Number 152
Spring/Summer 2014
WATERWITCH MAGAZINE OF THE LANCASTER CANAL TRUST
Work progresses on the new Stop Planks at Stainton Bridge (172)
The Lancaster Canal Trust (Registered Charity No.240957) Corporate Member the Inland Waterways Association http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk/
Contents Chairman's Report AGM Notice 50 Years & Still Going Hello Stephen Appleby; Obituary Boat Operation Manager’s Report Working Party Report Bridge Strike at Crooklands Restoration Update Forestry Work at Hincaster Ribble Link Canal & River Explorers ‘Catalyst’ Heritage Lottery Fund Success Members Questionnaire Heritage Afternoon at Carnforth Station Helterskelter goes to Sussex ‘Lifted’ by Jo Bell Aldcliffe Road Depot Canals at War C&RT Update, including latest on Lune Aqueduct Carnforth Coke Ovens Working on Water
3 4 5 5 6 7 9 13 14 16 17 20 22 23 25 27 36 32 35 38 41 42
Hello once again to all our members. As I compiled this edition, here in Kendal it had mostly been a gloriously sunny week. Turns our minds to getting out and about once more. Work on the Canal restoration has not come to a halt this winter as the restoration article shows. Also we have pressed on with forestry work at the Hincaster site before the nesting season slows us down. The boat is being spruced up for another summer season. There is an article on the Ribble Link and one from C&RT on the exciting new nature park at the Lune Aqueduct . C&RT are also investing heavily on a new scheme aimed mainly at primary schools - Canal & River Explorers, and they need our help if possible. All these and much more inside. My thanks to all who have help by sending articles and assistance. We even have a poem! Due to increasing health concerns, I have very recently & reluctantly been forced to resign as Trust Secretary, though I hope to continue as Waterwitch Editor. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as Secretary and have been privileged to meet and work alongside a great bunch of people. I wish all success to my successor, who ever he/she may be. I hope to be around for a while yet; who knows I may even see boats going though the Hincaster Tunnel & beyond! DC 2
Chairman’s Report Much of what I write about here can be seen in more detail elsewhere in this issue of Waterwitch, so this is an overview of some of the things going on currently in Lancaster Canal Trust. The Trustees have recently taken the decision to investigate the possibility of changing the status of the Trust to that of a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). This is a new format recently e s t ab l i s h e d b y th e C h ar i t y Commission. Our name and objectives would remain unaltered but the new legal format would give us greater scope and protection to enter into contracts, particularly in connection with our restoration works. The intention is to research fully the issue and bring a resolution to the AGM for the members to decide upon. Management of our work on the Horse Path at Hincaster tunnel is in the capable hands of Trevor Cotton and his team of volunteers. They have done a great job of getting the dead wood out of the banks and are about to replant some sections of the hedgerows. The Horse Path is a scheduled ancient monument and we are on the point of signing a second 5-year agreement with CRT and English Heritage to cover our work there. A few years ago we embarked on a project to resurvey and record all
the milestones on the canal. This task had been done by the Trust some years previously but was in need of review and updating. Several members volunteered to cover a section of a few miles of canal to identify and log the details. Unfortunately, some of them were unable to complete their task and the project has lain unfinished for some time. Recently though, new member David Hill has agreed to take on the project and bring it to a conclusion. Another member who has stepped up to help the Trust is Len Howard who has now taken over the mon it orin g of any pl anning applications which could affect the canal in the five planning authority areas from Preston to Kendal. There are many more such opportunities for members to help with the Trust’s activities, either individually; as part of group activities like working parties, trip boat crew, manning the PR tent at summer shows, etc; or in the more formal setting of the management committee and sub committee structure. Elsewhere in this edition you will find a list suggesting some of the areas where more volunteer input is needed: please think carefully about how you can help promote the work of the Trust. The restoration activity of our working parties is now in the hands (Continued on page 4)
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A notice to all members of the Lancaster Canal Trust
THE LCT ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held Thursday 31st July 2014 at Village Hall, Over Kellet, Commencing at 7.30 pm The Agenda will be sent out at least one calendar month before this date. Apologies please to: Alan Mather, Membership Sec, 15, Claughton Ave, Bolton, BL2 6US Tel: (01204) 521031, or to membership@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk Speaker yet to be confirmed Details will be posted on the Trust Website and in the agenda to be sent by post shortly before the AGM Alan Mather Membership Secretary
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health has meant he has had to stand down from that post, though he continues to do his usual fine job of producing this magazine. As Secretary he has done all the usual management tasks to keep the Trust well organised but he has also done many tasks that might not appear in the Secretary’s job spec, such as representing the Trust on the Regeneration Partnership, developing the Stainton to Kendal towpath upgrade project, keeping tabs on third party activities in Kendal that affect the canal. We will miss David at our committee meetings: the vacancy he creates is on the list I referred to above. Richard Trevitt
of Keith Tassart who has brought renewed enthusiasm to the task; his report is on other pages. We have recently achieved the recognition of CRT as a Partner Group: this is the new version of BW’s Self Supervising group status which we fist achieved in 2008. It has been a long process to demonstrate that the management of our activities on CRT’s waterway meets their rigorous standards. During the course of this year we will have further visits from Waterway Recovery Group teams, for two weeks in the summer and a week in the autumn. In closing, I want to pay tribute to the sterling work done by David Currington over the past decade as Secretary of the Trust. David’s 4
50 Years and still going….. The Association for the Restoration of the Lancaster Canal was originally established in December 1963, by those who were outraged by the then Ministry of Transport’s decision, when building the new M6, to culvert the Canal in several places to avoid the cost of bridges. It was then called ‘The Association for the Restoration of the Lancaster Canal’ which was later renamed as ‘The Lancaster Canal Trust’. The Executive have decided that it would not be particularly appropriate to celebrate this milestone at the present time. A combination of ever changing planning rules, the interests of local businesses together with fluctuations in the UK economic situation, has meant that in spite of sterling work over the years by members and with the strong support of SLDC, the Kendal Town Council and Cumbria County Council we have only, in the last couple of years, physically started on the actual ground works at Stainton rather than Canal Head in Kendal. We need to press on as much as we can with those resources we have available and save celebrations for when we really do have much more to celebrate. We trust members will understand and agree with this view DC
Hello! The Lancaster Canal Trust extends a very warm welcome to the following new members who have joined since the last issue of Waterwitch, and we hope to see you at some of our events: Peter Glover Ainsworth, Bolton Rita Barnish Bedford Stephen and Dianne Jury Carnforth Stephen Dawnhay Kendal Anne P. Scholes Holme Dr Peter G Bradley Stroud, Gloucs Keith Tassert Morecambe David Richardson Ossett, Yorks Fiona Allan Carnforth Richard and Vera Watson Ings, Kendal (Continued on page 6)
