1972 IWA National Rally of Boats Lymm

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DONATED TO THE BOAT MUSEUM BY E. L. BRADSHAW

BRIDGEWATER DEPARTMEilT OFTHE

Monchester Ship Conol COMPANY

LIGHTERAGE/BARGING ROADTRANSPORT WAREHOUSNG

WHARFAGE SHIPPING SERVICES MAilCHESTER

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EIIESMERE P(IRT

CONTAINER DEPC'T

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The Conlinont, Scardinavis, ctc,

EilQUnlIS WErcllltlt0 8Y

Deputy Manager

The Manager

BRIDGEWATER CANAT OFFICES

THE DOCKS

CHESTER.

ROAD MANCHESIER TYIIs 4NU

PERCIVATTANE RUNCORN

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WelcometoLymm

anil Uarriutolt Euariliar Gorrlry The Warrington Guardian is your loca! newspaper for this area and during your brief stay be sure to obtain a copy.

On sale Friday the Warrington Guardian will give you the latest news on the Boat Rally together with a comprehefisive guide to restaurants and places of entertainment.

Find oul'what's on'and make the most of your visitwith the

Sarlngton 6uor0ian Sankey St.Warrington 33331

Player's

M The most popular

filter cigarette in Britain On the canal, Stoke Bruetne

crr:araneed quality 2oap flter zapplain

E\MRY PACKET CARRIES A GOVERNM ENT H EALTH WARNING

2

tg?2 nALITI BNOGHUBE

G0ntents 7

I 10 11 15

t7 19

20 22 29 8A

Remark J. C. Heap The Background to the Rally John Humphries Welcome b Lymm B. J. Thornton Lymm - the nory behiid the yillage June Buckley The Bridgewater Caml lan fubrr The Ch6hire Ring map K Goodwin 'So you think you've got problem.'. . .

Join the IWA in iti Campaign for lnland Wateruiys Lymm? Rally Chairman's

John Dodwell

Waterways Alan Jervis for New Navigations Brian Beagley

Ths Batde of the New Nawies

- The Narrow Boat Trust - Lancaster Canal Caldon Canal Society - Shropshire Union Cansl Society

Canal Societies

Tru3t

-

89

For your encrtainment

4()

Map of the Rally Site

4g 40

The Bridgewater

68 59 69

How Far Do Canals Go?

Halfpenny Frank Mullinsux Harbour Masier's lrutructions T S Ellis

-

waterways map

Thanks Wate.ways Ouiz for Noddy Boat Captains

Kit C.ewbucket

3

hufrnd futgliasn\Iers e\rcrlrlvnerc.

Piling up good interest clear of income tr*. .".G"Ivi"cked by assets exceeding the advantage siSo -itliotl ""joying fmd You'll o,ithara*uls' oiea.v saverr Anglia the oining .rour*iUi -once yori've agked for our free booklet'MoneYsense'.

re)) AndiahildingSociety

f f "ti,l"Ati32 844r. "**A ^-- ^

-Member of the Bqilding BraDch oftces: 86 Croâ‚Ź8 S-t" Mslc}tg{

4

lnland Waterways Association l9TzRallyofBoats Lymm AUGUST 4th to 7th Organised by the IWA North West Branch

Rally Paton:

His Grace the Duke of Westminster TD, DL, JP, C St J

Rally VicePatlons

The Hon.

APLBarber,MP

The Lord Bishop of Chester

WinstonSChurchill,MP Mark Carlisle, M P

D K Redford, Esq Chief Constable of Cheshire H Watson, CBE, OPM, FCA Earl of Stamford, DL, JP

Sir Robert Grant-Ferris, MP Chairman - Lymm Urban District Council Chairman - Bucklow Rural District Council Organising Committee

Chairman Deputy Chairman

Director Treasurer Site

Walter E Brown

Services

Harry Marsh Richard B Munslow Edward Keaveney Alan B Jones T Sidney Ellis Alan B Thompson

Bernard Hesford

Catering

Publicity Entertainment Harbourmaster

Mooring Officer Dunham Rally Office Entries/Awards Minute Secretary Bridgewater Dept.

Brochure Editor Brochure Adyertising

John C Heap Robert lngham Kenneth Goodwin

John T Dean E Ray Slack

lrene K Bostock Alan Littlewood

Trade Show Organiser

John Greenway John C Palmer Geoffrey Daniels

Plaque Design

Sue Cawson, based on the Bridgewater Hal{penny Token

The lnland Waterways Association Limited '114 Regent's Park Road, London N W

1

01-586 2556/2510

A non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee Registered as a Charity.

Founded:

B I

IIYA

1946 : :

lncorporated: 1958

Founder and Vice-President: Robert Aickman Vice Presidents: Peter Scott, CBE, DCS, LID Rt Hon the Earl of Portsmouth Capt Lionel Munk, FFISA, ARINA Sir Geoffrey de Freitas, KCMG, MP Sir Robert Grant-Ferris, MP Sir John Betjeman, CBE Sir Hugh Casson, MA, ARA, RDl, FRIBA, FSIA John Smith Acting Chairman: Capt Lionel Munk, FRSA. ARINA General Secretary: John Oodwell, FCA

6

The Breach

WARRINGTON LANE, AGDEN, NT. LYMM, CHESHIRE. Lt"rM 4639 AGENTS FOR: Eoinntde, Ctescent, Calor Gas, Any Make of Neu Boat supplied. Brckerage Facilities Slipping up

to 7o'.

Crane Aooilable,

Mooings. Hard standing and Cbandlery Sales.

Open 7 days per ueek lOqm-Dusk Proprietors: B & N Hesford.

a

bYMM? When the serious breach occurred on the Bridgewater Canal last August it rapidly became apparent that the National Rally for 1972 should be held on

that canal. The intention was to focus public attention on the grave danger to through navigation

and to the Cheshire Ring in particular, also to enlist the support of thq general public and the Local and County Authorities and to attempt to

The Rally Committee

assure

you

of a great

welcome and are eodeavouring to make every arrangement for your comfort and entertainment.

Your support and attendance can have a great effect on public opinion in the present uncertain climate of canal affairs and can have a vital impact on the current campaign.

raise money to assist in the restoration.

Although we are extremely happy that the Manchester Ship Canal Company have announced their

to repair the breach and to maintain navigation, the basic inteotions of the Rally still apply. The Manchester Ship Canal Company are pleased with our support and are giving us all possible assistance. intention

The Rally Committee have not found it easy to find a suitable site together with car parks but have been fortunate in obtaining 6% acres for the Rally Site very adlacent to the town of Lymm. We regret that ribbon mooring is inevitable on the Bridgewater Canal but fortunately the width of the canal is suitable for double and treble mooring so that the length required can be reduced and all boats will be within reasonable distance of the shop6 and facilities of Lymm.

Lymm is an attractive old town of approximately

10,000 inhabitants, set

in

pleasant Cheshire

countryside. They are used to providing for boats and will give everyone a good welcome.

To cater for those from the northern end of the

full facilities are being arranged at Dunham at the Manchester end of the breach with a free bus service provided to and from the Rally Site. canal system. moorings with

ln the year of the

it

bicentenary

of the death of

is fitting that the Associationd National Rally should be held on the Bridgewater Canal with all its historic background.

James Brindley

)ct* J. C. Heap, Rally Chairman

7

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Orplerfutolectic

lteyr.Slurr

Olboordr

NrqHrAN{ d1y,

)0u HAVETHC rUN Tho 2tl-how outboar&: Chryll.r 9.9, i2.9 and 20

ChrY3l6r outbo€rd dopend6bilily, foatur€3 and siylo. Now avail.bl6 in

hp.

Autoloctric!. You c.n dan th8 fun .ny tim. bytumlng thr k.y, iult liko you do in your rulomobilo.

Aft6r derk Ch.y.l./r erclusivs dom. ligll! put . bright rpol on any boat - bt! yoo 30. to balt a hook, impact ! walorway cMn. A built-ih '1o-amp€re gonolEtor with sotid-neb rogul.tor chlrgss bancry, pow.B acceori€s, An emorgoncy rowind atanar gota you going svsn i, vou, b.nory is weak.

And Autoloclric! hav6 foaiuros of orhsr Chryslor outbo6rds from 3.6 to 150 np.r All-Sp..d Powor.Ch.rying lhat d6liv.6 mo.€ conifiad ho.r€pows p.r kilo; lull co.rosion proloction; .implo, clcan, monay-laving tadic.rbitity; now anti-poltutlon

Autol.d.ics. Your k6yto lull Tum on6 on today.

Orlonight

fual r6cycllng.yd.m; lnd mor6.

I Sols concessionanes

Unit .l (ingdom

Aqua-Maine Man'rfacturins (UK) Iimh.d 381 Shhlcy Rd., Southam on, H6nls. sog lHa rd: 0703 7812t

DElriburo,slor R.public ot |rcl.nd W6nom Marins Limiiod Bulocn Shipyard rnd Showrooms Dolkoy, Co Duhlin, Eii!. T€l: 808591/2

Pb'so E€nd trc€ ls72 chryslaroutbo.d Erochuro

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I

The Background to the Bally

by John Humphriei

(until recently National Chairman of the IWA)

i I

The decision to hold the National Rally of Boats at Lymm was taken at a time when there was a great sense of crisis. The Breach had just occurred the embankment by the aqueduct over the River Canal Company had not made clear its intention to repair this Breach and for the time being the North-South link between the Leeds and Liverpool and the Southern canals was cut and what was even more serious there was a second break in the chain of the Cheshire Ring. in

I

Bollin. The

At the time I had a tatk with

lMr. Redford, who is Manchester Ship Canal Company the owners of the Bridqewater Canal. He told me that already they were seeking support from the Local Authorities in connection with the future of the canal and it was at once obvious that the IWA should again throw their support behind a ioint scheme for restoration and reorganisation of a vital waterway. We accordingly asked the Ship Canal Company if we might hold our rally at Lymm in support of their restoration work. This

the Chairman of the

was not a simple protest rally. as

\rye have held sometimes in past years, but a constructive aftempt to ensure that the Bridgewater was quickly open again for navigation.

All our rally protits, therefore, from the Lymm Rally will go towards the cost of repairing the Breach. As we had hoped, the fact that a National Charity should come in and raise funds in this way for a local pro.iect has gone a considerable way to encouraqing the canal owners and the County Councils to take steps to restore the waterway to

We do therefore

distance

of

at long last

seem

within striking

completing the restoration

of

the

Cheshire Ring, something Jor which the IWA have fought for ten years. This again gives particular significance to this rally at Lymm.

But overshadowing all these important restoration projects is one basic fact which we should never forget. 1972 is the.bi-centenary of the death of James Brindley who not only designed and built the Bridgewater Canal, but was the father of our entire inland waterway network. lt is particularly appropriate that this year, when we are facing a total reorganisation of the inland waterway system, we should remember what James Brindley achieved and make quite certain that the heritage which he created for us is not lost. The Rally at Lymm has

therefore both

a vital regional and a

national

significance and I hope very much that all of will get there, in one way or another, to support

us it_

note the Rally are asked to try to to carry a message from the Civic Head of their own town to the Chairman of Lymm Boaters visiting

arrange

U.D.C, lt is planned that these messaqes will be handed over at a special cetemony, details of which will be found in the Rally News Sheet.

full navigation and even more important to ensure its future. Furthermore, I believe that this could not have happened at a more opportune moment, because the Manchester Corporation (who have a substantial interest in the Manchester Ship Canql Company) have also taken the lead in the final restoration of the Ashton and Peak Forest Canals.

9

[rilil the story behind

the Yillage

by Juhe Buckley

Late in the 7th century the first people known to have settled in Lymm made their cautious way through the forest-covered slopes above the River Mersey. Probably they were attracted by the stream flowing rapidly through the rocky gorge, from 200 feet above the river level. Here they would find good water and a sheltered site. Lymm may have derived its name from "Llimme" - a

was being

added

built and soon afterwards a tower

wa8

to the church. By 1600 timbâ‚Źr-framed

houses and barns, with panelled walls of wattleand-daub, were superseding earlier inferior

buildings. Black and white "magpie" architecture became traditional in Cheshire.

Lymm's good sandstone had long been exploited

rushing stream.

for building purposes. Stone barns were added to the newly built farmsteads, and by 1670 few of

For perhaps two centuries the scattered Jarmsteads

the older buildings remained, Earlier in the century the present Lymm Hall was built. This distinguished building, though much altered, still contains much of the original north front, now reached by a stone-built bridge across the ornamental moat.

of the settlers lay within the Danelaw. Then in about 91O A.D. the neighbourhood was reconquered by the English. Lymm would develop

into a small village of thatched huts housing perhaps 80 people, with a priest in charge of a

small church sited high above the east bank oJ the ravine.

From the Domesday Book record of Lymm of 1086 emerges a picture of a small community working some open arable land, but much of the countryside had been laid waste in 1070 A.D. in the course of conquest by William the First. The ruined manor had been granted to

a

Norman Knight

who appropriated some of the best land for his demesne farm, and built a superior house or hall.

His boundaries, and the site of the earliest hall, can be traced with some certainty.

Nearby the older building, of great historical interest survives, now embracing several small

dwellings.

The Lymm quan:ies - possibly worked in Roman times - influenced the shape oJ the village. Their vertical faces are barely obscured by buildings or trees, and are plain to be seen in The Dingle, that attractive right-of-way from the village towards the churci. Ouarrying also took place in the higher part of Lymm, and was an industry oi importance.

Local brickyards developed later, and brick buildings with stone lintels became the rule.

