IWA NSSC Knobsticks Autumn 2018

North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch

KNOBSTICKS

Autumn 2018

Work in the bed of the canal at the site of the Middlewich Breach during the Open Weekend on September 8th-9th.

John Watson

Editorial We are currently still on our way home from the IWA Festival of Water at St Neots. It was very enjoyable, if a trifle wet (on Saturday and Sunday afternoons). Whilst there I found a 20-year old branch rally plaque on the wrg/nw stall, so (of course) I had to buy it (see photo right). Now I want to know more about the rally. Where was it held and what was the objective. Anybody out there able to help me ?

Strangely enough, around the same time, I received an email from Philip Dunn asking for help to identify the location of a photograph he took even longer ago.

His photograph (see below) of a canal bridge in Stoke on Trent was taken about 1990 for a feature he did in The Sunday Times. He is revisiting, and trying to catalogue, many of his old images, and this one has him puzzled. His Internet

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research drew a blank, so he asked if any member can identify the location.

My best guess was “on the Caldon above the staircase�, but please let me know if you can place it with certainty.

[P.S. I bet Alan Chetwyn knows the answers to both questions, but can anybody else beat him to it ?]

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Deputy Chairman’s Report You may have read in “Waterways” magazine about IWA’s Silver Propeller Challenge. The idea is that you visit at least 20 locations on a specified list of over 40 lesser-visited places around the waterways of England, Scotland and Wales. It doesn’t have to be your own boat or even a powered boat - canoe, trip boat, hire boats, or even a combination, all count. Many are on the 2,700 miles of the connected system, but others are on isolated waterways. On submitting photographic evidence that you have visited at least 20 of these locations, you will receive a free Silver Propeller Challenge plaque. The full list of locations can be found on IWA’s website. (www.waterways.org.uk/silverpropeller)

The hot dry weather we all enjoyed for the early part of the summer has led to Hazelhurst Locks on the Caldon Canal being closed to conserve the water supply to the Trent & Mersey Canal.

Whilst this was a regular occurrence in the 1980s (and 90s?), it hadn’t happened for at least twenty years or so, which demonstrates the severity of this year’s water shortages.

Many other canals in the North West were (or are) closed or had restrictions, and of course this follows on from many usually lesser used routes (including the Caldon) seeing increased traffic as a result of the closure of the Shropshire Union Middlewich Branch because of the Middlewich Breach. Typically the weather broke a little way into the school holidays and hopefully water levels will recover in time for some Autumn boating.

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In our branch we have two Silver Propeller challenge locations – Leek and Froghall. These are both campaigning locations in their own rights – with weed and siltation issues at the far end of the Leek Arm, and the continued problem of the low headroom through Froghall Tunnel. Both of these are issues that the branch has been, and continues to, campaign about.

Members may be aware that CRT has recently undergone a re-organisation.

Our branch area now falls into two of the new CRT regions – which now tend to include whole counties – with Staffordshire being in the new CRT West Midlands Region, and Cheshire in the new CRT North West Region. Your branch committee will be making contact with the new regional directors, and their teams, in each of the new regions. [Ed—The electronic method of contacting CRT has changed, see the details on the next page after the rest of Alison’s report.]

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Deputy Chairman’s Report IWA branches have all recently been asked to think about what their objectives might be for the current year.

Your branch committee agreed that for 2018 our objectives are to continue to support the local canal societies on joint projects, and to establish good relationships with the new CRT teams following their re-organisations.

For 2019 it would be good to be looking at some new objectives…. Why not get involved to help formulate and deliver some new aspirations. One suggestion from me is to organise a campaigning event relating to our two silver propeller locations – a campaign cruise from Leek to Froghall perhaps? How many boats of different types (narrow boats, cruisers, dinghies, canoes) can we get to each location over a particular week or weekend? If this is something you would like to be involved in, either in taking part or helping to organise it, do let me know.

We will shortly be ordering Christmas cards and calendars to sell at the Stone Food & Drinks Festival (let us know if you can lend a hand on the stall for an hour or two on Saturday 6th October) and at the Autumn socials. We know that the cards and calendars sell better when we have some local scenes – if you have taken some good photographs this summer why not make yourself a note to submit some to next year’s IWA calendar competition?

