Aegre November 2015

Aegre No. 143, November 2015

In this issue - some history, some plans, and a view around the Region

From the East Midlands Region of

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Aegre is published © 2015 by the East Midlands Region Committee of the Inland Waterways Association for members of Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Branches.

Chairman

David Pullen, 16 Church Street, Scothern, Lincoln LN2 2UA. Tel: 01673 862278

Vice-Chairman

Dave Carnell, Conifer Cottage, North End, Goxhill DN19 7JX Tel: 01469 530138

Leicestershire Branch Chairman

Ian McDonald, 1 Goodheart Way, Thorpe Astley, Leicester LE3 3RX. Tel: 0116 3321534

Lincolnshire Branch Chairman

Dave Carnell (as above)

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch Chairman

Mike Snaith, Hawthorne Cottage, 70 Main St, Gunthorpe, Nottingham NG14 7EU

Secretary & WRG

John Baylis, 215 Clipstone Rd West, Forest Town, Mansfield NG19 0HJ Tel: 01623 621208

Editor for Aegre: Peter Hill, 7 Lock Keeper’s Way, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0GQ E-mail: aegre@waterways.org.uk Advertisement Manager for Aegre: Ian Mc Donald, see above.

E-mail: aegre.adverts@waterways.org.uk Printing: Colour Image Loudwater. Despatch: Branch Volunteers.

Picture credits: Front cover: Chesterfield’s Dawn Rose, see page 16, Rod Auton.

Page 3: Dave Hitchbourne; Other credits, page 29.

The Inland Waterways Association: Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA. Registered as a Charity No: 212342.

Tel: 01494 783453. Website: http://www.waterways.org.uk The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association or of the East Midlands Region. They are published as being of interest to our members and other readers.

The inclusion of any advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the IWA East Midlands Region or any of its Branches.

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Black Sluice Pump House in 2003

AEGRE

No. 143 November 2015

Contents Canal Societies and Trusts in the EM Region.............................................4 The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam................................................................5 From David Pullen, Region Chairman.........................................................6 Boston Belle Cruise, August 2015...............................................................7 Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership...........................................................8 IWA National Chairman at Northern Canals Meeting..................................9 News from Leicestershire..........................................................................10 Open Days at Newark Town Lock.............................................................14 ArchÌology on the Chesterfield Canal......................................................15 A Narrowboat with a Mast, a Sail and an Oar............................................16 Lincolnshire Happenings...........................................................................17 News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.............................................21 News from East Anglia..............................................................................25 Around the Societies and Trusts................................................................26 Annual General Meetings..........................................................................28 Picture Credits...........................................................................................29 Our contributing photographers.................................................................29 Notts & Derby Branch Meetings................................................................30 Journals Received.....................................................................................31

Next issue probably to be published in March 2016. Contributions to the editor (see page 2) by the end of January 2016 please.

The space on the right is for local contact information.

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Canal Societies and Trusts in the EM Region

Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society Erewash Canal P & D Association

Chris Madge, c/o 62 Broadway, Duffield, Derby DE56 4BU Tel: 07827 946444 www.derbycanal.org.uk

Norman Cornwell, 38 Millfield Road, Kimberley, Notts, NG16 2LJ Tel: 0115 8544155 Mobile 07980091601 www.erewashcanalpreservationanddevelopmentassoc.org.uk

Foxton Inclined Plane Trust

Friends of Charnwood Forest

Foxton Canal Museum, Middle Lock, Gumley Road, Market Harborough LE16 7RA Tel: 0116 2792657 www.fipt.org.uk

Canal

Mike Handford, 1 Sheepy Close, Hinckley, LE10 1JL Tel: 01455 611508 mahandford@gmail.com

Friends of the Cromford Canal

John Baylis, see page 2.

Grantham Canal Society

Mike Stone, 7, Crow Park Drive, Burton Joyce, Nottingham NG14 5AS; Tel: 0115 931 3375 www.granthamcanal.com

Louth Navigation Trust

Paula Hunt, Navigation Warehouse, Riverhead, Louth LN11 0DA Tel: 01507 605496 www.louthcanal.org.uk

Melton & Oakham

Richard Booth, Sysonby Knoll, Asfordby Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 0HP Tel: 01664 503330 www.meltonwaterways.co.uk

Waterways Society

www.cromfordcanal.org.uk

Sleaford Navigation Trust

Steve Hayes, 10 Chelmer Close, N. Hykeham, Lincoln LN6 8TH Tel: 01522 689460 www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk

Trent and Mersey Canal Society

10 Long Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire CW10 0BL. Tel: 01606 834471 www.tamcs.org.uk

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The Editor’s Flotsam and Jetsam This last summer I made several narrow boat trips single-handed. This is very good for your mental check lists before casting off, and I have even written one down just in case, a bit like an aircraft pilot. It also shows how very helpful most other boaters can be at locks and such places, as well as volunteer lock keepers. I have never been fond of climbing weedy lock ladders. But some problems inevitably arise when you are far from anyone else and want to moor. I have a strong preference for rings or bollards, particularly on a breezy day, and often these are fine, neatly painted white, visible and accessible thanks to work by CRT (or BW in the past). But sometimes they are invisible from on the water because of tall grass, or worse, nettles. I have even struggled to get a mooring line around a good bollard, almost buried because of hard mud and soil which had drifted downhill across the towpath.

