National Navigation Officer. A planning application to develop a long derelict site in Brigg town centre, on the old river loop, has been commented on.

This would provide new housing, with moorings and a waterside walk.

River Witham. Following objections to a proposed multi-storey apartment on Cox’s Marina in Lincoln, new drawings were submitted. We again objected on the basis of loss of boatyard facilities, slipway and over 100 car parking spaces, and the tunnel effect that an 11 storey building would have on the waterway. Despite 20 objections the planners have approved this application with conditions. At the time of writing these details are unknown.

Still in Lincoln, the Brayford Trust have been advised that the City Council

have re-jigged the executive committee and asked the Trust to form a Users’ Group. A meeting on October 3rd will hopefully have answered many questions as to the Pool’s future.

The Sustrans long distance route alongside the River Witham, intended to go between Lincoln and Boston, has been extended to Bardney. The all weather multiuser track is proving popular; some cyclists are commuting to work along it.

Five Mile Bridge that crosses the river has had ramps fitted to it for easier access.

A parking area and fishing stances for the disabled are also provided.

Sleaford Navigation Trust's Water Weekend turned out to be just that, with the water coming from above. This did not deter those building rafts for the races, causing much hilarity.

Cogglesford Water Mill is open most summer weekends and the public can see corn being ground, and eat scones made from the flour available. We have long known of a further water mill on the Slea. The owners recently opened this to a privileged group of enthusiasts, revealing most of the equipment in place, with six sets of stones. Two were

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operated by water and the others by a steam engine. It is their ambition to restore this mill but in their own time. This surely would be a first, with two water mills on one river.

Because of the IWA National Trailboat Rally to be held on the Grantham Canal at Woolsthorpe, May 26th to 28th 2007, the Slea Boaters’ gathering has moved to May Day Bank Holiday. BW are to carry out works preparing for the rally. These include repairs to the sills on locks 16 and 18, brickwork to Denton Bridge, and dredging and tree felling in Harlaxton Cutting. Due to the financial axe having fallen, they have requested extra input from volunteers. Details are presently being worked up.

For a number of years we have campaigned for the replacement of a foot bridge over the River Bain between Tattershall and Dogdyke. This was removed to ease bank strengthening works by EA’s predecessors, but due to lack of funding and environmental concerns this was not achieved. Through the County Council’s Rights of Way Improvements project money has been found to put a new bridge in place this winter, making it possible to walk to the River Witham from Tattershall and Coningsby.

The Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership produces a free colour newsletter three times a year. This gives details of works ongoing and completed as well as funding applications for future works. The Partnership promotes development of water corridor interests such as nature conservation, fishing, walking, cycling and boating. To obtain copies of this newsletter by post contact Mary Powell at Beech House, Waterside South, Lincoln. LN5 7JH. Tel. 01522 550612. Or e-mail dilys.britt@lincolnshire.gov.uk Also available from the same contact is a Riverside Walks and Rides booklet “Go With The Flow”. See our review of this on page 24.

To maintain contact with and brief Members of Parliament on campaigns and concerns of the IWA an all-parties Waterways Parliamentary Committee was formed. A local member of this group is the Lincolnshire Chaplaincy, represented by the Rev. Maurice Perry who will raise issues brought to the attention of IWA branches.

The date of Lincolnshire Branch AGM is Monday February 12th 2007 at St Mary-le-Wigford Church Hall, Lincoln, at 7.45pm. The venue is adjacent to Lincoln Rail Station and parking is available in the station car park. Following the AGM business there will be a presentation of Branch activities during 2006.

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New Publications Reviewed The Stamford Canal, edited by Keith Simpson.

This came as a surprise. A group based in the Deepings on the River Welland (so just in Lincolnshire) has researched the history of this very early waterway, built some time between 1664 and 1673 but first authorised by an Act of Elizabeth I in 1571 to by-pass a six mile stretch of the Welland. It played an important part in the economic well-being of Stamford during parts of the 18th and 19th centuries up to 1863. This book is particularly interesting and refreshing in that it has been compiled from the point of view of general historians rather than canal enthusiasts. It includes for example a discussion of the distinction between a canal and a navigation, but the research team were unable to locate information on the actual canal building to supplement their good coverage of usage, alignments, and detectable traces. It is very well produced in A5 format in a soft cover with some 100 pages on good quality paper and excellent photographs and diagrams. The amount of research is evident from the material presented, and many references to sources are included tantalisingly in the text.

