Endeavour

Northampton Branch

Newsletter - May 2015

1 to attempt (eg the fulfilment of an obligation) by exertion of effort; 2 archaic

to strive to achieve or reach ~ vi to make an effort to do something n

a serious determined effort

The IWA was founded in 1946 to campaign for the retention, restoration and development of Britain’s navigable waterways and for their fullest commercial and recreational use.

The IWA is a registered Charity (no. 212342) , whose work is supported by members’ subscriptions.

Richard Parry, CEO of The Canal & River Trust, with Bernard Morton after unveiling

the plaque and mural commemorating 200 years of the opening of the Northampton Arm.

Full report on page 20 and in Chairman’s Jottings.

Northampton Festival of Water 2015

at Becket’s Park, 29th-31st August For more details see pages 21 & 23

PHONE 01327 342363 / 341790

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EDITORIAL

MUSINGS

3

When presenting his report at the Branch AGM in March, Chairman Bernard Morton

voiced grateful thanks and praise to many of his colleagues, both on the Branch

Committee and others who lend their considerable weight but prefer to bypass com-

mittee work. However, there was one obvious omission – the Chairman himself

went without thanks.

There have been, at previous AGMs, occasions when a member of the audience has

risen to their feet and expressed appreciation of the Chairman’s efforts. But not this

time, and so I feel, on behalf of the Branch membership, this situation should be

rectified. Bernard, together with his wife Sandie (who, shall we say, by pure coinci-

dence {!} happens to be Branch secretary and who received her husband’s thanks)

ensure the Branch ticks over smoothly from month to month. A lot goes on in the

background, of course, such as arranging the annual dinner, etc, etc. Other duties are

more conspicuous. Bernard leads from the front and drives initiatives, an obvious

example being the adoption of the Northampton Arm. He is also among those at the

forefront in the organisation of the Northampton Festival of Water in August.

Now, happily, he is still prepared to soldier on, as evidenced by his willingness to

continue as Chairman when committee responsibilities were confirmed at the April

Branch committee meeting. So, Bernard, our sincere thanks to you. Just let us make

sure we give him our fullest support. And if anyone does find cause to criticise (and

Bernard, I imagine, is one who is well prepared to take it on the chin), then please

criticise thoughtfully and constructively. If not, make yourself known with an offer

to do it yourself!

Meantime, the next issue of Endeavour in August will focus on the Festival of Wa-

ter. Not unexpectedly, we shall be looking back to the IWA’s 1971 record breaking

National Rally at Becket’s Park and Old Stager is already realising this is a reminisc-

ing opportunity not to be missed. Why, in fact, shall we all be gathering at some-

where called Becket’s Park? More mature members may well know the answer. Old

Stager has already hinted to me that the venue might easily have been known as –

wait for it! – Cow Meadow Pastures. All will be revealed.

IWA Northampton Branch now has a Facebook page. It’s at https://www.facebook.com/IWANorthamptonBranch Members will find posts there about our talks, Task Party dates and much more, as well as being able to

use it for discussion purposes. We’d like to hear your views. We also have a Twitter account @northamptoniwa where you can leave us a message or

engage in discussion on what’s happening.

DIARY DATES 4

IWA Northampton Branch web site www.waterways.org.uk/northampton

Please visit it regularly to see any updates

June 1st Pond dipping at Stoke Bruerne - 01604 862229 for information and bookings

7th 1pm Mikron Theatre presents ‘One of Each’ on the Museum Green at Stoke Bruerne

7th before 10am Sunbeam Motorcycle Club – Rose of the Shires Run in Museum car park

9th 8pm IWA Northampton Branch Natter & Noggin at The Wharf Inn, Bugbrooke

12th Pre-Family Festival music night at The Navigation, Stoke Bruerne

13th & 14th Family Festival at Stoke Bruerne (details see page 10 or visit

www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk)

27th –28th Braunston Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival (see page 25 & back page)

July 11th-12th Buckingham Canal Festival (details 01908 662127)

21st Geocaching Event at Stoke Bruerne (details see page 9)