So here’s a possible project for a volunteer team, obviously with approval from CRT. Have a walk along a stretch of towpath and clear grass, weeds and earth from rings and bollards; touch up the white paint which usually adorns them, and from an accompanying small work boat, paint a ring or circle on the bank side facing the water, so that the positions of the rings etc. can be easily spotted by a helmsman.

One of the privileges of being an editor for a magazine like this is that other editors kindly send copies of their productions. Over the years I have noticed a steady increase in the quality of these. Once upon a time (do you remember?) we had to manage with typing on a wax stencil, and noble volunteers got inky fingers rolling copies on a duplicator. Then, with improvements in the technology available to local printers, commercial printing became affordable, pictures became better with finer screening, and finally even colour was within budgets.

Nowadays many of these magazines are a pleasure to read and handle, but a problem is already threatening the printed copy. Postage costs are now outstripping the production costs per item, so that distribution by internet is a preferred option. But I will still keep my valued copies of favourite magazines, if only for browsing and serendipity. Recent copies of “Portal”, “Packet”, and “Cuckoo” are all good examples of the genre. One journal much missed is the Newsletter of the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership.

See details on page 8.

Ian has mentioned the recent “Canals - the making of a nation” series on BBC4, and I would like to support his comments. Well worth while if you can get it.

Best wishes, Peter Aegre 143 - November 2015 Page 5

From David Pullen, Region Chairman Summer Reflections Another summer come and gone and with variable weather and varying boating. The highlight was undoubtedly a very enjoyable sojourn aboard Rhoda Ellen on the River Nene between Northampton and Peterborough. I really can’t exaggerate how beautiful and well-run the Nene Navigation is, so full credit to EA as navigation authority. We may be critical of EA with regard to some of their navigations, including some in our region, but credit where credit is due, they certainly look after the Nene very well by comparison.

was also a reciprocal BOGOF by CRT for EA Nene and Great Ouse licensed boats to navigate CRT waterways.

The Northampton “Festival of Water” continued the concept, from Saul last year, for future IWA boating events, of tailoring the event to suit the location rather than trying to “shoehorn” a large festival, e.g. the now defunct “National” model, into fast disappearing suitable sites. There was a great turnout of boaters and locals on the Saturday to see Timothy West and Prunella Scales open the event. The “great and good” local politicians and dignitaries, and local and national boating personalities also turned We attended the IWA Northampton Fesout in large numbers, so all in all much tival of Water over the August Bank “glad handing” was going on! CongratuHoliday weekend, and took full advanlations to Northampton Branch for hosttage of the 2 for 1 (“BOGOF?”) licence ing such a successful and enjoyable concession that EA allowed for boats event. attending the Festival. This gave double EA’s very well appointed new marina in the licence time for the cost of any one Northampton was also greatly used and period. Of course it’s possible that EA had made a special effort with the Nene appreciated by visiting boats with a very warm welcome from manager John & due to the increased number of visiting Sam Line (ex Lincs. Branch members). boats, but at least they delivered.

Sam is very active with Northampton A significant number of IWA boaters Branch who, in partnership with CRT, from across the country also cruised the have adopted the short 17 lock NorthNene and many also went across the ampton arm.

Middle Level Drains and into the Great All in all the partnership of IWA, EA, Ouse Navigation, and all on the same Northampton Town Council and CRT licence, as the Middle Level doesn’t shows how well waterway organisations require a licence. An added bonus was the free pump-out courtesy of Peterbor- can work together and to great effect as well. We need to look out for similar ough City Council - other cities and opportunities in our region. towns please take note! I believe there

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Boston Belle Cruise, August 2015

As advertised in the last Aegre IWA Lincolnshire Branch arranged for a group to cruise from Boston out onto the Wash and up the Welland outfall aboard Boston Belle. On the afternoon of 11 August about 12 members from across the region enjoyed the trip in fine weather and moderate sea swell.

The 20-30 cockling boats that mainly constitute the Boston fishing fleet were returning on the rising tide to load their big bags of cockles at their processing facility on the dockside. It looked like a good haul. On the way back into Boston we saw several of the fishing boats returning out to the Wash for another go on the next low tide. After turning round Tabs Head to cruise up the Welland outfall we saw about 80 seals basking on the river banks.

We saw lots of shipping in the Haven, mostly the fishing fleet but also a ship leaving the port on the top of the tide. On the Welland we saw the newly fully restored exSkegness life boat making its “second maiden” voyage out of Fosdyke Yacht Haven. We also saw the narrowboat “Starwood” from Boston transiting to Fosdyke Yacht Haven to be lifted out for hull maintenance.

In total the passenger manifest was about 57 against a licensed maximum of 70. It was also an opportunity to have a useful discussion with the ship’s master, Rodney Bowles, about the lack of navigation facilities being planned for the Barrier. A small pressure group is already forming to lobby the MP etc. so IWA stirring the pot is definitely helpful!

David Pullen

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Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership Over the past several years, one of the consistently encouraging organisations for those interested in our waterways was the Lincolnshire Waterways Partnership (LWP). A co-operative venture between the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC), Environment Agency (EA) and British Waterways (later C&RT), the group was very successful in securing funding for a variety of projects. As well as actual waterway improvements, they sponsored cycle and footpaths alongside the water and elsewhere; angling pegs for the disabled; and sculptures along the way. All good for tourism and the local economy.

An interesting and well-produced newsletter kept the public informed on progress. Or at least until last year, issue 31 of Summer 2014, when publication was apparently intended to change to an electronic method. It seemed that major changes in budget structure at the Council and changes in staff had led to a major reduction in LWP activity. Emphasis had moved to the Boston Barrier scheme and the Lincoln Castle refurbishment. Both good things in themselves - but other good things had come to a stop.

