shroppie fly paper march 2011

Shroppie Fly PaperThe Newsletter of theShrewsbury District& North Wales BranchSpring 2011

Audlem

Queen’s Head

Iced Water Lilies?

Anyone visiting Audlem before Christmas, during the November toDecember arctic spell, would have found the canal frozen solid. Apart, that

is, from a pool below each lock where the very rapid flow of water from thebypass weir caused an area of unfrozen water. Rather strangely those poolscontained plates of ice, many the size of dinner plates with slightly curved upedges like white water lily leaves. It has been mentioned on the Audlem On Lineweb site but as far as I know no one has given an explanation of how they wereformed.

I would really like toknow, so if anyonecan solve themystery or has aninteresting theoryplease let us knowor better still write anote for the nextissue.

Denis Farmer

The Branch CommitteePresident Michael Limbrey, Greenfields, Weston Lane, Oswestry SY11 2BD 01691 654081 [email protected] David Aylwin, Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS 01691 830403 [email protected] Position vacant

Region Chairman Alan Platt, Argoed, Pen y Cefn Road, Caerwys, Flintshire CH7 5BH 01352 720649 [email protected] Dawn Aylwin, Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS 01691 830403 [email protected] Denis Farmer, 8 Kingbur Place, Audlem, Crewe CW3 0DL 01270 811157 [email protected] and Planning Officer Peter Brown, 34 Waterside Drive, Market Drayton TF9 1HU 01630 652567 [email protected] Secretary Janet Farmer, 8 Kingbur Place, Audlem, Crewe CW3 0DL 01270 811157 [email protected] Secretary Dawn Aylwin, Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS 01691 830403 [email protected] Alan Wilding, Priory Lodge, 154 Longden Road, Shrewsbury SY3 9ED 01743 359 650 [email protected] Editor David Aylwin, Wyndcliff, Pen y Garreg Lane, Pant, Oswestry SY10 8JS 01691 830403 [email protected] Members Gerallt Hughes (General Secretary Committee for Wales) Ty’n y Coed, Arthog, Gwynedd LL39 1YS 01341 250631 [email protected]

Carolyn Theobold [email protected]

Shroppie Fly PaperThe Shroppie Fly Paper is the newsletter of the Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch of The InlandWaterways Association with a membership of about 390. Nationally the IWA has about 18,000 membersand campaigns for the conservation, use, maintenance, restoration and development of the inlandwaterways. For further information contact any committee member.

Copy for the Shroppie Fly Paper is welcome in manuscript form, on disc or by email. Photographs may bein any common computer format or as prints. Please supply a stamped addressed envelope if you requirephotographs to be returned. ‘Letters to the Editor’ intended for publication are invited, as are comments forthe Editor’s private guidance.

The Inland Waterways Association may not agree with the opinions expressed in this Branch newsletter butencourages publicity as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as official policy unlessstated otherwise. The Association accepts no liability for any matter in this newsletter. Any reproductionmust be acknowledged.

The Inland Waterways Association is registered as a charity No 212342.

Next Copy Date: 1st June 2011

Editorial

This year the branch Annual GeneralMeeting has a different format. The

usual mid-week evening meeting wasclearly inconvenient for many members soa different time and location has beenchosen. The AGM will be at AqueductMarina at 2pm on Saturday 26th March.Following the meeting Liam D’Arcy-Brown,author of ‘The Emperor’s River’, will give apresentation entitled ‘The Grand Canal InChina’. There will also be an opportunityto look round the marina — Graham andSue Russell have offered to show visitorsround KING, a former Fellows Morton & Clayton working narrowboat — so thisshould be a more enjoyable experience than the previous formal meetings.There are more details on page 8; don’t forget to contact Janet Farmer if youwould like to book lunch.

Alan Platt, Region Chairman and Trustee, will be at the AGM and has kindlyagreed to answer questions, particularly those relating to the IWA’s response tothe New Waterways Charity.

Several members have expressed concern regarding the services or rather lackof services at Wheaton Aston. The branch has been in touch with the BWmanager and was advised that repair work, including the installation of a newpump, was due to start during December but had to be cancelled due to theweather. The contractors are due to start again now. The issue will be raisedagain at the next BW user group meeting.

Once again we are indebted to Miss Jean Evans who has made another verygenerous donation to the branch. She has asked that it be used for “… theShropshire Canal, for whatever you think will be useful to the IWA”. MissEvans, who has previously provided trees and a bench for the Aston naturereserve, will be invited to a boat trip during the summer to show our appreciation.

Please don’t forget to send in your photographs for the branch calendar. Fordetails see page 30. This will be an important source of funds which will helptowards the cost of producing this magazine. Entries will displayed on thebranch web pages which are now much easier to access. The address is now:www.waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury which gets you directly to our stuff withoutfirst trawling the main and branch pages.

David AylwinFront Cover: Icicles on the Vyrnwy AqueductAcknowledgements: photographs by Janet & Denis Farmer, Alan Wilding, Dawn AylwinThank you to all who contributed articles.

Regional Chairman

Before I write this regular article for yourmagazine, I do two things: look at the

last one I wrote to make sure I’m notrepeating myself, and look at the NationalChairman’s article in Waterways to makesure I’m not just repeating what CliveHenderson has already said. This time theexercise is frustrating; a great deal hashappened as regards the future of BritishWaterways in the last few months and yetthe future remains exasperatingly unclear.Another annoying thing is that by the timeyou read this, things may well havechanged and this will be out of date.Last month Clive came up to one of Chester branch’s social evenings andnearly 100 people turned up to hear him give an update on the current situationas regards the New Waterways Charity. Not much has changed since then.The Scottish Government has decided that the Waterways there will remainunder government control. This is a pity in that it diminishes the size of what’sleft, but the Scottish stakeholders group agreed with this view and I can seewhy, maybe because I too live with devolution as a reality. The IWA remainsconvinced, as do BW management, that the new body should includeEnvironment Agency navigations, but there are those who don’t share that viewand as I write the decision is still with the Waterways Minister. So if the EA isleft out are we just left with another restructuring of BW? If so then a greatopportunity to realise something like Robert Aickman’s ‘Waterway’sConservancy’ will have been missed. The new charity will be governedultimately, not by a government department but by Trustees appointed by aCouncil containing stakeholders and there will be regional councils includingusers etc to advise and consult with local waterway managers. Is that enoughof a change; many of you may think not, and I think I may join you. It will be a‘least worse‘ option and that is not good enough.The other main factor is funding and this has provisionally been set at £39m for2011/12 and less still for the first ten years or so of the new charity’s life. Thisis not enough and if this is not increased then there is no doubt the condition ofthe waterways will suffer. We are arguing strongly for more money, but you areall aware that we are one person in an overcrowded boat in doing so.There are those who argue that the IWA should not be talking to BW andDEFRA and should simply say ’This is not good enough’. However what is thealternative? If BW were to stay under DEFRA’s direct control then the bestforecasts show the system will become even worse even quicker. There is noPlan B, so we must stick in there arguing for the best Plan A that we can

