Registered Charity No. 702429
CUT BOTH WAYS WEBSITE ARCHIVES
The Magazine of the Lichfield & Hatherton
Canals Restoration Trust
Issue No. 47 - SPRING 2006
Other Reports
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Registered Charity No. 702429 |
CUT BOTH WAYS WEBSITE ARCHIVES
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| Each month I produce a set of ‘Land Notes’ to keep my colleagues on the Board up to date with our progress in land acquisition. I have just reviewed the notes I wrote in the last year or so to see what we have to show for our efforts. The first item reported in 2005 was the purchase for the Hatherton Canal of nearly 4½ acres of land near Great Wyrley from our long standing supporters (and first ever corporate member) the Holford Farm Group. The transaction included a ‘lease back’ arrangement which will ensure the land can continue in agricultural use while the Title Deed is safely tucked away in our ‘land bank’ ready for the time we can start construction work. This purchase forms part of land required for the 2¾ mile length of new canal channel that we need to construct between the David Suchet tunnel under the A5/A34 roundabout to the East of Cannock and our connection with the Cannock Extension Canal. We do not own any of the rest of the section yet, but we are in negotiation with all the current landowners involved. The County Council is being most cooperative and has agreed in principle to convey a length of approximately ¾ mile to us for £1.00. We are also currently negotiating a route through the Little Wyrley Estate that will cover approximately another 1½ miles of the route. | 
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Cappers Bridge
The major activity in 2005 was to acquire the land needed for the construction of Cappers Bridge. It is only a small bridge and it lies on the alignment of the former hump backed bridge so it seemed at first that this would be a straightforward task. However, as hump backed bridges are no longer acceptable in modern highways schemes, long embankments were required and as these spread beyond the width of the land owned by the Council Highways department we had to buy long narrow triangles of land in the four fields adjacent to the crossing. The landowner was willing to sell and the land was duly purchased and registered with the Land Registry. The next step – to hand over the newly acquired land to the County Council – was not so simple. A detailed engineering survey of the site using modern laser techniques had been carried out as the basis for the construction works. Unfortunately this plan showed the field and hedge boundaries in slightly different places to the Ordnance Survey plans on which we, and the Land Registry, had based our land purchase. Minute examination of the differences showed a number of small ‘black holes’ which we did not own and the County insisted that we prove title to the ‘missing’ land before they would agree to build the bridge. We were certain that the bits of land apparently missing were in fact part of the County Council’s own grass verges. However this could not be proved as it is County policy not to register their own land. I do not recall how many times we went in circles round this problem but, in the end, the Land Registry accepted our position and the matter was resolved - but not until we had lost 6 months, so the bridge had to be built during the winter months and not in the summer as planned. Another complicating issue was the need for the County to acquire title to a tiny area (62 sq m) of British Waterways land under one of the bridge abutments. BW kindly agreed to transfer the land directly to the County rather than via the Trust. There was absolutely no doubt that BW had occupied and operated the land for 200 years but, as there was no Land Registry when the canal was built, proving it became another matter! The process took nearly as long to resolve (and the legal bill was nearly as much) as for the rest of the land negotiations.
Ogley Cottage No 272
While the bridge was being constructed at the bottom end of the Lichfield Canal, the occupants of the former lock keepers cottage (BCN Cottage No 272) at Ogley Junction at the top of the canal informed us they were putting the property on the market. As the garden contains half of No 1 Lock we were very keen to buy it and, thanks to the generosity of the Manifold Trust, we were able to do so. It is our intention to let the cottage until we are able to acquire the other half of the lock which lies in the garden of the adjacent property.
Tamworth Road
For at least 10 years we have been trying to obtain long term tenure of the land beside the Tamworth Road in Lichfield where we are restoring Locks 24, 25 and 26 and the adjacent pounds. We have been working under the terms of a 7 year licence provided by the Lichfield City Council who own the land. We need to prove that we have longer term tenure – usually at least 25 years - to qualify for many of the grants we need. At last the negotiations have come to fruition and on 6th March the City Councillors formally voted to approve a 50 year lease “..for the purposes of restoring the former canal on land South of Tamworth Road between Cricket Lane and the A38 ...”. The rent will be £1.00 per annum (if demanded) - plus VAT!
Overview Mike Smith, Land Officer
Though we have only achieved (as the footballers say) ‘a result’ in these four cases recently, my land notes show that in the last year we have been in negotiation with some 30 landowners or organisations with the intention of acquiring the land needed for the two canals. It is of necessity a long slow business – though if they all said ‘yes’ tomorrow it would take a very long time to raise the funds and do the deals. Nevertheless, I hope Trust members will see we are making steady progress on their behalf and that, bit by bit, the land needed for both canals is being secured.