However recent talks with those involved give hope that there may be moves to re-start this valuable activity, again involving the necessary partners of LCC, C&RT and EA, but less dependent on LCC funding and with other sources being tapped. Part of this plan would be to move the Fens Waterways Link work forward. Well begun with the opening of Black Sluice Lock in 2009, this needs further study to say nothing of money. Another essential major partner would be South Holland District Council.

IWA East Midlands Region is keeping in close touch with this work to see how we might help.

Talks go on. Watch this space. Editor.

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IWA National Chairman at Northern Canals Meeting

On October 11th, Les Etheridge, IWA National Chairman, came to the meeting of the Northern Canals Association at Moira to give a summary of the present relationship between the IWA and the Canal and River Trust. He recalled that in September 2012 IWA and CRT signed a “Memorandum of Understanding”. The key words in this were that “CRT and IWA declare that their common objective is to help secure the best possible future for the inland waterways of England and Wales”. Put in simpler terms, what matters is our inland waterways, and the two bodies should work together and and agree on a current focus.

So where do we work together? Some examples include the analysis and crticism of the scheme for HS2; co-operation on restoration schemes; organisation of work parties; and of course making sure that a joint voice is heard politically. Obviously joint actions imply good communication, and keeping one another regularly updated.

Les believed that the benefits of working together included better outcomes for the waterways and improved knowledge and resources for everybody. It also helped to ensure a strong message about the waterways to the public and gave IWA good leverage as a critical friend of CRT. For the current IWA focus, he felt that the transfer of the EA navigations to CRT was a top priority.

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News from Leicestershire member for many years, was at one time on the committee and who now travels not inconsiderable distances to our meetings. It was he who tackled his boss at Midland Chandlers and set us on a route to continuing publication. People cruising the Leicester Line will find steel boxes at various places along the route where a CRT key will unlock the box and yield a copy. Otherwise boatyards and some pubs along the line will also have stock. You can also I mentioned last report that our rather find it on our web page as a publication. delayed reprint of our Guide to the Leicester Line was close to publicaI had a busy morning with a couple tion. It got printed and our first disof other members bashing Balsam in tribution of the issue has been well Aylestone Meadows with CRT, received. See the sample opposite. alongside the members of the AyleThis time it is in colour and has not cost the branch any money. Midland stone Meadows Appreciation Society. A glorious morning saw us Chandlers were our principal supsetting off from the Packhorse porters with this issue and we got Bridge to work northwards to meet five other businesses along the line up with the spot where their previous to come in with smaller contribueffort had finished. Then having tions. Without exception all our done that we set to on a field alongsponsors liked the guide, but then side the bridge. It was pretty clear of again colour helps. the weed when we had finished, but not many weeks later when I went to I know we have made a few errors the leaflet box at Kings Lock, the this time but feel that it is a really great promotion tool, especially at a field was covered in the stuff. I fear we need to try to extend the Bashing zero cost to us, apart from the time Period if we are to make progress in Andrew spent creating it and that Mo, Debbie and I spent finding addi- defeating this weed. Reports I have heard indicate that weed collecting tional sponsors. I must record great and spraying has had a significant thanks to Brian who has been a The good thing about settling down to do this is that I look at what was written before! The period since my last report has covered the months when most boaters have been doing it and enjoying the waters, and our first Autumn meeting is a few days away so communications between our members have tended to be mostly by email. I look forward to more face to face contact in the coming months.

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impact on Floating Pennywort. I was also told by the City Council waterside team that their action in injecting weed-killer into the stems of Japanese Knotweed is doing the business. Let us hope that concerted effort in years to come will get on top of the problem.

Unfortunately the weeds are now well upstream of the navigable waters so we may need to look further afield. No mention locally of Giant Hogweed but I saw an article in the national press about it spreading dramatically, so it must be around. Am I allowed to say damn these Victorian plant-collecting botanists?

Willow Brook at Catherine Street

the whole of the Trent catchment area. Our discussions and observations centred on ways of improving a watercourse, to reduce the amount of debris carried and also to reduce the rate of runoff as well as water temperature, therefore reducing flooding impact. We observed the brook at three locations, starting close to its point of discharge, where we met the keen group of volunteers who meet regularly to clean and clear the watercourse. A really great group of volunteers who enjoy working together and achieving improvements in a far from picturesque location.

We then moved on to look at an area where the Brook passed through a city park. It used to do so I had an interesting two in a concrete lined channel, now it has been widdays with the Trent Riv- ened, naturalised, and even been “prettied”. It now looks good, attracts people, the water quality is ers Trust, where we focussed on the Willow much improved, and the flow profile has changed Brook. This discharges so that less sediment is carried downstream and it into the navigation just attracts wildlife. below Lime Kiln Lock Our final visit was to the headwaters on a farm and brings in a vast where the farm owners ( a large cooperative ) had amount of debris. The Trust’s work considers started to include several methods that are reducAegre 143 - November 2015 Page 12

to several and they seem a really good bunch.

Our small branch committee has been improved by enticing Mo Murray to join us.