Alison Smedley Contact details for anyone wishing to contact CRT following its recent reorganisation (as mentioned above): The following information was received in an official Email from CRT :Page 4

Since the new regional structure came in, any emails sent to the enquiries@... email addresses will be directed to our central customer service team who will answer the generic questions or liaise with local teams to answer any regional specific enquiries. There aren’t new enquiries@... email addresses for the new regions, but if anyone still uses the previous ones, they’ll be redirected.

The generic email to use is the Customer.Feedback@canalrivertrust.org.uk or use the webform on our website see https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/contactus/ways-to-contact-us which includes a number of options so it helps us direct the enquiry to the right person quicker.

Alternatively you can call the Trust’s customer service number 0303 040 4040 to report a problem, please provide as much information as possible.

Note by Editor (after looking at the CRT website mentioned in their Email) If you fill in the email form CRT say that they will respond within the next five working days. If your query is urgent, they recommend using Live Chat or calling 03030 404040.

To use live chat: “Write your questions into our pop up support box to 'talk' to our customer services team” To use Twitter: “Message us @CRTcontactus” To write to head office: Canal & River Trust Head Office First Floor North Station House 500 Elder Gate Milton Keynes, MK9 1BB KNOBSTICKS

Poppies: Weeping Window at Middleport Pottery

Poppies: “Weeping Window” is a cascade comprising several thousand handmade ceramic poppies seen pouring from a high location to the ground below.

This sculpture, alongside “Wave”, a sweeping arch of bright red poppy heads suspended on towering stalks by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper was initially conceived as the key dramatic sculptural elements in the installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London in the summer and autumn of 2014.

Over the course of their time at the Tower, the sculptures were gradually surrounded by a vast field of ceramic poppies, each one planted by a volunteer in memory of every British or Colonial life lost at the Front during the First World War. In their original setting they captured the public imagination and Autumn 2018

were visited by over five million people.

14-18 NOW, the UK’s arts programme for the First World War centenary, then presented the iconic sculptures at selected locations around the UK. They have now been seen by over 4 million people in 16 locations.

Middleport Pottery in Stoke-on-Trent was the last regional tour venue, and the exhibition there finally closed on 16th September.

The sculpture will now move to its final presentation at Imperial War Museum London, before moving into the longterm ownership of the Imperial War Museum.

Press Release Photo © Getty Images, Jeff Spicer Page 5

Middlewich Breach Open Day

Welcome Booth; View back from viewpoint; Excavator

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Photos: John Watson

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Middlewich Breach Open Day

River below; Work in progress; View back along canal bed

Autumn 2018

Photos: John Watson

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Middlewich Breach Open Day

Piled edge of Canal; Viewpoint with explaining finger

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Photos: John Watson

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Middlewich Breach Open Day

Work continues; Visitors at the viewpoint

Autumn 2018

Photos: John Watson

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IWA NSSC Branch ANNUAL DINNER 2018 Red Bull Hotel Congleton Road South, Church Lawton, ST7 3AJ Friday 25th January—7:30 for 8 pm MENU Aubergine, mozzarella bakes (v) Smoked Salmon salad Chicken croquettes with red onion chutney ………..

Braised steak with mashed potato Pork in a whiskey sauce with neaps and tatties Grilled tuna in a lemon and caper butter Mediterranean vegetable fruity curry (v) All served with fresh vegetables and potatoes where applicable ………….

Cheese and biscuits Chocolate fudge cake (gf) Sugar free lemon cheese cake Ice–cream sundae See next (Winter) edition of Knobsticks for booking details & price Page 10

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Special offers In-store bakery Food-to-go Hot and cold drinks Groceries Newspapers Lotto Paypoint Payzone Free ATM Fresh fruit and veg Household and pet food A great range of beers, wines and spirits Open Mon-Sat 7am-9pm, Sun 7.30am-8pm

Less than 10 minutes from bridges 14 and 15 of the Caldon Canal

8-10 Diana Road, Birches Head, Stoke-on-Trent, ST1 6RS. Tel 01782 263936 Visit our website www.londis.co.uk.

Find us on Facebook - Londis Birches Head Autumn 2018

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Social Programme

North Staffordshire & South Cheshire Branch Friday 12th October 2018 – 7.45 for 8pm Curious Cuts Looking at some of the has-beens, never-weres, oddities and eccentricities of the waterways.

Phil Clayton Friday 9th November 2018 – 7.45 for 8pm Three Things you do not know about the RNLI A talk on the wide range of activities carried out by this much-valued charity.

Mark Thomas Friday 14th December 2018 – 7.45 for 8pm Canal and River Trust - the Chief Executive's presentation This presentation will update on CRT's progress with current projects and look at future plans.