achieve, at least for the time being. To do otherwise would not be in the interestsof our members or of the Waterways.And finally, maybe because of this, we have a record number booked in for theregion AGM on March 5th. If you disagree with me, come along and talk to meabout it then. Anyway I hope to see you all there at Anderton.

Alan Platt

Liverpool Boat Show

It has just been announced that the Liverpool Boat Show, that was to start on29th April, has been cancelled. Rob Mackenzie, Managing Director of Maine

Industry Events, said: “Our decision is obviously appalling news and it has beenan extremely difficult decision to take, not least because of the enormous senseof responsibility and partnership we feel for everyone in Liverpool. The citycouncil and its corporate partners, British Waterways, Liverpool Marina, AlbertDock Liverpool and the local sailing community have worked very hard tosupport this project. The failure and the financial loss and its consequences isMIE’s to bear alone, but it is better to cancel the show to protect Liverpool’sreputation rather than to allow exhibitors who booked in good faith and visitorswho would have traveled from all over the country in expectation of theparticipation of brands who’d made late decisions not to take part. More thananything else, we’ve cancelled the show to protect the integrity of what we knowto be the enormous long term potential for a major Boat Show in Liverpool.”

After meetings with Liverpool City Councillors, Liverpool Vision, BritishWaterways and others, a revised event is planned with the working title 'Springon the Waterfront'.Dates are as before, 29th April – 8th May, and existing logistics will stay the samefor Historic Narrow Boat Mersey crossings and L&L canal link transits. Exceptthat the visiting boats will now be in Salthouse dock, rather than on LiverpoolMarina berths.The draft, programme is as detailed below

Tall Ships (Canning and River)Historic Narrow Boats (Salthouse)Inland Waterways Feature including IWAStreet TheatreLiverpool Sea Shanty Festival (Tall Ships and Albert Dock)Liverpool Comedy Festival (everywhere and Maritime Museum)Liverpool Yacht Club Regatta (River)Dinghy Sailing, Canoes, water sportsSea Cadets, Royal Navy P200s, Merseyside Fire Brigade, PoliceShanghai Pavilion (Mann Island)

The Inland Waterways Association Shrewsbury District & North Wales

Branchinvite you to

A talk by Liam D'Arcy-Brown

At the GALLEY, Aqueduct MarinaChurch Minshull, CW5 6DX

2.30 pm Saturday 26th March 2011

Liam D'Arcy-Brown was the first Westerner in over 200 years totravel the length of the Grand Union Canal in China — the world'soldest man-made waterway. His book The Emperor's River hasrecently been published and will be on sale after the talk.

Programme

12.30 A pre-booked lunch 2.00 IWA Shrewbury District & North Wales Branch AGM 2.30 The Grand Canal in China

For more information please contact Janet Farmer01270 811157 or email [email protected].

Audlem Canal Art Exhibition10th April to 7th May 2011

Audlem Mill, by the Shropshire Union Canal inSouth Cheshire, is holding its annual

exhibition of paintings of canal and waterwaysscenes from 10th April to 7th May. Audlem Mill isone of the oldest and best known canalsideshops in Britain, and this is probably the onlyopportunity in 2011 to see so many canalpaintings brought together in one place.Confirmed so far are works by most members ofthe Guild of Waterway Artists (Sheila Bury, SylviaHankin, Helen Harding, Jim Hillier, Rob Lowman,Dusty Miller, Sarah Pressland, Robin Smithett,David Wright), plus Harley Crossley, Dave Holloway,Dave Gardham, linocut artist Eric Gaskell, and local watercolour artist SheilaWebster. Entry to the exhibition is free, and all works are for sale.The exhibitions at Audlem Mill in previous years have proved to be extremelypopular, and visitors have travelled from all over the country. During theexhibition (and for the whole of the spring and summer season), Audlem Mill isopen seven days a week. Visitors should ring 01270 811059 or visitwww.audlemmill.co.uk for further information.

Festival Of Transport31st July 2011

The annual Festival of Transport in Audlem, Cheshire attracts severalthousand visitors, enjoying a wonderful free day out with over 300 old cars,

motorcycles, lorries and buses in the village playing field, very close to thecanal. Canal enthusiasts will also enjoy seeing all the historic narrow boats

moored up in the ‘town pound’, outside Audlem Mill and theShroppie Fly pub. SATURN, the 105 year old Shroppie fly

boat, will be moored at the wharf and there will be manyother boats of interestincluding at least three formerFMC ex-steamers dating fromaround 1910.Owners of other historic boatsare most welcome to bringtheir boats, but are asked tocontact Audlem Mill on 01270811059 as soon as possible tomake arrangements.

Canal & Food Festival (with a royal flavour)

Saturday 30th April and Sunday 1st May 2011

This year the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust hasunited with the Norbury village community and the

Junction Inn to jointly organise the annual May Bank Holiday Canal Festival atNorbury Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal. This new close workingrelationship is going to create a bigger and better event with a lot of addedattractions and much more local involvement.

The festival is being held on the Saturday and Sunday of the Royal WeddingWeekend and it is open from 10am on both days. A new addition to the eventthis year will be a farmer’s market food festival on the Saturday. This will sitalongside the traditional stalls and refreshments in the garden of the NorburyJunction Inn and on the canalside.

A large marquee will host the food and craft stalls during the day but on theSaturday evening it will feature local bands including Dan the Banjo Man, plusthe Loveless, the Beat Back Brothers and Inertia. Tickets will be £5 in advanceor £6 on the night. They can be bought in advance at the Junction Inn.