She has done many things for the branch informally, but she has now kindly agreed to let us co-opt her on until our AGM. No sooner said than she helped out Evington (Willow) Brook at Shady Lane by representing us on the latest meeting of the River ing chemical concentrates as well as the amount of suspended solids, while also helping Soar, Grand Union Partnership (RSGUP). This covers to slow down the rate of run off from the the waterway from Foxton fields. through past LoughborOur group included a great mix of people from ough. At times all the local academics through to old buffers like me who authorities through which it passes have attended, but learned a lot from the two days, including the most active have been looking at a recently installed Sustainable Leicester & Charnwood Urban Drainage Scheme (SUDS) on a new (Loughborough). Friars ASDA store. All the things we considered have great bearings on what boaters float on in Mill, just north of West Bridge, is close to complequality and volume. tion of renovation. Mo Just the other day Carol and I went to the third asked for us about the promised moorings and annual meeting of the Central Shires Partnership of CRT. Several of the volunteer members facilities, and she was told spoke on their areas of expertise, with varying that the water and waste disposal is ready, but that levels of interest. It is interesting to see how this partnership has progressed in its first three completion awaits the years. They certainly get lots of volunteers. If finalisation of dredging.

This was held up waiting you come through Leicester during the main for the nesting season to boating season you are highly likely to meet pass but she was assured it several volunteer lock keepers. I have spoken Aegre 143 - November 2015 Page 13

will be completed this financial year. This needs checking as the nesting season is long past. The next one will be starting before the start of the next financial year. No information was given about the Elsan disposal point which is supposedly part of a new development near Memory Lane Wharf.

Both the matters are being raised with the Mayor.

Our first meeting in October was in the form of a discussion of several points raised by head office, plus a good opportunity for us to discuss all local matters that concern us. Members were asked to bring a few slides to talk about afterwards to share experiences.

Our next meeting on November 12th is a presentation by Phil Clayton. He previously talked about the BCN, but this time he will probably talk about “Going Down the Drains”.

From Ian McDonald Editor’s note: Some readers may not be familiar with the area of Leicester mentioned by Ian in his account of a visit to the Willow Brook, and this stream is not easy to find on the usual OS map. It joins the Soar Navigation from the east opposite Abbey Park in Leicester (about SK591057), after flowing through much suburban housing. Tributaries are named for the villages of Evington, Thurnby and Bushby, and it is separate from the River Sence, which runs the other side of the airfield. Pictures from Mat Fascione.

There is also a similar project on the River Mease, which flows out of Leicestershire to join the Trent near Alrewas in Staffordshire. We hope to come back to this later.

Open Days at Newark Town Lock C&RT are holding open days at Newark Town Lock on November 7th and 8th from 9.30 to 15.30 each day. No need to book, just turn up - sensible footwear please. All being well the lock will be drained and available for inspection, as will be the dry dock adjacent.

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Archæology on the Chesterfield Canal In early August, volunteers digging out the channel to restore the Chesterfield Canal in Staveley discovered some stone remains. They asked Dr Geraint Coles, archaeologist and former Chesterfield Canal Development Manager, to come and have a look. He immediately decided that the site deserved to be properly investigated. Following an email appeal for helpers by the Chesterfield Canal Trust, the dig was arranged for 15th and 16th August.

The remains were of the walls and invert (floor) of the original Eckington Road Bridge over the canal, built in about 1776. It is quite incredible that it has remained intact, because three other bridges and a railway line have all been built within a few yards during the following 240 years.

First of all the site was roughly cleared by a mini-digger, then the volunteers set to work. A lot of heavy clay had to be shovelled and barrowed out, however the main work was done by removing the last of the muck from the stonework using trowels and brushes. Most of the 24 volunteers who helped over the weekend spent their time on their hands and knees doing this very slow and painstaking work.

As more and more was revealed, the story of how the construction was done began to emerge. It became obvious that the bridge had been constructed first and the towpath put in afterwards. By the end, Dr Coles was able to say “Many thanks to everyone for a great weekend of digging - we now have a good sequence for the site and a much better understanding of how the bridge was built.”

As was expected, many objects were found in the mud, such as old bottles, miners’ lamps and candle holders, a gentleman's sword-stick and a clay pipe. Of particular interest were three coins, including a George III half penny, dated 1772 or 1773. Of this, Dr Coles said “This coin is probably a forgery as the obverse and reverse are inverted. This would not be unusual as the county was flooded with forged copper coins during the 1770's. What a great find and bang on date!”

There remain the tasks of accurately measuring and photographing the site and washing and cataloguing the finds. Eventually the whole site will be removed because the new, restored canal has to be lower in order to get under a nearby railway. However there is now a desire to do more such digs. A Cuckoo boat, unique to the Chesterfield Canal, is believed to be buried not far away. It is hoped that this will be next on the list.

From Rod Auton. Picture on back cover.

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A Narrowboat with a Mast, a Sail and an Oar The latest additions to Chesterfield’s Dawn Rose, a sail and an oar, were revealed at Shireoaks Carnival. The sail is 8' by 14' and was bought thanks to a very kind donation from Jeremy Ford.

Very few narrowboats used sails.

Cuckoos used them on the River Trent when navigating up to Torksey Lock to enter the Fossdyke in order to reach Lincoln and even Boston, or to go further up river to Nottingham and thence onto the rest of the inland waterways system.

Other canals had sailing narrowboats in the early days but there is very little information available. The only other well known sailing narrowboat is Shamrock from the Bridgewater Canal which was bought from Rathbone’s boatbuilders at Stretford Junction by Marcus Fox of West Stockwith.

We believe that the Chesterfield and Bridgewater boats were the best known and may have been the only ones to sail any distance. We also believe that the Bridgewater boats which sailed may have had raised cabins.

The oar is called a sweep and, like everything else to do with the boat, has been carved using hand tools. No power tools have been used at any stage.

