Extracts from D1180 related to Framilode

Photos and documents relating to the Act.

By Iris Capps

The documents shown here were provided by Joan Tucker and are published here with the permission of the Directors of the Company of Proprietors of the Stroudwater Navigation.

They can be viewed on site.  If you prefer, you may download the accompanying .pdf

Dispute

The dispute concerning the right of way next to the river was sparked off by a man who was ferrying passengers across the river and landing them on Company land.  Frederick Wood was possibly one of those passengers.  In fact the ferry ran from the Darrel Arms to Crown Point, and not to Upper Framilode.  (Letter from Mr Snape and extract from the Act)

Location of Framilode Lock

The company of Proprietors of Stroudwater Navigation had difficulties in determining the right location for the Framilode Lock out into the River Severn, and asked Robert Whitworth (1738-99) of Calderdale to give an independent report.

He had worked for James Brindley as Chief Surveyor and Draughtsman until Brindley died in 1772.  When called upon to give the report in 1775 he was Surveyor to the Navigation Committee of the Corporation of London.  The Company was involved in considerable expense in bringing him to Framilode.

Fortunately his report was instrumental in the Company obtaining the new Act to enable them to continue cutting the canal.

Whitworth became the Surveyor to the Thames and Severn Canal which opened in 1789.

Leonard Pocket

The pay details are those of Leonard Pocket. Leonard Pocket worked for the Company from about 1918 until about 1964, as lock keeper, tidesman and lengthsman.  At his retirement he was the Company's only employee, and received a pension until his death aged 81 in March 1969.

He and his wife lived at the Lock House which they later bought, with some adjacent land which had been part of the former canal basin.