There will be plenty of WoW activities to keep children occupied. The entries toa Royal Wedding painting competition amongst local schools will be exhibitedin the Junction Inn and prizes will be awarded on Sunday morning followed bya children’s Royal Wedding Brunch in the marquee.

Visitors will have the opportunity to look inside some of the traditional andworking narrow boats to see what life is like on board. Other attractions includeboat trips, a small fairground and bouncy castle, WI tea stall, outside bar,

barbeque and a brass band. The traditional canalside church service willbe held on Sunday afternoon.

Early on Sunday evening the marquee will be used for a charity auctionto raise funds for the local restoration of the canal. More attractions

are still being booked so watch this space.

Boaters booking forms are available on www.sncanal.org.uk.

John Myers

Trains and Boatsand PlanesThe Winter Walk

Yes it was on Sunday andnot Saturday as

mentioned in the Diary Sectionof the last issue. Sorry aboutthat but we did try to contact allmembers who have an e-mailaddress.

We awoke on Friday morning to 3 inches of white powdery snow which hungaround for Saturday but fortunately was washed away over night so Sundaydawned bright and sunny with a beautiful clear blue sky. The perfect day for abrisk Winter Walk. Or so we thought! The car park was like a skating rink butthe modern car was not daunted and all our walkers managed to park without

100 Club

In the last issue we invited members to help us bydonating the equivalent to £2 per month to join a 100

Club. Half of the money received will be used to pay forchances in a draw and the remainder used to help with thework of the Branch. The need for this extra source of income arises because itis becoming increasingly difficult to earn the amount we need from our presentmethod which mainly consists of carrying a sales stand and the sand gameparaphernalia to various events and rallies. Our balances are slowly but surelydiminishing.

So far, although the take up has been reasonable, we are still someway shortof the number needed to make the scheme viable. We are, however, consciousof the fact that we are asking members to dig deeper into their pockets havingalready paid their membership subscription to the IWA and also, no doubt,having to meet increased costs everywhere else. So it's more a matter ofproviding you with an opportunity to help the Branch rather than persuading youto join.

The Branch Committee will not decide whether or not to abandon the projectuntil just before the next magazine is due to go to press so if anyone else wouldlike to join please e-mail me at [email protected] or phone on01270 811157. I need at least 10 to 15 more "chances" at £2 per month (£24pa) each to make it viable.

Denis Farmer

Winter Walk 2011 : Horseshoe Falls to Llangollen

UNESCO made the eleven miles of canal from Chirk Bank to HorseshoeFalls a World Heritage Site in July 2009. The citation states: '... The

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal are early and outstanding examples of theinnovations brought about by the Industrial Revolution in Britain, where theymade decisive development in transport capacities possible. They bear witnessto very substantial international interchanges and influences in the fields ofinland waterways, civil engineering, land-use planning, and the application ofiron in structural design.’Brief historyAs authorised in its 1793 Act of Parliament, the Ellesmere Canal was to go fromthe River Severn at Shrewsbury to the Dee at Chester and then on to theMersey at Ellesmere Port. However, the section from Trevor to Chester wasnever built, principally because of financial problems. The plans were changed:a link was made from the Whitchurch Branch to Hurleston Junction, on thesummit level of the Chester Canal.The water supply for the long summit level of the canal was to have come fromthe hills to the north-west of Wrexham. With the change in plan, this source wasno longer available. It was therefore decided to build a feeder from the RiverDee above Llangollen to Trevor, and it would not cost greatly more to make thisfeeder navigable. It was opened for traffic in 1808, three years after thecompletion of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Whitchurch–Hurleston section. Atthe same time, in order to enable water to be drawn from the Dee during thedrier summer months, the dam at Lake Bala was increased in height and tworeservoirs built in the hills west of Bala.Horseshoe FallsThe curving weir on the River Dee brings water into the canal through the intakesluice and the meter house. The cast-iron cap to the weir was added in theearly 1820s.

mishap. Unfortunately parts of the towpath, shaded from the warmth of the sun,were also a little slippery. However this did not spoil the enjoyment even if it didmake progress a little slower than anticipated.

Full notes on the walk are below.

Our thanks go to Peter Brown for organising the walk and writing the historicalnotes and to Richard Dibble for taking over the lead at the last minute. We werevery pleased to welcome Kevin and his family from Telford and a small group ofFriends of the Montgomery Canal.

The Act authorising the intake contained clauses protecting the water supply forthe mills at Llangollen. It did not give permission for the canal company to sellwater to industries but by the late 1940s this had become significant, theprincipal users being Monsanto at Cefn Mawr, the creamery at Ellesmere andthe London Midland & Scottish Railway (by then the canal’s owner) at Chester.The position was regularised by an Act in 1944, which allowed water sales forthe next ten years and introduced the requirement for accurate monitoring ofthe volume of water taken into the canal. As a result, the meter house was built.By the time the 1944 Act expired, a further Act had been obtained to supplydomestic water to south Cheshire.King's Bridge ViaductThe five-arched viaduct was built in 1902–6 by Denbighshire County Council.Chain BridgeThe first Chain Bridge was built in 1817 (not in 1814, as is stated on the hotel'swebsite) for Exuperius Pickering whose extensive business interests includedsupplying coal up the Dee Valley to Corwen. There were three people with thisdelightful name — father, son and grandson — but the one responsible for thebridge was probably the father.Following damage by flooding the Chain Bridge has been rebuilt twice, in 1870and 1929. Although the design has changed, the original chains have beenre-used, making them probably the oldest suspension chains in use in theworld. (Contrary to what one sometimes reads, there is no evidence thatThomas Telford was involved in its construction.) It is now owned byDenbighshire Council and it is hoped that it will be restored. The wharf herebecame the head of navigation.The Chain Bridge Hotel is an unattractive structure, particularly when seen fromthe back. There was a hostelry here by the 1830s.Ty Craig Bridge and lime kilnsThe canal company gave Pickering permission for the feeder to be improved sothat boats could get to a wharf at the Chain Bridge, but Ty Craig Bridge (48A)was not rebuilt, hence it is the only bridge which the towpath does not go under.Set in the river bank just east of the bridge are four limekilns which would havebeen charged with coal and limestone from the canal. These, with the limekilns’manager’s house, were built by one of the Pickerings.Afon Eglwyseg AqueductThe aqueduct is built to the traditional canal design with strong masonryretaining walls, the canal being carried in a puddled clay earthen trough. Afterthe success of Chirk and Pontcysyllte, much lighter structures with partial or fulliron troughs, one wonders why Thomas Telford and Thomas Denson (theresident engineer) reverted to the concepts of the previous generation of canalbuilders.Pentrefelin slate wharf