More sweeps will be made later. A lee board will also be made to help with stability on the Trent, plus some extra long boat-hooks, called stowers, to help push away from the banks of the river. Together with the sweeps and a chain, kindly donated by Keith Barlow, the boat will soon be fully equipped to recreate some epic river voyages first undertaken over 200 years ago.

If you would like to help to finance the boat by becoming a Friend of Dawn Rose or donating for the lee board, please go to the Chesterfield Canal Trust website.

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Lincolnshire Happenings

Black Sluice Pumps - photo from Alan Murray-Rust

Boston Barrier Much time has been spent meeting with IWA National Council members and the Environment Agency regarding the EA changing their proposals for the way the tidal barrier will operate. The scheme was described in outline in our issues of March 2007 and June 2008 (is it that long ago?)

From day one the intended method of operation was to maintain a water level in the Haven to match that of the River Witham upstream of the Grand Sluice. One benefit of this was to

allow craft longer than 45 feet to pass straight through Grand Sluice, and to a new lock alongside the Barrier.

It also provided a level of water through Boston, covering the unsightly mud and wooden wrecks, greatly improving the visual aspect of the Haven and leading to the development of improved waterside commerce and moorings for craft in the Town. This was also the conclusion of EA`s consultant.

Now the EA propose only operating the Barrier on high Spring tides, leaving the Haven tidal much as it is Aegre 143 - November 2015 Page 17

today, with no lock at the Barrier.

There is a promise of other works later to provide, in their words, “Water Level Management to a level matching the River Witham when monies become available”.

There are two opportunities for IWA and other groups to voice their concerns, one being a Navigation Impact Assessment, which has been submitted pointing out the shortfalls of the present proposals, and the other is the application for a “Transport and Works Order” that the project has to have, effectively the approval of the Government.

IWA is proposing a meeting with other stakeholders and local authorities to get their support in changing EA`s decision, and to explore sources of funding required to complete the project as originally planned.

Should this fail the last resort is to object to the Transport and Works Order, requiring further consultations.

River Ancholme.

Both the User Group and River Trust have expressed their concerns at the level of silt in the Old River loop that runs through Brigg. This prevents boats using moorings and causes problems for the Ancholme Rowing Club. Representations are being made to the Local Authorities and the MP for the EA to take action. This is also the situation at South Ferriby, where the Ancholme

joins the River Humber. A sluice was damaged in the tidal surge early this year, and this allows silt to enter each high tide, building up in the lock chamber.

Due to the build-up of aquatic weed on the river, causing problems for the canoe and rowing clubs, the local authority have purchased a “Truxor” weed boat to be used on this and other leisure waterways within the County.

Louth Navigation Trust.

The Trust continue with their efforts to obtain permission to install a pontoon at Tetney Haven to provide a mooring for sailing craft on coastal passage.

Flooding in Louth caused by heavy surface water run-off from the Wolds is to be impounded upstream outside the town in new holding areas or lagoons (picture above). In times of excess flows damage has been caused to the lock structures along the navigation. Controlled flow from the lagoons should avoid further damage .

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A Lincoln Baron at Brayford

the Water Access area and possibly a The IWA Restoration Committee wish to hold their meeting in Louth on winding hole near South Kyme.

July 30th 2016.

River Witham, Over the last few years problems with Sleaford Navigation.

The dry weather has caused a drop in the winding gear at Stamp End Lock water levels and a notice has been in Lincoln have been increasing. placed on the web site. Also despite Recently the CRT held a consultation on the options available to overcome weed boats spending time on the this. Option 1 is to refurbish the guilriver, boat propellers are being clogged with a weed known locally as lotine gate and its control equipment .

Option 2 is to replace it with mitre “cot�, an alga that resembles wire gates. Views expressed differed but wool. suggestions were made that whatever the decision some form of power Committee members are attending Sleaford Opportunities meetings, also assistance in the operating of the sysSleaford Regeneration Group and tem would be preferred. It will be down to overall cost at the end of the Witham Catchment Partnership to day. ensure their voice is heard.

CRT have also increased their visitor By this winter it is hoped that everything will be in place to start work on moorings in Lincoln. Those on the Aegre 143 - November 2015 Page 19

Fossdyke have been extended and signs have been fitted to the wall from the Glory Hole to Stamp End lock, showing the times moorings are available for those wanting easy access to the City Centre.

Brayford Pool, Lincoln.

Draft plans for a University development of the area around the Harbour Master’s building and car park appear to preclude the use of the slipway by not allowing for vehicle access.

The slipway is used on a regular basis by the Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service for training and emergency activities. CRT have stated they wish to see the slipway remain and in a usable condition. Our interest in seeing the final Planning Application has been make clear to the City Council and CRT. A tourist trail of “Lincoln Barons” figures as part of the Magna Carta celebrations attracted a lot of interest in and around the City, with some colourful examples around the Pool depicting waterways life. See the picture earlier in this article.

River Welland.

For the second year running a campaign cruise to get boats up the Welland and into Spalding was, at short notice, thwarted by the EA. They failed to ensure that silt fouling the lock-gates had been removed. A site visit by Gren Messham, IWA National Navigation Chairman and a tour of what Spalding has to offer boaters has resulted in a promise from

the EA they will operate a flushing system to ensure a cruise for 2016 can be accomplished.

A list of EA`s navigation structures, particularly in Anglian Region, that are closed or restrict use of their navigations has been presented to IWA Head Office and National Chairman.