Richard Parry Friday 25th January 2019 – 7.30 for 8pm Annual Dinner at the Red Bull Hotel, Congleton Road South, Church Lawton, ST7 3AJ Menu on page 10 More details to follow in the next Knobsticks.

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Social Programme Friday 8th February 2019 – 7.45 for 8pm Growing the Wooden Canal Boat Society The beginnings of the Wooden Canal Boat Society, the progress made, success and disappointments along the way and the present situation.

Chris Leah Friday 8th March – 7.45 for 8pm Annual General Meeting Followed by a showing of archive film footage of local waterways.

“Endon to Bingley” in 1995 by Alan Chetwyn.

Friday 12th April – 7.45 for 8pm The Four Ages of The Canals This presentation deals with the four periods our waterways have passed through to get from the start to where they are today.

Bill Walker Admission to talks is FREE Donations to waterway causes welcome!

Refreshments available.

Non-IWA members are very welcome Venue (unless otherwise stated): Stoke on Trent Boat Club Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon STOKE-ON-TRENT, ST9 9DU For further information contact: Sarah Honeysett (01782 772295) socialsec.nssc@waterways.org.uk or visit the branch webpages at: www.waterways.org.uk Autumn 2018

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Cheshire Locks Working Party

In July we completed Lock 58 including the numbering on the balance beams.

Work started on Lock 57. The metal rails around the sluice/by-wash were painted, and the post and the post & rail fence

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alongside the lock chamber was painted with preservative. Preparation of the metalwork / paddle gear for painting was started.

Article (& Photos): John Lawson

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Cheshire Locks Working Party

Above: Lock 58 complete with numbers.

Previous Page: Lock 57 by-wash—Before and after.

The Social Scene I hope you have all been enjoying the summer and haven’t had to spend all of it watering your gardens or dodging stoppages due to water shortages!

You should get your reminder card for our 2018/19 programme with this edition of Knobsticks. We have a wide range of topics and good selection of speakers to look forward to, although our meetings are also a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and to make new ones, so if you haven’t been before, hopefully we’ll see you this year.

Just to confirm, our first social is on Friday 12th October and is Phil Clayton’s talk on ‘Curious Cuts’. You’ll notice that there is no September meeting. My appeal for volunteers to share their stories and expertise seems to have Autumn 2018

fallen on deaf ears; either that, or you’re all desperately shy! I will be after speakers for 2019/20 in due course, so do get in touch if you feel brave, or if you can recommend anyone who hasn’t recently addressed us.

If you can help spread the word about our events, please let me know as I will be putting together the posters for our socials shortly and would appreciate any offers to display them at your workplace, moorings, village hall, local shop, favourite pub or similar. Even if you don’t have a space for a poster, do invite your friends and neighbours along.

Hope to see you in October if not before.

Sarah Honeysett (Social Secretary and Publicity Officer) Page 15

More Good News from Burslem Port Shortly after the appearance of the last edition of Knobsticks, we learnt that our bid to create a walkway along the line of the Burslem Arm has been successful.

We have been awarded a grant of £45,000 from the City Community Investment Fund (CIF), to which the Canal & River Trust will add £5,000 The project is entitled THE BURSLEM PORT INTERPRETATION PROJECT .

In the application, we stated the following: “The Burslem Port Interpretation project aims to provide a walkway linking the Trent and Mersey Canal with Burslem Town Centre. The walkway will provide interpretation linked to the areas heritage along with information on the future for the potential reestablishment of the canal arm, work on developing the heritage sites and the development of the surrounding green space.

This project which will be managed by Burslem Port Trust has the support of local organisations including Burslem Regeneration Trust, Middleport Matters, the Trent and Mersey Canal Society and the Inland Waterways Association.

The funds sought will provide the volunteers working in the area with tools and materials which will enable them to better control the vegetation, develop the pathway, supply and fit the interpretation boards and provide directional signage. The work will enable the creation of walking/cycling routes connecting Festival Park with areas of Middleport and Burslem. It will create usable safe green space for residents, reduce the opportunities for anti-social behaviour in the area and prepare the Page 16

area for wider investment alongside the Etruria Valley development.

The work will be undertaken by an active group of volunteers co-ordinated by Burslem Port Trust and will build on that previously undertaken by the volunteers to remove some of the vegetation and expose the line of the old canal. The activity to date has already created interest within the community, some of whose members have become volunteers on work parties helping to control the vegetation. The improved access has also increased footfall in the area plus, Feral Spaces (an artist led, child centred, place making project) have increased their use of the area to undertake activities with children from Stoke on Trent.

