The
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Northern Navigation News
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Newsletter of the North Riding Branch of the Inland Waterways Association
Thomas Booth was the lock-keeper at Castle Mills Lock until 1915. See feature article inside
Issue 7 - Winter 2012/13
The Inland Waterways Association Selby Boat Centre & Boroughbridge Marina are pr oud sponsors of Nor thern Na viga tion News proud Northern Naviga vigation
NORTHERN NAVIGATION NEWS WINTER 2012/13 A DIFFICULT, BUT INTERESTING, SUMMER FOR BOATERS. A BUSY YEAR – DESPITE THE WEATHER! First of all can I thank all those people who put in a lot of hard work in helping to run the various events that the North Riding Branch (IWA) was involved in, or attended, during 2012. A difficult year to say the least, mostly due to the weather and the River Ouse being in flood when key events in the York calendar had been scheduled. The most spectacular example being the Flotilla to celebrate York receiving its City Charter 800 years ago from King John. The event was to be in July during The Festival of the Rivers, but had to be postponed along with the Dragon Boat Race. The Flotilla was eventually held on Sunday 26th August 2012 – the August Bank Holiday Weekend – and was very ably organised by the officers of York City Motor Yacht Club and Liz Topi of the City of York Council.
CHANGES However, there would be no choral piece performed on a Yorkboat boat moored in the middle of the River Ouse opposite the Guildhall. In one sense this made navigating this length of the River Ouse much easier, there being no large red buoys moored in the centre of the river. The River Ouse had been officially closed for the event, and policed by the new Canal and River Trust (previously British Waterways) and members of the YCMYC in dirigibles. 150 craft had registered to take part. The route was from Naburn to just beyond Clifton Bridge, where there was a turning point. Mooring points were spread from York Marina (Naburn) through to Marygate Landing with extra moorings at Rowntrees Park (by the Millennium Bridge) and Castle Mills Lock Basin. The latter was for narrowboats, broadbeams and Dutch Barges. I was lucky enough to join the Flotilla towards the back on the new Dutch Barge owned by Andrew and Jan Brett, ‘Reiger’. Both David Richardson and Mark Graham joined us (these two new volunteers,
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along the Michael Cadoux – the Chair, North Riding Branch (IWA), are now the proud recipients of ‘Competent Crew Certificates. The ‘Reiger’ had been at the West Riding Branch (IWA) event at Thwaite Mill on the Aire and Calder Canal the weekend before. There is a short report on this event below.
THE FLOTILLA The ‘Reiger’ joined the flotilla about 3.30pm. By this time the early craft were returning from Clifton Bridge. The fact that Yorkboat carried on with its normal Sunday schedule, with all five cruise boats on the river. Including the regular service to Naburn campsite, made the river busier than it ought to have been. The Flotilla Committee were not happy about the smaller ‘Redboats’ being available for hourly charter by members of the public during the event. In the end they were restricted to a run from King’s Staith towards the Millennium Bridge and back, with the hirers wearing inflatable life jackets. This worked fine, and, ironically, it was the day hire craft from York Marine Services in Bishopthorpe that caused the problems. The cruisers that came down from Linton Lock Marina wisely carried on cruising back up the River Ouse towards their home moorings. This included ‘Diamonda II’, which was piloted by Phil Benson of Linton Lock Marine.
THE CIVIC PARTY The Civic Party were moored on a borrowed cruiser at King’s Staith, Cllr Keith Hyman, the Lord Mayor, with his wife Karen, the Lady Mayoress, plus Cllr Paul Firth, the Sheriff with his lady. The Leader of York City Council, Cllr James Alexander was also on board.
NO COMMENTARY The other part of the original event, which did not happen, was a commentary for the general public, who watched the event from the many bridges and along the riverbank. Thus they were not aware of an Olympic Torch being carried on one of the cruisers by a woman Para-Olympian.The ‘Best Dressed Boat’ was won by ‘Shambles’, an Edwardian skiff rowed by men in boaters and blazers, accompanied by ladies in Edwardian dress. The skiff was dressed with bunting and flags.
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“Vulcan”, complete with bunting, gets ready to join the flotilla (Photo: Andrew Brett)
Janet Richardson, the Editor of Towpath magazine reckoned that there were eventually over 200 craft in the flotilla, which included the event being splendidly started by many rowing skiffs, boats and canoes from the various clubs in York. Including the City of York Rowing Club, and the Canoe Club. The event was seen to be a great success, and there is a rumour that a flotilla will be include in future Rivers Festivals. The Dragonboat Races – by a member of the City of York Rotary Club?