CAPPERS BRIDGE CEREMONY
For us, ‘Queen Elizabeth Bridge’ might have been an appropriate name for the newly-built Cappers Bridge, formally opened on her 80th birthday on 21st April 2006! Years of planning and fund-raising, months of construction work, weeks of organising all came together when some 100 invited guests, Trust members and public met to celebrate this notable achievement in opening the way for the Lichfield Canal to pass under Cappers Lane between Lichfield and Whittington. During a ceremony on the bridge, the “Cappers Bridge” name-plate rescued from the original bridge was unveiled by dignitaries to rousing cheers.
The Village Hall in Whittington provided a focal point for the event where visitors enjoyed a variety of displays by several local interest groups and light refreshment were served all afternoon. Brian Kingshott, Trust Chairman paid tribute to all those who had worked on the project, particularly Staffordshire County Council and the builders McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd for a most excellent result. Michael Fabricant MP highlighted how Parliament had been short-sighted in closing canals in the 1950s which are now found so desirable for leisure and environmental benefits, commending the Trust on bringing back a valuable local amenity. Speaking for British Waterways, Tony Harvey, General Manager Central Shires endorsed compliments given to Trust volunteers for their vision in reopening links with the Birmingham Canal Navigations, sentiments that were echoed by Clive Henderson, Chairman IWA West Midlands Region. Cllr Mrs Doris English, Chairman of Lichfield District Council recalled the canal in earlier years, remarking how it will again become an attractive feature of the City.
The proceedings were graced by the presence of Mrs Margaret Dale, a descendant of the Capper family who had lived and worked as wheelwrights at Huddlesford Junction in the past. Mr Bartlett, Chairman of Whittington Parish Council thanked her for personifying the historic link which she said was a great privilege and hoped the new bridge would carry the Capper name into the future. Commemorative mugs and coasters depicting the bridge sold quickly and will be available on the Trust stand at shows, or through the website.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Following the above event, some 50 members and others attended the 16th AGM at Whittington Village Hall. The Chairman delivered a stirring report on the Trust’s activities through some difficult times in 2005, yet coming through to face fresh challenges under political and financial pressures. With the usual business regarding accounts and elections concluded, Trust President Eric Wood expressed sincere thanks to the Chairman and Directors for their untiring voluntary work in pushing forward to achieve the aims of the Trust to restore the canals to full navigation.
David Simkins, Dave to his friends, joined our work parties in March 2003 following contacts made on a hedgelaying course he attended in Rugeley. Dave put his training into practice on a section of overgrown towpath hedge and quickly established himself as a skilled hedgelayer. Over the 3 years he was with us he laid over a mile of hedges from the A38 up to Lock 24 at Tamworth Road Site, at Fosseway Lane Site and on the Hatherton Canal. Much of this was so high and overgrown, more like a line of trees in places, that the contractors used by BW would not tackle it, but nothing daunted Dave and through sheer hard graft he brought 50 years of neglect under control. The only practical way to do this was by using a chain saw and Dave joined with other volunteers to get the necessary training, which he was then also able to use removing several trees that were blocking the canal. Dave was a natural countryman and wanted to replace what had to be removed, so he planted new trees extensively along the hedgerows, made and installed bird boxes to compensate for the temporary loss of nesting sites, planted bulbs, and just this winter he organised the replanting of lengths of missing hedge at Lock 25 and at Fosseway Lane. The rejuvenated hedgerows on all our sites will be a lasting legacy to Dave’s skills.
These were however just some of Dave’s many talents, and he quickly became a regular member of the work party teams at both Lichfield and Hatherton, working every weekend whatever the weather, invariably first on site and turning his hand to anything. In his working life Dave was a skilled pattern maker and well used to machinery of all types, producing formers for arches, shuttering, installing rebar, welding and the like were no problem and jobs like bricklaying were there to be learned. The longer we knew Dave the more we found he was capable of, and came to rely on him to find a practical way to do any job.
But Dave was so much more than the sum of all his skills, hard work, and enthusiasm. He was good company, a source of endlessly entertaining stories, an inspiration, and a friend who is sorely missed by us all. For him to go so quickly, at only 59, was a great shock because he always seemed so fit and well. In his time with us he contributed so much to the canal restoration with dedication, good humour and sheer hard work that any tribute seems inadequate, but those that knew him will always remember Dave with gratitude and affection. More bird boxes he had made have been put in the trees around the site and the bench he was building from felled timber has been completed and installed at Lock 25. A tree has also been planted in the ‘triangle’ and a plaque ordered as a permanent appreciation.
