Chester Flyer Spring 2011

CHESTER

The lnland

&

DISTRICT BRANCH

Waterwavs tumciatioir

SPRING

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CHAIRMAN'S REPORT After a very cold winter it is wonderfulto see spring arriving in a mild March, trees shrubs and flowers are all adding colour back into the landscape. There is more activity on the canalwith people turning up to prepare their boats and quite a few on the move. All this optimism and growth is shared by the Branch Committee which after the AGM has gained 5 new members. This is really good news as this time last year I was really concerned about the future of the Branch.

The future of the waterways is on the agenda, although we know BW will be moving to the Third Sector now is the time to try and influence the direction the new organisation will take. A consultation has just been released and is open until the end of June 2011 . Please take the opportunity to read it and respond either directly as an individual and/or pass your comments on to the Branch so we can pass them on to IWA Head Office so an official response can be made. lt is vitalourvoice is heard now; itwill be no good complaining later if the Conservationists, Anglers, and Cyclists etc have a greater influence than the Bbaters. please ensure the maintenance of the waterway is a high priority or the network will become a linear park. lf you have any issues or comments related to the waterways please get in touch.

Brian Phillips Chairman

Atibute

GOODBYE BILL to Bill Leathwood JR DL, who died on 25 January

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It is always with deep

sadness that we record the death of one of our Branch members, so to lose Bill Leathwood has been deeply felt by all who knew him.

Bill'known affectiohately as Mr Runcorn-was a great enthusiast of all things connected with waterways. He

supported our Branch in many ways and was one of the group of 4 who inaugurated the Runcorn Locks Restoration Society. To see these locks restored was one of his dearest wishes.

Bill, a former operator of ICI's Brunner Photograph by Harry Arnold Mond fleet, had interests and achievements ranging far and wide but.we will always remember him as a superb speaker and friend of Chester & District Branch. We will miss you Bill.

TAL/LOR'S

Y{RD-the

Over the past year or so, British Waterways (BW) has been going through the process ofselecting a new tenant for Taylor's Boat Yard. Five applications were received, from which one was chosen as the preferred partner in June 2010. After lengthy negotiations with BW over the lease, the new tenants eventually moved on site just before the end of 2010 and are now busy getting ready for business.

Despite their long wait, Pete and Yvette Askey, the owners of the company JP Marine, are still very enthusiastic about the prospects of developing their business in such an historic environment. They will be offering a full range of Boatyard and Dry Dock Services, including Boat Safety Scheme Examinations and Hull Surveys as well as a Mobile Breakdown Service.

Beginning to breathe new life into the Yard, they have already cleared a good part of the slipways and are starting to plan a programme of restoration work on the derelict buildings. As well as the Yard itself, JP Marine will be operating the Dry Dock, which will also be refurbished, including a new safety and security fence and improved electrical and other seryices.

Chester Canal Heritage Trust has been working closely with the new tenants, who are very sympathetic to the historic nature of the Yard and are keen to work with the Trust, and other interested volunteer groups, in preserving and displaying its heritage. As part of this, the Trust has recently organised three further Recording Work Parties to continue the task of compiling a written and photographic record of objects in the yard that are ofhistorical significance and ofthe buildings themselves.

The most recent events concentrated on the Saw Mill, probably the most significant building on the site and one that contained lots of hidden treasures! The Saw Mill was steam-powered and sat at the heart of the SURCCo's Yard, both in terms of its location and its role in preparing the timber for use in building and repairing the company's fleet of over 500 boats. Built around 1873, it is a wooden framed structure with massive wooden pillars and a slated pitched roof. When the Yard was taken over by the Taylors tn 1921, the Saw Mill became the main workshop and was also used to build boats.

In the various Work

Parties that CCHT has organised since 2008, at least 30 volunteers have been involved with a total of 415 hours work put in. Well over 150 objects have been uncovered and recorded, including some real gems, including a few dating back to the Yard's Shropshire Union days as well as many more from the time of J H Taylor and Sons. Some of these relate to the work of Arlhur Howard, Hany Taylor,s sonin-law, who had left many of his tools and other boat building gadgets on site. Scores ofwooden boat patterns have also been salvaged from parts of the building and moved to a safe area of the site ready to be fully recorded and photographed at a later date. As well as looking at the historical artefacts, more about the Saw Mill itself was also discovered, especially where the original SURCCo steam engine, boilers and chimney were 1ocated.