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Obituary Stephen Appleby 1924 - 2013 We are very sad to announce the death, on 7th December last year, of Stephen Appleby a very loyal & respected Trust member since 2002 . He was aged 88. Stephen was an active member of our Trust serving on the Executive Committee until health problems forced him to retire. He also was a member of that select band of volunteers who regularly turnout to man out Trip Boat ‘Waterwitch’. He will also be remembered perhaps as the owner of a unique, self built electric boat ‘The Optimist’, which for several years he displayed in the Kendal Torchlight procession. He was also an active member and past Chairman of the Kendal Civic Society. Originally from Essex, Stephen was Head Teacher at Crosscrake School until health problems forced early retirement. Amongst the many hobbies was that of Bee Keeping, amassing some 32 hives whilst living at New Hutton. He is survived by his charming wife Pam and by his son and a daughter who both live much further south. We offer our condolences to Pam and his family; he was a true gentlemen who will be sorely missed by all. DC
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Graham Watson Jill Anderson & Dr M. Lindsay Hugo and Jane Enyon Terry Harbinson Simon Lloyd Dr Trevor G Piearce Geoffrey & Carol Ann Wilson Peter & Ann Livesey
Nether Kellett Lancaster Ingleton Carnforth Clitheroe Bolton le Sands Stainton Lancaster 6
Boat Operation Manager’s Report Waterwitch is at Millness yard where she has been throughout the winter months. The mechanical maintenance is complete, soon the newly painted engine room doors will be re fixed. Frank Sanderson has researched the badges or coat of arms of 8 canal side towns and villages and these will be the art work visible from the stern of the boat. This work will complement the large coat of arms of Lancaster and Kendal on the bows that were painted last winter. It is planned to bring the boat back to Crooklands in early April, There may be a problem due to increasing shallowness of the water by Peasey Beck feeder, the winter rains having put more mud and silt on to the bed of the canal. It is probable that poling will be required to assist the engine to get past this obstacle. In mid April Waterwitch will be used to clear overhanging trees and shrubs in areas where they are a menace to navigation. This operation will be assisted in the vicinity of the Coal Yard by means of an experimental p on toon /w ork p latform for maintenance of the canal bank opposite the towpath. (See over) Our season starts this year with Easter Sunday and Monday April 20th & 21st and ends on Sunday October 5th. We will also be running the boat for the Countryfest and the Westmorland County Show.
For boat trip enquiries and group bookings please phone 07504 710351. (Continued on page 8)
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of Working Party Supervisor, his experience will be very helpful” Keith has many stories to tell about life on the Lancaster. Once while working a dredger, a substantial steel heavy craft, he heard a crash and found a glass fibre boat had rammed them thinking they could push the dredger out of the way. They had to rescue the man and his wife and lash the boat to the dredger before it sank. There must be many ex British Waterways people with similar stories that should be recorded, all will be welcome at the Lancaster Canal Trust. Alan Mather, LCT Boat Manager.
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The annual Boatman’s dinner This was held at the Crooklands Hotel. Nr Kendal, Friday 25th October. Thirty five diners attending from a large area, including Darwen, Bolton, Lancaster Morecambe Penrith and beyond, many staying over the weekend and sightseeing in the area. The ’boat people’, as they are affectionately called, run, organise and generally look after the Narrow Boat Waterwitch that sails from Crooklands landing stage, from April to October, taking donations and promoting the difficult and expensive restoration of the Lancaster Canal. Alan Mather, Boat Operations manager, welcomed everyone, saying “I am pleased to announce that donations have risen to double over last year and we have had a very good season” Richard Trevitt, Chairman of the Trust, introduced Keith Tassart to the company saying “Keith worked for m any y ears for Bri tish Waterways and has taken on the job
BOAT CLERK A volunteer is needed to join the tripboat team as a clerk. The duties will involve meeting and greeting trippers, advising them of times and availability of trips, promoting the trust, some sales items, giving leaflets to visitors and all the paperwork for the day. The main requirements are to be good with people and clerical work and to be able to commit yourself to about 7 duties per season mainly Sundays. If you are interested please contact Alan Mather, LCT Boat Manager 01204 521031 tripboat@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk
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Working Party Report Keith Tassart Hello all. My name is Keith Tassart. I took on the job of working party supervisor in November and would report as follows
NOVEMBER 2013 I would like to say a big thank you to all the volunteers who turned out to help on my first day in charge. Many thanks for all your hard work on the 10th November 2013. We continued the work that has already been partly done. The banking is now cleared of vegetation around the stables at Crooklands. The landing stage for the trip boat was made good as parts were sticking up and posing a possible trip hazard. The boundary wall along the roadside was found to have a tree growing through it. This will need to be cut out and the wall taken down and rebuilt along a 12 foot length. Regarding our next ongoing project, (the First Furlong at Stainton), I have arranged for diggers to reshape the spoil into a proper shaped banking. Then we are that much nearer letting the water in. In Waterwitch magazine in No. 150 there is an old photo that was printed which was taken in the 1960s. The resident engineer and I had put the stop 9
planks in; this was to stop the water effectively at Stainton There was a person stood on the stop planks which would have been me back when I worked for British Waterways. I have said to myself that since I stopped the water there I would love to be the one to let the water flow again. Damage to the bottom plank, when the old stop planks were taken out recently, has been repaired. However, not to let it rest there, I am already looking through the next bridge to the A590. (Wellheads Lane). 1 have a forestry contact who will assist us in due course felling the trees that are growing in the bottom of the canal and along the edge of the towpath. The towpath will need to be repaired as the roots from the trees are growing across the towpath and are a serious trip hazard. DECEMBER2013 Our last weekend the 7th & 8th of December 2013 saw the return of the WRG. (Waterway Recovery Group) The job this time was to clear vegetation from around the Hincaster Tunnel, this included trees and all, ivy and a lot of brambles. To pull the roots out of the trees a Tirfor was used. Also part of this task was to do a survey of the bottom of the canal in (Continued on page 10)
an ongoing part of the First Furlong restoration. We were to tackle this task on the Sunday. The morning was fine and dry; the afternoon was very wet. The conditions in and around the bottom of the canal left a lot to be desired, mud and silt sometimes getting on for knee deep. The stop planks were heavy enough, about quarter of a ton but the ‘way’ plank that fits across from bank to bank was something else, half a ton in weight. We had to call in ideas from the Egyptians to pull and roll the plank into place. All this time it was raining; the lads in the bottom were in the thick of the mud and silt. I have to say again a very big 'thank you', not one person backed off, everybody was wet but we did the job; thank you once again. I wanted to have a re-take of the photo of me taken on the stop planks that were ripped out to put the new ones in, and have a new photo taken 50 years later. This was done much to my satisfaction. A good job well done. to all. A photo of the new planks in place. Come on you Volunteers and get mucky with us; it's great and a good sense of achievement etc.