Phil Sharpe
Dave Simkins, Peter Freakley and Peter Magee in 2004 on successful completion of the LANTRA chainsaw training course.
Dave ‘Hedge man’ Simkins I first met Dave on a cold winter’s day in the wilds of the Rugeley Power Station estate. We had gathered to attend a hedge-laying course under the auspices of the Staffordshire Wildlife Trust and the BTCV. Being the more mature members of the group we naturally gravitated together and formed a ‘team’.
Whilst we chipped and chopped in our novice’s manner it quickly became clear to me that Dave was a ‘natural’ woodsman. Of course, as we worked the conversation revolved around the canal and our restoration efforts. I feel sure that Dave had a gleam in his eye and licked his lips to hear that the restoration required the recovery of several kilometres of sadly neglected hedgerow.
And that was it; nothing would hold him back. So we started at Fosseway where, after a season of hard work, a 200-metre section of original hedge was cut, laid and tidied. This was all recorded and formed a feature on the Trust’s stand at the following NEC’s Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show and may also be seen on the Trust’s website.
Dave’s strength, enthusiasm and skill with the billhook, sledgehammer and chainsaw quickly marked him out as a key member of the team. We lesser skilled ’helpers’ were relegated to recovering stakes and disposing of the brash. At times we were amazed (sometimes with a groan) at the rate at which he could progress with the hedge laying, generating mountains of waste for us to drag away and process.
Fosseway completed, Dave next turned his attention to the long section at Tamworth Road. Starting at the A38 he worked his way up past lock 26 and 25 to reach eventually the top of lock 24 – a truly Herculean task!
Not satisfied with this, Dave managed to ‘fill in’ any spare time by assisting the Hatherton work parties with their environmental restoration efforts by that canal at the back of the Roman Way hotel and alongside the A5 to the M6.
With the arrival of spring the results of Dave’s efforts are beginning to bear fruit, the recovery of the habitat and improved ambience becoming clear for all to see and appreciate.
It is now incumbent upon the Trust to ensure that these hedgerows are managed with care so that they become a fitting memorial to Dave and his unremitting help and support. In this way it is nice to think that our grandchildren’s grandchildren may see the ancient hedge last for a further 200 years built upon Dave’s labour. Mike Battisson
On Thursday 9th February we met at Stafford crematorium with family, friends and colleagues to celebrate the life of our good friend Dave, who had unexpectedly and tragically passed away on 24th January.
Trust & Marketing
| Mr O F G Butler (with sub.) | £40.00 | Miss A C Salter (with sub.) | £25.00
| The late Kevin Scragg collection | £35.88 | Mr C L Pattison (coin collection) | £47.80
| Mrs T B Dudley (talk fees) | £40.00 | Rotary Club of Rugeley (talk) | £25.00
| Mr M Cripps (with sub.) | £35.00 | Mr J M Smith | £30.00
| Mr B W Davis (with sub.) | £50.00 | Sutton Park Tangent Ladies Club (talk) | £60.00
| Mr M Dobson (with sub.) | £30.00 | Dr T Hollingworth | £85.00
| Mrs B M Nichols (with sub.) | In memory of Son Roger – nb. FLASH) £25.50 | Brian Kingshott (donated expenses) | £484.38
| Aggregated donations below £20 | £880.89 | |
| David Suchet Appeal
| Anonymous | £200.00 | Mr & Mrs C Riggs | £1,000.00
| Mr & Mrs J E Wood | £100.00 | Mr K G Robinson, Rochdale | £40.00
| Mr R G Read, Fareham | £50.00 | Mr & Mrs R J Best | £25.00
| Mr M Valiant, Marlow | £50.00 | Mr D Tarrant, Derby | £50.00
| Mr L T Flower, Dover | £50.00 | Mr S J Bell | £25.00
| Mr J B Atkins | £100.00 | Mr P Turville | £100.00
| Mr S T Boddington | £100.00 | Mr C G Watmore | £1,000.00
| Mr J H King | £100.00 | Mr T P Bass | £100.00
| Mr A J Bertram | £100.00 | Mr M W Wright | £100.00
| Mr G Main | £100.00 | Mr D H Junkison | £150.00
| Mr J T V Green | £25.00 | Mr J C S Ford | £50.00
| Mr A Greenwood | £50.00 | Mr D E Lewis | £50.00
| Mr & Mrs T Wheeldon | £50.00 | Dr A W Read | £100.00
| Regular donors to appeals | £130.00 | Aggregated donations below £20 | £30.00
| Restoration & Land Fund
| Mr T C Rigden | £200.00 | Mr W Tallis | £250.00
| Mr David Stanistreet (£30 x 3 months) | £90.00 | Regular donors to appeals | £398.00
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We are grateful to McPhillips (Wellington) Ltd, the Cappers Bridge contractors, for a contribution of £250 towards the cost of celebrating the official opening of the new bridge for the Lichfield Canal near Huddlesford Junction.