The Oernant slate quarries, in what is now usually called the Horseshoe Pass,have been in production since at least the late 18th century — indeed they werementioned in one of the Ellesmere Canal’s prospectuses.Exuperius Pickering Junior (the son) became a joint lessee of the quarries in1807. Packhorses had to be used to bring the slates down to the canal, whichhad been made navigable as far as Pentrefelin.In 1852 Henry Dennis built a tramroad from the quarries to the dressing shedbetween the canal and the river. This necessitated an embankment across thevalley, still clearly visible, and a lift bridge across the canal. The dressing shedis now the motor museum and also houses a small canal display includingsome excellent models showing how canals were constructed.Into LlangollenThe next mile of canal includes one original bridge (46). Horse-drawn pleasureboats have operated in this section since the 1880s.In the last decade the winding hole has been extended and much-neededmoorings created.Llangollen WharfThe canal company's wharf and warehouse, constructed in stone, dates fromthe early 19th century. It was later heightened and extended in brick. There isa crane on the wharf quay. The building was re-used as a canal museum in thelater 20th century but is now a café and the base for the horse-drawn boats.Llangollen BridgeThe first Llangollen Bridge is thought to have been built in the early 12th century.It was probably reconstructed in 1346 by Dr John Trevor (the Bishop of StAsaph) and then replaced in the 16th century. The four-arched bridge wasextended at the north end to span the railway line in 1863 and the parapetswere rebuilt. The bridge was greatly widened on the upstream side in 1873 andin 1968 it was again nearly doubled in width on the same side.Llangollen RailwayThe Vale of Llangollen Railway, from Ruabon to Llangollen, was opened in1862 to a temporary terminus at the eastern edge of the town. The currentLlangollen Station was built in 1865 when the line was extended to Corwen.The continuation to Dolgellau was completed in 1868. It was closed topassengers in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts.Clwyd Council having bought the land, restoration commenced in 1975. Thefirst trains ran in 1981 on just ¼ mile of track; Berwyn was reached in 1985,Deeside in 1990, Glyndyfrdwy in 1992, and Carrog in 1996. The Transport andWorks Order for the extension to Corwen has now been approved, and theWelsh Assemby has promised a £500,000 grant, subject to match-fundingbeing obtained.

Peter Brown

North West Region AGM

Saturday, 5th March 2011

Come and join us for a great day out atthe fabulous and famous AndertonBoat Lift. Your Region AGM venuegives you a rare opportunity to see andhear about the history of the area, meetthe people and examine the controlroom of this wonderful structure as wellas enjoy a good lunch.

Programme

10.30 - 12.00 Visit the Control Room and see how the lift works Enjoy a walk around the country park surrounding the lift

12.00 - 1.00 A talk by Colin Edmundson, Weaver historian, entitled "A Virtual Walk from the Salt Museum to Anderton

1.00 - 2.00 A buffet lunch from the Anderton Lift caterers2.00 Region Annual General Meeting

If you would like to have lunch and listen to the speaker, there will be amodest charge of £6 per person otherwise attendance at the AGM is free.There will also be a raffle to help cover expenses with any surplus going tothe IWA's National Appeal for Inglesham Lock.

Please book your place by emailing Gillian Bolt,[email protected] and if you require lunch please send acheque and covering note to Gillian Bolt, 4 Poplar Farm Close, SaughallMassie, Wirral CH46 5NZ

We look forward to seeing you.

(Please note: the lift will not be operational due to winter maintenance)(The lift site is off the A533 at Lift Lane, Anderton, Northwich CW9 6FWbetween Northwich & Runcorn. Trains run into Northwich and if you needcollecting please let us know. A regular bus service also runs in that area.)

5th March Region Annual General Meeting

Region AGM at the Anderton Boat Liftvisitor centre. See page 15

Gillian Bolt01516 789300

26th March Branch Annual General Meeting

The Branch AGM and a talk entitledGrand Canal in China by LiamD'Arcy-Brown at Aqueduct Marina, ChurchMinshall, Cheshire CW5 6DXSee page 8

Janet Farmer01270 811157

1st April Skittles Challenge

The annual inter-branch challenge at theBickerton Poacher. See page 29


29th April to8th May

Liverpool Boat Show

Albert Dock, LiverpoolSee page 7

30th April to1st May

Norbury Junction Canal & Food Festival

Festival and boat rally organised byShrewsbury & Newport Canals TrustSee page 10

John Myers

www.sncanal.org.uk

12th June Dinghy Dawdle

Paddle your canoe from Weston Arm toMaesbury on the Montgomery CanalSee page 28

Peter Richards01691 831455

22nd - 23rd July Lock Wind at Quoisley

A weekend event when you will need yourWindlasses again. We also need homemade and home grown produce for the stallso why not come along and ‘bring and buy’.Please join us even if it’s just for a few hours.Full details on page 27

Dawn Aylwin01691 830403

Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch

Diary

29th - 31st July IWA National Festival & Boat Show

IWA's main event of the year will be atShobnall Fields, Burton-upon-Trent,Staffordshire.

www.Waterways.

org.uk

30th July Discovery Day

Stalls, crafts, activities and guided walks atLlanymynech Heritage Area.See page 29

Rosi01691 839147

31st July Audlem Festival of Transport

Historic boats and vehicles at AudlemSee page 9

Audlem Mill01270 811059

6th August Day Out at Ironbridge

Sight seeing and boat tripSee page 23


20th - 21st

AugustFriends of the Montgomery Canal

Lock wind at New Marton Locks

Peter Richards01691 831455

9th - 11th

SeptemberEllesmere Festival

The Branch book stall will be up andrunning all weekend so please come alongand ‘bring and buy’.

