Issue No. 21

march 2015

2

Contents

Branch Chairman’s Chat………………………..3

New Members……………………………………5

Annual General Meeting……………………….5

Word Search……………………………………..6

Branch Clean Up………………………………. 7

From the Archive………………………………...8

IWA Press Release……………………………..12

Grant Award……………………………………..14

Tinsley Locks Repairs…………………………..15

Keels and Cuckoos is published on behalf of the

South Yorkshire and the Dukeries Branch of the

Inland Waterways Association

by

MH Fielding, 1 Vicarage Way, Arksey, Doncaster, DN5 0TG.

Printed by Colour Image, Loudwater.

Views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Inland water-

ways Association or of the South Yorkshire and the

Dukeries Branch Committee

but are published out of interest to members and others.

The Inland Waterways Association : Registered Office

Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA

Tel: 01494 783453

Website www.waterways.org.uk

Email iwa@waterways.org.uk

Founded in 1946, Incorporated in 1958

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company

3

Branch chairman’s chat

In the last edition of Keels and cuckoos, I made reference to the need

for volunteers to ensure the well being, and the well running, of the

branch.

This evening (January 13th) quite out of character I switched on the

television at about 1845, the BBC was transmitting a programme

called, I believe “Look North”. Within a few seconds of the picture

swimming into focus, there, on screen, were wall to wall canals. It

seems that the Canal & River Trust is also on the lookout for volun-

teers. Several people were interviewed in the clip, the commentator

enthused over the scenery and majesty of our two-hundred year old

waterways and narrow-boats seemed to be simultaneously locking up

and locking down. No matter, the waterways are “on the telly” and that

is a good thing.

Another “good thing” announced recently is that IWA Head Office has

made a substantial financial grant to our friends The Chesterfield Ca-

nal Trust. This is to provide assistance with the refurbishment of the

Trust’s working boat Python. Python is one of a handful of ex BW

work boats that remains “shortened” but also retains almost all of its

BW identity. (Another “Naburn” can be found at Tinsley on the Shef-

field and Tinsley Canal working with “The Adsetts Canal Project”

ED). The Trust plans to rebottom the boat, she sank, albeit gracefully,

on several occasions in 2013/2014 and overhaul the Lister diesel en-

gine. The boat is expected to be used as a promotional tool on the

Chesterfield Canal and other local waterways, and as a tug for the

almost completed replica Chesterfield Canal Cuckoo boat built by

Trust members using authentic hand tools throughout .

Will 2015 bring “good things” to our waterways. Only time will tell, we

have a General Election in May. With the Canal and River Trust in its

early stages let’s hope that it does not become another political foot-

ball.

4

There is still talk of the transfer of Environment Agency waterways to

C&RT. To me this seems a sensible, nay, obvious step. If Govern-

ment Departments are actually short of funds why have duplicate

navigational authorities? Combining to two under C&RT ought to save

some money on higher management costs, freeing up funding to em-

ploy more people at the sharp end or reducing the call on us, the tax-

payers.

A “good thing” is that thanks to the combined efforts of IWA, C&RT

and many others, the plans for HS” are being gently reviewed or re-

vised. Huddlesford and Fradley Junctions will be destroyed by this

new railway when (or if) it is built. The link to Manchester seems to

get less publicity and the eastern route to Leeds (unless I am missing

something) seems to be a lot further into the future than we thought

only a few months ago. Of course it’s hard for any Government to

loose face by announcing a change of mind but it seems increasing

obvious that the few minutes saved on a rail journey from London to

Leeds is hard to justify when eye-watering costs in cash and environ-

ment are acknowledged.

The final “good thing” is that IWA will be campaigning, as always for

the waterways, local and nationally. However IWA can only do this

with two things, your continuing financial support through your mem-

bership, and your enthusiasm when you volunteer and “get stuck in”.

See you at the AGM?

David Dawson

Branch Chairman

Laughter Lines

Two fishermen rent a boat to go fishing in a local lake. Delighted at

catching fifty fish one says “Mark this spot so we can come back to-

morrow”. The other one carves a cross on the boat. “You idiot” said

his friend, “What if we don’t get the same boat tomorrow”.

5

New members

We would like to welcome the following new members to the Branch.

You are most welcome.