NEW PLAQUE Thanks to an anonymous donor the Head Lock Keeper now has a discreet mobile phone (the number is still 07588-236-597) and a new e-mail address for booking passage through Castle Mills Lock (this is for non-commercial traffic only, but does include charity owned vessels, such as ‘Syntan’). The new e-mail address is: ‘castle.mills@waterways.org.uk’ .There is also a
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plaque on the brick block at the lock itself giving the basic contact information. Once again, thanks to the generosity of our anonymous donor. Janet Richardson (Editor of Towpath Magazine) took a photo of same plaque, which is in the current issue of the magazine.
LOCK WORKS Lock wise, the bottom gates have been sealed, and we have been told informally that there could be new gates fitted within the next five years. Also the Environment Agency, who are responsible for both the shutter and the sluice gate, have intimated that an automatic sluice could be fitted soon. The only problem with this latter is that with the sluice being automatic, the flow of water through the basin will increase dramatically, which will cause problems if boats are moored alongside the towpath by the rear of the Mason’s Arms public house. Both York City Council and the Environment Agency have now acknowledged that the sluice is wrongly designed and has been causing problems. However, after the Flotilla saga (parts one and two), we have now proved that there is a safe moorings place in the Castle Mills Lock Basin (even with the shutter down). Obviously, mooring on the island is safest, when the basin is in flood. It is also a good place for holding barbeques!
LITTER PICK ON RIVER FOSS “Early in 2012 there were complaints in the local PRESS about the state of the RIVER FOSS in York. The RIVER FOSS SOCIETY decided to do something about it and, in collaboration with the CITY of YORK COUNCIL and their river cleaning boat, eventually litter clearing sessions were organised in March, May, July and October. These generally involved clearing the actual Foss by boat from Castle Mills Lock upstream to Huntington Road and clearing the banks from Blue Bridge, where the River Foss joins the River Ouse, upstream to Hayleys Terrace as well as both the Castle Mills Lock and Foss Islands Nature Reserve areas. After the first collection of over 30 bags of rubbish, four lifebuoys, a car wheel and much more, the whole river remained much clearer – possibly helped by at least six lots of flooding during the summer and autumn !
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River Foss Society volunteers aboard the CYC river cleaning boat
Nevertheless it is disappointing to find how much rubbish is dumped in the river and on its banks. There were many compliments about the improvements made by the volunteers from the RIVER FOSS SOCIETY and for Julian, the CYC boat skipper. So much so that the LORD MAYOR of YORK, Cllr Keith Hyman, asked to join the Society on the October litter pick – a morning of sleet, rain and sun ! Peter Hopwood
THE ‘ERMINTRUDE’ TRAGEDY The River Ouse in flood in York is regularly shown by the World’s media with a picture of the ‘King’s Head’ public house with the River Ouse lapping at its doors. Don’t worry it is built to be regularly inundated! The pub cellar is almost at first floor level. The reason why York hit the headlines again this year, was the tragic sinking of the narrowboat ‘Ermintrude’. The owner
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had previously moored at Marygate Landings on a regular basis, and knew that his boat would need, at least, one mooring point tethered by a padlock and chain, especially after the cutting loose of several craft earlier in the season. He left the boat for a while only for it to tip over as the river swelled, as it was tethered too tightly. After the River Ouse had subsided somewhat, Chris Agar, the Chief Engineer of Yorkboat, raised the craft and ‘The River King’ towed her to their slipway by Lendal Bridge. Nobody was hurt in this unfortunate incident.
ESPLANADE CCTV I have had informal talks with a local councillor, Brian Watson, and the Chair of the City of York Rowing Club, about the possibility of placing two CCTV cameras either end of the Esplanade, pointing at Marygate Landings. The problem is who would fund such an installation? There is no negative reaction to the idea itself. There would be no point in placing the cameras on the Marygate Landings side itself, as the foliage from the many trees in Museum Gardens would obscure the view for most of the season. I hope to report some positive movement in the next NNN – Spring 2013.
DIARY FIRST SOCIAL EVENT OF 2013 Thursday 7th February 2013 at 7.00pm Everyone is invited to the Minster Inn, Marygate, York for a social evening – with a light buffet, starting at 7.00pm and going on late. There will be a short Committee Meeting starting at 7.00pm. The nearest Car Park is either behind Sainsbury’s (and next door to BBC Radio York’s Studios) in Bootham, or the Marygate Car Park, which is nearest to St Olave’s Church Hall. AGM - Friday 15th March 2013 The Annual General Meeting of the North Riding Branch of the IWA will be held at 7.30pm at St Olave’s Church Hall, Marygate Lane, York. The nearest Car Park is Marygate.