17th - 18th

SeptemberWhitchurch Rally

More details in the next edition

14th November The Plas Kynaston Canal

A talk by Peter Brown, the branch historian

Peter Brown01630 652567

7th January Winter Walk at Shrewsbury

Details in the Winter edition

Peter Brown01630 652567

Committee meetings are usually held at 7.30pm on the second Monday of eachmonth at the Narrow Boat Inn (Maestermyn Marina), Whittington. Members arevery welcome to join us and will not be pressured into any of our vacant jobsunwillingly. Please confirm with a committee member before attending.

Tugboat Ted

W inter can be a dull time for us bears. Not much movement of LEO and littlehuman company.

The past weeks have been somewhat different. No sooner had LEO's hull beenblacked at the end of October we were moved up the lock to be nearer thehouse to have some painting done on the port side. This was convenientlytimed with the work on Hack Green Locks so that there were no boats comingthrough Audlem. The painter congratulated herself on managing to apply painton the rare occasions that the weather allowed and was just thinking thatmaybe we should move onto our permanent mooring when the cold spellstruck. Nobody realised how long this was going to last of course and it seemedto make sense to leave the boat where it was for the chief "stoker" to put a fireon board each day. For various reasons LEO isn't drained down and neither thehumans or ourselves relished a burst pipe!

Firmly embedded in ice LEO wasstill in the same place forChristmas and a spell afterwardsbefore it was sufficiently thawedto move back on to the mooring.It meant that Ethelted and I had adaily visitor to the boat and a nicewarm environment! During thisspell the canal was very beautiful,if not functional. The hard frost onthe trees made them incrediblydramatic for quite a long spell andwe gather that the cameras weredoing overtime!

No sooner was Christmas over than it was time for the Branch New Year’s walkat Llangollen on 9th January — even winter weeks seem to fly by! I travelled inthe car with the humans, all of us well wrapped up with scarves etc. The planwas for us to meet up at the Bridge End Inn for food and the human's car wouldbe available to get anyone back to Horseshoe Falls where the walk started.The 15 or so walkers seemed to have enjoyed a shortish but tricky walk, lots ofice about in Llangollen even though the day was sunny, so we were able to beof use and it was nice to see the incredible scenery in winter mode.

One of the human's favourite walks is the towpath from their house towardsNantwich, with a stop at Overwater Marina's Cafe for a snack when appropriate.This works well in reasonably dry weather but, recently the mud on the towpathhas made it virtually impossible. Enquiries reveal that this problem is due to besolved with chippings being put down, probably in March. Until then that path is

off the list for walking — fortunately Audlem has other walks to offer — notcompletely mud free but at least negotiable.

An exciting project in Audlem is the ferry boat which it is hoped will ply betweenOverwater Marina and the bottom lock (15). We understand that the boat willbe moored at the Marina and will be manned by volunteers, proceeds will go tocharity. It is hoped to take visiting parties of children for rides — there is anisland in the marina with wild flowers as well as wildlife which will be a goodintroduction for young children. A name for the boat is being sought and weunderstand that the official launching will take place at Easter.

The Branch Quiz at the Narrow Boat Inn will have taken place by the time youread this. I look forward to this event — one of our early public outings of theyear. The human's have set the questions this time and we are told that Bearswill definitely be a feature! I will report later. March 26th sees the AGM atAqueduct Marina and with an interesting speaker and setting; everyone hashigh hopes that this will be a successful day. Details are elsewhere in themagazine and we hope to see lots of you there.

Maybe it's a bit late to wish people a Happy New Year but we do all wishmembers well and lots of enjoyment on canals for the spring and summer, be itwalking, boating or just looking!

Tugboat Ted

Llanymynech Wharf Visitor CentreThe Visitor Centre (SY22 6EA) will re-open for the 2011 season at Easter.

Saturday 23rd April and Sunday 24th April from 1.30 to 4.30

Monday, 25th April from 11am to 4pm for Eggciting Easter Eggscursions, BBQ,Easter Bunny Hunt, Easter Egg Hunt, & other Easter activities.

On 24th April at 1.30 we will be dedicating a seat in memory of John Martin.Please come along if you knew John. Paddy would really appreciate seeing hismany friends and acquaintances.

After Easter the Centre will be open on Sundays and Bank Holidays (not 2nd

May) until 30th September, Sundays 1.30 - 4.30pm. Come along for Boat tripson the ‘George Watson Buck’, Crafts, Displays and Refreshments.

On Bank Holidays from 11am to 4pm there will be special events such asPirates of Llanymynech and Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.

For more information contact Martin Clare 01691 839564

Overcoming the Neglect of Urban Canals – 60s style

As a student in Birmingham in the 1960s I was also learning the secrets ofour canals. These were not the municipal parks open for healthy exercise

that today's managers are striving for; instead they were secret and neglected,left-overs from the days when they had been arteries of our transport system,populated by people who were themselves on voyages of discovery, inconverted pontoons, sawn-in-half narrowboats, and cruisers made of plasticand plywood.

Down-at-heel as they were, Birmingham's canals had much to offer and Iwalked many miles of towpath and took my first trip on the BCN. Yet the seedswere being sown for a new future, shiny buildings, busy towpaths and the 42nd

President of the United States downing a pint. Did we really think it wouldhappen?

The cover picture for IWA's Bulletin 85 shows “some of the 600 Ashtonvolunteers dealing with a lock in Droylsden during the September DirtyWeekend. There comes a time,” it said — in the campaigning talk IWA was sogood at — “when we can no longer tolerate the appalling neglect of some urbancanals; remedy: move an army in for two days.”

Inside, Bulletin 85 also included a report on another event which, though I knewof it, I regret I never went to. It is full of particulars — including a lengthyquotation from Sir Frank Price, then the new Chairman of BWB (who laterpromoted the formation of the Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust) — andyou will not thank me for giving you more than edited bits [... and if you don'tmind I will leave out those annoying ... showing I have edited the original ...].