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the area in which they were working; this was done with the help of a small 3 ton excavator. No results as yet. Can I say yet again a big 'thank you' to the ladies and gents who turned up to do the work. Another gang was working at the other end of the canal (Bridge 172). Out task was to pump out the water from the damaged stop plank and then carry out a repair. New stop planks had been acquired by Peter, good English oak, but what a weight! Our next task was to put them in as Installing the new stop planks
Left: A photo of the new planks in situ (Continued on page 11)
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JANUARY 2014 15 turned up at Millness at 9.30am. The gate into our yard is no longer a
Peter & Keith admire their handiwork
hazard thanks to two of our new recruits, namely Peter Livesey and his wife Ann. On inspection of the small gate it is in need of some TLC. But I stress it is not a danger to anyone and will get fixed by Peter. On completion of that task Peter and Ann took their transport down to bridge 172 Stainton. The entire workforce was pleasantly surprised to find that Ann had set up shop in the van and tea, coffee and cake was offered to all. I think it is a sign of things to come in future working parties! (No sexism there then ED!) On to Bridge 172 (Stainton Crossing). The grass verge that had taken root on both sides of the road over the bridge parapet was removed as it was holding water which in turn was seeping through the stone work and dripping through the main barrel of the bridge. We 11
can now inform the County Council that this cleared section needs tarmac to the edge of the bridge parapet. I hope it will enable water to run off the road rather than through the bridge stonework. The water has over time washed a serious amount or mortar out of the stone work of the bridge barrel and will have to be repointed. Also on Bridge 172 it was noticed that a part of the Springer stone from the bridge was missing. This was found in the bottom of the canal as the water was pumped out and has now been replaced. (This is one of the main thrust stones of the bridge resting on the impost stone of said bridge). In my estimation the ring stones are in good order and will last another 200 years. I hope at some future date to re-whiten the keystone and ring stones on all bridges on the Northern Reaches as they always used to be done in years gone by. This was to enable boaters to navigate the bridge arches at night. FEBRUARY 2014. 14 volunteers turned up at Millness at 9.30. Peter Livesley and Keith started a repair on the small gate but found generator was not powerful enough to run the welder so a temporary repair was effected. (Continued on page 12)
pump that Peter Jones had purchased. This shot out water at a great rate, but also the hose, which had to be fished out of the canal amid much laughter. Wood ash and sawdust spread behind the stop planks reduced leaks considerably and our next check should be the final one. New member Ann Livesley was again on hand to serve tea, coffee and cake, The next work party will be two days 8th and 9th March. And for further ahead, I have contacted a
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Testing for leaks
Moving to bridge 172 . A digger and dumper had been borrowed and used to build up the temporary bund using earth removed from the tow-path top and road planings spread on the path surface to make good. Also, the remainder of the grass verge over the bridge was
Laying down the planings
Building up the bund
friend of mine, Lee Nicholls of Northern Pontoon Hire, I have made an agreement with him for free hire at any time. This will mean we can plan the cutting back of tree branches on the offside and the dredging, much to the delight of Alan Mather and the boat team. The Coal Yard wharf is in a very bad state, and seeing that Lee Nicholls is working from there, we
removed by the digger, so all was not lost, much to the relief of the men with picks and shovels, who ended up on point duty. Meanwhile, work was proceeding on checking the stop planks. Peter Liversley and Peter Jones were working on the new
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must consider some form of long term repair work. With kind permission of John Dixon, the owner, of course. MARCH 2014 Unfortunately the planned dredging could not be done between bridges 166 and 167 to enable the tripboat to operate, because C&RT had not yet given permission. This needs immediate sanction & instant action if we are to be able to have the trip boat operational in time for early April. (By the time members get this issue we shall know if the boat is running and earning revenue for the Trust. Who do we bill if it isn’t? ED) I was able to see Mr Galbraith, the
BRIDGE STRIKE AT CROOKLANDS We are sad to report that in February the Canal Bridge at Crooklands suffered yet another strike by a what appear to be a heavy goods vehicle. Frank Sanderson managed to contact County
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farmer of the adjoining land, and made arrangements to use his fields on both sides of the canal. He agreed immediately that any spoil can be placed on the off side to help reinstate the bank. I have spent a lot of time with the farmers and land owners gaining permissions, and found them very helpful and cooperative and they expect something to happen and cannot understand why we have to constantly change direction due to late permissions from C&RT. Having gained such a lot of good will and support, we do not want to lose this initiative.. KT
Highways and they made the bridge safe without stopping navigation and use of towpath Repairs will again be necessary probably at C&RT expense We have had a recent visit from Roy Fry, chairman of Preston Richard Parish Council, who are to press for a weight restriction and better approach to the bridge. He is to ask for details of damage over a five year period. DC
approval shortly. We need to check the leakage on the length to Sellet Hall Bridge (B173) by the practical method of fill it and see – well not quite fill it, but at least raise the level a bit. This will determine our lining plans. The profiling of the off bank is still a subject of discussion with the landowner and we hope to have a resolution soon. On the next length, from B173 to Wellheads Lane we have started some tree clearance but as the visual
Restoration Update Peter Jones
Work on the main restoration project has been slow and steady for a number of reasons, including a number of frustrations. We are keen to progress faster in a number of areas but the necessary formalities do have to take place. Stop planks - full to the top Our on the ground resources have increased recently with our new working party supervisor and with assistance from a local contractor. The main visible aspect is the restoration of the stop planks at Stainton Crossing Bridge (B172). Since they were installed in December we have had two goes at testing them for leakage with both traditional (sawdust) and modern (plastic sheet) techniques, Spot the leaks a combination of the two should finally do the trick. The next main task at B172 is to dig out the bund under the bridge and connect to the watered section. Obviously C&RT are not keen on losing water so we need to do it correctly, they are currently considering our plans and we hope to have (Continued on page 15) 14
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effect is rather dramatic we will tidy up the felled timber and wait until later to finish it. Meanwhile, we have started to expose the clay bed by scraping off the layer of earth so that we can see the condition of the clay. We can then test for leaks; there is hearsay information that there were leaks along this length. The crossing of the A590 at Wellheads Lane is the next main aspect. We are planning to commission a design study to allow us to specify and cost the works. A specification for the study has been drawn up and will be issued to local companies to get quotations. Meanwhile, a number of consultations are being carried out with landowners and the highways authority. These are progressing well and we have not come up against any 'show st oppers ' y et . The problem is to get the canal through the lane culvert, but we have found that they solved the same problem on the Rochdale Canal with a floating
Tree clearance brash stacked for chipping
Wellheads Lane culvert - our problem Rochdale Canal solution re-use of culvert under M62 with a floating towpath