Mr D Dunlavey and Family of Doncaster

Mr S Johnson & Ms D Hemstock of Doncaster

Mr D & Mrs H Thorpe of Worksop

Ms S Weston & Ms K Beaumont of Sheffield

Mr P Morris of Rotherham

Miss N Banker & family of Matlock

Annual general meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the South Yorkshire and the Dukeries

Branch of the Inland Waterways Association will be held on Wednes-

day 17th April 2015 at the Red Lion Hotel, Todwick, S26 1DJ Start-

ing at 19.00 (7.00pm). Agendas and minutes of the last AGM will be

available on the night The Hotel is located on the A57 heading to-

wards Worksop after junction 31 of the M1 motorway. Tea and cof-

fee and biscuits will be available. The telephone number for the hotel

is 01909 771654 if help is needed.

The AGM will be followed by a presentation by David Lynham-Brown

on the restoration of the Grantham Canal. Although not in out area,

the Grantham Canal is a wide waterway and originally linked with the

River Trent, so is a near neighbour. Restoration has been a low-

profile but a continuing exercise. Recently the canal has benefited

from a substantial grant towards the cost of restoration of four locks.

Davis will be looking at what has been achieved and what needs and

can be achieved in the future.

We do hope that you can make it to the evening you will be made

most welcome.

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L H C I W E L D D I M D A

I D G T F O T R E V L E Y

E A C G U F T W I L L R L

C N O D Y A L C N P U E E

E U P O N A V D Q B F N S

S O M E R T O N N W E O T

T H R U P P O P U O A T O

E A I L N T B P O L U S N

R Z U S A T V O I D D B E

A L R E W A S P S R L U T

N M N U D B A T S A E O P

O U B E D W O R T H M N S

N O T X O F A Y D S X V U

Word search

In the grid below are the names of places visited by Tom and Angela

Rolt on their 1939 cruise on Cressy. They are written forwards,

backwards, vertically, horizontally or diagonally. Answers below.

Good luck

Answers

Middlewich, Yelverton, Claydon, Somerton, Thrupp, Alrewas, Stone, Banbury,

Bedworth, Foxton, Leicester, Shardlow, Audlem, Aylestone, Nuneaton.

7

Join us for the Spring Canal Clean Up

The location …..Tinsley Marina, Lock House Walk ,

Off Shepcote Lane, Sheffield.

Date…………….March 29th 2015

Time………………....10.00am

Contact……….…………..Mavis Paul 0114 268 3927

Wear warm clothing and strong shoes.

Pie and peas will be served after the event in the Club

House of the Tinsley Boat Club .

Please contact Mavis Paul if you are attending as we need to

know how many people to cater for.

8

From the archive

The following article is taken from material found in the old head office of the

Sheffield and South Yorkshire Navigation Company in Sheffield, after nation-

alisation it became the DAIWE ( Docks and Inland Waterways Executive)

North Eastern office.

Log of the “Cressy” Hurleston to Ellesmere and Return 1947

July 9th -17th

Between these dates we explored the canal extensively on foot between

Frankton and Hindford and New Marton, also in the neighbourhood of Chirk.

We also walked by towpath from Pont Cysylltau aqueduct to Llangollen

where we travelled to the Horseshoe Fall and back by Roberts’ horsedrawn

boat. The following information resulted:

Towards Frankton Junction the weed had been cut and there appeared to

be more water. Walking down the Welshpool—Newton arm from Frankton

we found the infamous ‘burst’ which, by never being repaired, finally closed

the canal to commercial traffic. It was a very minor breach. Stop planks had

been dropped in the bridge-hole by the junction of the old Weston Branch,

and the canal beyond was quite dry. Continuing along the line of the canal

towards Llangollen, the section from Frankton to and beyond Hindford was

extremely weedy and shallow. The old Bridgewater Canal Packet Boat

DUCHESS COUNTESS, a survival of the greatest interest, is to be seen

drawn up on the bank beside the canal just north of Frankton.