NEW MEMBERS TO 12th APRIL 2006
| Mr J.Abbott | Hednesford | Mr E.Higgins | Cannock
| Mr M.A.Rushton | Bletchley | Mrs Rushton | Bletchley
| Mr M.Vann | Ratby, Leics. | Mr M.Smith | Solihull
| Mr A.J.Becket | Braunston, Northants. | Mr G.A.Arthur | Lichfield
| Mr M.I.Ross | Great Wyrley | Mr R.Winnall | Walsall
| Mrs P.Burgess | Shelfield, Walsall | Mr and Mrs P.Hill | Fillongley, Coventry
| Mr P.Gay | Kings Norton, Birmingham | Mr A.J.Johnson | Lichfield
| Mr R.T.Ellard | Burntwood, Staffs. | Mr A.Ashton | Great Wyrley
| Mr T.Ellis | Norton Canes | Mrs J.Ellis | Norton Canes
| Mrs L.D.Stokes | Lichfield | Mr N. Brevitt | Lichfield
| Ms Y.Hollinshead | Stafford | Mrs Allen | Great Wyrley
| Mr and Mrs R.Hewitt | Burntwood, Staffs | Mr P.Sheldon | Aldridge
| Mr M.Wachlin | Cannock | Mr J.V.Ellis | Pelsall
| Mr J.Horton | Sutton Coldfield | Mr D.Evans | Cannock
| Mr P.W.Trinder | Lichfield | Mrs J.Crowther | Sheepy Parva, Leics
| Mr A.Crowther | Sheepy Parva, Leics | Ms C.Ensell | Castle Bromwich, Birmingham
| Mr S.Holland | Bournville, Birmingham | Mr M.Savage | Ratcliffe on Soar
| Mr M. Roberts | Great Wyrley | Mr B.Cope | Armitage
| Mr S.Moody | Bakewell | Mr and Mrs M.J.Synan | Whitchurch, Cardiff
| Miss B.Lloyd | Lichfield | Mr A.Perkins | Great Haywood
| Mr G.Thorne | Cannock | Mrs S.Dyott | Lichfield
| Mr P.Taylor | Fisherwick, Lichfield | Mr S.J.Foster | Whittington, Staffs.
| Mr P.Chew | Essington | |
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Names registered as Corporate Members
| Alvecote Marina, Tamworth
Barry Hawkins Narrowboats Limited Braunston Marina Ltd Cannock Chase District Council Chase Academy, Cannock Chasetown Civil Engineering Ltd Dains, Chartered Accountants Damar Properties, Southend Dudley Canal Trust Frouds Bridge Marina Harral Brokerage Services Ltd IWA, Chester & District Branch IWA, Kent & East Sussex Branch IWA, Lichfield Branch IWA, Stoke-on-Trent Branch Lichfield District Council Macclesfield Canal Society Michael Stimpson Associates Mindex Limited Old Union Canals Society OwnerShips Limited Pritchard Group of Companies Stafford Boat Club Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society The Historic Narrowboat Owners Club The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal Society Trent & Mersey Canal Society Ltd |
A similar incentive has been included in the new David Suchet Appeal now launched for the Birmingham Road culvert for the Lichfield Canal. We have been most grateful for such a high level of support in the past and would like to keep all the businesses and groups on our register … and add many others. Our message is PLEASE HELP US! to move a step further to the time when full navigation is achieved for our canals.
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WORKING PARTIES NEWS & DATES |
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LICHFIELD CANAL
To find our usual work site at Lock 25 on Tamworth Road (Grid ref. SK 130 083) take the A51 out of Lichfield and the site is on the right about 300 metres after Cricket Lane. Look out for the yellow sign. We are working almost every Sunday now, except for the third Sunday of the month (which is on the Hatherton) when the advertised date is on the Saturday, although we are usually there on the other Saturdays as well. Our own work parties are supplemented by WRG and ‘Dig Deep’ weekend visits. We generally work from about 9 am to 4 pm and more help is always welcome, even if you can spare only a few hours. Check for additional dates or the latest plans with Phil Sharpe on 01889 583330 (Email: phil.sharpe@lhcrt.org.uk) or Peter Matthews on 01543 318933, or keep checking this web site where any changes will be shown.
