AUTUMN 2023
The
Butty Crofton Saves The Day Read about how our heritage pumping station came to the rescue of Canal and River Trust.
Kennet Horse Boat Kennet & Avon Canal Trust join the Kennet Horse Boat Company for a trip
A Conservation Policy For The Trust The Trust’s new conservation policy is announced. Read and have your say.
Welcome Who's who President: Rob Dean CMG
Dear Members, We’re coming into another Autumn, another year of Santa Trips on our fantastic boats and another season of muddy towpaths! This can feel like a quieter time of year on the canal so I’m hoping it frees up some time for you all to enjoy this edition of The Butty. I’m writing to you as the Trust’s newest Butty editor but lots of you may have known me previously as Bookings Admin - hello! Unusually for the Trust, the Butty Editor role seems to have been one that has largely been taken up by women and so I’m pleased to be continuing the tradition of having a woman at the helm of our membership magazine. On that note, I’d like to thank Zaira Puddephatt for the fantastic job she’s done on the most recent editions of The Butty, as well as Sharmain Washbourne who has been a huge source of support and positivity for me in putting this issue together. And of course, a big thank you to our Office Team - Chan, Nellie and Helen - thank you for welcoming me back so warmly into a voluntary role and for the constant support and (most importantly) excellent humour. This is another packed edition of The Butty, with pictures and anecdotes from across the season - my favourite being Crofton coming to the rescue of Canal and River Trust (p.10). Finally, I’d love to hear from you. What do you want to see in The Butty? Have you got an article you’ve been thinking about writing? Please do email me and let me know so I can make sure we’re including content you want to read. Very best, Jen
Jen Smith-Furmage Editor
Get in touch 01380 721279 thebutty@katrust.org.uk /KACTrust @kennetandavoncanaltrust
K&A Canal Trust, Devizes Wharf, Couch Lane, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1EB
Vice presidents: Rt Hon Lord Benyon Bill Fisher David Lamb Michael Corfield Michael Goodenough Prunella Scales, CBE Terry Kemp Timothy West, CBE Trust council: Chris Sims, Chair chair@katrust.org.uk Chris Bolt CB, Hon. Treasurer fd@katrust.org.uk Graham Snook Mike Bailey, H&S Alison Cannon Robert Dunton Terry Mundy Enterprise board: Darren Bone, Chair Chris Bolt CB Bryan Baker Carolyn Calder Ceri Hanlon Paul Hanson Paul Kettel Graham Puddephatt Chris Sims Office: Chantal Morgan bookings@katrust.org.uk Nellie Pitts bookings.asst@katrust.org.uk Helen Flavin finance@katrust.org.uk
The Trust is a registered charity, No. CC209206, and a company limited by guarantee registered in England, No. 726331
Autumn 2023
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Chairman’s Letter Dear Members,
I need to highlight the outstanding performance of our
I hope you’ve been able to get out and enjoy our
excellent Central Office Team of Nellie Pitts, Helen
canal over the summer, on a boat trip, on the tow path Flavin and Chan Morgan who managed by Darren or as one of our fantastic volunteers.
achieved two major milestones:Designing, populating, managing, training staff and
I’d like to highlight the follow individuals who have
commissioning an entirely new booking system
joined either Trust Council or the Enterprise Board
from scratch in only six weeks. This has proven to
this year:-
be hugely beneficial to customers in terms of ease
Darren Bone – Chair of the Enterprise Board
of booking and the absolute resolution of known
Paul Hanson – Director of Boat Operations and
defects, while facilitating proper auditable
Enterprise Director
accounting
Alison Cannon – Trustee and Designated Safeguard
Completing the design and population of the new
Lead
website project, which had been in a state of stasis
Paul Kettel – Chair of the Newbury Branch and
since at least February 2023. This website is now
Enterprise Director
online, fully fit for purpose. It allows the Trust
Bryan Baker – Chair of the Bradford on Avon Branch
Council to meet its legal obligations and indeed
and Enterprise Director
publicise its activities in terms of its charitable
Susan Hill – joining as Trustee and taking over from
objects. Without the Enterprise team of three ladies,
Chris Bolt as Trust Treasurer and Enterprise Finance
this would never have happened.
Director.
Nellie joined us earlier this year as maternity cover for Phoebe, Phoebe’s baby Albie made an early
Also a huge thank you to those who have decided to
appearance in April.
step back from their previous responsibilities :David Fearns - Trustee
From a personal point I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the
Tim Pyatt – Trustee and Enterprise Director
season on the Bruce Boats, in particular my week
Zaira Puddephatt – Trustee – especially for getting
skippering for my Rotary Club, Swindon Phoenix.
the new website developed and for editing the Butty
I’ve included a few photos of the week.
Chris Churchouse Chair of the Enterprise Board Julian Foley – Director of Boat Operations, Enterprise Regards Director and Chair of Newbury Branch. Carolyn Calder - Enterprise Director and Chair of the
Chris
Devizes Branch Finally David Copley who stood down at the AGM in
PS Thanks to Jen Smith-Furmage for volunteering to
May, David can’t remember how many years he’s
help produce the Butty
been a Trustee and the Charity Commission website also has no information, which tells you something. David recently turned 80. Autumn 2023
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Reading Branch Updates Hello, I hope you have had an enjoyable if rather wet Summer at times. There has been quite a lot of activity at the unfashionable East End of our waterway. In June we had our Annual Waterfest. A popular event which we organise in conjunction with Reading Borough Council. This year was the 300th anniversary of the opening of Kennet Navigation in 1723. I had the pleasure of recreating Robert Blake’s experience (Mayor of Reading 1723). He had led a protest party out to Burghfield to damage the works of the Kennet Navigation being built. He anticipated loss of trade if boats had no need to transfer their loads at his wharf in Reading, and could proceed onto Newbury. He was arrested and given the option of 6 years hard labour or to support the Navigation. At Waterfest I presented the current Mayor with an arrest warrant…charging him as Reading Borough
This year NB. Jubilee came along from Newbury to run short
Council with failing to support the waterway, and failing
trips around the Forbury Loop. Our own Matilda Too trip boat
the business community, with the lack of provision of
carried the Mayoral party to the event, and then ran as an
facilities for boats. Our regular blacksmith John
overflow for the popular boat trips.
