ANGLIAN CUTTINGS
Bosmere Lock in Winter
Ipswich Branch Newsletter Winter 2013 No. 124 The IWA may not agree with the opinions expressed in this publication. They are, however, published as a matter of interest to our members and readers. Nothing printed can be construed as policy or an official announcement unless stated. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in this publication.
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IWA IPSWICH BRANCH YOUR COMMITTEE Chairman Chard Wadley chairman.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Secretary & Anglia Cuttings Editor Charles Stride secretary.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk editor.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Treasurer Spencer Greystrong treasurer.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Membership Clive Saville membership.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Publicity Brian Holt pro.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Social Secretary Diana Holt socialsec.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk River Gipping Trust Lewis Tyler RGTRep.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk
Pickerel Project/River Stour Trust Brian Cornell
pickerelrep.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk Officer Gerry Crease officer01.ipswichbranch@waterways.org.uk
*************************** IWA Ipswich - http://www.waterways.org.uk/ipswich
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EDITOR’S PONDERINGS
C H STRIDE
A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL My thanks again to all those who have contributed to this edition and I have to say that I am impressed by our area, especially as we have no main line canal connections.
any or all of the many canal and river restorations taking place throughout the country—IWA Council and Canal & River Trust please note. (Editor’s note and views — Why don’t those EU bureaucrats in Brussels go away and sort their own problems out and leave us alone?!)
In this edition we report on the successful conclusion of a major historic craft restoration, well done the River Stour and the Pioneer Sailing Trusts, whilst at the same time representatives of the recent successfully launched Bure Navigation Conservation Trust have set their eyes on resurrecting the Norfolk Keel, another historic local craft that has regretfully disappeared from our waters.
Do any of the IWA Branches have as much going on as we do in our rural patch? We certainly cannot claim to be the driving force behind all this activity. It is clearly down to all the volunteers and the efforts of the various Trusts as reported in this edition of Anglian Cuttings but we do have an interest and supporting role.
Work on the Gipping continues apace with the River Gipping Trust having three separate restoration programmes in hand, whilst, at the same time progressing long term ambitions under the ‘Realising The Dream’ programme.
Next year our Branch will be celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary and, as the Chairman has written, we are looking for suggestions as to how we can mark the occasion. Please give us your ideas.
More successful restoration work is also continuing in the North of our area on the North Walsham & Dilham Canal but here they have run into problems with the local EA representatives issuing a ’STOP’ restoration notice based on a new EU Law under the Water Framework Directive. In a nutshell this Directive seems to restrict restoration to the state of the waterways in 2009!!
We also need to look at how the Branch is going to continue into the future. We have been very lucky with the support and interest that we have had from many of our members, but most of the Committee have been in place for a considerable number of years and feel that it is time for new blood and possible new ideas. Please take the recent members letter seriously and consider coming on to the Committee so that we have continuity towards the next target of the 50th Anniversary. Charles Stride
A Public Enquiry has been held and we await the outcome, but if it goes against restoration then it could possibly affect
The IWA Network is a vital focal point for local activities and lobbying. 3
CHAIRMAN’S JOTTINGS I hope you all had a very good Christmas. Carolyn and I, together with our friends Joan and John and Pauline and Charles, went to Buxton in Derbyshire for Christmas where we spent a very enjoyable five days in a lovely hotel. What will 2013 bring after such an eventful 2012? Will the new charity, the Canal and River Trust, work hard and maintain and improve our waterways?
AGM. The next big event will be the coach trip to London in May, which Diana and Brian have organised, and I look forward to seeing you on the coach. I hope the weather will be kind to us and it will be dry with some sunshine thrown in.
There are many questions pending and we must hope the outcome will be positive. We also hope the River Gipping Trust will continue with the excellent restoration work on the River Gipping which we are supporting.
On Sunday, 14 July we have the gathering of the Australian Canal Society at the ‘Blue Lias’, Stockton. Here we will be joined by many Australian friends including the President Jan Roden. Some of the Australian members will hire narrow boats to attend the event and there will also be many branch members with their boats.