August 8th –9th Blisworth Canal Festival (details www.blisworthcanalfestival.co.uk)

11th 8pm IWA Northampton Branch Natter & Noggin at The Britannia, Bedford

Road, Northampton

29th-31st Festival of Water at Becket’s Park, Northampton (details see pages 21 and 23

and also in Chairman’s Jottings)

September 8th 6pm IWA Northampton Branch 3 mile walk, starting and finishing at the

Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth. More details will be on the website, Facebook

and Twitter

12th-13th Stoke Bruerne Village at War (details

www.friendsofcanalmuseum.org.uk)

NORTHAMPTON ARM TASK PARTY DATES June 9th, 28th. July 7th, 26th. August 4th, 23rd.

September 8th, 27th. October 6th, 25th. November 10th, 29th.

For details, contact geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk

or phone 01604 453932

BUCKINGHAM CANAL SOCIETY WORK PARTY DATES June 4th,14th, 18th. July 2nd, 12th, 16th, 30th.

August 9th, 13th, 27th. September 10th, 13th, 24th.

For details, contact Athina Beckett on 01908 662127

5

6

Stowe Hill Wharf, Heyford Lane,

Weedon, Northants NN7 4SF

Tel: 01327 341365

Proprietor Robert Gudgeon

welcomes you to Stowe Hill Workshop

Full Repaints

Hull Blacking/Stern Gear

Inspection and Repairs

Engine Repairs and Maintenance

Complete Fit-Out and Woodwork Alterations

Plumbing Installations and Repairs

Electrical Installations and Repairs

NEW — Fuel Polishing Service

Stockists of Morris Oils and Grease

Full range of Batteries always available

(please let us know your requirements)

By road we are easily found, a few yards off the A5 at Stowe Hill

towards Nether Heyford. By boat close to Bridge 26

ALL WORK UNDERTAKEN, FROM SIMPLE

TASKS TO COMPLETE FIT-OUTS

Branch Chairman’s Jottings

by Bernard Morton

7

FESTIVAL TIME NEARS. The following is how Northampton Borough Council

is promoting the Festival of Water at Becket’s Park on 28th – 31st August:

“The Northampton Festival of Water on the waterfront at Becket’s Park will have an

array of attractions on and off the water providing a fun day out for all the family.

Up to 200 boats, including leisure, trade, heritage and working narrow boats, are

expected in the marina and on the river front as well as canoes, rowing boats, sailing

boats, windsurfers and ribs. Organised by the Inland Waterways Association, festi-

val goers can expect to enjoy live music, theatre and dance, canal crafts demonstra-

tions, fundraising stalls, children’s activities and more.”

Sounds a rather challenging event in which to be prominently involved, doesn’t it?

But it must be emphasised that we are not alone in this venture – the Council’s blurb

in its widely distributed “What’s On” brochure does not mention that the Council

itself is a prime player along with the EA and CRT. Basically, the IWA Events

Team and Northampton Branch are organising the main activities and entertainments

with the Borough Council providing most of the infrastructure for the event, such as

power supplies, toilets, water and waste disposal. Plus, of course, the land required

without charge for the Festival at Becket’s Park and nearby, not forgetting the camp-

ing and caravanning facilities at Delapre Abbey. However, it seems there is a per-

ceived confusion in the dates of the Festival. For Festival entrants, the events kick-

off on the Friday 28th. As far as the public is concerned, it is a Saturday, Sunday and

Monday attraction and thus is being advertised as from the 29th – 31st. All clear now?

Obviously the organisers are now well into the thick of it and boat entries are being

steadily received. It goes without saying that volunteers are needed to help with a

variety of jobs over the entire Festival Bank Holiday weekend, including both before

and after, so please get in touch with me (contact details on page 38).

Festival Committee Chairman, John Pomfret, told you more about the Festival in the

February Endeavour. He will contribute again in the August issue. Meanwhile, for

all enquiries and booking forms, please go to the Festival web pages at

www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/festival_water/

northampton_festival_water_2015

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION AT GAYTON. I was so pleased when your

Branch Committee decided to hold a special get-together at Gayton Junction to mark

the opening of the Arm on the 1st May 1815. Sadly, we missed the actual date by one

day – our celebration was on Saturday, 2nd May - but it was certainly more timely

than waiting until the end of August at the River Festival to recognise the occasion.