Loveluck from Anvil Forge in Farley Hill acted as
The winners shield for ‘Best Dressed Boat’ had run out of
“police” to put the Mayor behind bars. The Mayor chose
space for winner names. Last year’s winner Paul Fitt (Nb
to support the waterway, as did his predecessor, and
Lancing) kindly arranged to upgrade it using a piece of
promised a meeting.
elm taken from the base plate of an old working boat. The Bell and Dragon (now renamed “The Narrowboat”) donated the prize. This year the award for Best Dressed boat was presented to John, Tricia (and Winnie) on NB. Liquorice Fields together with the updated trophy. Roy McFarlane the Waterways Poet Laureate talked to visitors and boaters to generate some inspiration. At the end of the day Roy performed a number of pieces of his work to the gathered crowd. He gave a performance to the gathered crowd along Chestnut Walk from Matilda Too before introducing the Duck Race. This year we had prizes donated by ABC boats, London Brasserie and trips from both Jubilee and Matilda Too.
Notes on the photos.
Autumn 2023
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Following the arrest of the Mayor at Waterfest we had an initial meeting with Reading Borough Council to discuss improving the 1st Mile of the Kennet and Avon Canal from a waterways point of view. We hope that boats will be made to feel more welcome in future. We have also seen the re-opening of the Tea Rooms in Aldermaston and the restoration of the Toll / Wash house. The Tea Rooms is now under the new management team and has a great friendly feel with a bookable “snug” room for small meetings. The gardens are looking neat and welcoming, and the reshaping of the picket fence has meant the boaters water point is now freely available from the Towpath. The Toll / Wash house building has had a full restoration to conservation standards as a listed building which predated the canal. We have been building the presentation area inside to welcome visitors to an information centre. It has taken longer than hoped waiting for plaster to dry out, meanwhile we have been gathering the elements to show as the workings of a 19th century wash house and as Toll office. We are still looking for an old ‘Copper’ to refit, and compiling information and artifacts to provide an interesting display. We started our first full season with Matilda Too, our trip boat running on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. We also operated on Fridays for the school August summer holidays. Running midday, 1.00, 2.00, 3.00 for our 45 minute trip around the sights of Central Reading. We have also provided a number of charters for the local history group, U3A and some birthday and
We are restarting our “winter” branch meetings again on the 3rd Tuesday of each month and will be in person at The Narrowboat (formally Bel and the Dragon) in Reading on the Humber Barge. I will again set up a Zoom session so folk can join us over the wire if you can’t get to the meeting in person. The first meeting was on 19th September at 7.30pm. We have David Cliffe talking about ‘The Town on Two Rivers - History of Reading’s Waterways’. Non branch members please feel free to come along to these meetings in person or contact me for the Zoom access. Graham Puddephatt chair.reading@katrust.org.uk
wedding celebrations. We have received some great trip advisor comments and have gained 3 new volunteers. Trips can be booked on the new K&A Trust Website.
Autumn 2023
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Newbury Branch Updates It’s been all go and all change in Newbury. After the extremely wet start to the season led to us cancelling trips for safety reasons, we've certainly made up for lost time. Our passenger numbers have been very good, with our Pirate Trips being a great success as usual with lots of fun enjoyed by passengers and crew. It's not just kids that like playing as pirates! To keep the adults happy we also ran our evening Prosecco cruises and started evening gin tasting cruises with, award winning, local distiller Gee Gee Gin. Crewing these meant being unable to sample any of the gin, but I'm reliably informed they were very good. Hopefully next season I'll get the chance to experience one as a passenger. October will bring our Creepy Cruises and after that its only a short wait, sorry parents, until Santa comes to Newbury for our Santa Cruises in December. Not sure if
new role for me.
our volunteers are frustrated thespians, grown up kids,
We have also gained new volunteers as crew and 3 new
or just like dressing up, but a lot of our themed cruises
skippers. We are always on the lookout for new people to
involve dressing up in costumes!
join us, so please feel free to get in touch.
We have a new Branch Chairman, me, and some new committee members. Thank you to those who have
As well as our trips and keeping Jubilee in shape, we
stepped down for their hard work and to those new
have worked with local and national groups to extend our
members for the hard work you'll be doing! A big thank
visibility. We joined with Newbury Business Improvement
you to Julian for his work as Chairman and the help he
District in their Festival of the Moon in August, the Canal
has given me in trying to get to grips with a completely
and River Trust at the Newbury Show, are looking to work with the local press and are already in the early planning stages of next years Newbury Waterways Festival. Come and join us as passenger or volunteer. You will be welcome as either. You can email me at paul.kettel@kact.co.uk Paul
Autumn 2023
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Hungerford Branch Updates It has been a strange summer for the Rose and her volunteers. Despite a return to normal life following the Covid restrictions, people seem to have lost the habit of going out; many of our trips were very light on passengers, who were, on occasion, outnumbered by the crew! We were privileged on two occasions, to have passengers who had, in their younger days, been part of the heroic group of volunteers who restored the canal in the last half of last century. Nonetheless, our customers were appreciative and very generous in their donations. We are proud that Rose of Hungerford is first in the TripAdvisor list of Hungerford attractions. Several new volunteers have joined us this season and have contributed enormously to our continuing success, working as inside and outside crew, with one new volunteer also qualifying as a helm. One of the joys of
steerage way. No-one had enough breath to indulge in the
working on the Rose is meeting people who bring such
sort of language such difficulties often produce!
a fascinating variety of experience and personality with
A new passenger booking website had been needed for
them.
some time, but when it was introduced, there were
One challenging trip involved an engine failure. Three
inevitably some teething problems. Old phones and even
volunteers had to haul the Rose several hundred yards
older users were a potent mixture for generating
to a lock wharf where passengers could safely
difficulties!
disembark and either walk back or wait for transport.
