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Northampton Quay on River Nene by Stephanie Mason & John Grieve
Disclaimer: The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this Newsletter but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed herein may be construed as policy or official announcement unless stated otherwise. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the Newsletter The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor House, Chesham HP5 1WA 1
Content From The Editor From The Chairman Welford Wharf Trip The Restoration of Susan Social Events Essex Waterways Update The Cyril Styring Awared
Page 2 Page 2 Page 3 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 9
Water, Water Everywhere Canal Collectors Plates Victoria Photographs Book A Holiday Just For Fun Branch Committee
Page 10 Page 14 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 16
From The Editor Drifting into the new decade of the 2020’s, and with a chill in the air, it is nice to sit in the warm and think of sunny days. Plan some time on the Navigation, taking your camera, pen and paper to capture and jot down your tow path adventures. We would still like to increase our contributors to this Newsletter. Please make time to look out your photos, articles and ideas and send them in for our next Newsletter. Last inputs for Spring Newsletter 21/02/2020. Tell us about your own waterway experiences, your holiday or send in ‘Readers Photos.’ For those on e-mail please send your input to chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk Those without just give me a call to arrange for collection. 07837 576464. From The Chairman A happy new year to you all and, whatever your waterway activities, may this year's weather be on your side. I have to report that, during the Christmas season, two of our members have been very ill; John Gale, our Branch Treasurer and Janine Strudwick, Region Chairman Paul's wife, they deserve our very best wishes for their full recovery, which will probably take a while. This should remind us all that your committee is not getting any younger and we have co-opted a new Treasurer in the form of Phillip Cervini, who will shadow John until the AGM on March 12th, when I hope you will vote him in. This year's AGM is on March 12th, so please consider if you might be able to take on the job of deputy Treasurer when the time comes. As Paul is obviously concerned about Janine, do give him some space during this difficult time. You should find the minutes of the last AGM on pages 13-14 of last spring's newsletter. We always keep the AGM as short as possible, without omitting any vital items, but please let Chris Chandler or any other member of the committee know if you wish to raise some appropriate business for discussion. As before, I have a copy of the Waterway Recovery Group's Canal Camps booklet for this year and will bring it to meetings. WRG are appealing for cooks for the camps and would pay for them to obtain hygiene certificates. Talking of cooking, if anyone out there would like to make cakes for one of our meetings, they should see Stephanie and would be heartily welcomed - the cakes always go down well. I'm delighted to report that, at the time of writing, the paddle steamer "Waverley" will be back in business this year, essential boiler and other work having been completed. I, for one, am looking forward to her time around the Thames estuary and I strongly recommend the various trips. Molly Beard
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Welford Wharf Trip May 2019 We headed to Crick Friday evening to be ready for our weekend trip to the Welford Arm 50 year Celebration which had been organised by the Old Union Canals Society and facilitated by Canal & River Trust. We left Crick Marina early at 7:30, things were already happening at the marina as preparation for the boat show was well underway. We saw a show boat being craned into the water from the service jetty as we passed the marina entrance. Cruising along John saw a hare in a field, and then we both saw a tawny owl fly past near bridge 24. Turning right into the Welford Arm we were surprised we hadn't met any other boats heading this way. The Welford Arm has two bridges and a lock with a bridge - in it's one and three quarter mile length. At the lock we had some help from passers by who had walked down from the festival. We then moored in our booked slot at the end of the row nearest to the lock. Matthew from CRT arrived and we chatted, it was good to meet him as I had been emailing him about booking this mooring for the festival, he had been so helpful considering it was a last minute decision to attend. Once we were sorted we walked up to the festival, along the route were some trading boats, we stopped to chat to Kay (Canal Crafty Arts) who was painting our name plaque for the front cratch window of our boat (arranged on a previous trip). There were a lot of moored boats all the way along the towpath to the wharf, the path actually detours around the small marina (access to the marina is via a locked gate so the boats are secure). There were a lot of people and dogs wandering around the paths and festival. At the wharf we saw the Historic Boats Nutfield & Raymond among others, the buildings along the wharf were open: a museum and souvenir shop, and across from the wharf were local stalls, societies, handcrafts, woodcraft, two vintage tractors and a car, lots to see and do.