The 18th century saw a steady growth in Lymm's

By the early years of the 13th century the productive land, gained by great effort from the surrounding forest, was supporting a larger population; this expansion continued slowly for the next 400 yearr, though interrupted by plague and pestilence and warJare. By 1500 A.D. most of the farmland one rees today was probably in use.

Corn mills on the Bollin and l\4ersey, indicating

a

modest prosperity, are mentioned in land-charters o, the 13th century and the l4th. Tradition points to a rebuilding of the church in 1320. Lymm Cross, whose origin is obscure, would be a focal point in medieval Lymm. Before 1500 a new hall

population. Newer industries absorbed those not employed in agriculture. A small iron works, known as the "Slitting Mill",was powered by the stream below the village. There were several tanneries, and some domestic industries developed in a modestway in what are now the older cottages in the village.

ln

to the navigation of the to Lymm an easier to the developing markets in Lancashire,

1725 improvements

Mersey and lrwell rivers gave access

difricult to reach belore by horsedrawn transport.

A greater advantage followed in 1765, when the Bridgewater Canal

-

passing straight through the

11

Join the longlong trail - the long trail of happy, satisfied customers to and from Dean's Marina; whether they've bought a â‚Ź3,000 canal cruiser or a f3 spotlight they will have had the same attention, the same friendly service.

We have a well stocked chandlery shop and a large display of boats and engines. Our Marinas are both open every day'til dark. Agents for Dawncraft, Dolphin, Norman, Nauticus, Mayland. Loftus-Bennet, Fairline, Dejon, Micro Plus, Shetland, Cleopatra, Evinrude, Chrysler, Crescent, Ailsa Craig, Seagull, Mercury.

12

-

Lymm VillagE

village and

-

opened the way by water

to Manchester

to Liverpool. Farm produce

miles around

to

was brought from the Lymm wharves, and bales of

fustian and bolts of cloth from the village industries.

All manner of travellers used the canal. Holiday makers arriving by barge insured a boom in the local inns. The building of the Bridgewater Canal was one of the great engineering feats of the lgth

century.

One of Brindley's notable successeswas the crossing ofthe ravine (in which Lymm village lies) by means

of a

high brick and masonry aqueduct. The of roads was so extensive that it is now difficult to trace their old lines. The winding contour, which the canal follows throughout its divercion

course, necessitated cutting diagonally across The Square in the village! The cottage nearest to the canal still displays one corner neatly trimmqd to make room.

The corn mill, before being demolished in the l93o's, presented a plain brick front to the mill dam in the village. lt had been enlarged in the previous

century. As remembered, it bore no to the picturesque old building de-

resemblance

scribed by the novelist Harrison Ainsworth. The mill dam carries the road round the still abrupt bend near the Spread Eagle Hotel, but before its demolition the high brick mill stood squarely in the roadway, an unacceptable hazard when motor transport came to stay.

The old coach road had followed a devious route down the steep Eagle Brow, through the village and round the Cross, to ioin Stage Lane and Warrington lane, - a line logical enough before the cutting of

Brindley's canal, but now difficult to trace. Then came the building of a large dam across the stream below the church to carry the present main road and to replace what appears to have

in 1824

13

THE BNIDGETTIATEN GAilII. by lan

Bridgewater - perhaps the most famous name in canal history. the only instance of a man giving his name to a major canal and financing the process entirely from his own pocket; later canals would float companies and invite investment in shares.

Not Bridgewater; it was his scheme, he financed it, at times only with a struggle, but he won in the end. lt made him very rich; it was heroic, it remained unique.

Frances Egerton, third and last Duke of Bridge' water, owned coal mines at Worsley. The original

purpose

of the canal

was

to

make that coal

available in l\4anchester cheaply (at 4d. a hundredweight) and incredibly he guaranteed to hold that price for FOBTY YEARS!

in a new field, breeds legend: The Duke colourful and eccentric created anecdotes galore, The clock in Worsley Church still Success, especially

greets the afternoon by striking thirteen times at 1.00 - this same clock was once in the Duke's workshops at Worsley - the strike reminded even the least attentive of workmen that lunch was over.

"We must take what the good Lord sends", he said to a father late for work because of a new

born babe. "l notice he sends all t'brass to thee and all t' babbies to me", replied the harrassed

man. The Duke

with a guinea.

"Half Crown Row" at Worsley was built with rewarded him

fines for late arrival on Mondays.

Prophetic

"l

see

trouble from these damn'd tram-

roads", shrewd-purchaser of pictures and sculptures which he never saw but which were worth more,

doubtful of his successors abilty

- he created the Bridgewater Trustees to manage his estates after his death on behalf of his heirs. Frances Egerton beckons across the years as a giant of his time. is his engineer. James Brindley, millwright of Leek, arguably the first

Perhaps equally famous

canal engineer, well paid (82,000 p.a. in the 1760's was good go ing ) much in demand, another generator

of anecdote. He demonstrated how to make clay puddle (the sealant for a canal bed) in the House of Commons, he made models of his works with

Moss

retird to bed to solve problems. he poured hot water into his raging tooth - "lt spites cheese, he

me, so

l'll

spite

it".

lt has been argued that historians have given some of his due credit to Brindley; whatever. else he did ir seems certain that he introduced Brindley to the Duke, for his brother Thomas Gilbert was agent for Earl Gower of Trentham and James had worked for him.

John Gilbert was the Duke's agent.

But what of our canal? Built first from Worsley to l\4anchester. it crossed the Biver lrwell by an aqueduct at Barton - a structure of whose feasibility many contemporaries had doubts - and had the distinction of two sub-terraneous termini, the one at Worsley in the mines (ultimately there was almost 40 miles of underground canal), the other at Castlefield where an ingenious water operated crane lifted containers of coal to streel level. The canal was extended to Buncorn within a very few years - indeed there is reason to suppose that this was always in the Duke's mind - a junction was made with the River Mersey, well below the point wheretheMersey& lrwell Co. had any jurisdiction.

The Duke had thus gained a connection with Liverpool - an eventuality for which he was presince he already owned what was to be Duke's Dock - and there was rivalry between Lancashire's principal cities. A third waterway route via the Leeds & Liverpool Canal would open before the end of the ca[al age; so much for the Liverpool & Manchester Railway's claim of a waterway monopoly (a myth gently eased away in Hadfield & Biddles recent books "The Canals of

pard

North West England").

The Dukes overtures to the Staffordshire potters (including purchase of a large dinner service, which in the short term he could not have been happy to afford) were successful; the Trent & Mersey joined his canal at Preston Brook to give him a virtual

of a fortune. Sir Richard Brook of Norton Hall held our hero to ransom for a little while - a mile of his land separated two sections certainty

15

-

of the almost completed canal

-

but late in 1775

Sir Richard, sensing defeat, yielded and the line was complete on 21st of March 1776. The canal was one of the most successful commercial enter-

prises ever launched; as a carrier of coal from Worsley to Manchester, of all manner of goods from Liverpool and of passengers along most of its length (and to some surprising destinations Southport amongst them, with road transport for part of the way) - it went lrom strength to strength under Bridgewater and after his death, under his manager Robert Haldane Bradshaw - a remarkable mao in whom the Duke reposed such conlidence that he left him power to appoint his

own

suocessor.

- "A work of Titans rather than pygmy race of beings", according to Wedge' our wood the potter, were duplicated in the 1820s; high noon for canals was here and although railways were iust over the horizon the Bridgewater would feeliittle pressure for a long time yet. Some fly by night concern would soon wither in the hot breath of the lron Horse but the Bridgewater was in a strong position - it was very unusual in continuing its passenger services well into the railway age. ln 1872 the Bridgewater was, in effect, sold Runcorn Locks

to

a

railway at lastwhen the Bridgewater Navigatioa

Co. chaired by the well known railway careerist Sir Edward Watkin (of not totally happy reputation) bought the canal from the trustees. Eleven years

lce breaking on the Cheshire Ring

16

-

date unknown

later the embryo Manchester Ship Canal Company purchased the canal for f1,710,000 - a sum actually handed over by cheque, which thus became the largest presented up to that

time. The

Bridgewater Department of that Company was formed and has managed the canal ever since.

As so often in.transport history, the earliest has proved amongst the most durable. The Bridge water Canal is still almost intact (although sadly both flights of locks at Runcorn have gone, to sever connection with the Ship Canal and the Mersey

there) - and there is still a little commercial traffic with coal to Barton ard grain to Kellogs.

The canal has won more than its fair share of new life via pleasure traffic - and we may ponder

whether anything has ever found so successful a second life as has the canal system, To turn from

to pleasure and to make as resounding of the one as the other, one hopes that a triumph Bridgewater, Brindley and Gilbert would be decommerce

liqhted.

It

is 169 years since the Duke died and the Canal of thirteen

has had the rather small number

managers {sometimes called Superintendents) since.

It must inspire loyalty! Mr, Hayman, the present manager has been in ctarge for some fifteen years he - he will ned to stay another sixteen before surpasses the redoubtable Fobert Bradshaw; a pity Bradshaw and the Duke can't ioin us at Lymm!

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Marple locks

Northampton

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unusable, but not

scene

for long

of the IWA 1971 National Rally ol

Boats

So you think youte

got problems.r.,

It has occurred to the organizers that many people are not fully aware of all the problems which have to be overcome, To cater for something in excess of 600 boats is no mean task and water is expected to be laid on for the full length of the moorings. Toilet disposal is another of the 'Service' problems and 600 boats means a temporary population of over 2000!!! who also need food and drink and drink means pubs as most people like the atmosphere of a pub as a change to the convenience of the proverbial beer

tent.

ln the early stages we hoped that the rally site would be close to the breach and investigations took place to see if this could be so, but there is no area near the breach with the necessary facilities and so the idea had to be abandoned.

The outskirts

of Lymm Village

with the Main Rally Site

was finally chosen several hundred yards on

Manchester side of Lymm Bridge. The moorings will stretch from Barrsbank Underbridge, a d istance of just under two miles, to Oughtrington Bridge with boats being breasted up where possible and both banks being used where access can be gained. This length we hope, will accommodate 600 boats. The Rally Headquarters is not in the middle of the moorings but about one third of the

the

distance from Oughtrington. This means that boats which are moored furthest from the Headquarter Area are compensated somewhat by being closer to the village.

ln finding a field in which to

-

in position. An electricity supply must be nearby as also must water, and last but not least a foul drain should run across the field to connect the Mobile Toilets into.

lf the rally is to be a financial success then we have got to get some 50,000 people to visit the enclosure and obviously as many again will come and not visit the actual main site. So then 100,000 people will, we hope, come to Lymm and nearly all must come by car because of the scarcity of public transport. I am told that the average car load is 2.5 people and this means that probably in excess of 30,000 cars will converge on Lymm during the rally weekend and so car parks had to be found to accommodate them - close to the rally site.

Also as everyone knows, there is a hole in the canal and this means that a lot of the Northern based boats cannot get to Lymm itself and it was decided therefore to hold a gathering of boats at Dunham Village for these supporters. Again. water has to be supplied and facilities like bread, milk and elsan disposal laid on, also a bus service (which will be free) to enable crews to visit Lymm, also again there should be pubs and there are not an abundance of these in this particular area.

So then these are just a few of the major problems which face the organizers. lt means a lot of hard work for the committee members and their staff, all on a voluntary basis. Before and during the rally a considerable number oJ helpers will be

required. Have you volunteered? make a rally arena

one must remember that several hundred tons of equipment has to be got ooto the field and set up

K. Goodwin, Rally Director.

19

Join the IWA in its campaign for the inland waterways

By John Dodwsll, Gsne.al Secretary LW.A. Ltd.

40 million tons of waterways

a

goods are carried

year; there are nearly

on

inland

3

million anglers; over 2 million people went boating in 1971 on an inland watenvay. That conjures up a picture of well used canals and rivers!

Yet are our inland waterways safe? No! They

are

in danger! The Government is proposing to take them away from authorities who are primarily concerned with their welfare and hand them over to seven suggested new Begional Water Authorities whose primary tasks will be to cope with the many problems of water supply, sewage disposal and pollution control. Navigation and amenity will be highly likely to take a back seat - as they did for

so many years before the British Waterways Board was set up as a separate authority in 1963,

Our great hedtage What else does the LW.A. do? For 26 years it has campaigned for the retention, development and restoration of our incomparable inland waterway system, ln Great Britain we have three great heritages

-

our churches, our country houses and

our inland waterways. Our canals are 200 years old or more (1972 is the 20oth anniversary of the death of James Brindley, one of the greatest and earliest canal engineers - he designed the Bridgâ‚Źwater Canal on which this Rally is being held.)

Beauty and function are uniquely combined and we have been left a marvellous heritage which it is our duty to defend, What of the uses of our inland \ raterways? Alas! all too few are used for @rgo carrying; unlike the

The Government wants to reorganise the administration of the water cycle - i.e, control of water from the raindrop to the drinking glass. There is sense in this - it will help to ensure that we all have enough water to drink. But stop and think!

What part does navigation and amenity play in the

competing roads and railways, most have not been modernised. New uses, however. have arisen.

Anglers, boaters. canoeists, towpath strollers and ramblers. photographers, artists, industrial archaeo. logists are but some of the people who are nolv increasingly finding pleasure in our inland water-

control of drinking, reservoirs, water purification

ways.

and sewage stations? None! There is a clear and basic conflict of interests between people who extract water and people who find pleasure or employment on or beside water.

The lnland Waterways Association is campaigning hard against these proposals. We are convinced that a separate and national inland waterways authority, with adequate finance, must be set up.