Al1 in all, these events have proved very worthwhile and enjoyable for all those who took part. The Trust is very grateful to all

those who came along, especially to Tony Lewery whose knowledge of boats and boat building was invaluable in spotting what was significant in amongst all the accumulated debris!

It now seems that most of the interesting aftefacts have been unearthed, but no doubt a few more will come to light as the buildings are completely cleared prior to any restoration work taking place, so there may be a need to go back again to take another look later in the year.

Removing an Oak Tree blocking the restoration A number of obstacles stand in the way of the restoration of the Yard. One of these was an oak tree adjacent to the Saw Mill, which had grown from an acom planted by J H Taylor's son-inlaw Arlhur Howard (probably in the 1960s) and stood about 30 feet high with branches overhanging the Saw Mil1. It was a hazard and a potential threat to this Grade II listed building as

latest news

as possibly compromising the use of the yard as a working Boat Yard. There was therefore a good case for its removal and, although it was not covered by a Tree preservation Order, local authority permission was required for its removal, since the Yard is in a Conservation Ar ea. This was obtained by Chester Canal Heritage Trust (CCHT) in July 2010 and a quote for the cost offelling was also obtained from a BW approved contractor, although it was clear that the work could not be done until the winter when the tree had lost its leaves.

The Chester Branch of IWA has always been a strong supporter of the plans to restore the Yard and had earmarked some funding for this purpose from the 2005 IWA National Festival at Runcom. Delays in resolving issues around the future of the Yard meant that the Branch had been unable to utilise this grant until recently but, following a request from CCH! they kindly agreed to make a generous grant towards the cost of felling the oak tree. The work was carried out in mid February and went well, with the tree being neatly felled without any harm done to the buildings or the onlookersl As part of this work, the trunk of the tree has been planked and the timber retumed to the Yard, where it can be used either for work on a boat or some

well

other appropriate project.

The Future So it certainly looks like 2011 will be an eventful and very positive year in the life of this historic and unique yard! The Trust is looking forward to working with the new tenants and other interested groups, such as the Shropshire Union Fly-boat Restoration Society (Saturn was originally built at the Chester yard in 1906), to help ensure its future and will be exploring ways of developing the Yard as a centre for educational opporhrnities and activities alongside its principal role as a working boafyard.

As part of this, we hope to be able display some of the artefacts that have been found on the site and provide a range of infomative and educational material about the yard's history.

Ray Buss Chester Canal Heritage Trust

Msrch 2011

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REGION AND BRANCH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS Tis the season ofAnnual General Meetings and two have been held in the Branch Region during the past 2 months. The meeting of the North-west Region was this year hosted by our Branch atAnderton and was attended by 75 members. This was preceded by an excellent talk on the salt mining industry and its effects on subsidence, given by Colin Edmondson. Our Region Chairman, Alan Platt, gave a report on the current state of affairs followed by reports from the Tfeasurer and Chairmen of each of the Region's branches, The Kenwin Trophy was awarded to Martin Clark for his work on the Penine Waterways and Macclesfield websites and the Tetlow Cup was awarded to Cynthia and Colin Greenall for their efforts in raising f30,000 for the restoration of the Sankey Canal and for publicising IWA generally.

The secondAcM was that of our own Branch. We are forfunate enough to be able to record the continuation of our present committee plus 5 new committee members-a wafin welcome was extended to them. The Chaifinan gave a comprehensive report on the year's progress. The Tieasurer outlined the state of accounts, which are sound.. TheAGM was followed by a talk by Wendy Capelle, BW Border Counties Manager, who outlined her work and answered numerous questions from the floor.