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Project Team and others who have helped. We are always on the lookout for technical expertise to assist us, particularly in civil engineering and drawing as well as the 'muddy boots' stuff. PJ
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towpath which is removable if necessary. (see picture) So, it looks as though our ambition to get cruises through Hincaster tunnel is a bit nearer being realised but we're not taking bookings just yet! Many thanks to the members of the
of the batter on the sunken section of the actual Horsepath. A small group of us are working on various days during the week, and we would welcome additional volunteers to help in what is an enormous task. I am about to go on a 3 day Herbicides course to help with the removal of ivy etc. from masonry and others are taking chainsaw courses courtesy of C & RT. I would invite members of LCT to take a walk over the Horsepath and see for themselves the progress we are making. TC
Forestry Work at the Horsepath Trevor Cotton
I can report that we are making progress on the Horse Path. We are on track to plant 400 trees which will form the new hedge on both sides of a 45metre section of the Path. We had Brian Crawley (he of Beehive coke oven fame!) giving us instruction on making cha r coa l la st month a nd subsequently were successful in producing a batch ourselves. We have got the go ahead from the C & RT to fell the larch plantation at the East portal of the tunnel, (the Wellhead Lane end), during the last week of October 2014. WRG Forestry Team will be doing the felling. We have had advice and support from local dry-stone Larches for the ‘chop’! wallers in planning the repair 16
The Ribble Link Maureen Olley sent me an article on the Ribble Link from the Ashton on Ribble Community Web. Although a year or two old it made me think that that not all members are fully conversant with this ‘new’ waterway. There may be many members who have never fully understood just what The Millennium Ribble link is. It’s the first inland waterway to be built in Britain for over 100 years. It is also the first inland waterway to be built for purely pleasure purposes. The idea for the Millennium Ribble Link dates back 200 years to the promotion of the Lancaster Canal. There were several proposals for linking the two halves of the Lancaster Canal, north and south of the Ribble, but they were expensive and eventually a tramroad was built. There were other schemes to link the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Tarleton with the Lancaster Canal at Preston, but they came to nothing, as did the idea of a floating towpath across the Ribble with a short canal from the river to the Lancaster Canal. The dream of connecting the Lancaster Canal to the rest of the 17
inland waterway network never fully died, however, and an alternative scheme was devised. Savick Brook was remodelled to build the link, which is often called a canal but is actually a tidal inland waterway. The
Ribble link connects the Lancaster Canal to the rest of the national canal network by flowing into the River Ribble. Boats then use the River Douglas to connect with the Leeds Liverpool canal. The £5.4 million project received a major boost when the Ribble Link Trust successfully bid for a grant of £2.7 million from the Millennium (Continued on page 18)
by 10ft 6in beam boats. All boats are assisted through the Link and advanced booking is required for this very popular waterway. You must book passage through the Ribble Link Again Savick Brook used to be tidal and sea fish, flounders in particular, used to get up the whole length of the Brook to breed, to the railway line (Tom Benson Way) and beyond, but now the 'tidal' flow is restricted and limited by the locks and is only up to Lock 8 at Lea Gate. Of course the whole dynamic of the flood plain has been affected and changed. Water flow management is poor and bank erosion and sedimentation is an annual problem. Originally it was supposed to be 'The Millennium Ribble Link Heritage Park', far more than just a 'canal' for a few boats. If you look on the PCC Local Plan you will see areas designated as 'Biological Heritage Sites' and there are a large number of 'endangered species', on 'red lists' or part of Biological Action Plans (BAP). Few waterfowl, dragonfly/damselflies are on the waterway due to annual dredging in the spring . I then asked Davis Hennessey at C&RT for some more recent information on the Link and he very kindly sent me the following:. Works on the Ribble Link in 2013 included the annual dredging programme, increased telemetry works and further embankment stability works
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Commission. Construction work started in December 2000 and the Link opened to navigation in July 2002 The Ribble Link is technically a 'navigable waterway', not a canal as the boats can only pass in one direction. So for example one day boats go 'south' from the Lancaster Canal to the River Douglas and next day go 'north' from the River Douglas to the Lancaster Canal. The navigation is only open for about 100 days a year. About 200 boats a year make the passage (approx 400 passages in total per year). Again technically its full and proper name is The Millennium Ribble Link as it was paid for from 'lottery' money as a celebration of the year 2000 (but opened 2 years late) and part of the deal (for all Millennium Commission funded projects) it was acknowledged and called 'Millennium'. If you look carefully on the bridges, you will see small (unreadable) signs that say so. It cost nearly £6million initially and nearly half a million, £400,000 – £500,000 each year to keep open – public money – that's about £2,000 per boat. The Link runs around the outskirts of Preston and flows into the River Ribble, which itself connects with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal's Rufford Branch. The Ribble Link is tidal, which governs its operating times. It contains nine locks (seven canal, one river and one sea lock) and channel widening to allow navigation
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Completed works The annual dredge to maintain the navigation was completed in April 2013 costing £250,000. The work removed 9945 tonnes of material, with 1496 tonnes sent to landfill (contaminated) and 8467 tonnes recycled Telemetry works involved the instillation of a silt meter to monitor incoming outgoing estuary silts. This work was completed in April 2013 for £20,000. Future works A Sea Lock embankment project is due on site in March/April 2014. This work involves the stabilisation of Slippage Repairs
slippage post soil nailing. The works are expected to be complete by April 2014. The Annual dredge will be completed by April 2014 a further £250,000. Installation of the Ribble Link statue is imminent. The photo shows an artist’s impression. The Trust general works
Embankment Repairs
programme has included general maintenance plans and water control, core grass cutting locks and length, clearance of overhanging vegetation, flight supervision. Ribble Link tree works
Ribble Link Statue, Installation imminent (Continued on page 20)
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Boat passages 2013 Month No. Passages March 5 April 42 May 65 June 70
July August September October Total
78 71 64 31 426
Canal & River Explorers The Canal & River Trust’s learning programme, Canal & River Explorers, has been specially designed to help children and families discover canals and rivers while having lots of FUN! We provide learning resources linked to the National Curriculum, trails, water safety sessions, ideas for badges, challenges and other activities. Go to canalriverexplorers.org.uk for inspiration and to discover lots for children, their teachers, group leaders and families. We are currently recruiting Explorers Education Volunteers in Lancaster. If you love working with children & enjoy being outdoors then why not get involved and join us! Help children discover the magic of the waterways through our Canal & River Explorers programme by leading sessions for primary schools, cub scouts and brownie groups both in their classrooms and out and about on our canals. Contact Katie to find out more. Katie.jackson@canalrivertrust.org.uk 07500 823 753. KJ Overleaf we reproduce C&RT’s two leaflets explaining more behind this brilliant new initiative DC 20
Canal & River Explorers