This project which has links to the wider regeneration of the area will be a catalyst for longer term investment leading to economic, social and environmental improvements.”

CONTRACT SIGNED On August 16th, Roger Savage and Graham Hill (Chairman and Company Secretary of Burslem Port Trust) signed the contract with a representative of the City of Stoke-on-Trent Council at the Red Bull office of the Canal & River Trust. The project, which lasts for 3 years, will see us acquiring equipment to manage vegetation and to lay a proper surfaced pathway alongside the existing canal wash-wall, as well as installing signage giving information about the history of the canal arm. It is hoped to launch the project publicly in October Roger Savage KNOBSTICKS

Replica Peak Forest Tramway Wagon

Members of Bugsworth Basin Heritage Trust have built a replica Peak Forest Tramway Wagon. The only original still in existence is in the National Railway Museum at York. The Trust has full construction drawings produced by their members and at least four original wheels and stub axles and many bits and pieces which were salvaged during the restoration of the canal basin.

local blacksmith which will show the traditional hot riveting technique and will then install a limestone load.

The replica wagon is now on display at Bugsworth Basin, on the peninsula between the lower basin arm and the wide.

Press Release

The chassis has been produced by members using traditional techniques, utilising timber cut from redundant oak lock gate balance beams, courtesy of the Canal & River Trust. For the body steelwork modern laser cutting was used, again from drawings by one of their volunteers. They assembled this “kit� and mounted it onto the chassis.

They are also having a gate made by a Autumn 2018

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The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear with a group of very cheerful people on a day boat, who kindly bought the human crew drinks when they got to the bottom.

Sonning stayed safely indoors, watching from his hammock and occasionally waving to any passing human cubs – or children, as we call them. The towpath was busy with people, fishing, walking and picnicking, as there are big reservoirs and very pretty countryside nearby. At the bottom of the flight of locks they came to a canal junction.

Grizzly, the male human explained that they were going left, to a town called Aylesbury. 'There are sixteen locks on the Aylesbury Arm,’ he explained. ‘But they are narrow ones, like we have around Stoke, so they are much quicker and easier to work through.'

Lots of Little Locks!

Continuing the epic journey of a small teddy bear rescued from an elderberry bush by the Thames…

Sonning Bear and the human crew of Uplander II gradually made their way out of London and the suburbs, working up through lots of locks on the way to a summit pound at Tring. Sonning was very surprised how soon they were out of the city and cruising through parks, fields and small towns.

After Tring, they had to go down a flight of locks near a village called Marsworth.

It's always best to share big locks if you can, to save water and to get help working the lock, so they worked down Page 18

'The top two are what we call a staircase,' Polar (the big female human) added.

'The bottom gates of the top lock are the top gates of the second.'

This all sounded very confusing to the little bear. Polar explained that, with staircase locks, you have to make sure the locks below you are empty going down, with their paddles closed, as the water from the top lock gets used to fill those below it.

Sonning thought he might be able to help with the locks gates as the locks were small ones, but they were still far too big for a small bear to push and pull, so he sat in the cratch to watch. The top lock was only just wide enough for Uppie to fit into it and, sure enough, when Polar opened the bottom gates and Uppie moved forward, they found themselves in another lock.

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The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear In fact, the filling-up locks wasn't their only problem. There were several shallow pounds too, where they had to be careful not to run aground, and lots of big floating clumps of reeds, which Polar and Grizzly worried would get tangled around Uppie's propeller.

The narrow staircase locks emptied very quickly and they were soon on their way, past pretty cottages and flowery gardens, to the next one.

By the time they reached the outskirts of the town, the sun was setting and Sonning’s little tummy was rumbling. As they came into the boat basin, Grizzly had to put the headlight on to see where he was going. There seemed to be very big buildings all around.

Sonning thought they would get to Aylesbury in plenty of time for tea, but some of the locks started filling themselves up from behind, because there was a lot of water coming down from the reservoirs.

Autumn 2018

However, the moorings were really good, with proper pontoons and mooring rings along the towpath, so they moored safely for the night. Even though he hadn’t done any work, Sonning felt worn out and soon went to sleep.