A good number of members turned up at Arm End to enjoy a free BBQ, drinks and

other refreshments. The previous weekend our Task Party volunteers blitzed the site

around the sanitary station leaving it spick and span while liberal use of white paint

really smartened up the area overall.

Among our guests was CRT Chief Executive Richard Parry, who joined us after

8

opening the IWA’s London Cavalcade event and did us the honour of unveiling a

commemorative plaque as well as a colourful mural of the Arm (featuring a typical

lift bridge) created by the children of Gayton C of E Primary School with guidance

from professional artist David Bowers of Mosaic Madness. Some of the children

were present at the ceremony accompanied by their teachers. Much of the initial

design work for the mural had been carried out by Branch Committee member Sam

Line, together with David Blagrove (who needs no introduction), and I would like to

thank them both for their help with this project.

Joint Task Party organiser, Mick Butler, briefly outlined the outstanding work of the

volunteers who meet regularly twice a month to give the Arm TLC. In some areas of

the Arm, said Mick, it is now almost a question of hunt the towpath rubbish so metic-

ulous have our litter-pickers become. Richard warmly acknowledged our efforts,

saying how appreciated these were throughout the CRT organisation.

All in all, a very successful occasion. Although it was certainly a bit chilly, the rain

held off. However, had it rained we would have been well protected in the tentage

kindly loaned by The Friends of The Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne who enthusi-

astically supported us by transporting all the necessary equipment to Gayton from

Stoke aboard the Museum’s nb Sculptor. Also, grateful thanks to Bill and Liz

Mann who ran the BBQ and also to the refreshment ladies who I dare not mention

by name should I inadvertently miss one out – and then what trouble I would be in!

But you know who you are.

WEATHERWISE. The vagaries of our delightful climate have been demonstrated

clearly once again this winter and spring by the paucity of rain. Drought is the

dreaded word that comes to mind – but then again, deluge might suddenly take its

place. A friend of mine whose front room view overlooks the Washland flood lake

near the A45 at Northampton tells me that its low level hasn’t apparently changed in

months, and of course Nene boaters haven’t been plagued by a fast flowing river and

sudden flooding. CRT report adequate supplies of water and, at the time of writing,

effective management of this natural resource so vital to us should ensure trouble-

free boating. But who knows what the crystal ball is indicating. Fingers crossed for

a pleasant summer of traditional sunshine and showers (but not too prolonged and

heavy). Just

enough to get us

all to and from

Becket’s Park!

Richard Parry

(CRT) unveiling

the mural and

plaque alongside

Francesca (9)

from Gayton

Primary School

with Bernard

Morton and Mick

Butler (right)

9

Northampton Arm Stoppage Winter 2014/15

CRT Waterways Manager Neil Owen describes works

undertaken during the stoppage period

Duration of works 4 weeks, total cost approx 80k. We removed composite steel approximate-

ly 25 years old and timber gates and replaced them with traditional oak gates produced by

our repair yard in Bradley

Details of the works are as follows:- Replacement Lock 2 top gate, including new cills and vertical timber sealing post (jams) Replacement of cills to bottom gates and refitting of the gates to prevent leakage through the

mitre, heals and cill.

Replacement of top and bottom gates to Lock 13, including cills and jams. This required a 60t

crane located on the offside of the canal due to difficult access on the towpath side. All pad-

dles were checked and seals and bolts replaced as required.

Top gate Lock 7 refitted and lined to prevent water loss. Service of ground paddles seals and

bolts replaced as required

Ground paddles on Locks 2-4-5-6-13 serviced, including replacing worn bolts, checking rub-

bers and replacing as required.

In addition we carried out the following vegetation works on the Arm in January and Febru-

ary

1200 m2 reed cutting (using heavier duty methodology)

Offside cutting 1 m out from bank - 755 m

Offside cutting to the bank bends – 516 m

Trees- 45 small/medium multi stem trees on the offside bank.