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‘Catalyst’ Heritage Lottery Fund Success The Trust has been successful in securing funding through the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Catalyst Grant. We were one of only 82 charities funded through the £700,000 programme. The fund is designed to build our fundraising capacity and encourage more private giving. This programme forms part of a broader initiative between the Department of Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Arts Council England and HLF designed to diversify the income streams of arts and heritage organisations. Our Catalyst grant amounts to £6,900, and is funding activity designed to encourage young people and families to get involved in practical activities and support the Trust’s work along the northerly section of the Lancaster Canal. It is also allowing research into our membership structure and activities, providing potential new ideas for working parties, new ways to volunteer and a possible new membership or supporter structure for the Trust. The focus of the activity will be on communities living on the northerly stretches of the canal – from Carnforth to Tewitfield on the cruising section, and will also include people living close to the Northern Reaches between Tewitfield and Kendal. The Canal is an important heritage asset, and we desperately need to develop our membership, to encourage and facilitate people to get involved with both looking after the canal, and also helping us campaign for its restoration to Kendal. The grant has funded the Trust to contract a consultant, Vicky Metcalf, who has worked extensively with the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (a very successful membership organisation) to carry out research into local people’s attitudes towards the Lancaster Canal, and who will ask what kind of activities people would like to get involved with along the canal. She will also be contacting you, our existing members to find out what you value about the Trust, why you continue to be a member and how you think the Trust could be improved. On the following page you will find a ‘removable’ insert questionnaire, and we would be most grateful if you would rather complete it and return it to the address given. There will also be an online survey hosted on our own website, for those of you who would prefer to give feedback electronically, and we will be emailing those of our members for whom we have email addresses. Once the research has been collated and assessed, Vicky will be making recommendations to our Executive Board on how to develop and promote a Canal Trust which maximises its interaction with younger people and families locally, and encourages individual giving to support our work. There is a small marketing and promotional budget within the grant, and an element of this will fund the Executive Board, and any other members of the Trust who would like to be more involved, to learn the best way to use Social Media (Facebook, Twitter etc.) to communicate with a wider audience. If anyone would like to be involved with this exciting project it would be very much welcomed. Either contact Claire Chapman on c.chapman2105@btinternet.com or fill in the questionnaire and indicate your interest in helping out. CC
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Lancaster Canal Trust Members Survey March 2014 We would love to hear your opinion of the Trust, and would be most grateful if you could take a few minutes to complete this form, or go to our website and complete it online http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk All responses will be treated in confidence, and your open opinion is valued. For more information about how we will use this survey information, please read the article on the preceding page about our Heritage Lottery Funding success. The following survey is available for completion online via the Lancaster Canal Trust Website: www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk or by completing this hardcopy and posting to Your completed surveys can be posted to: Lancaster Canal Trust c/o 5 Sunningdale Avenue, Lancaster LA2 6DD Your Postcode: ……………. Membership Type (please tick) Individual/Family/Organisation/Life Your age range (please circle) 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65 and over How long have you been a member of the Lancaster Canal Trust? (please tick) - less than one year - one to three years - three to five years - five to ten years - more than ten years, if so please specify: Your membership is extremely important to the work of the Trust, it would be helpful if you can tell us why you have chosen to support us:
How satisfied are you with your membership (please tick) - Very satisfied - Satisfied - Undecided - Not satisfied: if so please tell us why? (Continued on page 24)
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Please tell us what you value most about the work of the Lancaster Canal Trust?
Have you ever participated in any of the Trust’s events? (please tick) - Working Parties Free Boat Trips - Volunteering to set up and run events - Membership recruitment; Talks; Boat Maintenance; Leaflet Distribution Are you a member of any other heritage or conservation organisation? (please circle) Yes No If Yes, please tell us which ones?
Your membership fees help to fund the vital work of the canal restoration and preservation; Please tell us what you would like to see us doing more of?
Please tell us what you would like to see us doing less of?
Would you recommend membership of the Lancaster Canal Trust to a friend of family member? (please circle) Yes No Any other comments?
We will also be looking for volunteers to help us with this project, if you would like to be involved, please provide us with your email address:
Thank you for taking the time to help us today.
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Heritage Afternoon Saturday 9th November at 2 pm in the Furness and Midland Hall, Carnforth Station. The Lancaster Canal trust invitation to an afternoon of illustrated talks, Waterways and Iron Roads was well attended, Carnforth Station coming alive with canal and steam buffs. Trust Vice Chairman Helen Thomas welcomed everyone and introduced the speakers. David Currington, Secretary of the Trust, gave an interesting talk on restoration, vegetation clearing and rebuilding John Rennie's unique bridges that had fallen into disrepair. Before and after pictures made a deep impression. Pictures of Hincaster tunnel and Horse Path, a scheduled Ancient Monument, before and after restoration bringing gasps of admiration from the audience. Digging out the canal bed at Stainton with gigantic earth moving equipment driven by volunteers also brought some surprises. Keith Tassert, who dug out Carnforth Marina, and now our new Working Party Supervisor 25
spoke about his early work with British Waterways. After a short interval, Bob Roe and George Nightingale gave a talk entitled Iron Roads, Carnforth Station: Resplendent, Redundant, Revived. Any talk about Carnforth Station cannot be without reference to the iconic film Brief Encounter
and many interesting stories emerged. Robert Swain, (in a letter to the local paper) revealed that the clock was first put in its present place in December 1895, In the 1970s the original mechanism and (Continued on page 26)
Peter Yates then went to see the clock and believed it to be the original one. With the financial aid of a local businessman, the clock was purchased and Peter Yates transported it back to Carnforth for repair. When the clock was restored to its drum, it was found that screw holes in the clock and the drum perfectly aligned, proving beyond doubt that it really was the original clock. Jim Walker is the keeper of the clock and he winds it twice a week whilst Peter Yates monitors its condition. That volunteers from both the Lancaster Canal and Carnforth Station Trusts have done such wonderful work is truly amazing and makes one wonder why things take such a long time to get off the ground these days with people of this calibre willing to take on the se gargantuan tasks. FC & RS
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facings were removed and replaced by electric motors and fibreglass faces. During the restoration period of the station a programme on station clocks was made for Channel 4 TV & Peter Yates, the then Chairman of the Carnforth Station & Railway Trust, made the comment to the producer that he would make it his business to find the original clock. Peter Davies, who was born in Carnforth but moved away, assisted with historical research regarding the station. and he set about trying to trace the it. Research on another clock led him to Twickenham.