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Welford Wharf Trip May 2019 (cont) The pub chef was running the outdoor BBQ and we enjoyed very good homemade burgers. There were also boat trips which proved very popular, the young lady at the tiller 'winded' in the gap between our boat and the lock so we got to wave and chat briefly to some of the passengers across the age range. In the evening we had a lovely meal at the Wharf Inn which I had pre booked knowing it would be busy, and it was my Birthday too. We could hear the band playing in the marque near the pub, and could still hear it back at the boat. We also heard an owl hooting, it had been a lovely day and evening.
The next day we had a lazy morning, a lot of the visiting boats were leaving and we chatted as they headed to the lock landing, again there were a lot of walkers about. Eventually we too had to head off, 'winding' from our mooring using the back rope which made it very easy. Back down the lock we proceeded along the Arm, enjoying this very rural route, so peaceful, and pretty too with lots of blossom on the trees. Then back onto the GU Leicester line cruising back to the marina, we arrived back at Crick where preparations were still ongoing for the Boat Show the following weekend, and when we would be back again.
Stephanie Mason and John Grieve
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The Restoration Of Susan Our last report on the restoration of Susan, the sole surviving wooden lighter from the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation, was in the Spring 2019 Newsletter when the re-planking of the bottom was nearing completion. This has been completed, but due to lack of funds unfortunately work had to stop while further funding was sought. Hire charges for the dry dock still have to be paid as Susan cannot be re-floated until further work is completed. The final work will include fitting the sister keilsons, planking the propeller tunnel, fitting the stem, knees, breast hook, side capping, cross beams and rudder repairs. When all this is complete there will be caulking and painting and refitting the engine and stern gear before she can be refloated and returned to the Navigation. Estimates for completion of the boat building work were £66,000 and the Trust has been pleased to have received several generous donations from individuals to assist with the project.
Over recent years grant funding for heritage projects has become increasingly difficult to obtain. The Trust is therefore very pleased to have been offered £20,000 by the Association for Industrial Archaeology (AIA) and £10,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation which has already been received. A further £5,000 has been offered by Essex Heritage Trust which is however dependent upon work commencing and all funds being in place.
Although there still appears to be a shortfall of £30,000 in funding, work will now recommence. The estimates have been based upon the number of days that the boat builder anticipates it will take for each task and the additional timber required. It is however hoped that some of the tasks may have been over estimated and the final cost will be less. Two of our Trustees have volunteered to take on the task of refurbishing the ironwork from Susan so as to save costs. Funding is still being sought so that the Essex Heritage trust grant can be released and the project finally completed. Roy Chandler
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Social Events 2020 Thursday 13th February 2020 Speaker Alan Johnson The work of the Wey and Arun Trust Thursday 12th March 2020 AGM followed by a talk by Robin Whittle of The River Deben Association - His role in preserving the river and its environment Thursday 9th April 2020 Speaker – Pam Bathhurst The Medway Queen - Paddlesteamer The Medway Queen was launched in 1924 and entered service on Thames estuary routes in May of that year. She was used as a minesweeper in WWII and is famous for her seven trips to Dunkirk in 1940. After the war she returned to her old route until 1963. From 1966 until 1974 she was a nightclub in the Isle of Wight. The ship was returned to the River Medway in 1984 and the hull has now been rebuilt with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the European Regional Development Fund. Thursday 14th May- Talk Speaker To be confirmed All meetings will be held at The Galleywood Heritage Centre, The Common, Galleywood, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8TR. Time: 7.45pm for 8pm. We welcome all members and non-members to the monthly socials, and appreciate a small donation on the door. We also offer tea, coffee, or squash along with homemade cake.
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Essex Waterways Update At the end of August we hosted another week long Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) Canal Camp with volunteers carrying out numerous maintenance and improvement works around Paper Mill Lock. Canal Camps on the Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation (C&BN) are rather different to the many other WRG summer camps which are usually working on the restoration of non operational waterways whereas there is plenty of waterway activity on the C&BN especially at Paper Mill Lock. As it was a hot week the Tea Rooms were very busy, there were plenty of walkers, canoes and paddle-boards on the water, also trip boats running and even people swimming!