Branch Membership is allocated by Head Office on a post code basis. In Lincolnshire, post codes up to Skegness have Peterborough (PE) codes and are therefore allocated to Peterborough. This is many miles away so Lincolnshire offers little in the way of news for those members affected.

It is possible to nominate the Branch with which you wish to be associated, but this does not appear to be brought to the attention of members. As a Branch we are concerned that members are lost because they do not realize there is a more appropriate local Branch, with news that is of interest to them. We are presently discussing this with IWA head office.

A review of “Waterway Restoration and Development” is underway by IWA and CRT. Until 2006 this was carried out by IWAAC, the Inland Waterways Association Advisory Committee, when it was disbanded.

Waterways within the Branch have been included by the separate Trusts and Branch Committee.

Dave Carnell.

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News from Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Lock Wind at Derwent Mouth

Where has the summer gone? As I write it only seems a few minutes since I was doing the same for the July edition of Aegre. One of the highlights of the summer activities was the Lock Wind at Derwent Mouth Lock on the Trent and Mersey Canal near Shardlow in early August. We had sunny weather all day and twelve willing volunteers turned out to operate the lock for passing boaters.

Recalling last year’s comments from some passing boat crews, asking if there were any cakes, this year there were.

tions received exceeded the sum of last year. It was a long hot day but I think our efforts were mostly appreciated.We were raising money for the WRG Van Appeal and many seemed interested in learning about IWA and Waterway Recovery Group’s purpose and activities.

We were also fortunate that the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust offered to match fund everything raised during the day. It was therefore much appreciated that 40 boats passed through during the day and the crews donated £250 towards the Van Appeal. With We operated the lock, provided cakes the addition of a further £250 from the for most of the day and bacon sandDerby and Sandiacre this meant that wiches for the morning boat crews. It £500 found its way into the coffers seemed to be a great success as dona- for new WRG vans. What a tremenAegre 143 - November 2015 Page 21

dous result for all the hard work during the day.

A big thank you therefore goes to a number of people: the volunteers on the day, those who made the cakes and the bacon sandwiches, CRT who supported the activity and provided relevant protective equipment, and most of all to all the boaters and their crews who donated so generously.

Thank you very much to all concerned.

A further highlight over the period was the canal clean up on the Nottingham Canal at Beeston. What a nightmare of planning that turned out to be.

We set the date early in the year to ensure CRT personnel and work boats would be available and booked. Little did we know that this was the same date as the big Robin Hood Marathon around Nottingham city. This marathon meant that a large number of

roads in the city were closed off during the whole weekend, denying access to transport trying to get to the clean up start point. Sadly that knowledge did not become apparent to those organising the clean up until very late in the day.

Once the ramifications became clear the clean up was moved to the opposite end of the canal, where access was still available. So it was with some trepidation as to how many would turn up that volunteers gathered at Beeston Lock on the Nottingham Canal on Sunday 27 September.

To cap it all the weather also played its part as the early morning saw the fog enveloping all in its path. However, there was no need to worry and ultimately 20 volunteers set off along the canal in various teams: litter picking, grappling the canal bed, or on the work boat, offside litter picking and collecting any scrap and detritus.

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The Early Bird Volunteers

Wonderfully the sun soon broke through and the length from Beeston down into the city centre, about two miles, received intensive attention.

The work boat was soon full of scrap and was despatched off for unloading at CRT’s Trent Lane depot before returning to the fray for another load.

Although somewhat later than envisaged, everyone gathered around the work boat by Chain Lane Bridge for a lunch time break, and the forward planning actually worked.

As part of the planning of the event Morrison’s Supermarket very kindly offered to donate sandwiches. When lunch time came, there they were, not just sandwiches but lots of varied sandwiches, pasties, scotch eggs, crisps, shortbread, gingerbread and fruits. A veritable buffet.

Once lunch was finished it was back to the canal and a successful after-

noon’s clean up ensued. To observers on the towing path the highlight of their viewing was the sadly unsuccessful attempt by the work boat crew to grapple out a commercial waste bin. Knowing it was too heavy to lift onto the boat the plan was to tow it to a point where a full team of grapplers could get at it, or where a later CRT lift truck could get it out. All to no avail however as it was quickly apparent the work boat wasn’t going to tow it very far at all! It was therefore secured to the offside at a convenient location for CRT to tackle a rescue at their discretion.

Overall the clean up left the towing path and offside clear of litter from Beeston through to Trent Lane depot in the city centre with a large amount of scrap (a work boat and a half) pulled from the canal. There were shopping trolleys, steel fencing, road signs, tyres, mattresses, over twenty push bikes, as well as a motorbike Aegre 143 - November 2015 Page 23

is easy to find thereafter. They also have a good website, so you can check them out on line as well. For any English ale aficionados the Poppy & Pint has some good hand-pulled local ales from the nearby Castle Rock brewery as well as good food, coffee, tea and soft drinks.

The next event will be on Thursday 12th November and be an illustrated talk “The Great Central Railway, Past Present and Future” by Mike Riley of the Great Central Railway. Thursday 10th December will be our Christmas Social with buffet and illustrated talk “The Montgomery Canal” by Mick Any Old Iron!

Golds. Then on Thursday 14th Januamongst the haul. A tremendous day’s ary we have Les Reid, leader of the Newark Heritage Barge project, givwork from the 20 volunteers. A big ing an illustrated talk on the latest thank you goes to all the volunteers activities carried out on the restoration who braved the road closures to help of the Trent barge, “Leicester Trader”. out, to CRT who provided the work Please also note our AGM will be on boat plus staff and to Morrison’s Thursday 11th February, which will Supermarket for a most unexpected be followed by an illustrated talk from and tasty buffet. I would also like to thank Stephanie, Amber and Alison in John Wilkinson concerning the canals IWA’s head office for their help coor- of Paris. dinating the planning, publicity and So put the evening of the second posters - very much appreciated.