Although it may not control the water in our canals and rivers, it must have an overriding power to deal with all amenity and cargo carrying uses of the inland waterways,

ln 1968, the public's right to navigate the publicly owned canals was taken away. The Conservatives have promised to restore it; we trust they will honour their promise. This right is absolutely essential and a fundamental safeguard against mistreatnent of the inland waterways.

20

On foot or by boat you can reach some of Britain's loveliest countryside

-

no lorries or cars

to be seenl You discover a secret world of

peace,

quiet and beauty, whether passing through wooded cuttings, over lofty embankments or through tunnels.

Canals and rivers also play an important part in our land drainage system and in supplying nondrinking water to our industries, Often this is not realised until a canal has been filled in and flooding resu

lts.

lnlard $ipping Cargo carrying is still very much a live function of over 500 miles of our 3,000 mile waterway network. Centred in the four main estuaries of the Thames, Severn, Humber and Mersey, boats

carrying 500 or more tons take goods cheaply and

quietly into our industrial areas to and from the docks. The coming of barge-carrying ship systems (covered in a separate article) stands to give a great boost to barge traffic; they could have as revolutionary an effect on the shipping and transport world as the container has had, Every extra ton of goods on t}le water is one more ton oft the roads

-

surely a desirable obiect.

What should be done with derelict waterways?

Restore them! Why? Not only is it a far, far better thing to do, but it is also immensley cheaper.

For example, the filling in of the detelict, rubbish strewn, silt{aden and weed-choked Ashton-under.

Lyne Canalwould cbst overf40O,000. The official

restoration estimate is only f180,000 - and the will be transformed into a thing of use and beauty, pleasant to walk by and an attractive visual amenity asset to the neighbourhood. Not surprisingly, the Canal is now being restored! The Canal

National Waterways Restoration Fund,

The l.W:A, noeds all the support it can get. Except based staff, it is an

for a very small London

entirely voluntary association. lts effectiveness depends upon its Members. They write letters to the Press, hold public meetings, write to Members of Parliament; they join in working parties to help

physically in canal restoration schemes; they raise money to help restore derelict waterways; they use the waterways, by fishing, boating or any other

Restoratiotl

l.W.A. is contributing fl0,000 from its

Join in our effort3

special

Our Members are our lifeblood. Without them, we We need more Members. lf you think our

die.

wBterways should be modernised to take some of the traffic off the roads; if you believe derelict canals and rivers should be restored; if you are convinced our waterways should continue to be available for leisure and amenity; if you share our fears that fraqmentation and lack of interest will arise from the Government's plans to carve up the waterways - then you should join the lnland Waterways Association TODAY

2L

THE BATTI,E OT THE

WATEBTIATS

Site ot future marina

-

Portland Basin

The Cheshire Ring and its Destruction

-

1961

Cheshire has only one major waterway system the so-called 'Cheshire Canal Ring'. This 98 mile ring route consists of a portion of the Bridgewater Canal, including the section upon which this rally is belng held, the sole remaining navigable part of the Rochdale canal in Manchester, the Ashton and lower Peak Forest Canals, the l\4acclesfield Canal and part of the Trent and Mersey Canal. The Cheshire Ring was last navigated in May 1961 by a smallgroup of cruisers. The difficulties experienced were ail with the Ashton and lower Peak Forest

Canals. A pair of lock gates on the Ashton Canal was destroyed by fire only twelve hours before the boats were due to pass. One cruiser was carried round the lock and in the face of mounting difficulties completed the journey to Manchester. So far as is known, this was the last boat to pass the two canals. Shortly afterwards, the aqueduct at Store Street in Manchester was walled off and replaced by a pipe. The reason given for this action was that the aqueduct was alleged to be leaking.

22

by Alan Jervis

At the same time, a notice appeared at the head of the flight of sixteen locks at Marple stating that "This Length of Canal is not Recommended for Boating". A number of locks on the Marpie flight were by this time totally unusable. Despite the fact that no legal or Parliamentary action had been taken to close the waterways, and despite the existence oi a public right of navigation, the Bing was broken and the British Waterways Board refused to do anything in the way of repairs or maintenance. This situation persisted for several years, during which time the canals deteriorated greatly.

Stirrings oI Protest

-

1964

This situation gave rise to concern for a number of reasons. The Ring network was destroyed. leaving a long dead end (the Macclesfield Canal) which though very picturesque had its traffic vastly reduced by the need to return via the same route after visiting the Peak District, The shortest (and only practicable) route between lvlanchester and

the Peak District was broken. One beautiful water, way (the lower Peak Forest Canal) and one unique

waterway.(the Ashton Canal) were no longer accessible to boats. A number of communities along the line of the canals had lost a potential amenity.

ln

of people, many of them resiMarple, which is famous for its mag-

1964, a group

dents

of

nificent flight of sixteen locks and for its stone aqueduct, formed the Peak Forest Canal Society and battle was joined. The obiect of the Society was to promote the restoration of the lower Peak Forest and Ashton Canals. The society tackled the British Waterways Board over the condition of the canals and requested permission to carry out some maintenance work on the canal, this to be performed voluntarily by its own members, without cost or obligation to the Board. After much discussion and deliberation, the Board grudgingly consented to allow 'agricultural'work on the canal towpaths, on the condition that the waterway was not touched. This was better than nothing, and for several years, the Society cleared weeds from towpaths, repaired walls and cut hedges, working on Saturdays throughout the year using tools provided by themselves.

Some thirty bodies, including many local authorities, were by this time concerned that something should be done about the canals. ln consultation with legel advisors, they began to prepare the case for a ifielatory Action'. an unusual type of court case inlwhich all the concerned parties requested the Attorney-General to issue a fiat on their behalf, effectively to sue the Board for failure to maintain the canals to the standard which prevailed in 1961.

We shall see later how this case fared.

Practically, the Society began to take

wider view

improving the Board's assets, some work was begun

on the locks at Marple. A number of balance beams had rotted and fallen off and three new beams were made from lengths of pitch pine obtained from the demolition of a local engineering works. The three beams were shaped and fitted for a total cost of fls. The Board's estimate had been f100 per beam. This was a first powerful demonstration of the inherent saving in the use of voluntary labour in canal restoration.

More Allies

On the restoration front, the British Waterways Board published its interim Report. lncluded amongst its 'facts' were sucfi gems as (Ashton Canal) "...the bridges have lower than normal headroom. Passing mainly through industrial wastelands it seems to have no amenity value in itself and for years the local authorities concerned have been pressing for its elimination." (Peak

a

of their permission to carry out agricultural work.

Feeling that the Board would hardly attempt to prosecute a group of people who were actively

-

1966

ln

1966, the lnland Waterways Association held its National Rally at Marple. To emphasise the incompleteness of the Ring, a small sub-rally was held on the Rochdale Canal in Manchester. A record 250 boats attended the rally and the

Forest Canal) ",,,is heavily locked and perhaps less attractive scenically than the upper length from

P.F.C.S. came to realise that concern for the canals was national. On the Saturday and Sunday of the rally, some 10,000 visitors came to l\4arple each day. Local people saw for the first time what a

Marple to Whaley Bridge."

fascinating place the whole canal would be, if re-opened.

The Society spent fruitless time discussing the future of the canals with the Board, who would disclose

nothing. A

campaign

film 'The

New

Navvies' was made about the practical work the Society was doing, a booklet stating the case for restoration {'The Cheshire Canal Ring') was published and the Society devoted its energies to ob-

taining local support, by holding public meetings and seeking to convert local authorities to the belief that the canals could be restored for a useful

future. ln this way, the campaign proceeded

ln subsequent years, the Marple Rally of Boats became an annual event, the largest rally held regularly, with the exception of the l.W.A.'s

National Rally, Around this time, all the Local Authorities along the lower Peak Forest Canal decided to suppon its re-opening. The Authorities on the Ashton Canal were, however, less than enthusiastic.

ln

1967, the Society moved the focus

to the

of

its

of the Ashton Canal, where the Local Authorities were unanimous in sup

quietly but effectively for almost three years.

campaign

Throughout this time, despite the Board's legal obligation to maintain the canals, the only work done on the waterway was that necessary to maintain the supply of water to industrial consumers.

portinq its destruction.

area

Reports had not been exaggerated - the two major Local Authorities, Manchester and Droylsden, were

28

Tranquility in the heart of Manchester

-

the navigable section ol the Rochdale Canal

Lower Peak Forett Canal near Romiley

24

totally opposed to any form of restoration. A campaign was urgently nedd in this area. The local press was watdrd carefully and every mention of the canal was tollowed up by a reasond letter supporting restoration. Photographic exhibitions were hold in all Branch Libraries along the line ol fie canal (exccpt Droylden, who refused pemissionl. Public meetings were held ard the Society took market stalls to 'sell' canals to the public. All councillors were individually approacfied about their attitudes to the canal.

Both Droylsden and Mandrester had unpleasant experiences rvith canals in the past which must have tended to colour their reactions. Droylsden had attemptd to fill in ihe long abandoned Hollinwood brandr of the Ashton Canal by the simple and highly ineffective means ot using it as a rubbi* dump. The resulting wilderness of mud and rubbish yvas a constant source of embarassment to the Council, who were prone to claim that, despite the experienct of the rest of the country, which had shorrvn filling-in to be costly and not particularly effective. Droylsden would be able to eliminate its piecr of the A*rton Canal at no cost to the ratepayers and could even expect to make a profit from the land obtaincd by infilling. This deep-root€d misconception was the hardest to refute and was the tocus of the whol8 campaign, Figures were produc€d; actual d)sts incurred by other Local Authorities all over the country who had dons as Droylsden was proposing to do.

Manchester was the terminalpoint of the Bochdale Canal. most of which had been legally abandoned in 1953. This rvas used as an unofficial rubbish dump to an even greater ext€nt than the A$ton Canal and was causing tfie City Plannors a considerable amount oI trouble.

ln September 1967, the restoration work at Marple took a gr€at leap ahead. A working party from the Lordon and Home Counties Branch l.W.A. came to Marple ard armed with assurances that the Board would not oblect to work on the waterway, a clearance of the dramber of lock 12 was under. taken. A blacksrnith's forge had previously adjoined rhis lock and the clearance brought to light anvil, bellows and a range of iron-working tools, as well as the more usual rubbish found in a lock.

From this point lock clearances and repairs became the maior work carried out on the canal.

qqgF

A Mixed Ycar

-

t9G8

This was the year of defeat for the Relators who were takingi part in rhe legal action against the Board. ln February, the Attorney-Gensral announced that he was satisfied that the Relators had a case 4ainst ttre Board and agreed to issue a writ asking the Board lo restore both canals to navigation. The provisions of th6 Government's 1968 Transport Bill wers published iust tour days betore the r rit was olticially served. The bill

containd a number of surprises, One clause sought to remove the public right of Navigation and to remove the legal actountability of the

Board in the event of failure to comply with their statutory obligations. The guillotine curtailed discussion on this crucial clause ard prevented any of the proposed amerdments being moved. lf the clause were to stard, lhe Relators' case would be destrcyed overnight. ln the Lords an amendment to fie clause was propos€d, s€eking to except the Ashton ard loiver Peak Forest Canals from this lcgislation sinco the matter was already sub iudice.

Wren the bill returned to the Commons, the amendment was struck out by a maiority of 29 votes. A great deal of inscqrrate information was presented to the House, including the following:

"lt is a fact th6t litigation in respect of the Ashton-under-Lyne Canal was com. menced after the provisions of the bill with r$pect to waterways wsre known and publi$ed".' This was the version eventually accepted by the hous,e and thus the case was lost. The relators w€r€ left to count tre cost ot the deteated action. The bill 'Mr. Swingler...

the new Act, the two of 'Remainder Waterways' about which a decision had to be reacied within the three years ending November became law, and under

canals were placed in the category

1971.

Practical work at Marple continued rapidly assisted by an increasing amount ot mechanical plant. With tho tentative consent of the Board, a weekend working party was arranged in Fehuary to demonstrate to the Council at Oroylsden what voluntary labour could do. Tog8ther with the London and Midland l.W.A. groups, the P.F.C.S. cleared one part of fhe

A$ton Canal in a weekend

ol Arctic conditions - tfie Council remained unimpressed. ln September of the same year, the historic Operation Ashton took place. This was rfie largest workirE party ever attempted and 630 people and a vast amount of medtanical equipment laboured tor two days in pouring rain to remove 2147 tons of rubbi*r from over a mile of the

A*rton Canal, bringing about a vast improvoment

26

in the

appearance

in Droylsden may

of the waterway. The reaction be summarised

by some extracts

'linear Park'

from the local press:-

tons of debris removed"

" 'Get Rid of Canal' say Councillors teers effo.ts'Made No Difference'

"

-

1500

-

volun'

Heferring to an associated public meeting:-

"Councillor P. Warne who attended the public meeting last week addressed by Mr. E. L. Hill, secretary ofthe Peak ForestCanal Society, declared 'This has not made an atdm of difference. . . No matter what the cost is, let us close it. This was a biased meeting given by people who do not reside

Operation Ashton as;"a publicity gimmick by ill-informed amateurs. ..

Only the visible rubbish was removed. No attempts were made to remove the silt." Thus the officials of Droylsden saw the largest and most expensive demonstration of the power of voluntary labour.

The principal contention seemed to be that the single weekend had not restored the canal to total navigability and that the canal had not been excavated throughout to its original depth. For' tunately, the national press and most other local authoritiesrealised the value of what had happened on the Ashton.