Volunteers were split into smaller groups to undertake the different tasks. One group set about the conversion of a lean-to at the rear of the workshop into a new store with the infilling of the missing walls with new insulated timber stud-work and weatherboarding. A salvaged window and door were incorporated and the new weatherboarding painted black. This store will provide a replacement for the rather sad looking ‘ironwork’ store which is located between the two offices and which will be demolished and replaced by a new toilet building. A second group started work on clearing and levelling an area next to the canoe racks and moving a fence to enable the erection of two new canoe racks. These were cut and fabricated in timber and constructed in the same manner as the existing racks. A new path was formed through the area to access the racks. A first canoe had arrived to take its place before the week was finished! There is a regular demand for canoe storage on the Navigation and the additional income from the two new racks will be beneficial.
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Essex Waterways Update (cont) A small group took on the task of extending the steps to the canoe landing stage adjoining the Boaters Car Park. This well used facility which had one set of steps was suffering from bank erosion where users were climbing down the bank along its length. The steps were therefore extended along the whole length and backfilled with stone aggregate, a job made more interesting by the busy adjoining tow path. Another group took tables that had been discarded by the Tea Rooms and rescued by the Navigation Manager and cut down the legs to convert these into benches that can be used by passengers waiting to board the Trip Boats. They were then sanded and painted green ready for use.
Work was also undertaken on cleaning and repairing several mooring landing stages and resurfacing the slipway landing stage. Volunteers also manned workboats and canoes to remove floating pennywort which has been especially prolific this year. One experienced volunteer enthusiastically mixed concrete for the EWL team who were working on the adjoining weir. The pile of ballast rapidly disappeared as the team placed the concrete into voids on the weir.
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Essex Waterways Update (cont) As a break from the hard work, some volunteers took turns in providing crew for the trip boat Albert with our volunteer skippers as ticket trips were being run. A very useful contribution to the Navigation was achieved by the Camp. With the completion of repairs to the two weirs at Paper Mill, the EWL team has been busy tackling pennywort, as mentioned above, this has been extremely prolific this year and the regular work parties from Chelmer Canal Trust have been increased in number and they have welcomed assistance from EWL. The EWL weed lifters have been used to lift the many large rafts of the weed before the area is hand-picked to remove the smaller fragments. Overhanging tree branches have also been tackled in many areas with work continuing during the winter. EWL has also been busy refurbishing the pontoon moorings at Springfield Basin ready for the arrival of three boats that are to occupy residential moorings there. The work has included the provision of an additional toilet in the first floor facilities and a new laundry room for the residential moorings. In November Sandford Lock was dammed and pumped out so that measurements could be taken for the construction of new bottom gates. These are currently being made and they are programmed to be installed in January, weather permitting! Also in November we undertook our Asset Inspection of the whole length of the Navigation when the condition of the infrastructure is checked and recorded so as to form the basis for prioritising future repairs and programming this work.
Roy Chandler The Cyril Styring Award Our last Newsletter reported that the Inland Waterways Association’s premier award, The Cyril Styring Award had been awarded to ‘our’ John Gale. As John was unable to attend the IWA’s AGM, the award was presented to him at the November Chelmsford Branch Social Evening by Molly Beard, Branch chair.
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Water, Water Everywhere Part 1 River Nene Fenland Waters’ We left home and travelled to Crick on 31-5-19, a sunny Friday afternoon, to be ready for our extended trip cruising for the whole of June, our aim was to reach Bedford. Our solar panels had been fitted and would be a great benefit for all future cruising. Leaving Crick Marina we had an uneventful trip through Crick Tunnel, down seven Watford Locks, at Norton Junction turning left onto the Grand Union Main Line, going down the seven Buckby Locks to moor at Weeden Bec where we ate an excellent meal at the Crossroads Pub & Hotel. On Sunday we headed through Flore, Nether Heyford, and turned left at Gayton Junction onto the Grand Union Northampton Arm, soon arriving at the top of the Northampton Locks, a flight of thirteen, however we had to wait while CRT rectified the water levels due to a low level pound in the flight, once down the 13 we had three more spread out locks, and then lock 17 which took us down onto the River Nene (pronounced Nen) from here to Thrapston. Just after 2pm we headed into Northampton Marina for an overnight stay, giving us the opportunity to obtain our EA Licence and Abloy Key (like a CRT key), and also phone NHS 111 for myself. The Doctor had not dealt with a patient in a marina before. The marina has good facilities, based in a lovely setting, although too many Geese leaving their poo everywhere. Leaving Monday after lunch we headed down Northampton Town Lock where the river is much wider with large locks, observing the Grey Wagtails bobbing about, we also saw wild roses, iris and elderflower, onwards through Rush Mills and Abington Locks, then under a Barrage Gate which automatically sirens then closes in times of heavy water, then through another Barrage Gate near Weston Flavell Lock which has an automated guillotine gate (as are most on the River Nene and which must be left raised when leaving the lock, what ever direction you are going), it was here a group of ponies were gathered alongside the lock. We then continued on through Clifford Hill Lock, Billing Lock, Cogenhoe Lock (pronounced cook no) and Whiston Lock, as it was quite late by this time and we had not found a mooring we moored on the end of the lock landing with the front half of the boat in the reeds, it was a lovely area for the dogs.