Above the two locks at New Marton, the canal was very weedy and the wa-

ter low. As we went further up towards the intake at the Horseshoe Falls, the

level gradually improved until the canal was actually runni9ng weir. Cause of

this phenomenon: dense weed holding back the water. At Chirk aqueduct

the canal was not too bad, but in the cutting just north on the tunnel condi-

tions were worse that anywhere else. Scours of silt from the slopes of the

cutting (as a result of felling the timber on those banks) almost filled the ca-

nal in places, while timber which had fallen in the water almost blocked the

waterway in places. Later, Ellesmere Depot informed me that this was to be

dredged out, and when we last visited Chirk a manual dredger was moored

at the south end of the aqueduct though nothing had yet been done.

At Pont Cysylltyau the canal looked in much better shape, being deeper and

9

reasonably weed-free. Apart from occasional obstructions in the way of

large stones or logs, these remarks apply to the canal all the way to the

Horseshoe Falls intake. A good job has been made of the serious burst

which occurred at Sunbank and which washed away the G.W.R Barmouth

line below. On mountain side sections where the canal is only a boat’s

width, leaking stop plank grooves have been sealed by the clumsy expedi-

ent of tipping in clay puddle. There would be room for a small cruiser to pass

these points, but they would prove a serious obstruction to a flat bottomed

craft and might have to be dug away.

Beyond Llangollen Wharf where Roberts keeps his boats there is a winding

place for narrow boats. It was impracticable to sound it for depth, but it was

not overgrown and looked reasonable. There is no turning place for boats of

any size, beyond this point, Roberts’ pleasure boats being ‘either way’ craft.

Roberts used to work down to Chirk and maintain a timetable, but now only

goes to Llantisilio because , he says, he lacks experienced crews. His reac-

tion to the canal’s abandonment was astonishingly apathetic. He remarked

that ‘ he supposed it would finish him in the end’. He has been running this

pleasure boat business for a great many years and owns a number of pas-

senger boats as well as rowing boats and canoes. Despite wet weather on

this occasion, the boat we travelled in was full and we passed two other

boats also full to capacity.

The intake from the Dee to the canal has hitherto been through a normal

open type sluice, but owing to a dispute between the Canal Company and

the Dee Conservators over the amount of water drawn off, the former were

installing a venture flewmeter (flowmeter Ed) at this point . The Dee author-

ities maintained that the Company were only entitled to draw water for navi-

gational purposes, whereas in fact they were drawing excessive amounts

for sale to industrial consumers both on the Welsh Canal and on the MAIN

Line between Nantwich and Ellesmere Port which the Welsh Canal supplies

via Hurleston Reservoir. This contention has been upheld in a High Court

Action, and as a result these industrial consumers have to make other sup-

ply arrangements within a given time. What effect this will have on the Welsh

Section and on the Main Line it is difficult to foresee. One fact is evident.

Since the Company’s policy drove all traffic off the Welsh Section it has be-

come so choked with weed that it is no longer even an efficient feeder.

10

Weeds hold up the water to such an extent that only a proportion of the wa-

ter taken in at Llantisilio intake ever reaches Hurleston Reservoir. The rest

runs to waste over weirs. For example in August 1947 the canal was at weir

level at Llangollen while at the head of New Marton Top Lock, twelve miles

away on the same level, it was 1ft. 6 ins. Below weir. This despite as much

or more labour spent in weed-cutting by the Company’s staff as was ex-

pended in maintenance when regular navigation prevented weed growth.

Under the L.M.S. Canals Act (1944) the highway authorities are empowered

to replace road bridges by embankments and culverts. Such culverts would

quickly become choked by floating weed whenever cutting was attempted,

and so still further restrict flow. There are only two ways of overcoming the

present impasse: (1) to convert the canal into a continuous pipe-line for its

entire length. (2) to restore the canal to a condition suitable for navigation.

The first plan would utterly destroy a once useful line of navigation and, from

the amenity aspect, one of the most beautiful and historic waterways in Brit-

ain. The capital cost of the work would be high, but future maintenance

costs would be virtually nil. It is also difficult to see how farmers along the

route, who now depend on the canal fore watering stock, could be accom-

modated except at the considerable additional expense of branch pipeline to

innumerable cattle bowls and troughs. The second plan would involve the

repair of the defective locks already referred to, the dredging out of scours,

maintenance of a full head of water., and systematic weed cutting followed

by a resumption of the regular trade on the canal which was driven off by the

Company’s default in 1936. There can be no doubt whatever that this trade

would be considerably augmented by pleasure traffic, both public and pri-

vate, during the summer months. Such traffic would automatically eliminate

the [present weed trouble. Capital cost of this restoration would be low, but

maintenance costs would continue. These would be low, however, because

the locks are few, while water supplies have in any case to be maintained.