'Proposals in the September 1967 Waterways White Paper, generally somuch better than we had expected (as distinct from what we should haveliked) represented a dreadful threat to the survival of the BCN. Whereas somany miles of other canals were dubbed "cruiseways", assuring theirfuture retention, a great question mark was poised over 89 miles of BCN,leaving only the Birmingham to Wolverhampton Main Line, the Birminghamand Fazeley and the Netherton Line through to Stourbridge.'In the face of this threat, our Midlands Branch organised a West MidlandsWaterways Conference at Birmingham University. About seventydelegates participated: there was abundant evidence that the majority ofthem left fired with enthusiasm to press canal improvement plans on theirrespective authorities.'Opening the proceedings, Mr Max Sinclair introduced Sir Frank Price,making his first public address on waterways since he assumed office: "SirFrank, if you are prepared to wipe away the years of neglect; to developfully all the challenging opportunities our canal system presents: then youcan be assured of the full support of our Association. And as supporters,we can offer a wealth of practical advice and aid."

'Sir Frank complimented the Association on changing the climate of publicopinion which in turn "has played a significant part in the Board reachingits policy decisions over the last couple of years".'Sir Frank demonstrated that he is an enthusiast for canals, and becauseof this was determined that their future prospects should be hopeful.'Next speaker was Peter White, who works with Birmingham CityArchitect's Department advising on various aspects of canal use andlandscaping, as well as having been the driving force behind the WestMidlands Waterways Study Group, a body essentially concerned withimproving the urban character of "this delicate tracery of waterways". MrWhite placed emphasis on sympathetic changes: retaining the best of oldarchitecture and industrial archaeology and opening up views and vistasof water.'Although from the Sewers and Rivers Department of the City ofBirmingham, the next speaker concentrated on the amenity aspect ofcanals, stressing their usefulness as walkways remote from road traffic,passing through areas of dense population. Ideally, the paths and theirmaintenance should be made the responsibility of the local authority (assuggested in British Waterways' The Future of the Waterways) and thebridges similarly transferred.'In a discussion that followed, various practical means of opening towpathsto the public and encouraging canalside owners of land to landscape theirbanks were suggested: Mr Grantham of British Waterways mentioned thecircumstances of Messrs Cincinatti's excellent waterside planting atMinworth, and expressed his strong wish that other firms would make aneffort to turn their canal frontages into attractive parks.'The final session was devoted to detailed plans for Birmingham's canals,presented by the Architect/Planner for the Birmingham City Centre Re-development. Already there are signs appearing to illustrate the changesin store for some sections of the BCN, and on the whole theseimprovements should make the canals more exciting. It really is mostheartening to find that at long last initiative for using canals in the urbanlandscape is coming from planners as opposed to boating or canalenthusiasts. The concept of amenity value of inland waterways in towns isgathering momentum.'

The closing notes will find an echo in so much that the IWA has been involvedin the years since 1968, and will be in the future: 'as local authorities play anincreasingly vital role in waterways affairs, then our responsibility for educatingtheir representatives becomes all the more pressing.'

And on one day in those years Bill Clinton had a pint at the Malt House inBrindleyplace.

Michael Limbrey

2011 : 200th anniversary of Whitchurch Wharf

The Ellesmere Canal passed a mile to the north of Whitchurch, much to theannoyance of the leading townsmen. In 1806 a group of businessmen led

by William Turner agreed to finance a branch into the town, lending £2,000 tothe canal company, who then entered into a contract with Samuel Turner, aWhitchurch builder and William’s brother.The lawyers pointed out that the Act authorised a branch only as far asSherryman’s Hill, not Castle Well — the latter being a much better site for thewharf, being nearer the town centre. It was therefore agreed that the canalcompany would apply for an amending Act but that construction could startimmediately.The branch opened to Sherryman’s Hill in 1808, but the lawyers had omitted todo anything about the amending Act. The application was made to Parliamentin the autumn of 1809.Telford drew up a plan for the basin, but this would have given William Trevor,who owned much land there, total control of the wharfs. William Turner drewup an alternative plan whereby five people (including Trevor and himself) wouldhave been able to make wharfs, and it was this alternative plan which wassubmitted to Parliament. Trevor petitioned Parliament to object, but the localfeeling was that all he wanted was a monopoly, so a rival petition was submittedand was clearly going to win the day. The Act was duly passed and the finalpart of the branch built, opening in 1811. Curiously, the basin was neither theshape of that in Telford’s plan nor that in Turner’s — those showed arectangular basin, but what was actually built was a narrow triangle (as atEllesmere).This was not the end of the arguments with William Trevor. There was adifference of opinion about the amount of land to be taken for the canal, so ahigh-powered subcommittee, including the Earl of Bridgewater and Sir JohnHill, was deputed to meet him and settle the differences. The following year, healleged that John Kynaston Powell (the previous chairman of the canalcompany) had promised him that a footbridge would be erected over theWhitchurch arm; a subcommittee investigated and, without admitting liability,offered to pay him £60 in lieu.

Peter Brown

Whitchurch Water Trust

The Inland Waterways Association is looking for a member to represent themon the WWT. If you would like to do this please get in touch.

David Aylwin

Red Diesel — a continuing saga

It seems that the EU can never let the regulation of the fuel we use in our boatsrest. From the 1st January 2011 a new directive requires that it should contain

no less than 10 milligrams of sulphur per 1 kilogram of fuel, which meansvirtually sulphur free. There are, no doubt, various ways in which suppliers canmeet this obligation but if they yield to the simple solution of adding a red die toroad diesel, which contains 7% bio diesel or FAME (fatty acid methyl ester),then all sorts of problems arise. These include bugs growing in diesel tanks anddamage to fuel pipes, filters and seals, especially in engines more than tenyears old. The British Marine Federation has produced a lengthy paper on thetopic (BMF Guidance Note to Industry December 2010).

The advice we are given is, if possible, to seek suppliers of FAME free fuel.Alternatively change filters more frequently, reseal any joints that start to leakand watch out for deterioration of fuel lines. Research is ongoing on this topicand there is no doubt we will be reading a lot more about it.

As if that is not enough there are reports that in Belgium the authorities havetaken the view that our red diesel, even with duty paid, does not comply withthe European Union rules and have been penalising boats which stray acrossthe channel with UK fuel in their tanks. Seemingly the EU agrees and hasasked our Government to ban it in our boats.

Where will it all end?

Denis Farmer

Early Warning - a Day Out at Ironbridge6th August

Ironbridge Scenic Cruises run a boat from the Museum of the Gorge, oldsevern warehouse adjacent to the car park and goes to Ironbridge and back

(45 mins approx). Because of the difficulties of water depth and currents therehas to be a slight question mark over its availability but mostly it is OK.