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Water, Water Everywhere Part 1 (cont) Waking on Tuesday we heard a cuckoo calling for ages. We left early and headed into White Mills Marina for diesel, we did not realise they are closed Tuesdays, but they kindly sold us some diesel. We joined FOTRN (Friends of the River Nene) which provide some mooring sites on the Nene. Leaving the marina we met another narrowboat at White Mills Lock and shared, continuing together through Barton Lock, Doddington Lock, Wollaston Lock and then Upper Wellingborough (manual) Lock, after which our fellow boaters moored. We continued alone through Lower Wellingborough (manual) Lock, which had unusual metal sloping strips on the insides of the lock chamber - NOT NICE - onwards to Ditchford Lock which had an automated radial lower gate, further on through Higham (manual) Lock, and under an impressive viaduct (A6) and a quaint multi arch stone bridge, soon after we moored at the EA site Irthlingborough mid afternoon, it was a lovely long rural mooring with only one other boat there, shame about the amount of dog poo there. Wednesday we were off again through Irthlingborough Lock, then Upper Ringstead Lock which is a manual guillotine, you unlock the large metal wheel with the Abloy Key and turn the wheel MANY times, of course filling the lock to go down, then emptying it after so leaving the gate up, warms you up!! Next is Lower Ringstead Lock, soon passing a field of geese although we could only see their heads, what a funny sight, on through Woodford Lock another manual guillotine (there are 6Â in total) and my turn to do the work. Approaching Denford Lock we saw a lovely church, one of many, soon we were cruising under the A14 at Thrapston which had a lovely stone bridge alongside, we heard another cuckoo, from here the River Nene is pronounced Neen. Onwards through Islip Lock, Titchmarsh Lock, Wadenhoe Lock where we shared with a cruiser, after the lock we saw seven 'free' swimmers in the river, said hello, saw a lovely church, then Lilford Lock shared with a narrowboat, onwards through Upper Barnwell Lock with the cruiser again, there is a lovely restored Mill here, then Lower Barnwell Lock, soon after we saw a pair of stunning Mandarin Ducks. On again through Ashton Lock, under the lovely multi arch Oundle Wharf Bridge, through Cotterstock Lock and another lovely church, through Perio Lock, then moored at Fotheringhay below the fabulous church up the field, and facing the lovely multi arch bridge, a very pretty area, it was not long before the farmer arrived with his money tin - mooring fee ÂŁ5 and worth it for the lovely location, and the photo I took of the church which was lit up at night.
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Water, Water Everywhere Part 1 (cont) Thursday another cuckoo, leaving we passed under the 'low head room' bridge, and saw the Castle Mound surrounded by fencing, not as impressive as we were expecting. Onwards through Warmington Lock, Elton Lock, a very rural area. We followed 3 herons and a cormorant which kept taking flight as we neared, must be shy. On through Yarwell Lock, Wansford Lock, and under the stunning A1 bridgeengraved with 'County of Huntingdon at Wansford', soon passing Wansford Station, with it's Signal Box for the Nene Valley Railway, no steam trains today.