The Canal Engineering Dept. close to our moorings at Ellesmere though old

-fashioned is well equipped to undertake every branch of canal mainte-

nance. It includes a fine saw mill and one of the best covered dry docks for

the repair of boats that I have seen on any canal. The depot makes lock

gates for the whole of the Shropshire Union and even for the Trent and Mer-

sey, but owing to the stats of the Welsh Section these gates are transported

by road and/ or rail.

11

During our stay at Ellesmere I received the impression that the canal staffs at

Ellesmere and Chester regretted the state of the Welsh Section and believed

that it should have continued in use. They are powerless to affect the present

position, however, because policy is dictated to them by Crewe who are not

merely disinterested but actively hostile to any suggestion of maintaining or

restoring the waterway in any respect. I was informed on reliable authority

that when the burst occurred below Frankton and stopped the traffic, materi-

als for repairing the breach were already assembled at Ellesmere when that

were ordered by Crewe not to proceed. Another, possibly less reliable inform-

ant told me that a temporary repair was actually made to enable one boat to

pass through the breached pound, but that it had to be removed on instruc-

tions from Crewe.

There was considerable local feeling about the state of the canal. Ellesmere

traders maintaining that it should be used, fishermen (who pay the Company

for fishing rights) saying that the weed makes fishing impossible and farmers

complaining that, owing to the Company’s failure to maintain a full head of

water, the water for which they pay will not flow into the cattle bowls. As is

often the case nowadays, unfortunately, no local person appears to have the

initiative to organise these different interests to form a vigourous (vigorous

ED) vocal body in the locality to protest against the present shameful state of

affairs.

The british penny—European union directive No. 456179

In order to bring about further integration with the single curren-

cy, the Euro, all citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain

and Northern Ireland must be made aware that the phrase

“SPENDING A PENNY”

is not to be used after 31st December 2014.

From this date onwards, the correct term will be

“EURONATING”

It is hoped that this will be a great relief to everyone.

12

IWA Press release

The IWA is pleased to announce that it has awarded a grant of

£15,000 to the Chesterfield Canal Trust, to help fund the restoration

of narrowboat Python.

The grant has come from the Ayling Bequest (Keith was a former

Chair of the Trust. He died in 2010.)

Major works are needed to preserve the integrity of the historic nar-

rowboat, owned by the CCT, which cannot operate in its present con-

dition. Python use by the Trust as a publicity vehicle to promote its

work, the volunteer crew engages with the public and boat owners at

canal-side events. It is also used to help clear offside vegetation. Fur-

ther volunteer activities were planned but have been postponed until

necessary works could be carried out.

To fund these works, the CCT applied for a grant from the Heritage

Lottery Fund in 2014; the Trust also hoped to use any money award-

ed to equip the boat with interpretation materials about its history. De-

spite support from many, including the IWA and CRT the application

failed thus stalling the project.

The IWA Finance Committee has deemed the project to be of signifi-

cance in engaging the public with waterways, and has agreed to

make a grant of £15,00 from the Keith Ayling Bequest to help fund the

work.

Gordon Harrower; IWA Finance Committee Chair said, “we are

please to support this project , we believe it is a fitting use of Keith

Ayling’s bequest as he was passionate about the Chesterfield Ca-

nal.”

Robin Stonebridge; CCT Chair said Keith Ayling would be thrilled

that Python is being given a new lease of life. This support will ena-

ble our work to carry and by using Python we will be giving hundreds

of people pleasure in the use of a restored and historical waterway.

13

Python came under the custodianship of the CCT in 2009 after be-

coming surplus to BW requirements, work of volunteers soon

changed her from an unloved relic to a respectable looking boat.

She is one of only four Josher narrowboats still in the format of a

shortened BW workboat and is on the National Historic Ships regis-

ter. Built at Yarwoods in 1929 at a cost of £366 to fulfil an order by

Fellows, Morton & Clayton. Her sister boat Panther in owned by the

Coventry Canal Society.