-

IWAAC

- to look into

and make

recommendations about the future of the're' mainder' waterways. The oouncil came to see the lower Peak Forest and Ashton Canals and strongly recommended their reopening, lt was at this time that the battle 'went underground' for the man in

the street. Whilst the Society continued to

campaign vigorously, the discussions about the future of the canals were held mainly between the Board and the Riparian Authorities. By this time, only Droylsden was strongly against restoration and only Manchester was unsure. The remaining eiilht authorities were all in favour of restoration.

A number of things began to favour those who advocated restoration. The change of Government

brought increasing'environment consciousness' and the promise of substantial government grants for the improvement of derelict land. Manchester

2A

very expensive'

f

illing, culvelting and restoration.

Little was known of these negotiations by the average enthusiast and as the campaign continued,

working towards no-one-knew'what. the three year interim period ticked slowly away'

-

Success

1971

1971 it became known that only Droylsden was

Board

to restore the canals. The year slipped by

quietly, with only the knowledge that the Local Authorities were trying to find a formula for the apportionment of costs between them.

Then on Wednesday 15th. December 1971, the Manchester Evening News carried headed

'lts

a small story

Full Ahead on Canal'. The crucial

paragraph read "The steering Committee consisting

of

representatives of local authorities along the Ashton and Lower Peak Forest Canals announced that a 8225,000 restoration project is to be carried

out. lt

is hoped

to start work next April".

A battle had been won,

The core of enthusiasts who had been with the fight since its inception

1969/70

one of the effects of the 1968 Transport Act was' to set up the lnland Waterways Amenity Advisory

-

it

now dissenting from the decision to request the

Droylsden's public health inspector described

Council

and found

would not consider a similar scheme for any other waterway. The British Waterways Board's attitude mellowed considerably and they at last produced credible comparisons of the relative costs of in'

ln

district."'

The Ouiet Yea]!

-

There were strong indications that Manchester

"600 Volunteers Clean Out Canal

in the

carried out a water-channelling scheme on part of the abandoned Rochdale Canal to turn it into a

could hardly believe w-hat they read. But this was indeed the case and a fight which started some eight years before against seemingly impossible odds had ended. The steering group had decided $at the Board should be requested to start work in April 1972 and to spread the work over three years. The local authorities were to bâ‚Ź responsible for the costs of restoration to the amount of f85,000 for the Ashton Canal and 918,000 for the lower Peak Forest Canal. Lancashire and Cheshire

county councils agreed to pay 50% of the costs incurred by their respective local authorities.

Only Droylsden remained dissenting, though the Council recently agreed to accept restoration whilst not reaching agreement to pay part of the total cost.

The Future

-

1972174 atxl bevo

Restoration work on the Ashton and Lower Peak Forest Canals has already begun - but the in-

lndustrial Archeology

-

Lower Peak Forest Canal Aqueduct

volvement of the lnland Waterways Association and the Peak Forest Canal Society does not end at this point. The working parties of the Societies will continue to do voluntary work on the canals, in a work programme integrated with the restoration scheme drawn up by the Board. Between them, the two societies must find f13,000 towards thâ‚Ź restoration costs and vigorous fund-raising events

will be necessary,

-

River Tame, Dukinfield

But the future of the Cheshire Ring is assured and as you look around the boats at this rally, remember that, in two years time, most of them will be able to make the iourney to the Peak District via the Ashton and lower Peak Forest Canals, a fascinating lourney many miles shorter than the present route.

To help to re-open the Cheshire Ring, you can do no better than iorn the Peak Forest Canal Society.

Though restoration will be complete by mid-1974,

the Ring may still not be entirely

navigable.

Motorway works at Hyde, involving the cutting of a new length of canal to replace a section which must be filled in, will not end until 1975 and at present, there is no guarantee that through naviwill be preserved during the work. The Societies are fighting this threatened delay to the reopening.

gation

For details write

to:-

Mr. E. Keaveney, 35 Councillor Lane, Cheadle, Cheshire.

Pordand bosin awaiting the boats

27

Your local canal society Always at tbe forefront of tbe Cbesbire Ring Restoration Campaign

Th6 PEAK FOREST CANAL SOCIETY is contributing f3,fi)0 and orgEnising group6 of volunteer nawies for restoration of the Ashton and Peak Forest Canals.

Visit our stand at the rally

& support our resto ration fund For upto-the minute information of restoration work ou the Cheshire Ring, zubscribe to our Dewsletter, by joining tlrc Society.

Morrc details from our stand, or send Sl to E. Keaveney, Esq., Genetal Secretary, 35 Councillor Lane' Cheadle, Cheshire.

(06r-428 5829)

NEIIrNAVVIES

r.OR NEIIT NAVIGATIONS

by Brian Bâ‚Źagloy

A$tac

-

A lav of tfie 900 pâ‚Źode involved

Restore the Breach! Re-open the

Ashton! Open

the Avonl lmprove our Canal! Every waterway enthusiast expresses such laudable exhortations from time to time. Every responsible enthusiast knows, however, that in utterinq such demands he obligates himself to do something about them.

Thus did Douglas Barwell, O.B.E.; at his own expense he purchased the former Lower Avon Navigation Company and aquired a semi-derelict River Avon from Tewkesbury to Evesham. During the 1950's he was the driving force carrying out a

of practical construction work and raising a large sum of money for the restoration of navigation. The work culminated in the re-opening great deal

of the river to navigation on 10th June 1962.

He

was awarded the O.B-E. in 1970lor his services to

the Lower Avon

Navigation

Trust.

Douglas

Barwellis work illustrates that the restoration ol waterways is not really such a new idea, although perhaps here in the North West it might seem so.

I always regard Douglas Barwell as the first of the New Nawies - the fore-runner of a vyhole crop of

Working Party Organisers and

Restoration

Managers. Utterly supreme amongst the latter is David Hutchings, M.B.E.

I first met Oavid Hutchings iust about at the time of "the announcement, that the Terms of Transfer of the Southern Section of the Stratlord Canal from the British Transport Commission to the National Trust are nor,v agreed" - to quote from "Navigation" Nov. 1959. Official permission to start restoration was not given until March 1961, but Hutchings in his own inimitable style qot

2S

-

Wntrlya Ww

inffi in tln wM of trilwrys

It's all in -

Ill/ hl n

tll u.

1t t.,1 [

rrrr/l\o

$ WCIM[[D

THE NEW INDEPENDENT NATIONAL WATERWAYS MAGAZINE Details from - WATERWAYS PRODUCTIONS LTD 26, Chaseview Road, Alrewas, Burton.on"Trent, Staffs

VISIT OUR STAND AT THE RALLY

3()

I cracking straight away. ln January 1960 working parties of the new nawies decended on Bishopton Pound on the Southern Stratford. lll equipped but fired with enthusiasm, these early working parties dredged the canal with a large rake, winched across the canal by a tractor driven along the tow-

path; the rake never dug in properly

unless

volunteers rode on it across the canal. Official restoration started a year later, after more cam paigning and fund raising, with modern equipment and Hutchings ingenuity. Hutchings then carried the Stratford Proiect to completion in three years, The work included dredging 13 miles of canal, fitting gates to no less than 35 locks, bank repairs, lock chamber clearance and reconstruction, and hundreds of lesser iobs, nearly all of which were carried out by volunteers. Volunteers did not

responsible for canal maintenance refused to clear

it. The Hutchings'

reaction was

simple,

He

brought in adragline and dredged the canal himself. much to the conaternation of the canal authorityand he got away with it because at that time the legal Right of Navigation existed. What .ir more, over the followiog few years B.W.B. restored the

sixteen Stourbridge locks and the whole canal, with vital help from the new nawies of the Staffs.

& Worcs, Canal Society. thus

saving considerably

on labour costs.

ln the North West in the mid-sixties, the campaign

got under way for the restoration of the

rec_erltly

closed sections of the Cheshire Ring. The Peak Forest Canal Society was formed for this purpose, and unassisted and inpecunious its new navvies did

they came from organisations of all kinds including the army (on exercises) and regularly from Her Majesty's Prisons. Volunteer labour and Hutchings' engineering methods saved well over f50,000. To

on Marple locks, even replacing balance beams and repairing lockgates. Work was done too on the Ashton and Rochdale Canals. ln 1968 the largest working party ever assembled in one place took part in "Operation Ashton", when

say that the restoration of the Stratford Canal caught the imagination of the whole Nation is no

Canal was cleared of rubbish by 600 new navvies.

come solely from canal oriented organisations,

valiant work

the Fairfield to Clayton section of the Ashton

exaggeration, because on 11th July 1964 the Oueen Mother performed the re-opening ceremony

This exciting event was a crucial factor in the Cheshire Ring Restoration Campaign. By '1970,

at the Stratford-upon-Avon National Rally,

the P.F-C.S. nawies workinq almost alone had reopened the lower half of Marple locks. By lg71 it was possible to hold a rally of over 10O boats in Manchester at the top of the nine Rochdale Canal

and

later David got his M.B.E. The achievement may be summed up in David's own words, "Fortunately none of us were experts, or we should have known

it

\ryas

impossible."

Locks, also re-opened (a major achievement).

While the new narvies were restoring the Stratford,

what was happening elsewhere? lnspired by

Hutchings, working parties of new navvies were being formed or re-vitalised all over the country,

Perhaps their first activity was to travel to work on the Stratford, but then their local canals began

to reap the benefit of volunteer labour, which could now be called upon to give a new dimension to the

campaigns for waterway restoration and improvement up and down the country. To mention but a few, working party groups were set up associated with the Kennet and Avon Canal,

The Great Ouse, The Pocklington Canal, The Peak Forest Canal and The Stourbridge Canal. Also nearly all LW.A. Branches set up working parties,

As the Stratlord Proiect was associated with

a

National Rally, so was the next maior restoration to take place - that of the Stourbridge Canal. ln

1962. with the threat of closure hanging over the canal, the l.W.A. held a National Rally in Stourbridge to draw attention to the threat, Once again Hutchinqs was involved, The canal arm to Stourbridge was impassable at ttre time, and those legally

ln the South. the work of the new nawies had become centrally organised by the waterways Recovery Group (W.R.G.) an organisation independent of, but closely allied to LW.A. Under W.R.G. auspices, working parties became more and more mechanised and modernised, the dragline of the Stratford days being replaced

by

Hymacs, and barrow-hoists replacing block and tackle on lock clearances. The W.R.G. played a key role in Operation Ashton.

With the opening of the Lower Avon to Evesham in '1962 and the canal to Stratford in 1964, a tantalising 16 miles of River Avon separated the two towns - The Upper Avon, un-navigable for nearly a century. Anyone but David Hutchings would have been thought mad to suggest that such dereliction was a viable restoration proiect. ln 1968, arter three years of caretul investigation, and requiring f200,0O0 - not all yet raised David ordered the new nawies to start, Just four years later, at the present Rally. I confidently expect to hear it announced that the tjpper Avon

is open. As the former navigation works

have

81

largely disappeared, only the weirs at Evesham, Harvington, Welford and Stratford remaining, it was necessary to build virtually a new navigation four entirely new lock sites and six new weirs being the major engineering proiects, not to mention the blasting out of a navigable channel through the Marlcliffe rock. The Upper Avon is another waterway proiect which has caught the imagination of the Nation, and the Nation is at last beginning to rediscover the value of waterways and to invest in them; in 1971, the Department of Environment gave e25,00O to the Upper Avon Prorect. The t,pper Avon Restoration is a fantastic achievement; let us all add this achievement to the many other things we are celebrating at this Rally.

Back in the North West we have our own canal restorations to celebrate and our own benefactors to thank for financial support. The Bridgewater Breach is nearly repaired. The Caldon Canal is being restored. Thd restoration of the Ashton and

way. All these proiects illustrate a new concept in restoration.

Sir Frank Price of B.w.B. sums it up by calling it

Earlier this year fie Ashton and Peak Forest Canals Project got under way at "Ashtac 72", a mammoth mechanised working party attended by nearly 1,000 new nawies. The canal at Ashton was converted in one weekend from a rubbish filled ditch, into a clear waterway once again' And Ancoats locks were cleared, as a first step in the

official B.W.B, restoration programme. Ths Ashton-Peak Forest restoration will continue until sometime in 1974. Volunteer nawies are required continually (please contact me or a Rally official if you can help), and money is always needed (please contribute at the Rally). New nawiesfor new navigations means building a better environment, with more amenities, and hopefully the channelling of goods from the overcrowded roads. The new nawies are the advance guard of the waterways movement. Which waterways are

next on their agenda? The Basingstoke Canal?

The Welshpool Canal? The Kennet and Avon?

The River Severn?

Peak Forest Canals is well under

"Co-operation 72". fhe navigation authorities, the local authorities and the new navvies have at last ioined forces. All are involved financially. All are committed to work together to improve the environment by developing new navigations. 1972 represents a turning point in the remarkable history of the waterways and the co-operation is a blue print for other proiects up and down the country.

Ashtac

g2

-

Ponland

B*in before dre picture on

To discover what is going on, where and when, on the various waterway proiects subscribe to Nawies Notebook - an informative and very readable bimonthly magazine, published by the Waterway Recovery Group. The subscription is only 25p per annum, a bit more would help to cover the postage, from the editor, Graham Palmer, 4 Wentworth Court, Wentwortr! Avenue, Finchley, London N3 1YD

page 27

GAITAI. SOGIETIES ln most parts of the country there are usually to be found organasations dealing with a local "problem" waterway or perhaps a national issue

...acanal

"cause".

Below are listed just a few societies which

-

are

doing just this.