Following the letters you have recently received regarding the request for members to join our committee, I hope we will have a good response at the AGM in February. 2014 is Our 40h Anniversary. Do you have any ideas of how we could celebrate this event? Any ideas please let one of the committee members know.
I would like to finish by wishing you all a very happy New Year.
The annual dinner is at the Compasses in Holbrook on 9 March and I plan to have a menu for you to choose from at the
Bye for now Chard Wadley
BRANCH OUTING MAY 11/12 2013 With many thanks to Brian & Diana Holt, they have once again organised a Branch Weekend Outing for May. The trip includes Tower Bridge, a boat trip to Greenwich, a visit to the restored Cutty Sark, and then on Sunday a visit to the Kew Pumping Station and a Musical Instrument Museum.
Fully Booked , Standby Requests to Brian & Diana Holt. 4
TRUST NOTES A copy of an 18th century Survey map of the River Gipping, measuring approx 64”x 13” had been purchased privately and presented to the Trust. We are currently in negotiation with the Museum of East Anglia Life at Stowmarket to incorporate this into a display, hopefully in the Bobby Building, to feature the past, present and future of the waterway together with an audio/visual presentation.
the Environment Agency. Then a specification is to be required before we approach a consultant with a view to obtaining a feasibility study. This is of course is going to involve a cost of possibly £ 12,000 – 17,000 at which time we will be in a position to approach Heritage Funders. The sponsorship of Trail-boat Festival on the Gipping. is another item of future interest A possible site would be at Bramford – currently Bramford Parish Council has taken over management of the Bramford Open Spaces from the Suffolk County Council and has agreed to form a limited company to run it for them. We are awaiting for this to achieve Charitable Status before we get further involved. Lewis Tyler
Our Website continues to be continually up-dated by our Treasurer, Spencer Greystrong and is well worth visiting – a recent addition is the inclusion of a version of an 8mm film of the River which has been passed on to us by our friend Ted Nash, Town Councillor of Needham Market and who was involved with Quintons during his working life. The condition of the towpath causes concern and we are considering how, with our limited man-power, we can ensure that this is safe and accessible for the ever increasing number of walkers wishing to visit this picturesque area. The recently introduced Walking Maps produced in co-operation with Marpa (Mid-Anglia Rail Passengers’ Association Walks) have proved extremely popular necessitating a reprint.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 7.30PM THURSDAY 13TH JUNE 2013 NEEDHAM MARKET COMMUNITY CENTRE
Guest Speaker Dr Charles Beardall Area manager for the Environment Agency
‘Realising the Dream’ continues to be great interest to us and to this end we are now awaiting approval of our plan from 5
RESTORATION REPORT Meanwhile water levels in the river remain much higher than usual, as the wet summer has been followed by an even wetter Autumn and Winter. This may delay the installation of the new frame for a while though we hope to start work in earnest immediately after the New Year
The second half of this year has seen much progress with our two main projects, the replacement of the old timber sluice gates at Baylham Mill and the completion of the bank works below the lock chamber
The new sluice gates for Baylham Mill were finished at White House Farm in the Autumn and with the help of Dale’s truck and the farm’s High Loader, safely transferred back to the work hut at Baylham, pending a break in the weather sufficient for us to start the installation.
The work adjacent to the lock chamber at Baylham is now nearly complete. The final construction work involves the re-laying of a brick surface below the old bridge. Again we were on target to finish this before Christmas, but the weather has held us back and we need two clear days when decent weather and the right skills combine, just to finish off the last two bays of brickwork.
We have already started preparing the site, with bank clearance around the old sluice, removal of the old decayed timber frame, and the preparation of a lifting gantry to help with the main timbers. The bank clearance has revealed the remains of an old eel trap and associated outbuilding, installed we think in the 1950’s by the then mill owner in a deal with a jellied eel merchant in the east end of London.