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The Boating Adventures of Sonning Bear

In the morning, Polar and Grizzly went out to explore. They found a lovely theatre and university buildings by the canal and an interesting old town up the hill. They also found there was a big supermarket next to the moorings where they bought fresh food, including grapes and berries for little Sonning.

After lunch, they set off back to Marsworth, through the reeds and leaky locks and past a boatyard, where they were repairing some very, very old wooden narrowboats. Eventually, they found themselves back at the staircase locks and turned out onto the Grand Union Main Line again, ready to carry on to the north.

While Polar and Grizzly were out, Sonning watched a big heron fishing from the pontoons. He was glad he was safely inside Uppie, as the heron looked big enough to eat a small bear!

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But first, it was time for tea!

KNOBSTICKS

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Autumn 2018

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For an extensive range of traditional narrowboat and sailing fittings

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Gifts • canal souvenirs • maps and books • clothing

Newcastle Road, Stone, Staffs.

Tel: Stone (01785) 812688 Fax: (01785) 811317 www.stoneboatbuilding.co.uk email: sale@stoneboatbuilding.co.uk

The Swan Inn Stafford Street, Stone Two minutes from bridge 93 at Star Lock

Serving 10 Real Ales & Scrumpy Cider Bar Snacks available Beer Garden Page 22

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North Staffordshire & South Cheshire contacts President: Chris Skelhorne Vice President Roger Savage roger.st21@gmail.com Deputy Chairmen Alison Smedley 01538 385388 alison.smedley@team.waterways.org.uk Steve Wood 07976 805858 steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk

Web-site Liaison Alison Smedley 01538 385388 webmaster.nssc@waterways.org.uk Planning VACANT (Use planning.nssc@waterways.org.uk) Membership Officer Ju Davenport membership.nssc@waterways.org.uk

Navigation Officer Treasurer 01782 772295 Alan Chetwyn (No Email) 01782 279277 Jon Honeysett navigation.nssc@waterways.org.uk Secretary Judith Turner 07789 518816 Burslem Port Work Party Steve Wood 07976 805858 secretary.nssc@waterways.org.uk steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk Sales Officer VACANT Use steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk Caldon + Uttoxeter Work Parties Steve Wood 07976 805858 steve.wood@team.waterways.org.uk Social Secretary Sarah Honeysett 01782 772295 Cheshire Locks Work Party socialsec.nssc@waterways.org.uk John Brighouse 07808 878317 john.brighouse@waterways.org.uk Publicity Officer Sarah Honeysett 01782 772295 Other committee members: publicity.nssc@waterways.org.uk Julie Arnold Maria Frost Newsletter Editor Roger Evans 01606 834471 Rob Frost Roger Savage newsletter.nssc@waterways.org.uk 10 Long Lane, Middlewich, Cheshire, West Midlands Region Chairman CW10 0BL Helen Whitehouse 01543 491161 westmidlands@waterways.org.uk The Branch committee meets at 7:30 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of every month at Stoke Boat Club, Endon Wharf, Post Lane, Endon, Stoke-on-Trent, ST9 9DU. All Branch members are invited to attend.

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland Waterways Association, the West Midlands Region, or our Branch.

They are, however, published as being of interest to our members and readers. Š The Inland Waterways Association - Registered as a charity no. 212342 www.waterways.org.uk/staffscheshire Autumn 2018 Page 23

Join Us on a Canal Work Party

Our Branch runs 3 work parties each month, helping to maintain and restore our local canals : Cheshire Locks (Trent & Mersey Canal, Kidsgrove to Wheelock) (jointly organised with the Trent and Mersey Canal Society) 3rd Thursday of each month (except December), 10am to 3pm.

Contact: John Brighouse Phone: 07808-878317 Email: john.brighouse@waterways.org.uk

 Uttoxeter Canal (Bridge 70, near Denstone — or near Alton) (working in partnership with Caldon & Uttoxeter Canals Trust) 2nd Thursday of each month, 10am to 3pm.

Contact: Steve Wood Phone: 07976-805858 Email: steve.wood@waterways.org.uk

 Burslem Port, Stoke-on-Trent (working in partnership with Burslem Port Project) 4th Tuesday of each month, 10am to 3pm.

Contact: Steve Wood Phone: 07976-805858 Email: steve.wood@waterways.org.uk ——————————–————-—————————-————— See the IWA website www.waterways.org.uk under “Events” for dates.

Volunteers are advised to wear stout shoes and old clothes, and to bring waterproofs (and a packed lunch and drink if staying all day) Page 24

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