Thursday in the month in your diaries As the darker nights draw in we can and see the calendar of events at the look forward to the season of Social back of this magazine. Do come and evenings. As the venue has recently join us, everyone is most welcome changed I would remind readers that and I look forward to seeing you the Social calendar for the foreseeable there. future will be presented at the Poppy & Pint public house, Pierrepont Road, Pictures from Archie Roberts.

Lady Bay, West Bridgford, NottingMike Snaith ham, NG2 5DX. It is worth looking up on the map for the first visit but it Aegre 143 - November 2015 Page 24

News from East Anglia At the EAWA Council meeting on 17 September the directors were delighted to learn that a £10,000 donation had been received from an anonymous benefactor to go towards the cost of restoring Welches Dam Lock (picture right, in 2013).

Meanwhile the “Project Hereward” steering group has continued to meet regularly and has been looking at other restoration schemes to try and determine the best way forward for dealing with the leaks from the Forty Foot River. It seems that puddled clay, the traditional way of lining the bed of a waterway, would be far too expensive, and might not even be practical. Instead the group, led by Andrew Storrar, has been looking at alternatives.

On 7 February they visited the Wendover Branch of the Grand Union Canal where a team of volunteers has been working for several years to restore a stretch of canal that has a long history of leakage. It involves lining the canal with strips of a sealing material called “Bentomat” and the current phase involves 2,058 metres of waterway. Then on 5 June work on the Montgomery Canal was inspected – here a lighter but more expensive material called “Sahara” is being used, which can be man-handled, whereas Bentomat is heavy and needs machinery.

EAWA’s interest in the Boston Sluice scheme has been the possible benefit of having improved access to the Fens Waterways Link and the prospect, admittedly a small one, of some funds being made available to extend the navigation to the Black Hole Drove pumping station. The channel is well maintained, as the drain plays a major role in land drainage with a series of pumping stations along its bank. Much of the South Forty Foot River is already navigable but the channel gets noticeably narrower and shallower the nearer one gets to the Black Hole blockage, and winding becomes more and more of a problem. Rather than wholesale channel widening EAWA has always advocated creating passing places, as the route is straight with good visibility a long way ahead.

With thanks to Alan Faulkner of East Anglian Waterways Association. Picture from Richard Humphrey.

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Around the Societies and Trusts Melton and Oakham Waterways Society The date for this year's AGM has been arranged for Saturday 14 November.

To be held at Sysonby Knoll Hotel, Asfordby Road, Melton, commencing at 10.30 am.

The Derby and Sandiacre Trust have now had the privilege of having a local pub, “The Moon” at Spondon, renamed the “The Canal Turn” in recognition of the work the Society has done to rescue the winding hole adjacent to the pub.

There will be a barn dance there on Friday 20th November from 7.30 pm. Tickets are £7 for adults and should be booked from Chris Madge at 01332 840502. The address is still Station Road DE21 7NE. Work parties continue at Draycott and Borrowash. Contact Eddy Case on 07523 896645. Indoor meetings are planned to continue on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Wilmot Arms, 49 Derby Road, Borrowash DE72 3HA, and are scheduled for November 24, January 26, February 23 and March 22. No meeting in December.

Cromford Canal.

Their trips on Birdswood continue, including Christmas Specials; call 07552 055455 for current details. Social meetings at Ironville Church Hall continue on November 16 and December 20, but this last one in the Gothic Warehouse at Cromford Wharf.

Sleaford Navigation Trust continue with their work parties (usually second Sunday of the month, call 01522 856810). The pedestrian lift bridge at Sleaford has been subjected to its routine testing, and passed successfully. For more news see Dave Carnell’s report on page 18 . They are holding a winter social at the “Barge and Bottle” in Sleaford on Saturday 28th November at 7 for 7.30. Please book by the 21st and send a deposit of £5 per person to Debbie Scott, 9 Forum Way, Sleaford NG34 7FF. Meals are £12 for two, and menu choices can be seen at www.thebargeandbottle.co.uk.

Erewash CP&DA have a new newsletter and a new chairman, Norman Cornwell. Their monthly meetings are at Sandiacre Lock Cottage on 19 November, 17 December and 18 January. Non-members welcome.

Foxton The Boiler House, their new display centre, is open in winter from 11 - 4 at weekends and on selected days. Please call 0116 2792 657 for details. Entry is £4.00 for adults and there is a small charge for the car park. Accompanied children £1.00. As advance notice, their Locks Festival next year is on June 18 and 19.

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The Grantham Canal Society, working in partnership with the Canal and River Trust, has been successful in securing a substantial grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to rebuild four derelict locks. This volunteer-led project, entitled the ‘Grantham Canal Heritage Incentive’ will then complete the Woolsthorpe Flight, an important milestone in the future of the Grantham Canal. (News and picture from Steve Swann)

GCS Volunteers arduously cleaning bricks

The first lock to be rebuilt is Woolsthorpe Middle Lock. However before rebuilding could begin a considerable amount of preparation work was necessary by the Grantham Canal Society volunteers. This entailed removing a small copse of trees, securing the site, closing the towpath and then diverting it. The canal was then dammed at both ends, haul roads built and drainage pipework installed. The stalwart efforts of the visiting Waterway Recovery Group were significant, as they excavated to the bottom of the lock walls, built a new by-wash and commenced demolishing the walls. These were some of the many other skills they brought to the site.