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Helterskelter goes to Sussex By Neil McGarry One great advantage of having a trailboat is that you can visit many different waterways and support restorations in other parts of the country; every year we always use our slipway at Millness to highlight its use and attend the National Trailboat Festival somewhere in the country. 2013 was in East Sussex on the river Rother at Bodiam Castle. The aim was to promote boating on the river and the Festival was run in conjunction with the National Trust who own and run the Castle. As it was such along way for us to go we thought it would be a good idea to spend a week on the river Medway in Kent while we were down there. I arranged with the Environment Agency to launch our boat at Allington lock, on the Medway where there is a good slipway and is the start of the non tidal section, after towing down there on the Sunday and launching the boat we got under way by around teatime, we cruised up through Maidstone and spent our first night on the boating club’s moorings at East Farleigh just above the lock. The boaters there kindly let us moor for free and directed us to the local pub. The next morning we sailed up through Teston lock which was under repair at the time so we were assisted through by the workmen there, then on to the visitor 27
moorings at Twyford bridge near Yalding where we found a teapot museum. Next day we continued on to Tonbridge the head of navigation and spent the night there. The river runs through some beautiful countryside though our boat was dwarfed in the large locks which were hard to operate. Over the next few days we made our way back to Allington lock though we did have one bit of excitement when we lost our prop in one lock, I carry a spare but no nut to fix it on with, luckily we had met some other trailboaters by this point, Derek and Jean Smith, who gave us a tow back to Twyford bridge where I found a fellow mechanic at a garage who fixed us up with one. We pulled out on the Friday and towed the 50 miles or so to Scots Float slipway near the ancient smuggling port of Rye on the River Rother. Here we met up with a fair few other trailboaters and took our turn to launch here, and the next day we cruised the 15 miles or so to the festival site at Bodiam Castle. On the way we passed the junction with the royal military canal, no longer navigable, but we learned it was built to counter the threat of invasion by the French in Napoleonic times though it wasn’t completed until after Waterloo. This river is very (Continued on page 28)
On the bank holiday Monday the awards ceremony took place and we won “furthest traveller” and best “story board” one presen ted b y Les Etheridge IWA national chairman no less. We then sailed back to the slipway and recovered the boat, then towed back
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Cruising the Rother
rural in flat open Allington Lock countryside which leads on to the Romney marshes. The festival was unlike others as there were no stalls as such and due to the narrow channel, no handling competition, and a static illuminated parade. However, on the Saturday evening the National Trust put on a One of those large Locks BBQ for the boaters and the residents of the village, and there were also some live music which everyone enjoyed. Earlier in the day we had a trip on the east Sussex steam railway from Bodiam to a nice home. What a long day that was but town called Tenterden. This was what a great trip. great and gave great views of the Neil & Bev McGarry countryside. On the Sunday the organisers provided a bus trip to Rye As a footnote, some of the places we for boaters so we took advantage of visited on the Medway have been badly this and had a look around this old effected by flooding this winter and the town. We were also allowed to look narrowboat we moored next to in Tonbridge, whose owner we met, has around the castle which was good sadly sunk. We do hope things get better with moat all the way around. 28
Bodiam Castle
Cruising the Medway
Getting an award
Helterskelter and the castle
Steam Railway Moored in Tonbridge Boats at the festival site
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The Lancaster Canal has no locks on its 42 mile main line and it's popular with many boaters for that very reason. So, if you are unfamiliar with a lock, here's how it works... LIFTED Lock 30, Trent & Mersey Canal -Jo Bell The land says – come uphill: and water says I will. But take it slow. A workman’s ask and nothing fancy – Will you? Here’s an answer, engineered. A leisurely machine, a box of oak and stone; the mitred lock, the water’s YES. We’re stopped. The bow bumps softly at the bottom gate, and drifts. All water wants, all water ever wants, is to fall. So, we use the fall to lift us, make of water its own tool, as simple as a crowbar or a well-tied knot; open up the paddles, let it dam and pucker, swell and with it, lift us like a bride, a kite, a wanted answer, breath no longer held or like a boat. We’re on our way and rising. Water rushes in like fools; these tonnages that slip across the cill, all dirty-bottle green and gathering, the torrent rushing to release itself, a giddy hurl then slower, slow until it ends in glassy bulges, hints of aftermath: a cool and thorough spending. Wait, then, for the shudder in the gate, the backward-drifting boat that tells you there and here are level, an imbalance righted. Ask of it – water, help me rise and water says I will. Jo Bell is Canal Laureate for the Canal & River Trust and the Poetry Society. Thanks to all three parties for permission to reproduce the poem. Read more canal poetry at www.Waterlines.org.uk and jobell.org.uk
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Please check the list for your name and, if it is not in, and you believe it should be, or you are not a member and you would like to be, please phone or email the 100 Club Organiser, The 100 Club will be 20 this year! There are 11 Draws of £20, £15 and £10 drawn at the Exective meetings and the main draw at the AGM of £100, £50 and £25. The 100 Club is open to anyone and is one way that you may help 100 Club the Trust that does not involve 1st 2nd 3rd physical labour and there is always the possibility that you December 43 42 10 will be a winner! Cath Davenport on 01539567250 or cmadavenport@hotmail.com.