Work Party Dates:
| April: | Sunday 2, Kent & East Sussex CRG Sat/Sun 8/9, WRG Canal Camp Sat 8 – Mon 17, Sunday 23, Sunday 30.
| May: | Newbury WPG Sat/Sun 6/7, Sunday 14, Saturday 20, Sunday 28.
| June: | London WRG Sat/Sun 3/4, Sunday 11, WRG BITM Sat/Sun 17/18, Sunday 25.
| July: | Sunday 2, Sunday 9, Saturday 15, Sunday 23, Sunday 30.
| August: | Sunday 6, Sunday 13, Saturday 19, Sunday 27.
| September: | Sunday 3, Sunday 10, Saturday 16, Sunday 24.
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ALL SITES: Bring old clothes, stout footwear, work gloves, and refreshment. Hard hats and basic working tools can be provided as necessary, although you are welcome to bring your own.
| For details of Waterway Recovery Group Subscribe to Navvies (minimum (£1.50) from Sue Watts 15 Eleanor Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9FZ |
Work Party News
After a break for the festive season, work resumed with a joint visit from Northwest WRG and Essex WRG in early January to Fosseway Lane for hedge planting and scrub clearance. Some 1100 trees, 80% hawthorn plus a mixture of blackthorn, field maple, hazel and dogwood were planted to fill 250 yards of gaps in the towpath hedge all the way from Lock 18 to the towpath encroachment, with associated clearance of brambles and other invasive scrub. We also started cleaning out accumulated silt and rubbish from the chamber of Lock 18 which was completed the following week, as well as trimming the towpath hedge from the road down to below the lock.
| Our other work parties have all been at Tamworth Road where good progress has been made on rebuilding the walls in the garden. The back of the towpath wall was extensively shuttered and 6 temporary earth ramps built in front to allow readymix concrete to be tipped in by dumper, which was done with the help of London WRG in early February, topping it up with further hand mixed concrete. LWRG also continued bricklaying on the top wing walls of Lock 26, cleaning off the walls in Lock 24, and trimming back the face of the towpath hedge up to Cricket Lane. |  Removing shuttering from concreted towpath wall in garden, with temporary ramps | |
 Keith levelling the access after excavating footings for the missing section of wall |
On subsequent weekends the shuttering and ramps were removed and the towpath backfilled with spoil, with the final course of capping bricks now being added. Bricklaying and concreting the wing walls continued and had assistance from Newbury WPG in March, who also did extensive re-pointing in the chamber of Lock 26. Underpinning of the weir stone was started and two short sections of old towpath wall removed in preparation for filling the gap. Large numbers of old bricks have again been cleaned to keep the bricklayers busy and moved to and from storage.
 Brian and London WRG raising the offside top wing wall at Lock 26 |  Progress with rebuilding the top wing walls of Lock 26 |
HATHERTON CANAL
Our 3 work parties in January, February and March all had good attendances of 10 to 12 volunteers who completed the major task of widening and levelling the towpath between Saredon Mill Bridge and Oak Lane. This section which was very difficult to walk is now one of the best. Overhanging willow trees on the offside of the canal near Oak Lane have been cut back and the branches burned, with the agreement of the householder, and the picnic table and benches have been given their annual coat of preservative. Barriers have also been installed to prevent horse riders accessing the towpath between Saredon Mill and Cross Bridge where they were cutting up the surface, which has been reinstated.
 The Hatherton Canal near Oak Lane Denis and crew widening and levelling the towpath. |  Barrows at dawn! Bill and George meet on the Hatherton Canal towpath levelling job | |
| All photos by Phil Sharpe | ||
Over the summer we will as usual be concentrating on maintaining the towpath and hedges, along with various jobs to improve access and control invasive trees and vegetation.
Our regular date is the third Sunday of each month, from 10 am, with some occasional extra days as required. Contact Denis Cooper on 01543-374370 (work) or Phil Sharpe on 01889 583330 (Email: phil.sharpe@lhcrt.org.uk) for details of meeting places.
Monthly work parties: Sundays; 16 April, 21 May, 18 June, 16 July, 20 August, 17 September.
ALL SITES: Bring old clothes, stout footwear, work gloves, and refreshment. Hard hats and basic working tools can be provided as necessary, although you are welcome to bring your own. Phil Sharpe
To restore the Lichfield Canal and the Hatherton Canal to re-open waterway links between Staffordshire and the West Midlands, for the benefit of the environment, amenity and prosperity of the people of the Region and to enhance the nation's inland waterway system.
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