The Grantham Canal Society volunteers have now completed demolishing the walls and begun rebuilding them under the supervision of Canal & River Trust engineers. Training is being given on-site by experts in the necessary heritage skills. More volunteers are now needed to help with this exciting project so that preparation work can commence at the next lock. Please e-mail volunteer@granthamcanal.org or call the GCS number on page 4.

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Annual General Meetings Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meetings of the constituent Branches of the East Midlands Region of the Inland Waterways Association will be held as follows: Leicestershire Branch: at 7.30 pm on Thursday 11th February 2016 at The Gate Hangs Well, Syston, Leics. LE7 1NH.

Lincolnshire Branch: at 7.30 pm on Wednesday 17th February 2016 at Lincoln Boat Club, Brayford Wharf North, Lincoln LN1 1YW. The Club is located adjacent to the Barge Restaurant and the Sea Cadets’ H/Q. Nearest car parking is in Lucy Tower Street, about 250 yds E.

Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Branch: at 7.30 pm on Thursday 11th February 2016 at the Poppy & Pint public house, Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5DX.

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

4. Report of the Chairman.

5. Report of the Treasurer and presentation of accounts.

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

8. Address by Member of Council or Trustee 9. Any other business.

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

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Picture Credits We are most grateful to all of the following, who have contributed photographs or other illustrations to enhance this edition of Aegre: Ian McDonald; Dave Carnell; Mike Snaith, Rod Auton; Shirley Rogers, David Pullen, and as noted for specific articles. Some photographs in this issue are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic Licence. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/.

The authors concerned are acknowledged in the relevant articles,

Our contributing photographers While many of the pictures used in “Aegre” are from our regular members, and as such are very welcome, sometimes we do not have a suitable photograph available to illustrate a topic. Sometimes the editor may go out and get one, but he does not claim to be an expert, and the site may be far away As a better alternative, there are a number of sources such as “Geograph”, which aims to cover all of the British Isles with at least one picture per kilometre square, all of landscape or similar interest. As a measure of thanks for these contributions, we are occasionally including brief background details of the photographers involved. This time, Alan Murray-Rust.

Alan says: “My interest in canals is part of my general interest in Industrial Archaeology, rather than being a passion for them in their own right. Nevertheless I did enjoy three boating holidays in the late 1970s with a group of fellow volunteers from Crich Tramway Museum. These covered respectively the Midlands ring from Braunston via Leicester, Trent and Mersey, Coventry; next the Cheshire Ring plus the Shroppy to Chester; and thirdly the Leeds and Liverpool from Worsley to Shipley and return. All were one week trips, so as you can see we worked hard. On the first trip, I was effectively thrown in at the deep end as far as driving a boat is concerned, as we hired ex-working boat Kimberley. 70ft and nearly 3ft draught is not normal first-timer stuff!

On my trips around taking photographs for Geograph, I will always include pictures of canals, even derelict ones, wherever I come across them, and add whatever information I can . Cameras used are a Panasonic FZ100 for general work, and a Canon 500D for my more serious photographs.”

See Alan’s photograph of Kimberley in 1978 on our back cover. Ed.

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Notts & Derby Branch Meetings The Notts and Derby branch of the IWA is organising a series of public meetings. We are hoping to attract lots of new faces to the meetings and have arranged a very interesting and varied group of speakers. Non IWA members will be very welcome to attend. · ·

We meet on the second Thursday of the month throughout most of the year.

Meetings are held at 7.45 pm at the Poppy & Pint, Pierrepont Road, Lady Bay, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 5DX, about 5 minutes from the A6011/A52 (ring road) junction at Gamston.

Thursday, November 12th 2015 “The Great Central Railway, Past, Present and Future” - an illustrated talk by Mike Riley (Great Central Railway).

Thursday, December 10th 2015 Christmas Social with buffet including an illustrated talk, “The Montgomery Canal” by Mick Golds.

Thursday, January 14th 2016 An illustrated talk by Les Reid of the Newark Heritage Barge project about the latest restoration activities on Trent barge “Leicester Trader”.

Thursday, February 11th 2016 Annual General Meeting. Followed by an illustrated talk on “The Canals of Paris” by John Wilkinson.

Thursday, March 10th 2016 “A Cruise on the Cut” - an illustrated talk by Derek Harris concerning the architecture and engineering along the canal network.

Further information about meetings can be obtained by email, address :nottsandderbys@waterways.org.uk

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Journals Received We are very pleased to acknowledge copies of journals from various canal and river societies and trusts. They include “The Portal” from Friends of the Cromford Canal; “The Packet” from the Derby & Sandiacre Canal Society; “The Cuckoo”, from the Chesterfield Canal Trust; “The Bridge”, from Grantham Canal Society; “Sleaford Navigation Trust” journal; the “Melton and Oakham Newsletter”; and “The Wharfinger”, from Louth Navigation Trust, as well as “Navigation” from our neighbours at West Midlands, and the “Easterling” from our Eastern neighbours the EAWA. Anyone interested in receiving a copy of one of these journals should contact the relevant address given on page 4. For “The Cuckoo” contact the editor at 22 Works Road, Hollingwood, Chesterfield S43 2PF.

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“Kimberley” at Foxton in 1978 - see page 29

Archaeology at Staveley - see page 15 Aegre 143 - November 2015 Page 32