Almost all of us (there are always some successors to
Hauling was extremely hard work, not helped by the
Scrooge around) are looking forward to the ever popular
difficulty in maintaining enough speed to give her
Santa trips in December, with a trip to Newbury in the New Year for the MCA out of water inspection (fingers crossed).
Bruce Branch Update Bruce Boats have had a difficult year, not least due to remaining without a chairperson, and ongoing discussions about the future of Bruce Boats. Despite these challenges, our wonderful team of volunteers kept everything going and the lovely feedback from our customers kept us smiling.
Autumn 2023
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Lady Hilda Update Lady Hilda has had a busy season, booked by a variety of groups including Scouts, Guides and Boys' Brigade, and including two Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award Residentials. We had another attempt to take Lady H to Bristol Harbour Festival - and were pleased that Heathy Close Lock, which had been closed for weeks, reopened the day before we set off. Phew!
In contrast to last year's heatwave, the Festival weekend featured heavy rain squalls this year, but we decorated the boat with a pirate theme and throughout the weekend welcomed over 250 people on board to learn about youth boating on the canal.
Autumn 2023
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Crofton Branch Updates 19th century technology to the rescue! Crofton Beam Engines has had another successful season, with the engines in steam for two days a month from Easter until September, and the site open on almost all other Saturdays and Sundays. Visitor numbers are still being finalised, but are showing a small increase on 2022 levels. In some ways the highlight of the year came in the middle of August. Because of problems with commissioning their new electric pumps, the Canal and River Trust (CRT) had to close the summit level of the canal at the busiest time of the year. So they asked if the Crofton engines could be steamed at short notice. In less than 24 hours, a team of volunteers had warmed the engines, which then operated over three days pumping around 19.5 million litres (18,000 tons) of
Provided no objections are received, we hope that the
water, with the two engines operating together for some
transfer will be completed by the end of the year – only
of this time. This was the longest sustained pumping
two years on from when discussions started! The current
since the engines were restored over fifty years ago.
plan is for the Smithy to be used for school and group
Rob Coles, the Area Operations Manager for CRT, was
visits.
full of praise for achievement: “I just want to say thank
Our Learning and Outreach programme is continuing to
you very much for the last three days’ pumping. We
develop. Over the summer, visits included 27 children and 11
have opened the canal a good 3-4 days earlier with your help. The team was amazing.” At the end of August, our purchase of the Smithy – the only building on the site still owned by CRT – took a step forward with the public notice being advertised.
adults from a home schooling group, with the older children undertaking an ‘escape room’ task; a group of 50 from the Malmesbury/Gien Twinning Association; and all 90 children from St Katherine’s school who walked to the site for their end of term event, with all the staff. A programme of winter activities, in particular with three local partner schools and local community groups, is now being planned.
All of this is only possible because of the dedication of around 50 skilled volunteers and two staff members, who keep the engines operating and the site maintained. On a steaming day, for example, at least 20 volunteers are needed to carry out a range of tasks from welcoming visitors (and collecting their entrance fees!), firing the boilers and driving the engines through to providing refreshments to visitors and ensuring that the toilets are cleaned throughout the day. Autumn 2023
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But the work continues through the year, and our programme of winter works is already planned so that the 2024 season can be even more successful. There will be a public open day each month over the winter, and group visits. Crofton Beam Engines never sleeps. Crofton 2030: Securing the future of Crofton Beam Engines Like many heritage sites, Crofton Beam Engines does not generate sufficient income from visitors to cover its core costs, and currently requires support from Trust reserves. This is despite raising around £100K over the past three years from individual donors and grantmaking trusts to fund major projects such as the boiler and chimney repairs and conservation of the Archimedes Screw. So at the end of last year, Trustees agreed to support an application to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for
This work has been overseen by a Project Group involving
a grant to support a review of future strategy and
Crofton volunteers and Trustees, which has in parallel
development of a new business plan, designed to map
been developing a Site Master Plan to identify the future
out a sustainable future for Crofton Beam Engines
uses of all buildings on the site – including the Smithy
looking to 2030 and beyond. The application was
which will very soon be in the ownership of the Trust.
successful, and consultants were appointed in April to
The emerging plan is based on exploiting Crofton’s unique
carry out three assignments: a market review of similar
heritage, and the link to Boulton and Watt, and developing
heritage sites; market research into possible future
further its links to the local community as well as the
developments at Crofton; and development of a
industrial heritage market.
business plan.
The project will be completed in October, and will be independently evaluated before the final plan and recommendations are discussed by Trustees in November. Following storm damage to the Crofton chimney in early 2023 we are also running a new Crofton Chimney Appeal. Please see back cover for more details and how to donate.
Heritage Open Days 2023
Autumn 2023
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Devizes Branch Update
One of the smaller rooms is now a foreign language class venue and the newly named Galley room serves teas and coffees to visitors to the museum.This has proved very successful, with £3000 revenue collected in the the time it has been running. On May 9th after the repaint was finally completed The start of our season this year was dominated by
another gang of volunteers went down to collect KV
the moving of Kenavon Venture from the wharf at
and bring her home. It was more challenging this time,
Devizes down to Foxhangers for her long awaited
especially for the helms because no one wanted to be
and very necessary repaint job.
the first to scratch the new paintwork! A gleaming KV returned home and the following weekend there was a “Welcome back” event held on
On 13th March a gallant team of volunteers pulled,
the wharf with special guests and media presence,
pushed and hauled a very light and unresponsive KV
including Wiltshire radio and Fantasy FM.
down the Caen Hill flight. In spite of very challenging
To date KV is back in full swing with well attended
weather conditions, with KV sometimes needing to be
regular trips, specials and charters.
rope hauled into the lock against an adverse wind, the trip was completed in a record 3 hours and 40 minutes.