On a separate project , this year saw the completion of work to the Pipps ford overbridge, with all four flank walls rebuilt, the deck cleared, new wooden handrails constructed and the exposed metal beams treated. The land owner is keen to see the work here extended to return the immediate area around the 6
working order. If this is successful , it would be the final piece in restoring this historic group buildings to its appearance in the heyday of its working life.
lock to its historical setting and we have had lengthy discussions with the Environment agency on how to achieve this in the light of the European Water Quality Framework. Two site visits later, they have conditionally approved the application, so this will form a major new project for the coming year.
So , all in all its been another successful year with interesting projects completed, and more exciting things planned for 2013!
Back at Baylham, we recently had a visit to site by the senior trustee of the landowner that owns the lock and its surrounding area, and he has expressed an interest in restoring the mill itself to
Happy New Year! Martin Bird
One for Boat Owners—The silent killer lurking on your boat. A few weeks ago a friend of mine, who lives on his Narrowboat, was woken at 3am in the morning by the CO alarm in the bedroom sounding. He got up, checked the boat and stove to see everything was OK. The alarm in the bedroom refused to silence but the one in the lounge was fine. He opened the back doors to ventilate the bedroom but still the alarm refused to silence, so he decided to see if it could still be heard from the bed of the canal. He then brought the alarm from the lounge to the bedroom and that behaved exactly the same, sounding off and not silencing on the button. At this point they opened all the boat's doors and hatches and tried to keep warm under the duvet until it was time to get up. When they finally got up they noticed that the stove had not burnt in its usual way and was almost impossible to get it to burn up. It was then that he noticed a tiny amount of smoke from the body of the stove. He emptied the stove of its burning contents and discovered that a crack had appeared in the body. He has since replaced both the stove and the two CO alarms that wouldn't silence as they both received a water test to quieten them. He later found out that the alarms are designed not to silence if the CO level is above a predetermined level, so were not faulty at all. One interesting point was that the alarm in the bedroom was mounted about 3 foot from the floor by the bed and sounded, but the one in the lounge with the stove was at 5 ft from the floor and didn't sound until such time as it replaced the one in the bedroom. Brian Holt 7
River Stour Trust Restoring and conserving the River Stour Navigation
THE LIGHTER ‘JOHN CONSTABLE’ In the Autumn edition of 2010 we reported on the planned restoration of the ’John Constable’ Lighter and last summer we gave an update on how work was progressing. Now Mike Finch and Nick Temple describe a historic occasion for the Trust, and for the River Stour Navigation. larger group of works first proposed by the Dedham Vale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Stour Valley Project in 2008, with the grant for all the works being £910,000. The Trust is one of many member organisations of the project with an active responsibility or interest for this area.
On Thursday morning 27th September, nearly 100 years after the Stour lighter fleet was scuttled at Ballingdon, the restored lighter John Constable was relaunched at Great Cornard, after a two year rebuild at the Pioneer Sailing Trust in Brightlingsea. This hugely significant milestone in the restoration of through navigation on the River Stour has been made possible by the efforts of many people and a generous grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund. That grant is part of a 8
The restoration was carried out by the Pioneer Sailing Trust at Brightlingsea, who specialise in wooden boat restoration, and they have produced a beautiful vessel, with the elegant curves of her bow and stern and her fine black and grey paintwork. An immense amount of work and study went into the reconstruction, which is very accurate and includes the detailed design of the hatch covers that is unique to this craft. The construction of oak clinker planking and heavy oak frames is massively strong and this will give her a further long and productive life. Although Stour lighters always operated in pairs, the one restored would have been the foremost of the two. As such It has two holds, with the after-hold now having seats fitted for passengers, and a centre well for the helmsman. At nearly 47ft long and 10ft beam – a bit narrower than the original - she will be able to fit in any Stour lock today.
The Launch The launch took place at the Visitor & Education Centre after two days on display at Ipswich Docks where she created a great deal of interest and TV coverage.