Even though it does not set out to be an "academic" book, a bibliography at the back would have been welcome, and maybe an index. There are some odd omissions. Published by "Deepings Heritage", there is no contact detail should you wish to get in touch. The printing is first class, so why not acknowledge the printer (I understand a firm in Crowland), and a book of this significance, even though small, deserves an ISBN registration so that more people, in particular librarians, will become aware of it. In the meantime I understand copies may be ordered through Walkers Books of 10 High Street, Stamford PE9 2AL (01780 764405) for ÂŁ7.50 plus about 75p post and packing.

PH Barton and the River Humber 1086-1900,

by Rodney Clapson This has recently been published by the Workers' Educational Association (WEA).

Researched by the descendant of a boat building and Page 23

owning family, the 106 pages are packed with details such as dimensions of boats; the names of owners of over 160 boats built or owned by Barton families; and descriptions of the days when Keels and Sloops were the work horses of the river, transporting bricks and tiles as far afield as London, and more mundane market boats travelled to towns along the Humber, Trent and Ouse.

ISBN 0 0900959 20 7. Enquiries to Rodney on 01652 635620.

DC Go with the Flow - Riverside walks and rides in Lincolnshire, edited by Dilys Britt Rather than being a navigation guide, this is a very attractive encouragement to people to enjoy walks or cycle rides along or near the various Lincolnshire waterways - not just rivers as the title implies, as it includes walks by the Grantham canal. There are 32 pages, in a size slightly less than A4, of extremely well produced and illustrated information. The maps are clear and easy to use, and a great strength here comes from the photographs used to illustrate it - most if not all from Andy Tryner of the LCC. One full double page shows three boats on the Slea, including, I suspect, Jubilee, and another charmingly shows the Grantham Canal in springtime.

It also acknowledges the book of walks "The Romantic Canal" on the Grantham.

Even better, "Go with the Flow" is available free from the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership (01522 550615) or probably from most tourist offices around the county.

PH. 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 LWP Newsletter is free, call 01522 550615.

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.

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Harrington Bridge over the Trent As a follow-up to our article in the last issue about this bridge, there has been more interesting input from a number of sources. First of all from Keith Reedman:

Harrington Bridge over the Trent was the subject of an article in the July 2006 issue of Aegre. As the editor stated at the end, the article was compiled from various sources and I have no reason to disagree with the paragraphs which deal with the recent engineering repairs. However, the history of the bridge is not entirely correct.

The Act of Parliament authorising the bridge was published in 1788 and contains several interesting clauses. '… the centre arch was to be not less than forty five feet in width…'; '…twenty feet wide between the battlements…' and '…there shall be good and sufficient haling path for men and horses under the bridge … so high that horses may pass … at the highest navigable water'.

After listing the trustees (four pages of them), the date and place of the first general meeting to put the Act into execution was to be 14 July 1788 at the 'White Lyon Inn in Sawley'. The trustees met at the White Lion on 21 July and agreed to the plans for the bridge drawn by Thomas Harrison of Lancaster. Following advertisements for builders the tendered price of £2950 submitted by John Cheshire of Warwickshire was accepted. By the time the bridge was opened, probably by the end of 1790, the cost had risen to £4154; the extras included the toll buildings and the six flood arches on the northern approach road.

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The stone-built bridge consisted of three arches over the river and the three smaller flood arches on the Sawley bank which survive. The toll house consisted of two stone buildings on the Sawley end of the bridge with the living accommodation and garden on the east side of the road and the bedroom(s) on the west side. These buildings were inhabited until they were demolished during the 1930s, even though the tolls were abolished in 1882.

By 1905 the state of the river arches was unsatisfactory and they were dismantled to be replaced by the present two arch girder bridge (not washed away in floods as was the next upstream road crossing, Cavendish Bridge, in 1947). It is unlikely that the caissons in mid river are founded on bed rock as the underlying strata of gravel and marl extends to below 100 feet.

The Harrington Arms public house in Sawley is situated just north of the bridge. It is the inn where travellers on the Nottingham to Birmingham Turnpike would take the ferry before the bridge was built. It takes its name, like the bridge, from the Earl of Harrington (then of Elvaston Castle) who was and still is Lord of the Manor of Sawley. No trace of either the ferry, which was about 200 yards upstream, or the approach road is now visible. Evidently there was also a ford which the Harrington Bridge Trustees were authorised by the Act to destroy.