Whilst the boat was away our volunteers continued to work to revitalize our wharf buildings by painting, fitting out and generally making them more welcoming and accessible to the general public. As a result of their time and dedication we have a function room which is now being hired out to various local groups, including the Wharf Theatre as a rehearsal room and regular yoga classes.
Autumn 2021
As the season draws to a close as quickly as the nights are drawing in we are looking forward to finishing this year with many more Santa trips than in previous years. Always great fun and an excellent precursor to Christmas for us all.
So from everyone at Devizes we send you festive greetings and every good wish for the New Year.
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Bradford on Avon Branch Updates Here in “Frontier Land” in deepest, darkest Wiltshire things have been happening in the Bradford on Avon Branch. For almost 18 months the Branch has been operating without a Chair person at the helm. No Committee member, it seemed, was willing to take up the role, so the Branch remained “rudderless”, or so it seemed! Due to the sterling work of the Committee, in particular Lesley Hooper (Barbara McLellan Boat Manager) and David Howse (Treasurer), the Branch
boats along the canal, take-up of places is a variable feast.
was steered through some very challenging times
Some trips sell out whilst others struggle to make them
following the gradual recovery from the impact of Covid! Meanwhile, whilst sitting at home recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon, I was approached by Darren Bone, the recently appointed Chair of KACT (Enterprise) Ltd. Following a telephone conversation with Darren, who explained to me the newly proposed structure for Enterprise and his desire for all Branches
viable. Nevertheless our forecast figures look very promising for the end of season! We have welcomed several new volunteers to our crew ranks this season whilst those who joined us last season are showing great promise in becoming “competent crew”. Every year, like us all, sees “our Barbara” get another year older; like us all she responds to TLC, but some days we feel our age! Barbara Mac is no different! In recent weeks she has had a problem with a loose propeller linkage which was
to have a Chair person and key Committee roles in
quickly identified and corrected by our maintenance team.
place, the conversation ended by Darren asking me if I
Then just two days before a charter booking another problem
would consider being co-opted back onto the
surfaced with much reduced forward and reverse power !
Committee and with Committee endorsement and
Again, within a matter of hours our maintenance team
Enterprise Board approval take up the vacant Chair of
identified the problem as a broken cable and a replacement
the BoA Branch. After some consideration I agreed,
was sourced, purchased and then fitted on the morning of
and the rest is history!
our charter trip, which went ahead as if nothing had
BoA Branch trip boat M.V. Barbara McLellan continues
happened!
to attract custom for the many and varied trips that our
It’s not just our Armed Forces that have a “Rapid Reaction
volunteer crews allow us to offer. As with other KACT
Force”, we have one too at Bradford on Avon. Many thanks go to Chris Churchouse and Mike Bailey for a job well done! As our regular trip season winds down we look forward to the palpable excitement of the many children who can’t wait to meet Santa on our Christmas specials in December! Meanwhile, our Maintenance Team continue to add to a growing list of tasks for B Mac’s annual dry-docking which will include our “Out-of-Water” inspection by Marine & Coastguard Agency inspectors. Fingers crossed we get a clean bill of health and our Operating Licence is renewed. Bryan Baker
BMAC on an icy morning Autumn 2023
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Locks on the Canal Hanham Lock Where does the Kennet & Avon Canal begin? The lock numbers give a clue – Lock No 1 is Hanham Lock, although you would not be able to reach it from Hanham except by boat. Land access is from Keynsham, along a private road past residential moorings. Not many people make the trip. The lock marks the historic boundary of the city of Bristol, which is why the waters beyond the lock are managed by Bristol Harbour Authority. In the late seventeenth century ‘clean’ drinking water from the river was taken from here through wooden pipes to
Sometimes the whole lock is several feet under water.
Bristol, and a watermill provided flour for its citizens.
A Victorian voyager, writing in 1891, records a
But the mill’s weir prevented boats from travelling
conversation with the ‘hale, white-haired lock-keeper’ in
upstream, and so in the 1720s John Hore was
which ‘he told tales of winter and flood time, when the
employed to build locks to bypass the Avon weirs, as
swirling waters are almost up to his door, and of one
he had done on the River Kennet. He started at
flood – the first year he came there – when the river ran
Hanham, and in October 1725 the first boats paid 4d
through his house.’
per ton of cargo to pass through the first lock on the
Sadly, a huge flood in 1968 rendered the house unsafe;
Avon.
it was demolished and a new one built six feet higher
A lock cottage was built in 1743, but flooding was a
up. The floods earlier this year were watched with
constant threat. High tides regularly reach Hanham
trepidation by its new owners – but the waters
Weir, and a very high one can force both sets of lock
remained a couple of feet below.
gates to open simultaneously, apparently by magic.
This was the last lock on the canal to have a resident
When a high tide is combined with a big flow
lock keeper – CRT sold the house only a few years
downstream, the water has nowhere to go and floods
ago. The isolated position meant that the lock-keeper
the surrounding area.’
had plenty of time to tend his garden: in 1891 ‘the lock island was a sort of bower of roses, and fruitful with the choicest strawberries,’ and in the 1960s, lock keeper Jim Willoughby won several awards in national ‘best kept lock’ competitions. Nowadays, 1st Saltford Guides, along with CRT and KACT volunteers, aim to keep the lock looking attractive. From 1837 travel on the navigation was permitted by night as well as by day, with locks illuminated by gas lighting. Hanham Lock still has the post from which its
Hanham lock in Flood
lamp was hung, albeit with a new use: it now provides support for a hanging basket of flowers.