We thought that we would combine this with some sight seeing and are invitingmembers to join us for a day out exploring. The itinerary, if all goes well, wouldbe a cruise in the morning followed by lunch and from there go on to exploreWappenshall Wharf and the Longdon Aqueduct under the guidance of ourbranch historian Peter Brown.

The cost would be £6 per head for the boat trip. If you would be interestedplease contact Janet Farmer on 01270 811157 or [email protected] - further details will be given to you nearer the time.

Janet Farmer

Denver Sluice Complex

What, I was wondering, is the greatest engineering triumph on thewaterways of Britain? Pontcysyllte Aqueduct? Anderton Lift? No — I

think it is the drainage of the fens of south Cambridgeshire and west Norfolk, atthe heart of which is the Denver Sluice complex, fourteen miles up the GreatOuse from King’s Lynn.These works have to do several jobs:

Keep the sea out;

Take the river water from the uplands to the sea;

Drain the water from the low-lying fenland — as the land levels have sunkit has been necessary to install pumps, first driven by the wind, later bysteam, by diesel and now by electricity; and

Not impede navigation between King’s Lynn and Huntingdon, Bedford andCambridge more than necessary.

This last is now of minor importance, more significant being the link from theRiver Nene and the Middle Levels via Salters Lode. Two further requirementshave been added in the last fifty years:

To permit surplus water to be transferred to Essex by reversing the flow ofthe Cut-Off Channel; and

To make the Flood Relief Channel navigable to Downham Market andbeyond.

The system should be designed so that it maintains itself as well as possible inthe long run, in particular, siltation should be minimised. Not all theserequirements are compatible, yet the system must continue to do them underoccasional extreme conditions. No other type of civil engineering faces somany challenges.

Unsurprisingly, the system has developed piecemeal. The first element, the OldBedford River, dates from the 1630s; the second, the New Bedford River, thewashlands between the two Bedford Rivers, and the original Denver Sluice fromthe 1650s. Both elements were designed by Sir Cornelius Vermuyden. TheSluice was destroyed in 1713 and not rebuilt until 1750; the present Sluice issubstantially as rebuilt by Sir John Rennie in 1832. Because of the floods of1947, the defences were reappraised by Sir Murdoch Macdonald, which led tothe construction of the Cut-Off Channel (which intercepts the Lark and the otherrivers to the east of the Ely Ouse) and the Flood Relief Channel. These workswere completed in the 1960s. Most recently, the Relief Channel Lock wasopened in 2001.

The only way to properlyappreciate the Denvercomplex is to walk roundthe site and along the flooddefence embankment toopposite Salters LodeLock. And then have adrink at the Jenyns Arms,situated alongside DenverSluice.

Peter Brown

Salter’s LoadLock

WellCreek

Old BedfordSluice

Old Bedford River

New

Bedf

ord

Rive

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nnel

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Rive

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use

DenverSluice

A G WrightSluice

Relie

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Relief ChannelLock

ImpoundingSluice

Cut-offChannel

The Denver SluiceComplex

Membership Matters

A very warm welcome to the following members who have joined the Branchsince the last edition of the Shroppie Fly Paper: Mr Barton from Acton, Miss

Bates from Shavington, Mr Carr from Rhuddlan, Dr & Mrs Evemy from Weston,Mr Gray from Wellington, Mr Higson from Lee, Mr & Mrs Hubbard from Audlem,Mr & Mrs Hurst from Shrewsbury, Mr Jervis from Audlem, Mr & Mrs Pearsonfrom Llandudno, Mr Senior from Holmes Chapel, Mr Thomas from Llandudno,Mr Willows from Wrexham. It is good to see new people joining the Associationand we look forward to meeting you all so please come along to one of ourevents and support your Branch. Please note that if you joined in February,details had not been received before this edition went to the printers so look outfor your name in the Summer edition.

There are several other ways all members can help and support the Branch:for example we are still looking for volunteers to report on the state of the canalsin our area; we need members to let us know if there is a waterway’s eventnearby so we can advertise it in the Branch magazine; photographs and articlesfor the magazine are gratefully received; we want a volunteer to run a salesstall; and last but not least we welcome new members onto the committee (theonly qualification being enthusiasm and a love of the waterways). So please

Quiz Night

I 've never seen myself as much of a quizzer so it was a bit of a surprise to meto be included with Janet, who is quite good, as one of this year's quiz

masters. Having said that, my chief role was technical support — producingpictures on the computer and scoring. That's because I can write spread sheetsand, if needed, add up!

Despite my misgivings everyone seemed to enjoy the evening; a little unrulywith light hearted banter, which is as it should be. And the person whoinadvertently gave away one answer really helped to make the occasion.

Scoring was high too; the lowest 66%, the highest 79% - an average of 73%.I've long since lost touch with exam grades but I suspect they would all be A'sor B's - which can't be bad.

The winning team was "Haven't a Clue" (which just proves that names canbe misleading) and they collected the prize of chocolate and a quiz bookin case they wish to take up the option to set next year's quiz.

Denis Farmer

contact me if you are interested in helping the Branch. We need you all to takean active interest to keep the branch alive.

I understand that a number of members tried to get tickets for the annual jointdinner at the last minute. Unfortunately the event was very popular and sold outquickly. Sorry you were unlucky – you missed a great evening. Our thanks goto the Friends of the Montgomery Canal and Peter & Judy Richards in particularfor organising the evening.

Don’t forget that you can keep in touch with the latest news and photographs bylogging onto the Branch website - www.waterways.org.uk/shrewsbury

Dawn Aylwin

Lock Wind at Quoisley22nd - 23rd July 2011

This event at Quoisley Lock on theLlangollen Canal is one of the

Branch’s main fund raising events of theyear. So please support us either inperson or by providing goods for the stall.

Sounds like hard work? Only if you want it to be! Not everyone wants to spenda gruelling weekend winding locks just because I enjoy the challenge (yes Iactually enjoy the physical work). But how can you resist a pleasant stroll alongthe towpath to the locks, talk to a few boaters, sell a few books and produce,collect donations and then wander (or drive) to the nearest hostelry for a bite toeat? What better way to spend a morning, or afternoon if you decide to eat first?So please spare a few hours over the weekend and join us — it’s fun as well asrewarding. When travelling from Whitchurch on the A49 there is off roadparking on the far side of the bridge on the other side of the road. BW hasrequested that all volunteers who arrive by car, cross the road to the towpathon the brow of the bridge where you get a clear view of the road on both sides.