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HELP! Does any member have a redundant laptop that has not quite expired. If so, the Recruitment & Promotions Committee have an urgent need for such an item and one would be gratefully received Contact Helen Thomas on 01524 735504 or helen@thepikes.co.uk
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A look back in Time Ex-British Waterways Depot Aldcliffe Road Lancaster For some time rumours have been circulating concerning the future of the redundant ex British Waterways Depot alongside the Canal in Aldcliffe Road, Lancaster. The Trust’s preferred redevelopment of this site would perhaps have been the possibility of converting selected buildings into some form of educational establishment dealing with heritage matters. Swan Mortuary However, as to be expected, investments in our children have lost out to the lure of selling the ‘family silver.’ This unique opportunity is to be squandered and the site sold for housing redevelopment. Fisher Wrathall are to be the selling agents. We are trying to make arrangements to look inside the building to take pictures before any work is done. David Hennessey let us in for a look around from the outside but we still Main Buildings await permission to gain access to buildings. We hope to are a few report further in the next recently. Waterwitch. In the meantime, here 32
Wharf Crane
photographs taken DC
HINCASTER TUNNEL A couple of months ago I was sent a copy of an official BW inspection report, dated 2010, for Hincaster Tunnel. Whilst the Report itself may be fascinating reading for those of a suitable construction-based background I found the associated pictures very interesting in themselves. You can clearly see the thousands of very locally produced bricks manufactured down the lane off the A6 & adjacent to the Blue Bell pub. The reported tunnel dimensions are Contd page34
West portal
Looking east through the tunnel
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Contd from page 33 Width 5.3m at WL, Height: 5.6m, Length: 345m. It is classed as a medium size, non-operational tunnel without towpaths. Brick lined with listed Masonry Portals. No air shafts. The report states: Condition: Reasonable with good shape generally. Minor perishing to brickwork near both ends of tunnel with old perished render repairs. No significant deterioration since previous P.I. in 2005. Dressed masonry portals in good condition with some vegetation cover. The tunnel remains in reasonable to good condition throughout with very little change since the previous inspection So all bodes well if we can get the restoration under Wellheads Lane, DC
The walls and guiding rail
Tunnel roof arch
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CANALS AT WAR By Frank Sanderson. I was asked to look into canals in wartime. Very moving stories indeed. I vividly remember, early in the war, the barges and butty’s coming into Accrington from Blackburn at the Church wharf turn. Opposing traffic had to give way and once did not. I have never heard so many naughty words rendered with such fluency. Probably mostly carrying coal to Altham coke works and supplies to Blythe’s chemical works, and perhaps ammunition, the bargees had a few potatoes on their cabin top and when asked what they were carrying said “Bloody spuds again”. It became a byword with the local lads and when our bombing raids began over Germany, some used to say “More ‘bloody spuds’ for Herr Hitler” WW1 Canals were used extensively in WW1 for moving goods and it was also a better way to transport wounded than roadways. WW2 The Air Ministry created three Canal Clearance Companies to enable goods to be moved internally. 1. Paddington. 2. Birmingham. 3. Manchester. The Canal Control Committee conscripted women to work the canals on The Home Front. All 35
boats were covered so goods, food, ammunition etc were free from prying eyes. The Chairman of Directors at Rickmansworth asked an elderly boatman what he was carrying, only to be told in rather a canal term way, to mind his own business. He gave the man a ten shilling note for his reply. Food Rationing was in progress and it was very difficult for the boat people, mainly women, to register at a shop as they were travelling around. Extra cheese was allowed for some occupations but canal and railway staff were not included. During the blitz, children were evacuated, which put a great strain on schools in country areas. Many schools had to improvise and some held classrooms in covered boats on the canal. The winter of 1939/40 was very severe and the canals froze over. It was no use wearing woollen gloves, which became soggy, and sometimes the women’s hands froze to the lock gate guardrails. One account of a woman skipper tells of leaving London in an air-raid and feverishly working the locks before she was away from the bombing. (Continued on page 36)
one a motor and one a butty, usually with a crew of three. The cargo was mainly coal and grain. Work was physically demanding and life on the canal boats was cramped and uncomfortable. The women had to put up with resentment and petty acts of aggression and practical jokes from the men on other boats and those employed in the warehouses. Volunteers, usually middle-class, were scarce and hard to retain. Having been trained most women the ms elv e s bec ame tr ainer s. Estimates as to the number of pairs of boats crewed by women on the Grand Union Canal vary from 15 to 30 at any one time, but only six women stayed for the full duration of the scheme from 1942 to 1945. In early 1944 the Ministry took over the scheme’s sponsorship and started a recruitment campaign. Newspapers, magazine articles with photographs of women already in action, talks on the radio and a Ministry of Information Film were used as a means of encouraging women to put themselves forward for training. This photograph is one of those used in the p u b l i c i t y campaign. The TUC Library Collections have a large research collection relating to
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If this is not enough to make people realise the importance of canals I don’t know what is. During the war years, The Lancaster Canal was the only canal company to paint bridge keystones and voussoirs (ring stones) in a non reflective white as they carried ammunition and explosives without lights after dark. Walpamur company, Darwen Lancashire, now Crown, supplied all white edging and blackout paint throughout the war, including white paint for aircraft at D Day landings. Boatwomen Training Scheme, 1943. In 1941, Frances Marian ‘Molly’ Traill approached the Ministry of War Transport with a scheme to train women boat crews to help the country with its shortage of manpower on the canals. The Ministry was impressed and persuaded the Grand Union Canal Carrying Company to pioneer the scheme. Molly Traill and Eily Gayford were recruited as trainers when the scheme launched in F e b r u ar y 1942. The schem e was later extended to other canals such as the Leeds and Liverpool. The boats worked in pairs,
(Continued on page 37)
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women working on the Home Front during the Second World War. A selection of posters, photographs, documents and oral history
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interviews with veterans of the Home Front can be found on our website The Workers War FS/DC
Canal & River Trust Update ... Light up Waterways event Building on year one of our partnership with Dukes Theatre and the success of last year’s event ‘Phoenix from the Ashes’, the beginning of 2013 saw us begin to produce the ‘Light Up the Waterways’ programme. At the heart of the programme was a commitment to introduce children and community members to the beauty of the natural flora and fauna of the Lune Aqueduct and canal system, whilst also encouraging them to produce creative responses to their physical and emotional environments. The programme had several defined elements
including; schools and community workshops, canal walks and investigation, related professional theatre production, arts installation at the Dukes Theatre and then a ‘Finale’ event at the Grade I listed Lune Aqueduct. As a ‘Finale’ to the two year programme we illuminated the Aqueduct with light and laser displays, live music and the dance performances and community made
light installations. The ‘Finale Event’ took place over two evenings in late October and was attended by 850 members of the community. All 900 tickets were (Continued on page 39)
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booked within 5 days of b e i n g released!! It was clear to see that if we had t h e opportunity to accommodate more people, we could have attracted a few thousand to the event! Volunteering We have been running a regular fortnightly towpath taskforce group in Lancaster, where our volunteers take on tasks such as vegetation m an age m e n t , l i t t e r clearance, tree and hedge planting, signage installation as well as many other varied tasks. This group is going from strength to strength and the work completed is becoming more and more noticeable on the canal through Lancaster and the Lune Aqueduct site. We are now looking to recruit a ‘lead volunteer’, who can work with this group and lead volunteer work on the canal in Lancaster. Lune Nature Park Construction of the nature park on 39
the Lune Aqueduct site is nearing completion, with only the planting to be completed now. Due to the extremely wet weather conditions over the winter, we have left the site for a few weeks to enable it to dry out and settle. We are hoping to plant trees and aquatic plants and spread some seed in April.