Autumn 2023
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A Day With The Kennet Horse Boat By Graham Puddephatt I was lucky to recently have
She is a beautiful colourful
the opportunity to
spectacle. She carries up to
experience a trip on the
64 passengers (dependent
Kennet Horse boat. I was
on trip) and is powered by
invited by Steve Butler the
the 1HP towing
owner of one of only three
phenomenon that has
horse drawn boats left still
historically been used since
operating in the country. It is
the opening of the Kennet
a delightful experience and
Navigation in 1723…I know
expounds what many see
Kintbury and Hungerford is
as the benefits of life along
actually on the Kennet and
the canal. The quiet and
Avon canal navigation, the
slow movement through a
Kennet Navigation waiting
green and natural space is
at Newbury for John Rennie
very calming and the
to catch up and bring it to
opportunity to see wild life
Hungerford in 1798…but
and historic architecture in
the thought is there.
almost perfect harmony. The Horse boat has been
It’s the first time for many
running since 1970 and was
years that I have been able
part of the push to save our
to experience the Kennet
wonderful navigation.
horse boat. I remember
Steve’s family have been
taking a group of German
running the business since
student teachers on a trip
1980 and he took the reins
and again taking our young
from his father in 2008.
family on the horse boat in the late 70’s. I have to say
The Boat, Kennet Valley is
much and little has
67ft long and a bit wider
changed. The passenger
than the standard
experience is still the same
narrowboat at 10ft. Painted
warm friendly and
in traditional canal style with
welcoming reception I
roses and castles and
remembered.
ornate sign written lettering.
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Title The passage of the Horse and boat (from the
young and old wandered over to give him a pat.
passenger seat) was quiet and effortless. The views
What I saw was a dedicated team working hard together
and the sounds were special, this is a grand day out!
to pass towpaths and locks that needed maintenance.
I don’t remember the number of moored boats along
there were narrow pathways where the crumbling banks
the lengths we travelled last time…today we were going
had lost their strength. A paddle at Dunn Mill lock had
from Kintbury to Hungerford in the morning with a
been disabled awaiting repair and a collar on Wire Mill
second trip back to Kintbury in the afternoon. The
had broken. There was the inevitable “K&A hole” in the
volume of moored boats at Kintbury and Hungerford
centre of the lock gates where those boaters who know
was somewhat surprising. I suppose it is a mark of the
better insist on opening only one gate and wearing an oval
success of the restoration of the K&A. Once past them
(and adding to the lock leakage in the mitre post) with the
the country was there to behold, I was lucky to see a
gunnel of their boat. Both sets of lock gates leaked quite
kingfisher and there were several herons watching with
heavily and both I suspect scheduled to be replaced soon.
a beady eye.
We just have to hope there is monies available to enable
Behind the scenes the team…and it is a team, are the
those replacement. Perhaps a move to steel gates would
proverbial “Swan”, calm and serene above and
provide a long-term solution rather than the current call for
paddling like crazy below. They have to battle to move
14 mature oaks every 20ish years.
the boat along, a roof man bracing the towing rope to
Inside the boat the passengers could enjoy not only the
avoid the many boat obstructions, chimneys, TV
scenery but copious tea and cakes there was a small bar
aerials, etc. together with the more natural bushes and
and a packed lunch or a cream tea was available. There
fences. With Steve on the bank guiding the rope across
was also a gift shop hosting postcard, mugs, tea towels
the boats and untamed undergrowth. The moored
and T-Shirts etc. all helping to keep the business alive.
boaters generally (when present) are amenable and
Steve is a dedicated and enthusiastic man who clearly
helpful, pulling down poles etc. when they realise the
cares about his business and the canal on which it travels.
boat is approaching. The team swap roles and
He has stories and thoughts that could make things easier
functions to suit the need, loosing the rope and gliding
for him and more enjoyable for his customers.
past an obstacle and picking up the rope again with
I feel he is part of the K&A’s history, and an asset to the
consummate ease. The helm moving the tiller to guide
navigation …and to the larger waterways system. There
the boat efficiently along and into locks and around
are only three horse boats still plying their trade and the
bends with seemingly effortless movement. I was given
world would be a sadder place without people like Steve
the chance to steer Kennet Valley a couple of times and
and his team keeping such experiences alive. I do feel
the concentration and understanding of the helm is to
that Canal and River Trust should do more to support
be admired.
these gems of the waterways.
The horse…today it’s the Welsh, Cob Shire Cross
I had a wonderful day and fully intend to return in the near
“Monty” who has been treading the towpath since 2012,
future with my family and friends to share the experience
is the star and obviously revels in the attention when
and support such worthwhile endeavor…I think my
stopped at locks and pausing points, otherwise
granddaughter will love it!
sampling the grass before again gently leaning into the
Thank you, Steve and the team, I hope to see you again
tow and moving the boat slowly on. At Hungerford he
soon!