The event passed off smoothly with – we believe – the least disruption to local residents. Many people watched the launch, from the Trust and neighbouring houses and 15 of them sat on the edge of the lighter to allow the marine surveyor present to perform a stability test. She passed that easily, as the original could take a load of 13 tons. It is planned that the boat will carry 12 passengers at present, as this is the maximum allowed before you move into a stricter set of operating regulations, but the lighter could obviously carry more if this was thought desirable in the future. There was much speculation about the depth she would float at, and this turned out to be about 10 inches.
The lighter arrived from the builders on a low-loader lorry and was craned into the mill leat, 27 months after her removal from the same spot.
In order to demonstrate a lock passage she was then manually hauled and poled into Cornard Lock, and a complete lock cycle was operated, almost certainly the first time a lighter has passed through a lock at Cornard since 1913. Once again that went without a hitch.
The crane driver said the unladen weight was 6 tons.
Since John Constable is wooden and of clinker construction a small amount of leakage was expected as the oak planks swell and the joints tighten up. In the event the leakage was very small and as I write (two weeks later) is reduced to a cup or two of water a day. 9
The Future The Trust plans to operate the lighter as a trip vessel, starting in spring 2013. We take the view that an active boat is far better than a static display at showing everyone what the navigation was like and she will earn her keep as well. But it is just not possible to draw her by horse over any great distance due to the lack of a towpath – the same problem the old navigation company had and never
and assess what else will be essential for practical use. The first indications are very positive; it takes about 3hp to propel her at 3mph, which shows how efficient a hull shape the old boatbuilders produced, but the reserve of power is vital for stopping and starting. And of course the electric power is completely silent, with no pollution of the river or local surroundings. As the lighter is a much bigger and more demanding craft to operate than our existing boats, careful training will be vital for its safe operation, and preliminary familiarisation trials are already underway for the crews selected. We look forward to seeing a lighter once again doing useful work on the upper Stour for the first time since 1913. Since it is believed that the John Constable was at least 100 years old when she was sunk in 1914, she is now likely to be 198 years old, making her probably one of the oldest vessels in the world today still afloat and working.
properly solved – so twin 10 horsepower electric outboard motors with batteries and control systems have been fitted by the Thames Electric Launch Company (many thanks to Emrhys Barrell). Trials are underway at present to familiarise crews with their operation,
Mike Finch & Nick Temple
This Article first appeared in Lock Lintel, the River Stour Trust magazine, and is reproduced with their permission. Photographs by Emrhys Barrell For more information, visit: www.riverstourtrust.org 10
Bure Navigation Conservation Trust BNCT is now going forward with some conservation work on the navigation which will include the provision of facilities for walkers and in the longer term the extension of the existing riverside footpath all the way in to Aylsham. Currently access is possible from Horstead lock to Burgh although the path is poorly maintained in places and there are some access disputes which are being resolved. It is a designated path and a beautiful walk providing the weather allows it to dry out! We will be providing interpretation boards at key locations to reflect the
history, flora and fauna of this beautiful river. BNCT are able to provide speakers if you would like a talk and there is no charge although donations are not refused. Copies of the Navigations's definitive history which was researched and written as part of the 2012 project are available. The book is entitled "Sail and Storm" and costs ÂŁ15 plus p&p. A wonderful DVD - "A wherry for Aylsham" is also available for ÂŁ7.99 plus p&p - full detais from stu.wilson100@btinternet.com Stuart Wilson
Norfolk Keel it and it met its final demise when it was burnt as being totally beyond any saviour in September 2012. There is a small group of people interested in seeing another Keel built, the next in class if you like. Such a boat would be ideal for use by the disabled and could become a significant community resource on the Broads as well as filling an important niche in the historic boats afloat. (Acknowledgement to Harry Crow)
The intention is to re-launch the Trust in early 2013 and the existing trustees are co-operating with this. It will not be a cheap or easy project but everything has to have a beginning so from the ashes of the last Keel a pheonix will grow.
The Keel was a class of trading boat dating back to medieval times which pre -dated the wherries on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. Their design owes a great deal to early Scandinavian influence but none are left.