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The notices, minutes of the last AGM will be sent out six weeks before the AGM as laid down in IWA Standing Orders.
MANY THANKS TO CLIVE HENDERSON AND WELCOME TO LES ETHERIDGE Clive stood down as IWA’s National Chair at the recent AGM, one of the last things that he did was to come to an understanding with new waterways charity, the Canal and River Trust, which, in effect, means that the IWA and the CRT will be working more closely together in the future. Quite a lot of people, who are involved in the waterways, have asked the question as to why there needs to be two large national charities, when surely one would do? The neatest explanation is that the CRT is the landlord, and the IWA represents the tenants. Clive came to the very first AGM of the new North Riding Branch (IWA) in Les Etheridge York, and has been very supportive ever since. The new Chair, Les Etheridge has been quick off the mark by pointing out both the ‘pitfalls’ and the ‘hoped fors’ for the new charity. That the CRT needs to maintain its contractual income from the Government, which has been guaranteed for the next 15 years, and, on taking over some of the Environment Agency managed waterways, maintain the current standard. The Performance of the CRT is crucial if the charity is able to increase its income, and secure the same level of Government funding for the future. This is a big stretch for any charity in these straightened times! NATIONAL WATERWAYS CONSERVANCY Les Etheridge’s philosophy can be summed up in his supporting the view of Robert Aickman in his 1976 article in Waterway World, in which he defined the difference between a waterways Authority and a Conservancy. Les favours the ‘conservancy’ approach.
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River Foss Society formed on 23 July 1973 to protect and promote enjoyment of the river from Pond Head (Oulston) to Blue Bridge in York where it joins the River Ouse Please contact the Secretary for the 40th Anniversary Celebration Programme available soon. Usually one walk and at least one other event are organised each month from March to October. Secretary – Tel no 01904 760871, E mail: m.burton599@btinternet.com Membership – Tel no 01904 768071, E mail: chrisandpete@haxby147.fsnet.co.uk
www.riverfosssociety.co.uk Please note that all views expressed in “Northern Navigation News” are those of the authors and may not represent those of the Inland Waterways Association.
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A TALE OF TWO MODELS by Michael Barton On clearing out my late father’s attic I came across two wooden crafted models, one made by my father in the early 1950’s which was of a humber keel based on the Sheffield size dimensions and the other made by my Great great grandfather Thomas Booth for the wedding of Harry, one of his six children, to Rose Walkington. This second model depicted a paddle steamer Atlas tugging a brigantine Rose, and so started my research into this branch of my family. On the base of this model my father had written that another of Thomas’s son’s also named Thomas had been the lock keeper at Castle Mills Basin in York. It was at this time that I contacted Tony Martin the present Castle Mills lock keeper. Tony very kindly invited my wife and I to York where, after a very interesting afternoon spent on ‘waterway chat,’ he helped me operate the lock that my Great grand uncle Thomas had operated some hundred years earlier. After giving a brief talk about the models and their ancestry to the October meeting of NNN in Scarborough I was advised that York archives might be a good place to visit in order to further my research. Thomas Booth retired from the lock keeper’s post in March 1915 after more than a quarter of a century, aged 63. Thomas had practically spent his life on the river starting out being with his father, the captain, on the humber keel Hope of York some 40 years previously, which like most of the boats that came to the city of York carried coal from the South Yorkshire coalfields and was most probably of the Sheffield size being 61’ x 15’ 6” and capable of carrying up to 100 tons. By the time he gave up that work there were a great many cargoes other than coal, which were brought or sent from York. When he took up the position of keeper of the lock it was considered a good day when four or five boats passed through the lock either from or into the
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Castle Mills Lock 1915 : Thomas Booth Lock keeper lived in the house behind the bridge on the right of the photograph, No. 1 Fishergate, with 10 other members of his family. The dark shed on the left housed the electric motor which worked the pump which operated the lock gates, a great improvement on the steam engine formally used for the purpose. basin at Castle Mills Bridge. Taking the average for the period of his service at about 10 per day Thomas must have passed anything between 80,000 to 100,000 boats through the lock. The boats in use in the 1890’s were much smaller than those used later and it was for this reason the lock had to be widened although it was substantially the same lock as the one in existence when he first took over his duties. One of his earliest experiences on the river was on the occasion of the big flood in October 1892 following a downfall of rain amounting to 1.66 inches in 24 hours. This was more than the total rainfall for either January, March July or September in the same year and did a great deal of damage. For about a week the whole area of the basin was on the same level and the lock was entirely submerged. The water reached to within a few feet of the roadway over the bridge. The streets between Skeldergate Bridge and the Castle were like a lake and wagonettes conveyed passengers from Nessgate to the comparative safety of the Castle Mills Bridge. The flood prevented business as usual for Thomas for the water was so high no boats could
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pass beneath the bridge. Over a century later York’s flood problems, although much better managed, still persist!