Continuing through Water Newton Lock a very pretty setting with Mill, buildings, and stunning church very close to the water, then Alwalton Lock, skirting round Ferry Meadow Country Park and Lakes, soon through Orton Lock with it's impressive array of sluices alongside, there were some good EA moorings below the lock but we continued on to Peterborough, and moored on the Embankment between a converted orange Oil Rig Lifeboat and a cruiser. There was a lot going on here, people walking, sitting on benches, a nearby fair, several tents occupied by the homeless, and boats moored all the way along. I walked to Adsa for provisions. On Friday we had prebooked our passage through Stanground Lock (24 hr notice), this lock had been enlarged in 1990, we saw the plaque on the lock wall. Here we had to purchase a Lock Key (Yale) £5 and a Windlass £12 and specific to Middle Level Locks, once descended the lock we were on the Middle Level Fenland Waterways. We proceeded along the Back River, Kings Dyke, Briggate River, and through Ashline Lock where we needed the Lock Key for the Gate Compound, and Windlass. Continuing along Whittlesey Dyke, River Nene - old course, then calling in at Fox Narrowboats to have our boat checked, before continuing on through March where the Public Moorings are overlooked by waterside properties, shops, eateries, and a fabulous clock tower building, the town bridge had lovely flower displays in planters across the top. We eventually reached Marmont Priory Lock, again we had booked our passage with the lady lock keeper (amazing lady in her 80's), and because it was late in the day she allowed us to use her lock landing for the night for a 'tip' in her pot.
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Water, Water Everywhere Part 1 (cont) We found the Fenland route mostly straight, lined with reeds, crops, flowers, but can't see much over the high banks, but you can hear the birds twittering. On a wet and windy Saturday we continued on Well Creek passing through Upwell, round a very sharp, narrow bend into Outwell. Across an aqueduct over the Middle Level Main Drain, passing Nordelph and arriving for our booked passage through Salters Lode Lock. By which time the weather had deteriorated with the wind, rain and cold. We checked in with the Lock Keeper and asked about the weather conditions but were reassured our trip was ok (drat I thought). We just had to wait for the tide levels so we could get out of the lock and onto the landing stage below, then await the OK from Denver Sluice Lock Keeper, which has priority for craft heading to Salters Lode. Once we were given the OK, we headed upstream against the tide for the 500 metre transit into Denver Sluice Lock, although it was very wet and windy we got into the lock with a slight kiss on the end of the landing stage - due to a gust of wind from below the sluices, the lock keeper said many crash quite badly when entering. We had to attach ropes in the lock to slide up, and noticed a small fishing boat was already secured at the front on the other side. Soon we were up and being let out onto the River Great Ouse, with more adventures to come next time.
Stephanie Mason and John Grieve 13
Canal Collectors Plates We have ten Canal Collectors plates that have been kindly donated to our Branch funds. They illustrate different traditional canal scenes and were produced for Danbury Mint by Wedgwood. They are available individually or as a whole for a donation to our funds. Please contact our Branch Secretary, Chris Chandler: chris.chandler@waterways.org.uk 01245 223732
or phone
Victoria Photos of Victoria on the River Blackwater heading for Maldon for an annual inspection.
Roy Chandler
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book a holiday with a difference Join us on a working holiday and have a truly memorable week helping to restore a stretch of derelict canal. Make life-long friends and learn new skills, from bricklaying and heritage techniques to machine operation.
Spend a week outdoors and learn new skills All ages welcome (18+)
Our Canal Camps cost just ÂŁ70, which includes training, meals and accommodation.
No experience necessary
Book now
01494 783 453 waterways.org.uk/canalcamps
Water Recovery Group is a part of The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee. Company registration number 612245. Charity registration number 212342. Registered office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA
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Just For Fun SUDOKU Fill in the grid so that each row, column and 3 x 3 block contains the numbers one to nine (1 - 9) 5
9
6
9
5 1
4 6
4 3
7
9
1 2
7
9
3 5
8 6
3
6 2
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Branch Committee If you have any topics or subject that you wish to bring to the committees attention please use the contact details below Molly Beard:
Chairman
molly.beard@waterways.org.uk
John Gale:
Vice Chairman & Treasurer.
24 Longleaf Drive, Braintree CM7 1XS
Paul Strudwick:
London Region Chairman.
paul.strudwick@team.waterways.org.uk
Chris Chandler:
Secretary.
chris.chandler@waterways.org.uk
Roy Chandler:
Planning and Conservation.
roy.chandler@waterways.org.uk
John Carlaw:
Newsletter and Membership.
chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk john.carlaw@waterways.org.uk
Dennis Padfield:
Publicity.
dennis.padfield@waterways.org.uk
Stephanie Mason: Refreshments.
None
Kirsten Smith:
Youth.
None
Rebecca Loader
Social Secretary
rebecca.loader@waterways.org.uk
Adam Wyllie:
Branch Web Editor.
Adam.wyllie@waterways.org.uk
IWA Chelmsford Web Address
http://www.waterways.org.uk/chelmsford
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