For those who might like to look up the references, they are: An Act for building a Bridge over the River Trent at or near Sawley Ferry in the Counties of Derby and Leicester. George III, CAP. 80.

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Minute Book and papers relating to the Harrington Bridge. Derbyshire Record Office D518M/Z1-2.

On the question of the reason for Lockington inhabitants not being free from tolls, the inhabitants of Sawley and Hemington (the parishes connected by the bridge) were not freed from paying toll unless they paid an annual fee of 4d for a farmer and 2d for a cottager. Lockington, like Long Eaton on the Derbyshire side, was only an adjacent parish and its inhabitants had to pay the tolls as prescribed (it is a long list). Tolls were only payable once a day for as many crossings as desired - as long as the receipt was produced.

Yours sincerely, Keith Reedman

John Baylis notes: Following Keith Reedman’s letter we took advice of Derbyshire County Council who had provided details for the first article. They said that “The comment regarding the caissons being founded on bedrock was from design for the works carried out and prepared by our consultant. This seemed reasonable as it is normal practice to found caissons onto solid material. We have never had any reason to check the actual bearing depth of the caissons at Harrington Bridge or the material on which they are bedded because we have never had any problems with them. Keith Reedman refers to underlying strata of gravel and marl extending to 100 feet below the bridge. The marl itself is a crumbly sedimentary rock, which would be quite capable of supporting the caissons if it were present in a sufficiently deep bed. On recent site investigations for Long Horse footbridge, situated upstream of Harrington Bridge, mudstone bedrock was found 5-6 metres below the river bed overlain by sands and gravel strata, so the geology of this particular area might be quite variable�.

If, as Keith suggests, the old bridge was dismantled rather than collapsed in floods, it seems logical that two spans on a caisson pier replaced the original 3 spans as the caissons could be sunk in the middle of the centre arch, whilst not interfering with the piers and set to the outside of the old bridge parapets. This could be done without interrupting the flow of traffic, and the new centre pier could have been completed before the stone bridge was demolished. By 1905 the railway companies had used caissons for the construction of many bridges in deep water and the technique had become fine art with the use of compressed air to keep water out, and the greater use of concrete. The depth of 100 feet would not seem excessive for a cast iron caisson although as DCC suggest a suitable load-bearing stratum might be encountered at much less depth. J B Page 27

Construction of bridge piers.

Following Keith Reedman’s letter I thought that a layman’s guide to bridge construction might be of interest. Prior to the 1820s bridges across rivers used at least three methods of founding the piers and the earlier medieval bridges had many small piers due to the lack of techniques for construction of long spans and depending on heavy stone or brick arches. Where the riverbed is stone or solid rock such as Trent Bridge at Nottingham the piers were founded on the rock; this used to outcrop at the West Bridgford side. On some other rivers where there was a gravel or boulder stratum the medieval bridge was founded on large flat stones laid or barely buried into the bed. An example is Bideford Bridge over the River Avon where the old Sheffield Branch working party organized by Mike Briggs helped the late David Hutchings to underpin the piers on the navigation arch.

On other rivers with a loose gravel or clay stratum a piled enclosure was driven round the site of each pier. After removal of silt and loose materials, oak piles were driven until they could be driven no further. The pile tops were then cut off level well into the firmer river bed. A lattice of oak beams was fastened to the piles, and the lattice was filled with mortar and stone or concrete.

From this base the stone pier was constructed in the dry up to the springing of the arch. At this point the surrounding pile enclosure could be removed. In view of the very primitive nature of cranes, pumps and steam engines this work was very difficult and dangerous and much of the work of pumping and pile driving was powered by men or horses. John Rennie constructed the previous London Bridge across the River Thames in this manner in the late 1700s and Thomas Telford was one of his trainee technicians before the latter went to Shropshire to work on Shrewsbury Gaol and the Welsh Canal.

With the invention of cast iron the caisson became a more feasible method of construction and in 1824 Marc Brunel used this type of construction to sink an access shaft though water, clay and running sand to commence the first tunnel under the River Thames between Rotherhithe and Wapping. The Page 28

caisson was 50 feet in diameter with a cast iron curb, and then built up of brick reinforced by steel rods to a height of 40 feet. The earth inside the caisson was slowly excavated and the weight of the caisson carried it slowly into the ground at a speed of about 6 inches per day. When the shaft was complete part of one side was removed to allow the building of the first tunnelling shield to begin the bore under the river. This was square with an excavation face 36 feet wide by 21 feet high with 36 individual digging cells. The shield was pushed slowly along as the face was excavated and the brick arch built behind the shield. Isambard Kingdom Brunel became his father’s deputy on this project and was nearly drowned on one of the several times when the river burst through the shield face.