Thomas Booth
An article appeared in the local York press about his retirement and it is interesting to note that Thomas was struck by the comparative indifference shown by the people of York for the excellent facilities for boating provided on the river Ouse. In recent years the whole tendency, he said, had been for Sunday boating only, but in the times of which he spoke most of the other days saw greater business done than on Sundays. It was quite a common thing to see sailing boats on the Ouse, but this was almost out of the question nowadays, their places, he supposed, having been taken by “motor-boats whose speed probably appealed to the present generation” The decline in boating he was inclined to put down to the increase in the number of entertainments in the city, “Today’s call seems to be all for the pleasures of the picture palace and theatre, and not for the enjoyments of the open-air of the river” T’was ever thus Thomas!
Many thanks to the staff at York Archives for their help and advice.
‘REIGER’ AND THE YORK 800 FLOTILLA 2012 Andrew Brett recounts his experiences of the flotilla on 7th July At Leeds boat gathering we met up with Mike and Sue on Vulcan and they agreed we could go with them up the Yorkshire Ouse from Goole to York for the York 800 Flotilla on Saturday 7th July. We arrived at Goole on Thursday evening (we were due out of Ocean Lock at 7am on Friday 6th July) to find diversions in place after areas of the town had been flooded. Meeting up with Mike he had sensibly decided that we would not go to York. Less sensibly he joined the” Syntan” team to go to York on the
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Thursday night, which left them arriving at Naburn lock about midnight. Syntan had an agreement that they would stay in York for several weeks. In the meantime “Sobriety” had sailed earlier and was at Naburn waiting to head back to Goole. We had several phone calls from Liz Topi advising us that the Flotilla was still on and the wonderful weather York was enjoying! But on Friday morning the heavens had opened and a bucket left on deck collected about 2 inches of water in half an hour starting at 7am. Eventually we received a call about midday on Friday saying the Flotilla had been postponed. Subsequent visits to farsondigitalwatercams.com allow you to see the view from the Lowther pub on Kings Quay in York and on 7th July the civic party would have had to wear waders to review the flotilla. So it was with some trepidation that we met up again with Mike and Sue on Thursday 23rd August to make the trip to York for the postponed Flotilla. At 9.40 I heard Mike call Ocean Lock on channel 14 to request an early “Pen”. Ocean lock is free to use 2 and a half hours either side of high water otherwise a charge is levied. We were out of Ocean Lock soon after 10am and switched to channel 9 used by the Ouse bridges. There started a master class in tidal river navigation and VHF communication. Mike is a master Mariner and retired Humber pilot. Vulcan was a Calder and Hebble towing barge with a hull reputedly 150 years old but it has a fair turn of speed and Mike made the best use of the current on the outside of bends such that we lost a significant distance on each bend just about catching up on the straights. After Cawood Bridge we switched channels again to be on 74 for Naburn lock, where we arrived at 2pm and found we could just fit both barges in together. We were instructed to advise Liz Topi of our arrival and confirm our berths but eventually got a message to make ourselves at home in the Foss Basin. We finally tied up in an empty Foss Basin at 3.30pm having found it quite shallow in the middle. The Mason’s Arms seemed the answer to our need for sustenance and after Jenny had visited to check that food was on offer we both went round only to be confronted with closed doors and a notice “Ticket Only Tonight” of course it was the Ebor meet at York races and the landlord was intent on keeping out those who might be a bit rowdy, we managed to slip in when a
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The “Gypsy Rose” prepares for the flotilla at Castle Mills Lock
customer came out for a cigarette only to find no one had a ticket and several customers had, may be over celebrated, at the races in particular one gentleman with a large badge 50 today! Not impressed with the guest beers we settled to the tried and tested Black Sheep and had a pleasant meal. Saturday morning we were summoned to a crew meeting in the Mason’s Arms (with only tea and coffee available to purchase) here we met Liz Topi and the head Marshall and also in attendance were Tony Martin, Keith Chapman and David and Mark. IWA North Yorks./Foss Society. All we needed to know was that a rib would come into the basin when we were to join the Flotilla. Later in the day three boats from Ripon joined us including “Gypsy Rose” the same Branson design hull as our boat but the owner had purchased it as a flat pack and built it himself and made a very good job of it. Even later still Mark and Debbie on “Just Chillin” from the Melbourne Arm on the Pocklington canal arrived. After the meeting in need of supplies we decided to walk the walls as far as Waitrose., but before we could start we found that members of the