OPEN DAYAT NORTHGATE LOCKS, CHESTER

A very successful Open Day was held last month by British Waterways at Northgate Locks. While the lock gates were being replaced and repairs done to the chambers BW decided to open the area to the public. It was quite an experience going down into the bottom of the locks, with BW operatives explaining how the new gates would be fitted and answering questions During the day a series of lectures was given in the nearby Homeguard Centre by Ray Buss of Chester Canal Heritage Trust and Kate Lynch, BW Heritage Adviser.

The event was very well attended and enjoyed by all. Another open day had previously been held at the Anderton Boat Lift.

Photograph by Gillian Bolt

4 1970 ralty at Ellesmere Port

National Boat Check

Ifanyone has details of, or even a photo, ofthe model that was displayed at the 1970 IWA Rally at Ellesmere

This was done between 7 and 18 March this year. There are now more boats on BW's canals and rivers and more people using the towpaths than at any other time in their history. While most boat owners pay their licence fee, there remains a minority who don't. Monthly checks are still carried out and enforcement action is carried out throughout the year but the annual check provides useful year on year monitoring.

Port showing the closure of the navigation beneath the proposed motorway and the intended new 3-lock link to the Ship Canal would they contact Norman Stainthorp on jn.stainthorp@yahoo.co.uk. He would also like to borrow a copy ofthe 1970 rally brochure.

Requests from the Boat Museum The museum is aiming to persuade staffand volunteers to wear costume around the site. To do this they are asking for any suitable items of clothing to be donated into a clothing bank, such as flat caps, v-necked pullovers, waistcoats, overalls, dungarees for men and for women, bonnets, blouses scaryes and shawls, long skirst, pinnies-anything suitable from Mctorian to 1950's. The Museum also requires crews to assist with boating away from the Museum during the summer months. For information and an invitation to get involved contact Will Mannin g on 01244 403194 or email Willmanning@hotmail. com.

Thefts at Middlewich It is reported that Middlewich Narrowboats have had batteries stolen from their moored boats at a loss of f2000. This has happened mainly from boats with cruiser cockpits.

Ask for Biodiesel free fuel The fuel you will be supplied with now will still be red, but will be virtually sulphur free dependent on where you normally use your boat. However, it is possible that the fuel being supplied could also contain biodiesel. It is important therefore that you ask for biodiesel free fuel when you are filling up.

Saturn Among events fixed for Saturn this year are attendance atAndefton Education Week 6-10 June, Middlewich Schools education days 14-16 June, and Folk and Boat rally 17 -19 June, Audlem Festival of Transport 3 I July and Whitchurch Rally 17-18 September. Contact Sue Cawson on01876 653956 if you can help at any of these.

Art Exhibition

at Anderton One of our Branch members, Diana Bernice Tackley, a well-known artist and illustrator-the afiist of the Andefion Boat Lift Mural 'The People who made it Happen'is holding an exciting new exhibition in the Boat

Lift Marquee showing a wide variety of original paintings including local landscapes from l6th to 30 May from 10 am to 4 pm.

BW Liaison Report Our Vice Chairman, Bill SinclaiE meets with BW representatives on a regular basis to keep us up to date with current affairs. At his last meeting he reported that Northgate locks are now back in use, on time, and with extra jobs done as well. Workers are back on vegetation along the Wardle straight and bridge pointing along the Ellesmere Port stretch. This will be the last month of BW doing the vegetation work as this has now been passed to outside contractors.

Saltscape

This has been commissioned by Cheshire West and Cheshire Council to improve and create better access to and appreciation of the Weaver Valley. The.HLF decision on funding is expected by 28 July.

Chester & District Branch welcomes the following new members: Pete andYvetteAskey, Chester; Kevin Strudwick, Chester; Stephen Harrison, Chester; Steve Nicholls, Chester, Matthew and Fiona Theobald, Nantwich; Martin and Fiona Buck, Tarporley.

We hope to meet

all of you at our Branch meetings and walks.

The Editor welcomes contributions from readers with or without photographs. Deadline for the next edition which will be in booklet form is 2 September. It should be noted that the views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the IWA but are included as being of interest to our members.