The Narrow Boat Trust The Narrow Boat Trust was established in August 1970 by a small group of enthusiasts who were concerned by the speed at which the narrow boat in its natural form was vanishing from the waterways. Commercial carrying had reached a low ebb; such carriers aswere

still in businesswere struggling

for survival. lvlore and more craft were being cut down and converted into holiday or house boats.

Partly to keep the nucleus of carrying fleet in existence for future use and partly to preserve something beautiful and of value to the environment, it was decided to form a charitable Trust.

Before the NBT had been in existence a year.

British Waterways Board issued a list of boats for sale by tender. ln three rnleeks we raised, by loan and donation, the sum of f2,000, and tendered for the steel motors ALTON and NUNEATON and the composite butty SATELLITE. The tender was accepted. A noted narrow boat enthusiast, Jim Yates, gave the Trust extensive moorings and a slipway at Norton Canes on the Cannock Extension Canal next to his own premises and the boatyard

of l\4alcolm Braine.

To this base in the autumn of '1971 were towed ALTON and NUNEATON. Shabby, rusty. mere caricatures of the gaily painted and proudly maintained craft that once enhanced our canals. their

blocks ready for the teams of carpenters, metal workers, painters and welders, all Trust volunteers, to start work. lMeanwhile the work of increasing the membership and publicising the work of the Trust continued.

The lnaugural Meeting was held in July 1971 at Northampton at which Robert Aickman, founder of the lnland waterways Association and Patron of the NBT spoke at length on the necessity for keeping a carrying fleet in existence against the day when the country turns to the proper use of its waterways. The Trust boats would not be used to compete with existing carriers but would act as a reserve to enable a carrying company to accept cargoes calling for more craft than he had available.

Public l\4eetings have also taken place in London and Derby. NUNEATON was taken to the IWA Rally at Northampton, 1971, and attracted much attention and donations: One of the boats will be at Lymm. The Trust exhibition Stand has travelled to many events and sales helped to augment funds.

Trust membership now totals over 300, of which a third have already done active work. This, coupled with the amount of money raised and the

at Norton Canes, represents markable achievement in less than h,vo years. efforts made

a

re-

engines were wrecked, woodwork was rotten, and everything that could be removed had been taken by vandals.

The Trust offers scope for many activities. Those who like restoring things can tackle woodwork, while the technically minded can try engine installation and maintenance. For the creative there is

At Norton Canes a work party of Trust members, helped by the Waterway Recovery Group cleared

painting, in the traditional narrow boat style of

the site of scrub, erected a small hut and employed a Smalley excavator to dredge mud and reeds from the moorings. The boats were emptied of rubbish and rain water and work began on stripping out rotten woodwork. The slipway was cleared ready for the first slipping. This took place in December and NUNEATON was dragged out and placed on

roses and castles. Later there will be opportunities for boat crew, and administrative help is always

welcome.

Further information about the Trust and itswork can be obtained from Rev. Howe, Potterspury Vicarage, Towcester, Northants, NN12 7PX.

aa

The Lancaster Canal Tru3t

last family to work the commercial boats. norfl owns exlLeeds/Liverpool siort boat "Shelagh"

The Lancaster Canal used to run from Preston to Kendal in Westmorland. This was known as the "north end" of the canal. The "south end" was built from Aspull, near Wigan, to Walton Summit, near Bamber Bridge. A tram road, five miles in length connected the two canals, This was constructed because of the prohibitive cost of building an aqueduct over the River Ribble at Preston, What remains? The "south end" from Wigan top lock, Aspull, to Johnsons Hillock Locks, Chorley, is now part of the LeedyLiverpool Canal, the last V/2 miles to Walton Summit having been filled in

which is extremely active with passenger trips.

The Trust charters the boat for three special

in 1970. The Preston/Kendal stretch became the of a violent argument between the Lan"

subiect

caster Canal Trust and the Ministry of Transport some years ago, when the Ministry wished to close the whole of the Westmorland part of the canal to enable them to build the M,6 extension northwards without building navigable bridges over the canal.

They introduced a closure bill in Parliament and stated that to build navigable bridges would cost f2O0,000. Three years passed.before they admitted the cost was more like C32,00O, but they would still not relent. We are therefore left with 42 miles of canal from Preston to Tewitfield in North Lancashire, and a branch to Glasson Dock, near Lancaster, ot VA miles and six locks. The main line is lock-free. The Lancaster Canal Trust is determined that not another inch of the Lancaster Canal shall be interfered with.

The canal was built by John Rennie and

passes

through lovely north Lancashire scenery, unspoilt by any urban sprawl. All bridges, locks, etc., are built of stone, and we consider our canal to be generally well maintained.

cruises each year.

Other attractions of the Lancaster Canal are the magnificent Lune Aqueduct at Lancaster; panoramic views of Morecambe Bay where the canal passes through Hest Bank, and Bolton-le-Sands; a

fine boating centre at Galgate Cruisers, where all facilities

vided. The

The Lancaster Canal Trust is registered with the Charity Commissioners. and amongst affiliated bodies are the Northern Anglers Association, the Lancaster Canal Boat Club, The Ramblers Association and the Lancashire Naturalist's Trust.

The Trust is currently engaged in pressing for development and improvements at Ashton Basin, at the Preston terminus and restoring all the stone

mileposts along the canal. ln addition regular working parties are arranged. lllustrated lectures on the canal are given gladly to interested organisations.

Finally we would welcome your support in our efforts to preserue this beautiful waterway. Membership costs 75p a year and brings our quarterly magazine "Waterwitch", together with certain concessions from commercial operators alonq the canal.

All enquiries regarding any aspect of the Lancaster Canal will be gladly ans,wered by the Public Relations Officer:

is possible to enter the canal by sea, via LeedV Liverpool Canal-Rufford Arm-Tarleton-River Ribble-open sea past Blackpool and F leetwoodGlasson Dock. Many of the members of the Lancaster Canal Boat Club have done this trip when they wish to cruise on the main canal network.

given as to suitable slipways.

Comrnercial traffic on the Lancaster canal ceased in 1947, However we can boast two water buses, The "Lady Fiona", an ex Lancaster barge, is three parts covered with a glass roof, and offers catering facilities during the cruise. lt operates from Lancaster. Mr. Dan Ashcroft, a member of the

94

Lancaster Canal Boat Club have a rally

each year.

It

For those wishing to put trail boats on the canal a warm welcome is extended by the Trust and the Lancaster Canal Boat Club. Advice will be gladly

N'West Holiday

-

for boaters are pro-

Mr. John S. Gavan, Lancaster Canal Trust,

11A, Rydal Mount, Belthorne V illage, BLACKBURN, Lancs.

Tel: Blackburn 65948.

A Welcome to the Caldon

For the Committee and members of the Caldon Canal Society these days are hopeful, and iust a little anxious. Having spent almost a decade trying

to

persuade the local authorities

of the beauty of

the Caldon they have at last been successful.

The Society is carrying on its own attempts to

keep the waterway open and to bring its scenery and historic features to the notice of more and more people. The fruits of regular voluntary work

by Society members and those of our energetic affiliate, the Caldon Restoration Group, are now plain for all to see. Many local groups are now 'adopting' stretches of the canal, and as this scheme progresses it is hoped to have most of the waterway covered.

The Society's film 'The Caldon Canal

-

a cut

above the rest' is nearing completion and will shortly receive its premiere as part of the Stokeon-Trent Arts Festlval. Many people, and not only local people, are now convinced that the title is no exaggeration, and anyone wanting to find

out for

themselves will anywhere on the Caldon.

find a warm

welcome

etc., but today it is the Montgomery Canal which takes pride of place in our restoration work. ln October l970 "Operation l\4udsplash" was held on the stretch of canal at Welshpool and in the following Spring a trip boat was introduced on this section. ln the 1972 season the boat will be powered by an engine for the first time.

Working Parties are held at Welshpool on the first Sunday of every month, and at Welstl Frankton, the starting point of the Montgomery, on the third Saturday of every month. The canal at both these spots is almost unrecognisable compared with the dereliction of a few years ago, The Society is awaiting the outcome of the Public

Enquiry into the building of Welshpool By,pass along the restored line of canal in Welshpool.

S.U.C.S, was represented at the Enquiry.

Details

from:The Society also holds regular meetings throughout John Tibbitt, Flat 2, The Hawthorns, Keele,

Staffs. ST5 sAE.

the wioter months and produces the well known iournal "Cuttings". ln the summer the Society is represented at most of the canal rallies in the North-west of Britain, and has also organised rallies itself, at Chester in 1967 and in May of this year, and at Trevor in 1969,

Shropshile Union Canal Society The Society was founded in 1966 to foster interest in the Shropshire Union Canal system and since then our activities have widened in scope tremendously. Membership is now over 500 and has constantly increased over the last six years.

It is hoped that considerable progress in restoration work on the Montgomery will have been made by the end of 1972. For further information about our Society, please write to Mrs. M. Clegg,

44, Port Hill Road, Restoration work on the main line of the canal, in a small way in 1967, clearing towpaths

began

.NAl'\,IE!Sis published by the Waterways Recovery Group and for 25p a year anyone interested

in promoting restoration and development

of every navigable waterway by voluntary work, can find out whats happening.

write to

-

Graham Palmer

WATERWAY RECOVERY GROUP 4, Wentyorth Court, llrentworth Ayenue, Finchley. LONDON N3 lYP.

Shrewsbury.

or contact us at the Rally stand.

%

or composite narrow boats. Our staff are alllully qualified tradesmen takinq great pride in their work.

Boatbuilder T. Jones finishing exterior to 52'new boat on 'Lionheart' 7a" steel hull. Double skin cabin. Powered B.M.C. 'Captain' 22 bhp marine diesel. For P. Clegg, Esq.

60' new boat with'Lionheart' new steel hull. Luxury aluminium exterior cladding. Powered 27 bhp marine diesel. For N, Bostock, Esq.

vessel,

Manchester,

photo acknowledgements l. 'The Guardian'. 2,4,10& 12. Robert

a6

l\4ay. 3. 'Express & Star,.

11. T. Flaherty,

Esq. 13. Harry

IOUR REPUT{flTITON I g

ilFLtOilT

I\4AY WE INTRODUCE YOU TO SOME OF OUR PERSONNEL?

4

Tony. (Foreman. Cabin

5

Builder). At work in'Unicorn' For N. Bostock, Esq.

Alan. (Boatbuilder). ln progress with some new hotel boats for lnland

Waterryay Hotels.

8

rl

Nigel. (Painter/Boatman). Preparing for the season aboard 'Cactus'.

They will be at the Rally.

Ted. (Signwriter/Boat Builder). 50 years with narrow boats!

9

6

Ray.{Plumber/Fitter) Sorting out a system in

z

Alan

ll.

(Joiner)

Fitting out in 'Unicorn'.

'Frobisher' For M. McGrath, Esq.

Bill. (Fitter/Electrician). Busy with a 1932 Gardner twin marine diesel,

to

aboard new 40'tug 'Vale of Arun'.

For A. Simmons Esq.

Jennifer. Office and Passenger Bookings. Always a sm ile.

Cliff.(carpenter/Boatbuilder).

Conversion of butty boat 'Alphons' to motor boat. For Mrs. M. Ridout.

13 Conversion in progress to 42 years old hull. Powered Ailsa-Craig 20 bhp marine diesel. For David Lowe, Esq,

M. E. BBAINE (Boa,tlerrllder)

Nzu-

NORTON CANES DOCKS Lime Lane (on A5) Pelsall, Nr. Walsall, Staffs Telephone: Brownhills 4888

tion Caterinfl 65 BridgeStreet lf,trarrington lBl. lf,trarring@n 3llo47 I ARE PLEASED TO HAVE BEEN COMMISSIONED TO SUPPLY THE CATERING REQUIREMENTS FORTHE 1972 INLAND WATERWAYS ASSOCIATION NATIONAL RALLY OF BOATS. WE WISH EVERT SUCCESS TO INLAND WATERWAYS AND THE LYM]YI CRUISING CLUB ON THIS OCCASION. IN ADDITIONTO FULLY LICENSED OUTSIDE CATERING . LION ENTERPRISES OFFER YOU THEIR SERVICES IN MANY OTHER WAYS Late Night Restaurant WE

a

Steak Bars

Bier Keller Function Suites for Conferences, Weddings, Dances and all other occasions Residential Accommodation Dancing to Groups and Discotheque at the DISCO/CARLTON CLUB, Sankey Street, Warington.

Top.line entertainers provided by oru own Theatrical & Management Agency - S.L.A, Enterprises Ltd.

38

R

=r

\ cl!

tl

S rl

rE[ IEUN EilIEIIIilI}IEIII During the Rally period there are many attractiont

in addition to the trips for boat

crews which have

Bobby Charlton

to

open this event.

A

Postal

Franking Service is being organised, as well as

a

already been announced.

Ladies Hairdressing Salon.

On Friday evening there is the traditional Crews Briefing, followed by the Auction of tackle and chandlery, the Rally Oueen Competition, the

Amongst the various competitions are raifles, long distance balloon competition, a Dog Show, Book Match Tombola, Treasure Hunt; other competitions

Fashion and Beach Wear Show by Henri Lloyd and the Disco and Barn Dance.

The needs of the inner man and woman are catered for, both at the Main Rally Site and at Dunham; at both centres there will be bars and refreshment tents open during the full period of the Rally.

Amongst the many attractions designed for the entertainment of visitors are Military and Pipe Bands, the Jamaican Folk Society, a Cinema Tent, Boat Trips, a dog handling display by Securicor, the Royal Navy Recruiting Boats and a demonstration by the Healey Car Owners Association.