If you are interested in getting involved please contact stu.wilson100@btinternet.com
There is a moribund Norfolk Keel Trust which was responsible for the lifting of a sunken Keel in the early 1980's however, sadly, nothing was done with
Stuart Wilson 11
North Walsham & Dilham Canal The work being undertaken by the Old Canal Company (OCC) on its upper section of the North Walsham & Dilham Canal must be the largest private restoration scheme in the Country. The OCC bought the canal from Swafield Bridge to Ebridge Bridge a couple of years ago, with the intention of returning the canal to its former navigable state, and returning water to the restored Bacton Wood Mill, as a Millers’ Right. From Swafield to the breach above Royston Bridge the canal is in water, and as recent as 2011 was partially de-reeded by the Environment Agency (EA). Above the bridge the water is diverted into a side soke, reentering the canal below Bacton Wood Lock. From here to Ebridge the canal was mainly reed filled as the reach had been lowered in 2006, as the water had been flooding nearby farmland, due to lack of bank maintenance.
Wherry Inn replaced to prevent the canal waters undermining the garden and subsequently the Wherry House building itself. The canal profile at the Wherry Inn has been re-instated, as has the canal above Royston Bridge to the diversion. A ducting carrying the water from a land drain from the north of the canal to the south of it will have to be replaced under the auspices of the LDB as the existing culvert is some two feet above the bed of the canal there. EA STOP NOTICE OCC’s plans for 2012 was to complete the de-silting of the canal to Bacton Wood Lock, testing the banks by raising the water level, then undertaking repairs to the spillway, dealing with leaks, replacing the top gates of Ebridge Lock and other associated works. However, the EA issued a STOP notice in April, on work being carried out on the “River Ant”. This prevented any further work being undertaken on the Ebridge Bacton Wood reach, which ironically included a request, issued three days later, by a different EA office to attend to some leaks.
Since acquiring the canal the OCC has, with help of the North Walsham & Dilham Canal Trust and East Anglian Waterways Association’s regular work parties plus visits from the London WRG, but mainly through its own efforts, undertaken considerable work. The length from Ebridge to just below Spa Common Bridge has been de-silted, and water returned to spillway height. Bacton Wood Lock has been rebuilt (around 70,000 new bricks re-laid), new top gates manufactured from ex Cromer beach groynes, and fitted. The Royston spillway mainly rebuilt, in order to prevent water escaping from the canal proper and the quay heading for the old
PUBLIC ENQUIRY A Public Inquiry “to hear evidence in relation to an appeal by the Old Canal Company Ltd against an Anti-Pollution Works Notice” was held in Wroxham on 7th and 8th November 2012. At the 12
Inquiry, one of the main reasons given for the “stop� notice was that, under the Water Framework Directive, the canal could only be restored to the state it was in in 2009, when the pound was low. In fact, one national EA official pointed to the overgrown watercourse below Ebridge Bridge and stated that this is how the canal should have been de-silted i.e. just the 2 metre width the water was occupying, not to the original dimensions of the constructed canal! The result of the
Inquiry is expected in early 2013. As a result, work parties during the latter part of the year have been mainly assisting with the quay heading and spillway work, and tree clearing within the Royston Bridge area, plus some general maintenance at Briggate (where the old granary was recently demolished by the District Council) and Honing. Ivan Cane
EAWA Work Party Dates for 2013: Please check with the EAWA Work Party Organiser, David Revill, 01603-738648, davgis@live.co.uk prior to the day in case there are some last minute changes. These are the dates for the projected work parties for the first half of 2013. As there are so many variables at the moment the locations of some of the work parties are not yet set out! All work parties are held on Sundays. Jan 13 Bacton Wood Lock Jan 20 Royston Bridge Feb 3 Royston Bridge Feb 17 Bacton Wood Lock March 3 Royston Bridge March 24 Briggate April 7 Honing Staithe Cut April 21 Honing Lock area May 5 tba May 19 tba June 2 tba June 16 tba David Revill. January 2013