was watered and rested and was unbothered when Autumn 2023
katrust.org.uk | 15
Profile - David Copley Until a short while ago David was pleased to point out he was the longest serving trustee for the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust. He has been a member of Trust Council for over 50 years and has served under 9 very different Chairmen. At this year’s AGM he chose to stand down due to age. He now plans to take more time to travel with his wife Jan, and to see more of their grandchildren. He intends to maintain his involvement with the Reading Branch helping with the annual
They struck up conversation and found this was a towpath
Waterfest event, crewing on the trip boat Matilda and
clearance exercise as part of the planned restoration. This
sitting on the branch’s organising committee. At around
struck a chord, and in 1972 they joined the Trust. The
80 he takes pleasure in pointing out that he has never
Reading Branch was a busy group holding regular
owned a boat and has only had one hire boat holiday,
meetings, working parties clearing the towpath and
this being on a 35ft GRP boat. He feels that the canals
making it a space for people to see the re-emerging
are not just for boats and boaters. The environmental
waterway. There were also sales stands to man at
and architectural benefits that have been seen following
carnivals, and fairs, going as far away as Victoria Park
waterway restoration, make his point well. Along with
and Brixton in London. David remembers selling small
Jan, he has walked many miles of the waterways
trinkets, and painted objects. These were in great demand
system, and has visited many waterways and boat lifts
at Victoria Park. When they questioned one of their
in Europe, Canada and China.
customers as to why, it was explained that living in high-
We are sitting in the Garden of the newly reinvigorated
rise buildings, these little pieces of the old times, were just
Aldermaston Tea Room and Information Centre. David
right to decorate their new space
helped to establish this as a KACT resource back in the day, and together with Jan served tea coffee and cake
David told me that Reading was a busy Trust centre at the
when it was worked by trust volunteers. Now the Tea
time with the Trust Secretary and the membership office
Room is leased to an operator to manage on the Trust’s both locally based. A couple of years after joining David behalf. A recent visit saw him watching replacement of
was invited to join the branch committee. This was around
the GWR boundary markers that had been recovered
1974 and the focus was building towards the restoration of
after being stolen and sold on eBay.
Bulls Lock. This was an experience that David remembers with great fondness and has said he will provide a future
As we sit by the Toll / Wash house, and in sight of the
article for the Butty describing the restoration of the lock
canal, he chats jovially about his memories and
by trust volunteers. They continued with working parties
experiences of the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust.
every two weeks, with the lock work being overseen by
David first came across the Kennet and Avon Canal
qualified engineers and guided by folk who were building
Trust in 1971. Newly married to Jan, they were both
local motorways in their day job.
looking for a new interest that they could share.
The Engineer supervising Bulls Lock stood down from
Walking along the towpath, they came across a bonfire,
Trust Council as the project nearer completion but the
and a bunch of folks feeding it.
volunteers thought an ongoing presence on Council would be useful.
Autumn 2021
katrust.org.uk | 16
Title In 1977 at the AGM held at Trowbridge, David was
He is also pleased to have worked with Roger House of
appointed to the Trust Council. He worked with the big
BWB to persuade developers to ease some of the bends
personalities in the Trust of the day including Admiral
on the Kennet through central Reading when the Oracle
O’Brien among others. He remembers sitting next to
shopping centre was being designed. At a Branch level he
General Stockwell at one of his early council meetings
enjoyed seeing the Reading Branch activities grow with
who in a break in the meeting turned to the “New boy”
the Waterfest being a Jewel in the Trust annual activities.
and said “We need to get this Bl**dy canal open before
David remembered visiting Caen Hill, Devizes in 1973 and
I peg it!”. David said, “Unfortunately he never made it”.
looking at the desolate view and thinking “This will never
Chairman at that time was Admiral Sir William O’Brien,
happen”. He has been pleased, and proud, to have had a
without whom the restoration would probably have not
small part, in making the impossible happen.
been achieved, but even his clear focus on the
David said that without Jan’s support and help he could
objective and skill in gaining the support and trust of all
not have been involved in the way he has. She is always
interested parties meant that through navigation from
there providing diplomatic comments and guidance when
Reading to Bristol was not possible until 1990.
needed. (which it often is)
Celebrations started in June in Reading at Waterfest
At 80 David decided to step down as a trustee. He said
and continued in July at Newbury, with a water festival.
that he feels that it is time to leave policy and planning to
Boats were taken from Reading heading West and from
others…and hope they get it right!
Bristol heading East timed to meet at Devizes.
He hopes that that the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust will
Back in Reading he remembers Norman Briggs setting
remain as a campaigning organisation, that can work with
up a trip boat from Burghfield using an Ocean-going
CRT, and influence them to keep the waterway open, and
liner’s lifeboat, calling it ‘Kennet Water’. Later David
viable, and not just be one of their boat operating
helped to crew Norman’s narrowboat ‘Lancing’ again
customers. The Trust has influenced many canal
from Burghfield.
restoration groups and needs continue to be at the
David has many memories of Reading Waterfest. For
forefront, and be seen to be concerned with the whole
several years he found himself acting as a buffer
canal and not just a series of local groups, concerned with
between the two Reading MPs of the day, keeping
their local issues. He feels strongly that the Trust should
Tony (later Sir Anthony) Durant (Con) and his
be acting as a cohesive whole, and not as diverse
successor Martin Salter (Lab) at opposite ends of the
branches, and boats.
Waterfest site, whilst meeting and greeting the attending crowd.
The coming squeeze on living costs has led to warnings
I asked what he felt was the great achievements of the
from CRT of lack of funding, and consequent danger to
Trust activities he has been involved in. His thoughts
maintaining the National Waterways. He hopes the Trust
were from his own experience helping to restore Bulls
will respond to the social political realities, pick up the
Lock as the only lock 100% restored by volunteers.
challenge and again work actively to protect the Kennet
There was much discussion around using volunteers to
and Avon Canal to keep the navigation open, and for the
carry out the work on Bulls lock, and the argument that
green environmental East West corridor to grow in
won the day was that volunteers were there to
strength and diversity.