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Friends of York Walls were offering guided tours of Fishergate Postern Tower (across the road from the Masons Arms for those who navigate by pubs). This proved to be most interesting and can be recommended for those stuck in York with nothing better to do than clean and decorate their boats. Saturday evening steady rain started and rather than get wet we ate again at the Mason’s Arms who kindly lent us an umbrella to get back to the boat to free our table for other diners. The overnight rain had consequences as Sunday morning we found the water level in the basin had risen a foot and water was pouring over the lock gates the island beside the lock and the steps down the path beside the lock. A phone call to Tony Martin brought him to the basin with a key to the security lock on the gate paddles. Tony without suitable footwear it was left to Mike of Vulcan to get across the gate and lift the paddle which gave immediate relief to the overspill. With the water still rising in the basin we began to be concerned that we would not be able to get under the blue footbridge at the entrance to the basin from the Ouse, we received some rather incredulous looks from passers by as punt poles were hung from various angles on the bridge to gauge if the different height and width wheelhouses would get under the bridge. The bridge needed lifting but no one was prepared to take responsibility. Tony Martin had mentioned in the Northern Navigation News that there was a lack of cooperation between the different agencies in York over the Foss and the Ouse and it was clearly demonstrated on 26th August! If larger craft are to be directed to the Foss basin in future the blue footbridge must be operable in an emergency! Family and friends began to arrive to augment the crews and we had invited Tony, David and Mark to join us. With the water level still rising we decided to lower our mast and pull through the footbridge and wait for our place in the flotilla outside the basin. I have always thought of the Ouse between Naburn and York as Tupperware land and it was certainly living up to its reputation as one plastic gin palace after another paraded past, several had taken the opportunity to display “For Sale� signs as well as their official numbers. Eventually it was our turn to join the flotilla with Vulcan bringing up the rear, carrying a young lady with a Paralympics flame. By this time David had decided to abandon ship, as he could not see us getting back in time for him to go to work. Our experience
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with the flotilla was a bit stop -start as we negotiated the bridges with vessels returning and the York Trip Boats moving on and off their berths. There were quite a few people watching but I felt that the numbers might have dwindled by the time we passed as a procession of plastic boats can be seen most Sundays in York! It might have been more appropriate to place the visiting boats in the middle to give earlier variety. However I did not see the Flotilla from the King’s Staith and so I may be talking out of the back of my head again! The official party were aboard a cruiser moored at King’s Staithe. After Clifton Bridge we were to turn, but found our friends on “Gipsy Rose” broken down having floated into some willow trees. Their engine had failed and with the loss of power so had all their auxiliary equipment which was hydraulic, an interesting proposition for those deciding between electric and hydraulic. We pulled along side but he was able to get his engine started without our jump leads and we both turned and headed back into York. We made a quick visit into the Foss Basin to drop off our passengers and decided with Vulcan to move out of the basin to Naburn. The water level was still rising and we were worried we would be trapped in the basin by the dreaded blue footbridge. The first suitable tide for the return journey to Goole was to leave Naburn Lock at 6am on Tuesday so we had Monday to wait there. We decided to have a walk and eventually reached the Blacksmiths Arms, which we found to be a very active village pub with a good selection of beers. However the route to the pub is along a busy road without a footpath and I would not like to use it after dark. Early Tuesday morning was bright and sunny and we were out of Nayburn Lock at 6.30am the lock keeper having let two plastics out first, we went in with Vulcan and a narrow boat. The voyage back to Goole was uneventful and we entered Ocean lock at 10.30am 4 hours after leaving Nayburn. Out of hours we paid the charge to the lockkeeper and made our way back to our berth at Goole Marina. Overall York was an enjoyable long weekend and gave us the opportunity to gain tidal river experience. Perhaps the organizers did not adequately appreciate the boaters who had made a considerable journey to York, and it was disappointing that the heritage boats that should have taken part in the original flotilla were unable to make the rearranged date having other commitments.
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