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE We gladly welcome all our new members From Norfolk: Mr. H. O. Saville. From Suffolk: Mr. K. L. Mahoney ; Mr. J. A. & Mrs. M. H. Fletcher. A Very Happy and Healthy New Year to All Clive Saville
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EASTERN REGION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Eastern Region of the Inland Waterways Association will be held on Wednesday 20th March 2013 at the Peterborough and District Indoor Bowls Centre, Burton Street, Peterborough PE1 5HA at 7.30 p.m. AGENDA 1. Apologies 2. Approval of the Minutes of the AGM held on 14 th March 2012 3. Matters Arising from those Minutes 4. Chairman’s Report 5. Election of Committee Members (see notes below): The Chairman of the Region is elected in a separate ballot and the Chairmen of each of the branches within the Region are members of the Region committee ex officio. This is an election for the remaining members of the Region committee. Under the 3 year rule the period of office of those elected at the 2010 AGM comes to an end at the forthcoming AGM. Those elected in 2010 were: John Hodgson, David King, Nigel Long and Peter Webb. All of those individuals are eligible to stand again for election [although Nigel Long has indicated that he will not be standing].There is no limit to the number of members of the committee and therefore no limit to the number of those who may stand for election. It is no longer necessary for those who wish to stand for election to be nominated and seconded but all who wish to stand must agree to do so. Consents from members of the Region who wish to stand for election at the AGM 2013 must be deposited with the Region Secretary [Nigel Long 7 Georgian Court, Peterborough PE3 6AF or by email at nhlong@supanet.com] before the start of the Annual General Meeting
CONSENT FORM I agree to stand for election to the Eastern Region committee at the 2013 Annual General Meeting. I am a member of Eastern Region (Sign) -----------------------------
Print Name ------------------------
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1st
DATES for your DIARY
2nd
BRANCH MEETINGS & EVENTS 2013 Branch Meetings held at the Community Centre, School St., Needham Market At 7.30, unless otherwise stated. FRIDAY 11TH JANUARY 2013 Fish & Chip Supper FRIDAY 8TH FEBRUARY 2013 Branch AGM SATURDAY 9TH MARCH 2013 12PM —Compasses Holbrook Annual Dinner Bookings to Chard Wadley SATURDAY 11th / SUNDAY 12th MAY 2013 Members Annual Outing - See Page 4 for more details. Contact Brian & Diana Holt . OTHER DATES SUNDAY 31st MARCH—Sudbury River Stour Trust—Discover Constable’s River SUNDAY 12th May River Stour Trust—John Constable Launch Ceremony THURSDAY 13th JUNE 7.30pm - Needham Market Community Centre
River Gipping Trust AGM
WORKING PARTY DATES Working Parties are held by the River Gipping Trust from 0900 to 1700 every Wednesday and on the first Saturday of each month, unless that Saturday is a Bank Holiday in which case it will then be held on the second Saturday of that month. For further information and to confirm dates contact Martin Bird Tel: 01394 380765 Email: restoration@rivergippingtrust.org.uk 15
IWA NATIONAL TRAILBOAT FESTIVAL RIVER ROTHER BODIAM 25th –27th MAY & IT’S BACK
IWA NATIONAL FESTIVAL GRAND UNION CANAL CASSIOBURY PARK 19th—23rd JULY
USEFUL WEBSITES IWA Head Office - http://www.waterways.org.uk Waterway Recovery Group - http://www.wrg.org.uk River Gipping Trust - http://rivergippingtrust.org.uk River Stour Trust - http://www.riverstourtrust.org East Anglian Waterways Association –http://www.eawa.co.uk Aylsham Navigation - http://aylsham-navigation.norfolkparishes.gov.uk River Waveney Association -http://groupspaces.com/RiverWaveneyTrust/ IWA Peterborough Branch - http://www.waterways.org.uk/peterborough/ The Broads Society - http://www.broads-society.org.uk The Australian Canal Society - http://www.auscanal.org.au/ The Canal & River Trust - http://canalrivertrust.org.uk/ DEFRA Dept. for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs - http://www.defra.gov.uk
The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee. Registered Office; Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, Buckinghamshire. HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk Registered in England No. 612245. Registered as a Charity No. 212342
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