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Lune Aqueduct Project Officer Canal & River Trust Waterside House Waterside Drive Wigan WN3 5AZ
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Summer events 2014 We have a programme of free community events, including: 8th April Children’s Pond dip Tuesday 12th April Saturday Spring/ Easter nature walk 10th May Saturday Wildflower Walk Canoe Safari; June (Exact date TBC) Contact David Hennessey by email or on the number below regarding any of the above. David Hennessey
Mob: 07500 606030
.THE
LANCASTER CANAL TRUST OPPORTUNITIES FOR VOLUNTEERS areas Trainee skippers and crew for our tripboat operation for 2014 season Clerks for tripboat bookings, ticket sales, table sales and information to intending passengers for 2014 season Hands on workers for canal repair and restoration, work as part of a team, learn new skills etc. No experience necessary. If you are a Trust member and interested in any of the above, please mail me alan.mather7@ntlworld.com
We need people who are willing to help the trust in various ways eg A Chairman for the Trust A Secretary for the Trust Speakers for talks to interested groups Suggestions for groups to whom these speakers may speak Someone to record volunteer hours etc for fundraising purposes Members to help with recruitment to the Trust and promotion of the canal Helpers for staffing events, shows and supermarkets Leaflet distributors: promoting LCT activities to caravan sites and leisure 40
It is pleasing to report that there has been some progress on the conservation of the coke ovens just south of bridge number 127 in Carnforth. As a result of a fortuitous operation being carried out by Canal & River Trust contractors to remove overhanging branches from the nontowpath side of the canal, some of the intrusive By Brian tree growth in the edge of the canal just behind Crawley the ovens and at the old wharf has been cleared. The photograph shows the slightly improved view of the feature from the Crag Bank towpath side of the canal. The rear wall of the ovens can just be seen and the wharf access to the Spring Field is to the north. There is still a lot to do! The main project is dependent on funding currently being sought by Canal & River Trust personnel in Wigan. Sadly, from the viewpoint of the coke ovens conservation, both Terry Halliwell, who produced the very comprehensive heritage assessment document, and Audrey O’Connor, who wrote a short article about it for the last magazine, have both moved on to greater aspects of canal work and the project is being picked up by new personnel. We are hoping to hear soon of more good news for the operation. Brian Crawley March 2014
Carnforth Beehive Coke Ovens
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Working on Water. The Lancaster Canal Trust's winter programme of work has been very wet and windy, but more than a little interesting not for the Lancaster canal work parties the usual 'nothing much happening in winter' perspective. They have been extremely fortunate in finding an ex British Waterways man, Keith Tassart, for a Working Party Organiser, Recent help in maintaining the far side of the canal, often badly neglected and not easy to manage, came from Northern Pontoon Hire, Carnforth. Lee Nicholls, the MD, not satisfied with loaning equipment, has been experimenting with putting a digger on pontoons to dredge the canal. Such is the lure of the Lancaster that it is surprising just who will turn up and help with the restoration. And now we are working on water.
A new map, courtesy of Mike Valiant. Thanks for this. DC
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LANCASTER CANAL TRUST Officers and Committee 2013/4 President C.H.Bagot J.P. F.R.I.C.S.,D.L Vice - Presidents John Gavan; David Slater Chairman Richard Trevitt 2 Fern Bank, Lancaster. LAI 4TT (01524) 846303 trevittr@hotmail.com Vice - Chairman Helen Thomas 7 Bay View, Over Kellet, Carnforth, LA6 1DR, (01524) 735504 helen@thepikes.co.uk Secretary Vacant Treasurer Peter Jones 14 Blencathra Gardens Kendal LA9 7HL (01539) 739105 peter@cpsj.me.uk Membership Secretary Alan Mather 15, Claughton Ave Bolton BL2 6US (01204) 521031 membership@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk Public Relations Officer Frank Sanderson, 015395 66967. M 0790 186 5353. pr@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk Waterwitch Editor David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal LA9 6AD (01539) 732599 dadcurrington@hotmail.com Working Party Organiser Keith Tassart vickylegal4life@gmail.com Grants Officer Maureen Olley funding@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS & OTHER TRUST OFFICERS
Sandra Henstock (L.C.B.C. Representative) (01253)764171
Alan Mather Boat Operations Manager (01204) 521031 tripboat@lancastercanaltrust.org.uk
Affiliated Members Preston Patrick Parish Council Ramblers Association (Preston Area) South Lakeland District Council Water Farm Boat Hire Yealand Conyers Parish Council Westmorland & North Lancashire Long Distance Walkers Assoc.
Beetham Parish Council Burton-in-Kendal Parish Council Bury & District Anglers Association Catterall Parish Council Kendal Civic Society Lancaster Canal Boat Club Natland Parish Council Newton with Clifton Parish Council
Corporate Members Arlen Hire Boats
CARP Ltd
Waterwitch is copyright 2014, published by The Lancaster Canal Trust (Registered Charity No. 240957) c/o David Currington, 12 Sedbergh Road, Kendal, LA9 6AD The Lancaster Canal Trust may not agree with the opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or an official announcement, unless so stated - otherwise the Trust accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. The editor retains the right to edit any article or letter submitted for publication .
Visit LCT website at:
http://www.lancastercanaltrust.org.uk
The deadline for contributions to the next edition of Waterwitch will be 8th September 2014 Contributions may be e-mailed to dadcurrington@hotmail.com Or by post to David Currington 12 Sedbergh Road Kendal, Cumbria LA9 6AD Printed by Kent Valley Colour Printers, Kendal. (01539)741344
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