We hope to find the Canal Brain of Britain, in an inter-team quiz based on University Challenge. A Coffee Morning and Flower Arranging competition has been arranged in Lymm Village Hall and we are very fortunate to have the agreement of Mrs.

are planned.

Especially for the children are a Punch and Judy Show, a Fancy Dress parade and a Nursery. We also hope to have a Miniature Railway.

Various canal societies are mounting exhibitions and there will be what promises to become the biggest trade show ever seen at a National Rally. ln addition, there will be a Fair and sideshows, a Steam Organ, Traction Engines, an exhibition of Canal Arts and Crafts and examples of restored working boats will be displayed by various groups.

The 1972 Rally Oueen will be officiating at many of the functions and on Sunday there will be the

traditional non-denominatiooal Church

Service.

There is much more planned, all tastes appear to be catered for. A warm welcome awaits you.

NWilil/lrfY

//tfifiniltr"!

rhe ROYAL NAVY CANAL TOURING EXHIBITION will open to the public at ttre NATIONAL RALLY OF BOATS Up-to-date and full of interest see the Guided Missile Destroyer and Polaris Submarioe, and meet the people that man them.

be

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r

A pdcs that dves rsmattrbb vdu! for moncy

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Ltd

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-

E0lll[frlii}ffi ltock We

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BUITT TO CUSTOMERS SPECIFICATION for any length lrom 25'to 55'

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service: Mercury Outboard Motors B tish SeaguU Outboard Motors Avon Inflatables

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--E

THE MANCHESTER HALT'PENNY Frank Mullineux The plaque designed by Sue Cawson for the 1972 National Rally of Boats is based on a token coin dated 1793 known as the Manchester Halfpenny.

Particularly in the later years of the 18th century there was a scarcity of regal coins of small denomination so, to ease the day to day transactions, manufacturers and tradespeople were permitted to issue tokens.

These tokens were redeemable sometimes in towns

other than that of their origin, in which

case

the

towns were named on the tokens.

On this particular Manchester Halfpenny there

is

on the obverse a porter carrying on his back a bale,

probably

of cotton - cotton

cargo for the canal and

for

beinq a significant

l\4anchester.

The reverse has the words "Success to Navigation" and the charqe and motto of the Egerton family coat of arms, the third Duke of Bridgewater (the Canal Duke) being the representative in 1793. On

the shield is a lion rampant and three

pheons

(arrowheads).

"Sic Donec", the motto, is translated as "so until".

Its origin and context are ob6cure but a suggestion is that it is taken from the Vulgate rendering of the gospel accordiog to St. John, Chapter XXI verses

22 and 23i "SlC eum volo manere DONEC veniam" - "So I will have him" (John) "to remain UNTIL I come".

Another source suggested is the phrase "SO shall they prosper UNTIL they perish".

ln

1793, the date the Manchester Halfpenny was issued, there weae two men in Manchester named John Fielding. One was a warehouseman of 12,

Back Falkner Street and the other a grocer and tea dealer of 27, Withy Grove. As there is, on the edge ofsome of the tokens "Payable at J. Fielding's, Manchester" it would seem that either of the two could have been the issuer, with perhaps the grocer being the more likely.

Nevertheless,

"Success to Naviequally applicable in 1972.

the imperative

gation" of 1793

is

4A

I

I

l

r:

[ruolrlands fiuiatiun

llil.

BUTTOCKS BOOTH, NORTHAMPTON Builders

of

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A word between ourselvea about paint for people with a special interest in protection Slete concemed about your craft - it's hull and superstructure .'.... decks, locken and cabinE. We're talking about International Yacht Paints. You can get all tbe technical advice you need post or tolepbone -fteebyAdvieory Service.

-

aom out

You can get the paints themselve8 in a wide variety of colotrs, fton

chandlers at evâ‚Źr!, sailing centre in

Britain and around the world.

Ihis applies to Intemational

enamels. vamishes, PolYurethanes

md antifoulings for wooden, steel, aluminium, concrete' glas8fibre and polystyrene craft.

...Iralnls like ouns lnternational Yacht Paints 2+30 CANUTE ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON. Tel. 070t

2471213

The fnternational Paint Company Limited

46

I-

for buying or hiring send for free brochure:

HARBOROUGH MARINE LIMITED

CANAL BASIN.LEICESTER ROAO.MARKET HARBOROUGH. TEICESTERSHIFE LEr6

TBJ

Telephones

2594,4326

@

46

-E

m0[llEl$ tm mN0ullltffi IIAND CLEANSEE Safely and quickly rcmote3 extraordinary dirt,

painr, oil, gease, tar, ingained grime. Jusl rub in and dnse off (even the towel stays clean).

Especially useful on the boat for displacing moistue on engines and

ignition sy6tems, penehating rusty nuts and bolts, lubricatir-rg hinges, locks etc.,

Eotecting against rust.

SOLt'BLE DEGREASEB OEB ClIEMICAL PBOPRIETARIES LIMITED EELPER, DEBBY, DE5 1JX. Tel: Belpq 2714

Ready to use Jizer quickly rcmoves surplus gease and oil simply brush on and wash off with water. tt's also ideal for cleaning painl brushes and rcmoving tar spots"

47

I

turloidealfEAtBoils forinlanduaterwqs

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TEAL MARlNE PRODUCTS Holland Stsst, Heywood, LancsTelephone: Heywood 684114/68858

Holhnd Steet, Heyzoood, Lancs,

I

HARBOURMASTER,S NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS Routsr to Rally Following the breach in the Bridgewater Canal, Lymm (to the West of the breach) can only be approached by craft from other waterway$ via the Trent and Mersey Canal and its northern terminus with the Bridgewater at Preston Brook.

The ancillary rally at Dunham is primarily for boats from the North and East of the breach not wishing to navigate the Manchester Ship Canal. From the North the Bridgewater Canal is entered via the Leigh Branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.

Dimeruions of Craft

Len$h

Beem

Draught

Eridgewater Canal Trent and Mersey Canal: North of Croxton Aqueduct Middlewich South of Croxton Aqueduct Middlewich

72',o',!

14',9"

4',3"

72',0" 72'O"

g',4"

3',O"

7',O"

3',o"

72',O"

14',3" 14',4"

3',9"

Leeds and Liverpool Canal: West of Wigan East of Wigan

*

62'O"

JO

Headroom

8',6"

*

7',O"

6'4" 8',o" 8',0"

Maximum headroom in Harecastle Tunnel is approximately 5'9" only.

Licence

Craft holding current British Waterways Licence will be permitted to navigate the Bridqe\rvater Canal and attend the Rally without further charge (by kind permission of the Manchester Ship Canal Co.)

N.B. All Speed

boats attending the Rally must carry third party insurance of at least f25.000.

Limit

4 m.p.h. Beducing for moored cratt.

Slipways There are facilities for slipping boats at the following points:

Ladyline Ltd.

Warrington Lane, Agden, Lymm, Cheshire (up to 70') Warrington Lane, Agden, Lymm, Cheshire

Canal Voyages

Preston Brook, Runcorn, Cheshire

Hesford Marine

092.5754639 092.57S4639 o92-86.376

Fuel Supplies Obtainable from the following:

Lymm Rally Lymm Service Station, Ditchfield Bridge (456) Lymm.

Ladyline Ltd., Agden, Lymm.

Hesford Marine, Agden. Lymm..

Canal Voyages, Preston Brook.

Dunham Rally Patricroft Service Station, Patricroft Bridge (A57) Eccles.

Stretford Garage, Chester Road. Sretford (Oppoaite Rathbones boatyard) School House Garage, Sprin.gfield Lane, Sale. Cheshire (Opposite Sale Station)

Petrol.

Petrol.

Diesel.

Diesel.

Petrol.

Petrol and Diesel.

Petrol.

4S

*DoB$tiil -'qgp.$p,u*^ 24'

I c#ffiffiil"HulliL' I !I{TRODUCIl{G

''l

?,*'

ooglrpitopuiser

inboadoroutb6ard

.r*r^

stiongwin0ows-chemici*Elil[ffi:i,,,W:.:'.:;,*,,,,,,,,.,,,,,,,F't#

l I

=-1 DOBSOIflS

I

| meDobso"24','inv'ooi'

(YACHT At{D BOATBUILDERS) LTD. THE WHARF-SHARDLOW- T.DERBY 6()

I I t

The Bridgewatâ‚Źr Canal Handbook is obtainable from: The Manchester Ship Canal Co., Bridgewater Department, Chester Road, Manchester. M154NU. Price 30p plus l0p postage.

Copiss will also be on sale at the Rally Sit'e.

Early Arrivals

Fally moorings will be available with effect from 29th July, 1972, but all boats within the Rally area must take up their allocated rally moorings from this date onwards. Neither the Harboufmaster or his staff can accept responsibility for any craft left unattended prior to the Rally and reserve the right to moveany boat should this be necessary for any reason.

Arrangements for temporary moorings on the Bridgewater Canal outside the Rally Area may be made with

the following: Lymm Rally

Voyages Ltd. Hesford Marine Thelwell Moorings Canal

Ladyline

092-86-376 092-575-2945 092-575-4639 0925-64289

Preston Brook, Runcorn, Cheshire.

Warrington Lane, Agden. Lymm. warrington Lane, Agden, Lymm.

116 Weaste Lane, Warrington, Lancs.

Dunham Rally.

Worsley C.C, (Leigh & Worsley) A. Redshaw, 33 Wilton Road, Manchester 6.

Wm. Bleasdale,2 Repton Ave., Flixton, Manchester. 061-748-6843 Watchhouse C,C. (Stretford) (Sale) G. White, S Broomville Ave., Sale, Cheshire.

061-973-3261 &le c.C.

Rally Control Lymm All boats on arrival, should stop at Picket Boat moored some 2 miles West of Rally Site {before M6 Motorway Bridge). Here obtain mooring instructions and directions. After mooring report as soon as possible to Rally Office on Rally Site.

Dunham

On arrival all boats should stop at Picket Boat moored approximately 1 mile east of Rally Site (at Bay Molton Hotel). Here obtain mooring instructions and directions. After mooring report as soon as possible

to Rally Headquarters situated in Dunham Village Hall.

Mooring be moored 2 or more abreast. Unless otherwise instructed first boat to arrive at allocated mooring point will moor nearest bank. Berthing Stewards will be responsible for all sections of moorings and are also at your service to assist and advise with all requirements,

All craft will

A mooring cable will be laid along the entire length of rally moorings. mooring warps to this cable, Please do not use mooring spikes.

All craft should

secure their

Fire Precautions

All craft should carry adequate and efficient fire fighting equipment, Special care must

be

taken when

handling or using petrol and bottled gas.

Sewage Disposal

As a result of the breach there will be no movement of water through the rally area. ln the interests of hygene and consideration for others, rally entrants are requested not to use sea toilets within the rally area.

Arrangements

will

will be made for the daily disposal of the contents of chemical closets. Toilet tacilities

be available on the Rall.y Site.

WateI

All craft are advised to fill up with water before arriving at the Rally. Water points on Bridgewater Canal: Lymm. Preston Brook, Lymm C.C. Ladyline Ltd.. Burford Lane, Agden.

Dunham.

Sale Station Bridge. Watchhouse C.C. Stretford. l,u,orsley C.C. Eccles. Butts Basin. Leigh.

51

E

Best wishet to the Oryonire\ atd Supporten ol the 1972 Notiokally Rolly of Bodtt dt

Lynm

Mombers of:

r*[iu:*i:1,..

G. P. WITTER Ltd.

18 CANAL SIDE,

CHESTER

Telephone: 0244 41L66

Opposite Chester's canal side mini-part

R.Y.A. l.W.A. end Branchoi Shropshire, Stratford

C.ldon etc., Narow

Boat Trurt, C.n.di.n Canoe Aasociation

National Trust

Ornohtes &OoUOooUsr CONOI,

oFFshone

&nve

4-]^/.,

1'*

.F_,.-7'--1r^3 CO

E AI{D SEE US ANY OAY OAW}{

wl/Yen$Iiffi J4rrt lUl ani ng Telephone: Wettenhall

62

251

Ef i,.ir[{+frj.1g"1il'+ft

cHoLr..roNDESroN Nr. Wettenhall, Nantwich

iT::::

There will be numerous water points along the rally moorings available at all times in the Village Hall Car Park.

at Lymm. At Dunham, water will

be

&rpplies and Storss Bread and milk will be available every day at pre-arranged points, to be announced. Groceries will be on sale daily on the Rally Site. Calor Gas will be available on site.

Movement of Claft

will be restricted to a minimum. After boats have moored at the Rally they may only leave their moorings with the prior permission of the Harbourmaster or his staff.

This

Winding There are 2 winding holes within the area of the Rally moorings at Lymm. At the Dunham Rally nearest yyinding point for craft up to 72'0" ls at Timperley. Craft up to 47'0" can wind on the Rally Site.

Firhermen

A maior fishing contest is taking place on the Bridgewater Canal in the Grappenhall area on Saturday sth August. 1972. Any craft not arriving until Saturday are requested to slow down and proceed with due consideration along this section.

Restriction Due to new sewer workings, a coffer dam has had to be constructed at a point between Chester Road BridgeandWalton Bridge restricting the width of navigation. Please exercise extreme caution when passing this point.

Perconnel

Harbourmaster Sid Ellis David lvlackereth Moorings Secretary Colin Furness Berthing Off icer Moorings Officer Site Harry Locan Moorings Officer Services Floy Maslen Harbourmaster and controller at Dunham. Alan Thompson.