supplement British Waterways resource, not replace it. Autumn 2023
katrust.org.uk | 17
A Conservation Policy for The Trust By Robert Dunton Many of us ask ourselves from time to time what is so special about the Kennet & Avon Canal that constantly draws us to its unique atmosphere? Others will ask what it is that persuades them to give of their time as volunteers to help maintain this special waterway. It is now hard to imagine the newly opened canal soon after 1810, with its harsh masonry surfaces, its channel devoid of reeds and the constant pounding of hooves as boats moved relentlessly from lock to lock, as would be seen on any of the new commercial waterways. To the observers of the early Victorian era, it would have placed itself in the same part of their consciousness as the late 20th century motorways occupy in ours today: functional and necessary, but hardly beautiful! How is it, therefore, that this functional Regency freight
whose Narrow Boat of 1944, so eloquently describes the
route, like many others in the country, has become an
canal-side villages and wildlife existing at the time.
ideal holiday destination renowned for its calm and
Just as Rolt drew attention to the potential for a new
tranquility? By the early 20th century the brick and
leisure use for our waterways, the melancholy beauty of
stone of its structures would have mellowed, much of it
the time-worn features of our canals was becoming
covered in lichens in the rural sections, and the GWR’s
recognised. In 1950 Eric de Maré published The Canals of
steadily declining maintenance régime would have
England, then in 1958 he collaborated with J M Richards
allowed nature to take over the margins of the towpath.
in writing The Functional Tradition: both featuring many of
By the time the canal had been transferred from the
de Maré’s stunning photos of heavily worn features of our
Railway Executive to the Docks and Inland Waterways
canals and their buildings (see left). I would contend that it
Executive in February 1949, many sections were
is, above all, this strong evidence of the passage of time
scarcely navigable, such was the level of silting,
which endears the waterways to many of us, and has
overgrowth and neglect. The attempts by John Gould,
attracted so many to enjoy holidays, experiencing the
then in 1950 by John Knill to continue cargo carrying
effects of nearly 250 years of gentle wear and tear on
are legendary, but the Limpley Stoke breach in October
these inherently robust structures. If this has created the
1954 effectively closed the canal and many sections
atmosphere we so much admire, how are we to preserve
previously kept clear succumbed to nature.
it?
The idea that it might be desirable to explore these
How we conserve old and historic structures has provoked
declining waterways dates back to E Temple Thurston’s
debate for many years. At the beginning of the 19th
delightful The Flower of Gloster, written in 1911, but the
century many of our historic buildings, particularly
seed which grew into today’s extraordinary revival was
churches and cathedrals, were in a shocking state of
sown by Temple Thurston’s admirer Tom Rolt,
repair. The Church Building Commission, founded in
Autumn 2023
katrust.org.uk | 18
1818, ordered the building of many new churches, but attention turned increasingly to the restoration of surviving early churches. Foremost among the architects responsible was George Gilbert Scott, who began with Ely Cathedral in 1847 and over his career restored several hundred churches and almost every English cathedral. In France, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc became renowned for his radical restorations, including Nôtre Dame in 1844; but both architects were criticised during their lifetimes for their high-handed destruction of much mediaeval work and their imposition of a ‘conjectural gothic’ style. The backlash gained momentum and both John Ruskin and William Morris spoke out about the tragedy of this thoughtless loss of the original artistic endeavour. In
Today, most interpretations of Morris’s Manifesto tend to
1877, Morris and other members of his Pre-Raphaelite
accept a degree of compromise: for example at Avoncliff
group wrote a Manifesto, which launched the Society
suggesting cutting a small date record into the areas of
for the Protection of Ancient Buildings.
new stone. If we accept the importance of the need to
This urged a more careful approach which would carry
retain the patina of time on our canal structures, how
out only the minimum repair necessary to ensure the
should the Trust approach the adoption of a Conservation
survival of a building with the marks of its historic
Policy and how has this been approached elsewhere?
evolution intact. Morris recognised that the charm of so many of our ancient buildings derives from the
This question had been asked at British Waterways in the
interaction of additions of all periods in their history; not
early 1970s as many canal restoration projects gained
purely the quality of one period. The effects of 213
momentum: the appointment of Peter White (1942-2018)
years of weathering and wear on the Kennet & Avon
as its first architect provided the first guide in the form of
Canal also contribute just these qualities, and so we
his Waterways Environmental Handbook in 1972. Since
bear a responsibility to ensure that anything we do will
then the Canal & River Trust has provided guidelines
allow this special character to be passed on to future
under ‘Caring for our Heritage’ on its website, and
generations.
appointed a Cultural Heritage Advisory Group of volunteer
Morris was something of a purist, believing in ‘honesty’
experts. Each approach recognises the special quality of
in expressing the work of each new period clearly,
mellow canalside structures and the need to preserve
rather than attempting to make the latest addition blend
their atmosphere when repairs are sometimes
in. Had he seen the patchwork of engineering brick
unavoidable, through natural wear and frost action or even
which until recently adorned large parts of Avoncliff
boat impacts. To address this, a draft Conservation Policy
Aqueduct, he would have argued for retaining it as a
was adopted by Trust Council in September which can be
record of the period under GWR ownership, rather than
distilled into eight principles.
‘airbrushing out’ this piece of incongruous history! Autumn 2023
katrust.org.uk | 19
Ensure we understand the history and significance before we start work. Assess the minimum that needs to be done to return the object or building to a sound state. Foremost among the architects responsible was When repairing or restoring, utilise the optimal conservation standards available, utilising well-documented research on reversible techniques. Where erosion or decay have passed the point of viable retention, obtain the best match for the material, if necessary using salvaged materials suppliers. Accept that deformation (lack of verticality, loss of right angles) may not in practice affect stability and if feasible to retain, may better reflect its history.
To these can be added the importance of consulting others, especially where the structure is listed, belongs to CRT or requires more specialist conservation. In the guidance, the legal structure of statutory protection, notably Listed Buildings, is explained and routes for
Where loss of a section is unavoidable and
obtaining consent for work.
has not been well recorded, it is better to be
Finally, the importance of avoiding the wrong materials
clear that the replacement is new work (see
when repairing (especially Portland cement!) is referred to
reference above to using a date record, to
in order to avoid well-meaning attempts which actually
avoid confusing future historians).
shorten the life of our valued structures. Have a look and tell us what you think!