However if you happen to be boat owners why not join us for the wholeweekend by boat? Weather permitting we have a welcoming BBQ on Fridayevening but please bring you own food and let us know you are coming.

Last year we introduced a home grown produce and cake stall which was verysuccessful and popular. In fact the cakes sold out very quickly — some boatershaving eaten them before returning to their boat and so had to come back formore. The jam and marmalade also sold out long before the end of Sunday.So if you have a surplus of fruit and vegetables or are willing to bake a pudding,pie, cake(s) or biscuits or make a few pots of jam and marmalade please get intouch. And don’t forget we also need good-as-new paperbacks which alwayssell well. Better still come along and ‘bring & buy’.

To make it more convenient for those of you who are already engaged thatweekend and unfortunately are unable to join us we have arranged drop offpoints for produce but please remember that it will take a couple of days tocruise up the Llangollen Canal for some of us so don’t leave it too late:

Market Drayton Peter Brown 01630 652567Audlem Janet & Denis Farmer 01270 811157Oswestry/Pant Dawn Aylwin 01691 830403Shrewsbury Alan Wilding 01743 359650Do you live in North Wales? If so are you willing to volunteer to collect anddeliver home made produce? For more information or just to let us know youplan to join us, please contact any of the above.

Dawn Aylwin

Dinghy Dawdle

This year’s Dinghy Dawdle onthe Montgomery Canal will

take place on Sunday June 12th. Itwill be a relatively long paddle over6 miles and includes 4 locks. Thestart will be on the Weston Arm aquarter of a mile below FranktonLocks. There is a good car park,and only a short distance acrossthe picnic area to carry the boats tothe canal. The road access willrequire some care as the lanes arevery narrow, and the canal bridgeadjacent to the car park is by farthe steepest that you will haveencountered.Entrants and spectators should all approach the Weston Arm off the Whittington– Ellesmere road at Welsh Frankton, and depart towards the Hordley – Rednalroad that runs by the canal to the A5 at Queens Head.There will be ample parking for trailers at your destination which is CanalCentral at Maesbury, from where transport will take entrants back to the start.Shortly after the start you will meet the Graham Palmer Lock, and just beforethe first milepost you will cross the point where the breach occurred on5th February 1936 which effectively cut off the remainder of the canal until therestoration in 1995.After crossing the new aqueduct over the River Perry you will be faced with theseemingly endless straight mile before the canal bears left towards the hamletat Rednal. After 3 miles there is the disused basin which allowed transhipmentof heavy goods onto the Railway. You will pass under the railways bridge andthen under the turnover canal bridge that allowed the towing horses to crossover to the towpath on the other side without unhitching from the boats that theywere pulling.Another long straight will bring you to the lunch stop at the recently refurbishedPaddlesports’ base at Queens Head.Only 2 miles to go after lunch but you will need to conserve some energy for the3 locks at Aston, with the Nature reserve on your right. Just over a mile afterAston Bottom Lock and you will see the chimney of the old glue factory as youreach the village of Maesbury. Only one more bridge and Canal CentralTeashop is on your left.Entry forms are available from [email protected]

Peter Richards

Discovery Day30th July 2011

D iscovery Day at theLlanymynech Limeworks

Heritage Area (SY22 6EA) isback after a year’s rest! Makesure to put the date in your diary.

There will be many stalls,activities, crafts, localorganisations, boat trips on thecanal and guided walks roundthe heritage site including thelimekilns.

For more information nearer thetime, or to book a stall foryourself contact Rosi atLlanymynech Village Hall.01691 839147.

Craft activities at the 2009Discovery Day

Skittles Challenge1st April 2011

Yes it’s back by popular demand and noit’s not an April fool’s joke. Well all jokes

have to be over by mid-day, don’t they?And this is an evening event at theBickerton Poacher, so no funny surprises!Food (another delicious lamb hotpot at£7.50) will be served from 7.15pm and thematch will kick off at 8.00pm.

Once again it will be between our branchand our neighbours – Chester and Stoke onTrent branches, so please come andsupport us and help us to retain the cup.Please contact Janet Farmer if you requirethe meal, 01270 811157 [email protected], at least oneweek before the day.

For those who want to camp at the pub for the weekend please contact theBickerton Poacher which is on the Wrexham Road (A534), Bulkekey SY14 8BE.Telephone 01829 720228

Shrewsbury District & North Wales Branch

2012 CalendarPHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION

We are now inviting entries for the Shrewsbury District &North Wales Branch photographic competition. The winningimages will be used in our 2012 branch calendar. Imagesshould be submitted in digital format at 300dpi minimum andshould be landscape format for the month pages and portraitformat for the cover. There will be a prize for the best picture.Just in case you didn’t already know, the Branch area covers:the Shropshire Union Canal from Droveway Bridge atPendeford to Barbridge Junction, the Middlewich Arm, theLlangollen and Montgomery Canals, Shrewsbury & NewportCanals and the River Severn north of Bewdley.Anyone can enter this free competition, and photos will notnecessarily be judged on their technical merit. We just wantto create an exciting and interesting calendar which can beenjoyed by everyone.Please send the following information with your pictures:Name, address, email and telephone numberLocation of the photographTime of year the picture was takenGood luck – there’s still time to get out there with yourcameras and take that winning shot. Your scope is wide:from evocative scenery – to transport history – to wildlife – infact anything that’s a snapshot of waterway life!

Please send your photographs [email protected]

Closing date: 1st May

SeptemberSun Mon Tue Wed Thu

FriSat1

23

45

67

8

910

1112

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2021

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January

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34

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7

89

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2223

2425

2627

28

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31

The 2012Shrewsbury

District & NorthWales branch

calendar

Thesearejustsome

examplesof what

the calendarmight look like.

Sendyour

picturesby 1st may

2011

Gronwyn BridgeMontgomery Canal

shroppie fly paper march 2011

Documents

pen y garreg lane

oswestry sy10

pen y cefn road

weston lane

secretary dawn aylwin

oswestry sy11

wales tyn y coed

editor david aylwin