Sold in 1949 to BTC (later BW) and used in the South East Division

Carrying Fleet before being transferred to the Engineering Depart-

ment for use as a maintenance boat, based at Bulls Bridge. She was

shortened in the 1980s with a cabin rebuild.

She became surplus to requirements in the 2000s and fell into disuse

before coming to the Chesterfield Canal Trust in 2009 initially on a

five year lease which then became permanent.

The Trust is researching Python’s history and would welcome any

information about her . Please contact python@chesterfield-canal-

trust.org.uk

Keith Ayling (with beard) at West Stockwith with the volunteer crew of Python

14

Grant awarded to Derbyshire county council

News release

12 January 2015

A project to install new lock gates on the Chesterfield Canal in

Staveley can go ahead thanks to a funding boost from The Veolia

Environment Trust..

We have been awarded Derbyshire County Council a grant of

£37,500 towards the manufacture and installation of the new gates.

The work will be third phase of a project to construct Staveley Town

Lock in Staveley Town Basin.

The New lock will provide a centrepiece to the site. When it is com-

pleted, the basin will be a combination of water-space on the canal

and open green space for dry-land exhibits to be used during regular

canal festival events.

The grant was one of 53 recently awarded by our board to community

and environmental projects across the UK, with the grants totalling

over £1.4m. This total represents our commitment to making a differ-

ence to communities and the environment, and people of all ages and

backgrounds.

Derbyshire CC’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and infra-

structure, Councillor Dean Collins, says “Redeveloping Staveley Ba-

sin is all part of our plans to create a thriving local economy in Derby-

shire to benefit everyone. This funding will help us to continue to re-

store the canal and make more if the waterway navigable as well as

improving the area for visitors to help boost tourism”.

The Executive Director of The Veolia Environmental Trust, Paul Tay-

lor, adds. “ The new lock gates will bring many benefits for Staveley ,

its residents and its visitors, and we look forward to seeing the start of

the installation”

15

Sheffield and tinsley canal, tinsley lock repairs

If you take a walk down the Tinsley Lock Flight you can’t help

noticing all the notices and fencing that has appeared. All this is

in preparation for major repairs to lock numbers five and six,

these locks are having cill repairs and new sets of gates fitted

whilst lock ten is have a new bottom gates fitted. After a fish

rescue the channel between locks three and lock seven/eight is

to be drained. Many trees have had to be removed to allow ac-

cess to the site for a large crane and a digger. The local compa-

ny in the vicinity of the works had refused access via their road-

way to the site, giving CRT a major access problem which has

led to more trees being sacrificed than initially thought would be

necessary. At the time of writing (03/02) it is not known if they

can get this equipment onto the site. Towpath access has been

maintained so if you wanted to view the works, provided you

stayed on the towpath side of the fencing this is possible. The

works are due, hopefully, to be

completed by the end of March.

16

BRANCH OFFICERS

CHAIRMAN

David Dawson Tel 01777 704224

21 Smeath Lane email dawsondavida@yahoo.com

Clarborough Mobile 07501 803918

Retford

DN22 9JU

VICE CHAIRMAN AND PLANNING OFFICER

Colin Crofts Tel 01302 841619

Staddlestones email cjcrofts@btinternet.com

South Bramwith

Doncaster

DN7 5SY

TREASURER

Pat Davies Tel 01709 206856

55 Rockcliff Road email patdav54@gmail.com

Rawmarsh

Rotherham

S62 6LX

SECRETARY AND KEELS AND CUCKOOS EDITOR

Malcolm Fielding Tel 01302 873127

1 Vicarage Way email roc3brn9ros1ark4@aim.com

Arksey

Doncaster

DN5 0TG

MEMBERSHIP OFFICER

John Shaw Tel 0114 258 2535

72 Norton Lees Crescent

Sheffield

S8 8SR

PUBLICITY OFFICER

Dave Scott Tel 0114 237 5327

17 Bowshaw Road email acp2004naburn@hotmail.com

Batemoor Mobile 07900 275327

Sheffield

S8 8EY

COMMITTEE MEMBERS

Mavis Paul Tel 0114 268 927

116 Sandygate Road email mavis.brian_paul@btinternet.com

Sheffield Mobile 07725 464611

S10 5RZ

Helen Dawson as David Dawson

Mary Crofts as Colin Crofts