By the time of the coming of the railways cast and wrought iron had become more readily available and the joining of sections by bolts was an easier exercise. When the bridges were to be founded on bedrock overlain by silt or soft material the caissons could be of the relatively small diameter of 6 or 7 feet and when bedrock had been cleared the caisson could be filled with concrete to create a solid pier.

Where the caisson passed through water or running sand the top of the caisson tube could be closed and the caisson pressurised to prevent the influx of water. The passage of men, spoil and materials was through an airlock to maintain the pressure at the working face. Typical railway bridges are the Midland Railway’s Lady Bay Bridge in Nottingham and the now disused Great Central Railway’s Fledborough Bridge near to High Marnham Power Station. As on the Harrington Bridge the tops of the caissons were braced with steel and fitted with a beam between the two piers to carry the spans.

Editor's note: Readers interested in following up this subject of bridges in general might like to look at a book by David Harrison, "Bridges of Medieval England", (OUP, 2004) or "Bridges, law and power in Medieval England", (Boydell Press, 2006).

These are probably "get from the library" type of books, rather than pop out to your corner newsagent and buy one there.

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J u s t F o T r e F n u n

Down

1

A principal export commodity that was 1 transported on the Louth Navigation (4)

King ? - the most frequent cargo on the cut (4)

3

No room for one of these on a working Narrow Boat (4) What some people thought the original promoters were. (5)

The vertical detachable paddle guide on a flash lock (6) You need one of these on the river (5)

6 7 10 14 15 16 19 22 23 24 25

2 4

Cowburn & Cowper's boats carried 5 these liquids (5) England's newest city, at the end of the 8 Lancaster Canal (7)

? & seek, a popular children's game (4)

Commodity mined at the side of the River Weaver (4) Doncaster's river (3) These pulled boats through some tunnels (4) ? Union Canal Project proposed in 1803 (7) Locks can have 2, 3 or 4 (5)

9

Home of the famous floating harbour (7)

Humber ? and Keel Preservation Society (5) Ill fated attempt in 1721 to make this tributary of the Weaver navigable (4) Birds' home (4)

18 County Kerry ship canal (6)

He promoted the Huddersfield Broad Canal (7)

11 Lee & ? Navigation (5) 12 ? Bedford River (3) 13 Don't do this, especially near locks (3) 17 England's longest river (7)

20 They didn't want to find this when digging tunnels (4) 21 One of our founders (4)

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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

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Regional Diary Dates 2006/7 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 details call Mavis on 0114 268 3927 Dec. 5th

Christmas social with pie & peas, boatle and a quiz. Please call Mavis (above) to book pie & peas.

Feb. 21st

AGM and speaker.

Leicestershire Branch

Usual Venue Oadby Tennis Club, close to Leicester Racecourse. For details call Beryl on 07710 029247 Nov. 9th

7.30 p.m. Talk by Ray Cullis on East Midlands Waterways and the Nottinghamshire river police.

Dec. 14th

Christmas Social. Contact Beryl for bookings.

Jan. 11th

7.30 p.m.“Flog It� auction to raise funds. Contact John Evans on 01509 416647.

Feb. 8th

7.15 p.m. AGM followed by Chris Tizzard on progress with the Grantham Canal.

Mar. 8th

7.30 p.m. Geoff Purseglove on progress and opportunity on the Ashby Canal.

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch

Usual Venue Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford at 7.45 p.m.

For details call 0115 989 9612 Nov. 17th Mountains, Lochs, and Glens, by Stuart Bramwell.

Dec. 15th Work on the Erewash and Cromford Canals, by Mick and Carole Golds, followed by Christmas Buffet and Social.

Jan. 19th Feb. 16th Feb. 12th

The Chesterfield Canal, by John Lower.

AGM, and film on the Grantham Canal, by Percy Draper.

Lincolnshire Branch 7.45 pm. Branch and Region AGMs in St Mary-le-Wigford Church Hall in Lincoln. See page 22 for details..

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