Rally Telephone Number O92.575-51 83

Navigation of the Manchester Ship Caral Under the Manchester Ship Canal Act of 1960 the

following must bâ‚Ź complied with by all pleasure craft navigating the Ship Canal.

1. An application form must be submitted giving the date and time on which it is proposed to enter the Canal and of the intended movement o, the pleasure craft in the Harbour/Canal. Notice to be given to the Harbourmaster not less than 48 hours before the time of entry.

b) Acertificate that the owner is insured in respect pleasure craft \rvith an insurer approved by the Company against third party liability in a sum of not less than e50,000

of the

3. During the time the pleasure craft is in the Harbour, it must be: a) ln the charge of a person over 21 years of age who has such experience of navigation as will enable him to navigate in the Harbour with reasonable competence,

2. At the time oI giving notice, the following must be produced to the Harbourmaster;

a) A certificate given during the previous 12 months by a Surveyor of Shipping or a member of the Ship and Boat Builders Federation, or a person approved by the Ship Canal Co., that the pleasure craft is seaworthy and ruitable for navigation of the canal.

b) Equipped with the following items: 1. An adequate anchor and cable.

2. At least 2 warps each not less than 50ft. in length and of sufficient strength.

3. Slich navigation lights and equipment for signalling by sound as will enable the craft to comply

with the lnternational Regulations fgr preventing collisions at Sea and with the Company b_yelaws.

58

CAl{At PLEASURECRAFT (srouRPoRT)

STOURPORT.ON.SEVERN, WORCS Telephone: 2970 2 to 7 berth fully equipped and comfortable diesel and petrol motor cruise$ for hite on the canals and rivers Sevem and Avon

Iatest lypes include thes€ Special Featurcs: CLOSED4IRCUIT KEEL COOLING HOT WATER TO ALL CABINS LARGE FULLY OPENINC WINDOWS GAS COOKING wlTH O}'EN AND GRILL PYE TRANSTSTOR BUILT.IN RADIO ELECTRIC SHAVING POTNT

LARGE REFRIGERATOR FORMICA SURFACES ELECTRIC LIGHTS

WIPBCLEAN LYONIDE DUNLOPILLO CUSHIONS

Illustrsted Brochure on request ESTABLISHED

IN

1950

4. At least 2 fire extinguishers ot a toam type approvd by the Ministry of Transport and maintained in accordance with tte Ministry's recommendations.

5. $.rfficient lifesaving apparatus for as many pascraft is designed

sengers and crew as the pleasure

to carry.

6. An Admiralty drart or other chart approved by Company for the Harbour and adiacent

the

waters.

7. A copy of ttle Companys byelaws for the being in

force.

8. A c|irrent tidal

time

almanac.

Cost of passage is dependent on the length of canal

Note:

Even if the foregoing is complied with the Harbourmaster may prohibit any craft from entering the Ship Canal due to heavy commercial traffic or other unsuitable conditionr.

to be navigated and the number of locks

to be negotiated, Application form and any further information can be obtained from: The Harbourmaster, The Port of Manchester.

The Manchester Ship Canal Co- Dock Office.

Mandrester M5 2XN Tel. No.061-872-2411 Ext.232.

Hulme Lock Manchester (between the Ship Canal and Bridgewater Canal) is open only during normal working horrs. lt is closed outside these hours and at weekends, and if passage is required at such times separate application must be made to: The Manchester Srip Canal Co., Bridgewater Department, Chester Road, Manchester Ml5 4NU Tel. No. 0618344435 Charges outside normal hours are increased accordingly, although such charges are levied per

lock of water and not per boat.

Navigation of fhs River Weaver Opening hours for all locks and the Anderton Lift are as follows: Monday to Friday from I a,m. to 5 p.m. from 8 a.m. to 1l a.m.

Saturday

slrnday

Closed

Cost of passage of Anderton

Lift â‚Ź3.00 return, f2.00

single.

For funher infornation contact: British Waterways Board, Navigation Road,

Northwich,

Cheshire.

Tel. No. 0,606-74321.

Spâ‚Źcid Notice The main rally site lies to the East of Lymm Village and the maiority of moorings vyill extend Westward trom the site through the village. Most craft therefore, will be moored in residentisl surroundings and in many cases, close to dwellings.

An urgent appeal is made to all those attending tle rally to give every consideration to the residents of Lymm, with panicular attention to litter and noise.

T.S. Ellis Harbourmaster:

56

Discover the other Englond by conol cruiser Make your holiday a journey of discovery.

There remains still a Britain waiting for you to discover. A country changed little since the industrial revolution. The waterways of Britain, built long before today's motor routes, still enjoy a privileged way through Britain's beairtiful back door.

Please send me your colour brochure 'Discover the other England'

Name

=s,. ff.i.jiF"r= Melbury House, Melbury Terracâ‚Ź,

N.W.1.

Htlfllepllmerm Open Daily including Sundays and Bank Holidays 10a.m. - 12.30

p.m.

2p.m. - 5p.m. 6p.m. - 8 p.m, except

6

below

CLOSED on the following days: Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and every Monday from the second Monday in October to the Monday bâ‚Źfore Good Friday, inclusive. During the period of Monday closures, the Museum will close at 5 p.m. eve.y day. ADMISSION: Adults 10p Child.on F

67

To lIire

a,

nfa'fP'

The Largest and Finest Upper Thames and Cartal Hire Cruiser Fleet 70 Boats starting ftom Thames Ditton, Wallingford or Brinklow 2/10-berth All"steel, Glass'fibre,Mahogany Hot and cold x'ater Central Heating Refrigerator or Ice Boxes Gas Cookers with Ovens Send for new Colour Brochure giving fi l details

NtrAIDBOATS IjTf,D. Heatl

Office:

FERRY YACHT STATION, THAMES DITTON, SURREY 01-398 027112

CIUIT EilGIilEERIilG,

BUItIlIilG. PIHilG P

tA il T - iEfff#,,.-l iu$,".if.'' " [:ii,'#.,

lfhanhs design & layout Total Concept (Design Services)

photoqraphy Cheshire Life Gordon Short Total Concept R. Maxim Don Valentine P.F.C.S.

Gordon B. Mills

Uersatile!

FIBR(lCEll GI.ASS.RBRE DIilGHIES greatto row,sailor cruise with an outhoad motor

Bridgewater Dept. M.S.C.C. Waterways System Map British Waterways Board Civil Aid Society (N.W. Region) for their great help

Lymm U.D.C. Lymm Cruising Club for facilities provided Cheshire County Constabulary lVrs. E. Collier for donating tombola prizes Nu merous voluntary organisations

.

.

Mrximum salety Glsss

.

Light,

title lol ruenlth

.

and all those who helped in every way.

.

easy

to carry

Erry to m.int.in

tits rlry cu rool ]scl

DOLPHIN CAR TOP DINGHY Approx. 7' 10" long, beam 4'0,,.

Centle Seat adjustable for rowirg

.

Sea

you agree with this slogan, you ought.to support CANAL TRANSPORT MARKETING BOARD, the only organisation solely concened with commercial transport on the whole waterlvay syrtem, CTMB is campaigning for: rcar0o crrryin[ on all wstsmiys thc utili$tior ol hrqe.carryilt0 ships the enlatgement ol commercisl tll'teru,sys t0 European standards

or outboard. â‚Ź48.00.

B*

Minor Outboad ,42.00

SEA BEE 4

A new powe{ut addition to the lange of outboard motors flranufactured alongside FibroceU Dinghies De.luxe model (illustruted left) L6a.OO

.GILLIE' PUNT The punt brcught ulto{ate for fishiru or cruising. Built fot safety wirh good stability aod easy handline Length l3'6" Beam 3'6" Depth l' 2"

t95 .00

*imptoviq thâ‚Ź slwironm0nt by channslling goods from rosds to uritorways

For more details ask at the Rally or write to CTlrB, Wolverton Road, Coventry CV5 7HF

ll

fl.

Membsrship CTMB publishes regular news of rarrying developmsnts,

69

S\{ANWTTH

IWOMCKS Dating from beforc 1700 tbe SWAN WITH TWO NICKS bas the true cbmacter of on

old

coun*y pub.

Edward and Joan lladfield will welcome you and provide tasty sandwiches and snacks at the bar.

PARK LANE, BOLLINGTON, NR. LYMM (on the Drnham Massey R@.1

ofl A.56)

T.hphone: 061.928 2gt4

sELf DRM 4 to 12 berth Narow Boat Cruiserr lttted out for comfotable tnvel at any time of year. Traditlonrl narow boats equipped for camplng hoildays, AT iflDDLEWICH our associate compaDy, Willow Wrcn Kearns Ltd,, h6 4 0o 12 beth Narrow Boat Cnrisers for hlre.

CRUISING HOTEL ' New steel mooor boat 8nd butty de$igled and built as a trsvelling hotel for 10 passengers. Sin$e and double cabins - good food ard 8 well.stocked bar.

FOR SALE New Darrow bost hulls in steel

with sturdy cEbirs built itr tnditional materialE to customels' specilicstions, finished to any stage.

Moodngs, fuel, cnneage ard full sewicâ‚Ź& Adice

and hee b|ochures

ftorn:

wtllott,

wREl{

HIRE CFUISERS LTD Rugby Wharf, Forum Drive, Rugby.

Warwickhire. Telephone: Rugby 4520.

r-

Warrington

New]Iowur Development Corporation

new role for old canals The Warington area was historically at the heart of the English Canal System. It is fitting, therefore, that the New Town of Warrington should propose to use these canals and adjoining watercourses as the basis of the open space system. On this framework District and Local Parks will be established together with the facilities for water sports which are so much in demand today.

The Bridgewater Canal is an important part of this system and for this reason the Develop ment Corporation applaud efforts which are being made in various quarters to secure the continuation and enhancement of the canal as an amenity for the area.

Warrington New Town Development Corporation, P.O. Box 49, 80 Sankey Street, Warrington WAI lSR. Tel: Warrington 36551

$itutllrm I[o[ge Thottl Hotel The RESTAURANT has established a what reputation for its superb food. Evening iras^formerly a famous.coqntry club. There mlab are available ?'.00pm to 10.30pri are-3_8 Fqrooml4l with Bathro.-om, Radio with a Dinner Dance ev6ry Saturday.

Set in beautiful wooded pounds the

provides fint-class accommodation in

ard Telephone. Television

is ayailable

tf friends are visiling you at

lhe RalU - meet-up

it'statham Lodge. The Hotel

is

conveniently

situoted near the M6 leaving at exit no. 20.

WARRINGTON ROAD STATHAM, LYMM Telcphone: Lymm 220+$6

extmds

t

aarm inuintion to dll uaterady enthusidsts to oisit

RJ\CCRN NEY/IC)A4\ THE BRIDGEWATER CANAL FLOWING THROUGH THE CENTRAL TOWN PARK IS ONE OF THE TOWN'S MAJOR AMENITIES.

F AN INVITATION FROM ROTARY The Members of the Rotary Club

of Lymm, ably and charmingly

assisted by the Ladies of the lnner Wheel Club of Lymm extend a sincere welcome to Rotarian visitors, their wives and

families visiting the lnternational Boat Rally.

A tent, easily distinguishable by the lnternational Flag of Rotary proudly displayed will be staffed throughout the duration of the rally from August 4th to August 7th, Hot drinks and light refroshments, cheerful conversation and an opportunity to rest from the activities of the rally will be freely available. so, please come along and visit us,

Palmer I Les youto INN T.IIEBULLS+IEAE Hot I Cold Snacks at the Bar

by Lymm Bridge

Dot

\ruelcome

HIRE aboat from the specialist builders of Narrow-boat cruisers (4-10 berth).

All have large cockpits, 6ft. 2in. headroom, refrigerator, H, & C. to sink and each cabin, safe economical diesel engines.

Or we can build YOU one of

tJrese superb canal cmisers (40-70

ft.)

THE WYVERN SHIPPING CO. LTD. BOSSINGTON WIIARF, LEIGHTON BUZZARD, BEDFOBDSHIRE Telephone: 2355

a2

dependable

powel

Lister ltlarine

With Lister Air Cooled and Water cooled Marine Diesels complete

dependability together with

economy is assured, and with our increased production capacity delivery can be offered to meet most requirements.

Lister Ma ne supply a comprehensive range of propulsion and

auxiliary enqines from 5-180 b.h.p. All are backed byWorldwide aftsr sales service.

Advice and details immediately available.

@xlrwrensrDDELEY

TISTER MARINE n.A.LlSItltC0.ITo.,IlnilEolYlslo,DUBSIIY,GLoUCESTEiSllliE,ollillts. TEL:DUnSIEY{1tl fl.wr.i Sidd.l.y GrolF .uppla6 m!ch.ni6r, .l..l,h.l .n.i .d6pi.. quipin.nt wilh r orld.eid. tl6 .nd 5.wi...

8t I I

ZENITII'

httemat

Hi-Fi

-

io

nol

Portable T.V. RADIO & TAPERECORDERS Telephone: 061-7 40 0922

-

I I

14 CHEETTIAM PAEADE, BURY OLD ROAD, MANCHESTER M8 6DJ

J

t

offer the largest range of Portable and colour T.V.'s Car/Boat Radios, Stereo Cassette Players, Portable Cassette Recorders, and Cassette Radios and of course the finest range of

HiFi.