Do not be tempted to add embellishments for which there is no evidence of previous
Rob Dunton
existence. Always aim to assist ageing materials to continue their life in their original position using conservation techniques, rather than replacing them. Autumn 2023
katrust.org.uk | 20
News from the Nivernais By Mary Ranger
Our canal, being a "canal de plaisance", opens to navigation at the end of March each year after the winter closure for maintenance work and closes again in October. This year the opening was delayed at the northern end due to urgent repairs needed on the walls and gates of the lock L'Ile Brulée, number 2 on the river Yonne which gives access to the canal. It was reopened finally at the end of June. Then, unfortunately the walls of the stop lock at St. Didier between Clamecy and Corbigny started to collapse and necessitated urgent work but was completed after 2 weeks by an outside company. Obviously the hire boat companies, hotel boat owners and private boaters had to organise themselves around these closures. Nevertheless, the Dutch barge owners rally was able, in extremis, to take place very successfully at the Arbre Sec in Auxerre over the national Bastille Day holiday and which we,
Les Amis du Canal, enjoyed participating in. At the same spot, we also celebrated the passing of the 4000th lock by an American couple on their boat. However, our lock keeper member informs us that the number of boats using the canal this year are down for August and September and our navigating treasurer saw that during her journey from the boatyard in Migennes to the summit pound at Baye, there is a noticeable lack of general maintenance, grass cutting, bank repairs,lack of lock keepers, lack of water and electricity points that function equally remarked upon by the staff of V.N.F." Voies Navigables de France" who run the northern section of the canal are put to shame, it seems by their colleagues of the southern section run by the" Conseil Général de la Nièvre" who keep their part in better shape even if the age of the structures and many years of neglect, katrust.org.uk | 21
lack of finances are making themselves known. The canal du Nivernais is often cited as the most beautiful,( which it is, of course!) and is well frequented by tourists on bicycles of all shapes and sizes and nationalities as well as walkers but a canal without boats is sad and without sense, as we all appreciate. Obviously, leaving the banks and lock sides untended is wonderful for the abundant fauna and flora but becomes not only a hindrance to navigation but inevitably and eventually damages and destroys these structures, tree roots pushing apart stonework, water and frost making these ancient works of our ancestors vulnerable. Bollards for mooring,I have noticed, have been obliterated from view by overgrown bushes and steps down to the locks lost in the proliferation of wild plants. I
And finally..
also remarked that some of
Initial discussions are taking place about the possibility of
these mooring posts have been given a light coat of
KACT members/volunteers, taking a trip to our sister
fluorescent paint so as to be more visible amongst the
canal, the Nivernais in France sometime in the New Year.
weeds; is this a solution?
In order to make further plans for travel, transport and
We need to initiate some working parties following your
dates, etc please could you register initial interest in going
well established British tradition but voluntary work here
on the trip by emailing me (Sharmain) at
is not so well inculcated in the culture here! So, we
swashbourne61@gmail.com by the end of February 2024.
would welcome you, members of our twinned
Once numbers are confirmed then further planning will
association here to visit our beautiful, if fragile canal to
take place if its viable.
exchange ideas and share your wisdom of experiences restoring and running the Kennet and Avon.....over a good glass of wine and some garlic buttered snails, of
Do you have some time to spend along the Kennet and Avon Canal?
course! Why not visit one of our cafes or tearooms? A bientot!
https://katrust.org.uk/things-to-do/find-refreshment/
Mary RANGER Or find out about volunteering with us https://katrust.org.uk/support-us/volunteer/
Autumn 2023
katrust.org.uk | 22
Our chimney has been damaged by winter frosts and we need your help to protect it In January 2023, much of the South West experienced torrential rain followed by a period of sub-zero temperatures. This caused damage to a number of historic buildings, with pointing and brickwork being badly affected through the expansion of ice crystals within the mortar or brick. The pointing on Crofton’s chimney was among the casualties, particularly on the exposed western side. So in March we commissioned a full survey. While this showed that the brickwork and mortar damage to most of the chimney was limited, it revealed more significant issues. After being shortened in 1959 due to instability, the chimney was restored to its original height in 1996. But the
Our chimney has been damaged by winter frosts and we need
mortar joints in the top five courses of bricks have failed, and much of the top five courses of the chimney will need
your help to protect it
to be rebuilt. Also, the lightning conductor does not meet current standards and needs to be improved if it is to provide adequate protection.
In January, we experienced torrential rain followed by a period of sub-zero
The work will be done this autumn by a local firm who will use cherry-pickers rather than scaffolding thereby
reducing the cost significantly. Even so, itdamage is likely to cost £30,000. In the meantime, have had to close temperatures. This caused to around historic buildings all overwethe South West the site to the public when high winds or thunderstorms are forecast for safety reasons.
and the pointing on our chimney has also suffered. To prevent further damage,
Our chimney appeal has already raised over £16,000, helped by the profits from the pop-up refreshment service
we need to make repairsdays. by raking out the£14,000 worst toaffected areas and re-pointing operated by volunteers on steaming But that still leaves go. All contributions, no matter how small, will help us meet our target.
in a hydraulic lime mortar. The work will be carried out by contractors, and is
expected cost around £30,000 You can donate to to the Chimney Appeal online - in total. see https://www.croftonbeamengines.org/the-chimney-appeal/ details Dontate online using the QR code or byforbank or in the old-fashioned way by sending a cheque (made payable to The Kennet and Avon
transfer to The Kennet and Avon Canal Trust,
Canal Trust) to the Trust’s Devizes office.
Sort code: 30-92-63, A/C: 00441822, with reference CHIMNEY