Main Dealers for:

SANYO, SONY, HITACHI, SHARP, SANSUI, TEN Come and see us

at tbe Bodt Sbow dnd meet our Ca Ramsden probably

tbe best man for adoice on Cdr/Boat or Home entertainment,

;::n::rB .@:,",,,7

Productr

i

i

t

oI lnterost

86

-

AWEdOXES

Greenwich Workshops

LIMITED

forthe BIind

Higher Lymm Central Garage Petrol Oil - Tyres - Batteries

-

CALOR GAS BOTTO GAS Sweets

-

Cigarettes

-

Batteries

open 7 a.m. - 10 p,m.

MAKERS OF ROPE FENDERS OF ALL KINDS 166 GREENWICH HIGH ROAD LONDON SE 10 TELEPHONE 01 858 0316

FEEL LIKE A SNACK VISIT

A.GREAUES 19 THE CROSS, LYMM

TEL: 2711

wItlfil9ilwf,ilBffi SANDWICHES HOT DOGS HOT

PIES

HOT & COLD DRINKS

Confectioners of 0uality 2 EAGLES BROW LYMM Daily delioeries of fresb brcad & confe ctionary

BREAD & CONFECTIONABY BUFFET PARTIES CATERED FOR

AT THE MOORINGS

BRAUl{$01{

MAIS

lID We build steel-hulled

nanow boats to standard desigus & special order Hugh McKnight

Hrwkosbury Cl65

The6e boats are very solidly

built for round the

yer.r use and arc comprehensively furnished

with attractive natural wood panelling.

Our popular Hai,kâ‚Źsbury Class oflers remarkable vatue completely litted out with Sabb die6el.

32ft. standad version is i2,800 and the 35ft. 10 h.p. ve$ion is J3,050. oui 40-48ft. designs offer more scope for individusl variatio[

Ite

B0IIllM I0C[ 66

BRAIJI{SI0il,RUGBY mBnru]rsmil irz

PILKINGTON MOTOR

&MARINE SKI-BOATS

CBUISERS

Scorpio Marauder

Loftus Bennett Sapphire Scorpio

TRAILERS

DINGHIES

Snipe

Fibrocell Tabur/Sportyak

OI,IIBOARDS Crescent

Come and see the most comprehensioe selection of boats in Mlncbester Full engine servicing lacilities, New and used outboards always in stock

WATSON STREET, MANCHESTER 3.

OpenTdaysaweek Late niSht Fridav 8 p.m.

TRENTCRAFT2s

Bealspace tor living in Davison Brcthers'ncw canal and river cruiser -comtort.style and slegance.

6tt. headmun throughout, hngffi 25ft,beam 6ftl0ins. You want to see the new TBEIIITCBAFT 25.

,$,"4[U_!-J.y_H,ilDG"[,,MARIIIAV {oAvlsoil BftITHERS) t0'lG EAToN ltloTnnGHAM TEL: L0i6 EAT0N 4278

DALES CRAFT 26' x 6' 1O" beam

Holidarls

GA]{AI CRUISER

on Hotel Boats

A MODERN DESIGN FOR THE SEVENTIES

Farty otftings on Bridgewater and Trent & Mersey Canals, the River Weaver and Anderton Life MOORINGS & DRY DOCK Send FEATURING *All wsathsr twin sliding rools *Strcngly constructsd in maintonance free glass Iibre throughout *suitable tor lnboard, 0ltboard or l/0utboard sngines *Alrilahle in fully orpartly completsd forms.

For details appl! to:

for brocbure

lnlandWatenruaf Cruises Ltd. Preston Brook, Runcorn, Cheshire.

Telephone: Aston (Runcorn) 376

BRADFORD BOAT SERVICES LTD APPEBLEY ERIDGE, BBAOFOBO, YORKSHIBE, Tsl: Bradlord 612827

spend time looking for the best value for money in People - who narrbw beam Cruisers usually buy a Ribble.

26lt with YStz Diesel lnboard engine f2z4,J 26ft uith DTB /m Prtrol lnbosrd 0ngino f2300 29lt with YSl2 oiesel lnhoard engine â‚Ź2500 29ft r.uith DTB 4ll Petol lnhoard engine 82620 82120 32lt with YSl2 Dicsel lnhosrd engino f2600 32fL with DTR 40 Petrol lnbosrd en[inc me above prices arc Ex-lltorks, H,P. and

iurine

mattgages avoihble. Owing to the high quality of thae oalt special rates of ittturunce arc atuibble.

ilETSOil IIIABIITE & CABAVAII Fhst

SL l{elson, Lancs. BBg 7YG

GETIIBE

AWaterwaysQuiz for Nodd5rBoat Gaptains Kit Crewbucket

1.

What is a canal?

2.

ls a narrow boat

3.

ls a

4.

Describe in not more than 25 words, either: a) The economic differences created by The Erewash Canal on the 19th century lamp black trade in village life. Or b) a boat.

5.

ls

6.

ls Heart-break Hill a cause of coronary thrombosis on the canal system?

7.

Are boat rallies for: a) proving there are a lot of boats? b) qetting inebriated? c) showing off your new naval attire? d) driving rally committee members mad? {Answer YES or no)

8.

ls a canal

9.

lock:

-wide, shallow, high, NARROW?

a) a device for fastening boats to the bank? b) the home of an aquatic monster? c) a contraption for getting boats up hills the hardway?

water: hydroflueric,

digger;

hydroscopic, aquamatic or WET?

a) an Australian

boatman? b) a waterway hippy?

c) a lover of mud with his

beer?

ls Bingley Five Rise when certain Yorkshiremen get up for work?

10.

Which is the odd one out

11.

Was

12.

ls the Anderson

-

Harecastle Tunnel, Blisworth Tunnel, Foulridge Tunnel, Eiffel Tower?.

Telford: a bellringer, the inventor of elastic, the first tiddlywinks champion, A Canal Builder?

Lift a wrestling hold?

13. li a wide boat is 14ft. wide why won't it go into two 7ft. wide locks? {you may use a slide rule and ready reckoner)

14.

ls the Macclesfield Canal a cut above the rest?

15.

What is a Norfolk Broad? (use a blue pencil)

16.

ls a fly-boat a narrow boat carrying manure?

17.

ls a butty a narrow boat between two slices of bread?

18.

ls the Value of canals in the Environment: 216

19.

Who was Kit Crewbucket?

p$ pound, 3" an hour, 14 liqht years per sq. decametre?

Send your entry to the Editor written in Hindustani on the back of a five pound note.

The Winner will be shot at dawn and chair next year's Rallv Committee.

69

J-

ISTNEREARIGHT WAYTO CHOOSE YOUR WATERWAY HOLIDAY? Yes-Book wirh on A.PC.O. ComPonY The members of this Trade Assoeiation are all established firms eager to help you eniov vour holidav to the fu1]. a itiriped self-addressed label sent to the address below will get you our Association's brochuie lisl,ing the names and addresses of our members and the services they offer

A.P. C.O. MEMBER FIRMS Abingdon Boat Centre Adventure Cruisers Anglo-Welsh Narrow Boats Anglo-Welsh Narrow Boals Anglo-w€lsh Narrow Boats Anglo-Welsh Narrow Boats

(Market Harborough) (Trevor, (Wooton Wawen) (Great H6ywood)

Apollo CanalCruises

Boats (Warwick) Bradford Boat Services Ltd M.E. Braine (Boatbuilders) Bridge Canal Cruisers British Waterways Board, Amenity British Waterwavs Board, Amenity British Waterways Board, Amenity Eritish Waterways Board, Amenity Caley Cruisers Canal Boats Ltd Cansl Cruising Co. Canal Pleasurecralt Ltd.

Midlands Luxury Cruisers Ltd

Services Div. (Nantwich) Services Div. (Hillmorton)

Services Div. (Londonl Servic€s Div. (Goolel

Canal Transport Servic€s

Coltwood Hire Cruisers Concoform Msrine

Con*ellation Cruisers

Cruiseways (Hire) Co. Dartline Cruisers Desns lrarina {Chester) De6ns Marina (Macclesfield) Double Pennant Boat Yard

G. Faulkner (Eoatbuilders)

Gailey CanalCruisers John Gould (Waterways) Ltd G.T.G. Marine Holidays Afloat Lrd Hoseasons Sunshine Holidays lnland Cruising Co. Ltd lnland Hire Cruisers Ltd Inland Waterways Holiday Cruises Ltd Key Line Cruisers Ltd

The Kingtisher Line Ladyline Ltd (Market Drayton)

@

Ladvline Ltd (Barb.idge) L€dyline Ltd (Hanburyl Ladyline Ltd (Lymml Ladyline (Braunstonl Ltd (Braunstonl Ladyline (Braunston, Ltd (i,lountsorrell Ladyline lBraunston) Ltd (Thorne) Linda Cruises Maidboats Ltd lvlaidboars ([rlidlandsl Ltd Nantwich Pleasure Cralt Narrow Boat Cruising Ltd Nautocratt Marine Ltd Norman Cruisers Ltd North Kilworth Natrow Boats Brian Nicoll Nor'West Holiday Cruisers

Pennine Boats of Silsden Red Rose Cruisers Red Line Boats Shropshire Union Cruises Ltd Stone Boatbuilding Co. Summit Boat Services Ltd Swan Line Cruisors Ltd The Tardebigge Boat Co. Ltd Tewkesbury Marine Services Ltd Turner Marinas Ltd Vallev Cruisers (Atherstonel

Veneiial Marine lNantwich) Ltd (Cholmondestonl Venetial Marine (Nantwich) Ltd {Calvelov} Warwickshire Fly Boat Co. Walerway Educational Holidays G ipsy Cruisers Welsh Canal Holiday CraIt

Water

Western Cruisers Ltd Willow Wrsn Hre Cruisers Ltd Willow Wren Kearne Ltd Winsome Luxury Cruisers The Wyvern Shipping Co. Ltd

ASS()CIATI()N ()F PLEASURE CRAFT 26, Chaseview Rd, Allewas, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs.

Shstland "610" 2O'3" x 8'O" four bgrth tamily sgacrui3si from f917.50

shetlend "535" t 7'7*r x6t71" two berth lrom f387

and

Shetland "640" 21',O" x8',6" 4/5 benh Biver Cruiser

-

Shetland "Scorpion"

15'5"

x

6'4"

triple hulled rwo berth frcm f3aO

from f1295

Shetland "Sheltie'

Shetland "570" 18'8" x 6'10"

(also available with inboard engine)

17'1+.,<6'7t' Fisherman

from

---$-

\---1_

t359 -

two berth-new Ior '72 from e619

lor'72

new

Shetland "Suntrip"

Shetland "Speedwell"

17'7+" x6'1l-"

Daycruiser or Ski boat --->-

from

t3a8

Shetland

"2+2"

rrcm

a

four berth Express Cruiser f.om f 1O90

t776

SEND FOR FULL COLOUR BROCHURE AND LIST OF STOCKISTS

To: Shetland Boats Ltd. Send me colour brochure and

Shetland Boats Ltd. Stanton, Bury St. Edmunds, Sufiolk, England.

Tel: Stanton (03595) 355 Tetexr al696

prices of the full range

'" 'I

Name

Address

I

I I

.......... .....

I .t " "'lt

... .

7t

CAMPSHEDDING LANDING STAGES LANDSCAPING TREE PLANTIN .- Illustrated brochure on request

Iel.a337l

SWANTEY MABINE (E. R. Slock)

Distributo;s of NEWAGE/B.M.C. Morine Engines I l0O c.c. Petrol, 1500 ond 2500 c.c.

Diesel vith or wilhout reduction 9eots

SWANLEY NANTWICH CHESHIHE

Iel.

Foddiley 303 (027-074-303)

l-U0Yll sums

Also ovoiloble vithout georbor for cougling to Tronso-Drive or Enfield ,,2"

All

D

VE

electric 4 cylindet, 4 stroke Eqsy storting: Relioble running ond

obove

oll-quiet

!

Consuh the people who hove been Conol enthusiosts for thirty yeors

Cboose your boliday in Comfort witb tbe Trauel Agent ltoa can trust.

kompt aail efftcient

seroice, six days a ueek.

IRAUET -8. fi'a

4*+ ?A,r' 1(, MILt STBEET MATT, GBOSVETTOR CEIIITBE MACCTESFIELD SKl l6AE Tet: 0625 27737

2 PICCADILLY PLAZA, MOSTEY STBEET,

MATICHESTEB

Ml 4AH Tel: 061-236 0751

hilyourfirstchoice befromrhelorgest seleclionof bosts

sndenginesinlhe countryol The Boat Showrooms of Great Britain

HEAD OFFICE: Drayton Marina, Betton Road, Markst Dr6yton, Shropshire, Tel: Market Drayton 3101/2 & 2267 Braunston Marina, grsunston, Nr. Rugby, Warks.

Tel: Braunston 325 and 216 Barbridge Marin6, Earbridge, Nantwich. Cheshire.

Telr Wettenhall 682/683 Hanbury Marina, Hanbury Road, Droitwich, Wdrcs.

Tel: Droitwich 3002 Thorne fiIarina, Hatfield Rd, Thorne, Nr. Doncaster.

York. Tel: Thorne 812316 Lymm Marina, Warrington Lane, Lymm, Cheshire.

Tel: Lymm2945 Mountsorrel Marine Centre, 1+20 Loughborough Boad, Mountsorrel, Nr. Loughborough, Lsics.

Telr Rothley 2144 The Swag Boat C€ntrs, Barns Lane, Stubbers crc6n,.

Sh€lfi8ld, Nr. Aldridse, Staffs.

Nor'w€st Marina. Canal Wharf.

Galgate, Nr. Lancaster, Tel: Galgate 368.

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1-#' Pdtrted by R. & W. Heap Pdnting Co. Ltd

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Marple, Stockport, Cheshile.

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