Fender growth 577 m2

This is all in addition to the stoppage works two years ago when extensive underwater brick-

work repairs were completed.

The outstanding item is spot dredging on the Arm, which will be complete as minimum using

our dredger boat to ensure the channel is clear for the Festival of Water at Becket’s Park.

GEOCACHING EVENT AT STOKE BRUERNE

The Branch is co-organising a Geocaching event with Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership

on the evening of Tuesday, 21st July. If you’ve always wanted to find out more about this

popular global treasure hunting game – now’s your chance. All you need is a GPS or a

Smart Phone with the Geocaching App downloaded. It’s free to register a Geocaching

Account on-line. If you don’t have a GPS or a Smart Phone, don’t worry, we can team

you up with someone who has. More details will appear on websites closer to the time, so

keep an eye out. The event will be taking place at Stoke Bruerne and it is hoped all

those taking part will end up for a ‘noggin and natter’ in one of the two pubs, possibly

with a BBQ laid on. If you want more information, please contact Lynda Payton or Sam

Samuells on 01604 862501 or e-mail lynda.payton@waterways.org.uk

10

11

GRAND JUNCTION BOAT COMPANY

Boat Building and Fitting,

Marine Engineers, Electricians,

Agents for Yanmar Diesel Engines

CANAL MAINTENANCE YARD,

BLISWORTH ARM, boatrepairs.uk.com

NORTHAMPTON NN7 3EF info@boatrepairs.uk.com

Tel: 01604-858043 narrowboatrepairsnorthampton.co.uk

NEW BRANCH MEMBERS

ARE WELCOMED

We extend a warm welcome to the following who have joined Northampton Branch since the last issue of Endeavour

NEW MEMBERS

Mr C Joynson, Daventry

Mr C & Mrs C McCowen, Blisworth

Mr B Morgan, Daventry

Mr P Simpson, West Hunsbury

Mr D Robinson, Wellingborough

Mr R Louden & Family, Daventry

Mr S D & Mrs M J A Savage, Billing Garden Village

Mr A Simons & Family, Kettering

Mr R & Mrs S Winters, Harpole, Northampton

MEMBER WHO HAS TRANSFERRED

TO THE BRANCH

Mr D Milne, Crick

We look forward to meeting you all

at Branch events

12

BRANCH COMMITTEE MEETINGS REVIEW

FEBRUARY Arm’s 200th Anniversary Celebrations

Sandie Morton is in discussions with Mosaic Madness regarding the cre-

ation of a mural for the sani-station wall at Gayton Junction. Bill Mann

has agreed to run the BBQ.

Northampton Arm, Mile Post No 2

The replacement of this was discussed and all agreed that the Branch

should fund its manufacture. The proposal of a commemorative plaque

for Eric Young to be placed on a new mile post was discussed and agreed.

Festival of Water

Boat bookings and trader reservations were coming in slowly. A list of

previous advertisers had been received and a letter was being composed

to be sent out. A VIP is needed to open the event

Northampton Arm Adoption

The twice-monthly Task Parties were continuing, with attendances aver-

aging 10-12 people. The proposed banners advising the public of the Task

Party activities are awaiting Head Office approval. The new Northamp-

ton Arm leaflet, revised by Sam Line, is to be displayed in the unit by

Lock 1.

Membership

There are currently 465 members and 293 memberships

Reports from Local Societies

Braunston Canal Society —At the Society’s AGM, Chris Burton stood

down as Chairman with Nick Scrivens taking over. The Open Day at the

lock by the Admiral Nelson pub had been very popular with over 1,000

people attending over the two days.

MARCH Arm’s 200th Anniversary Celebrations

It was reported that Richard Parry will be attending and will unveil the

mosaic mural and plaque. The size of the mural was agreed at 1.2 m x 1m

and feature a horse-drawn working boat passing under a lift bridge. Neil

Owen has given permission for them to be mounted on the Sanitary Sta-

tion wall. Sculptor will be attending and bring catering equipment and

gazebos from The Friends of The Canal Museum on the Saturday morn-

ing.

13

Treasurer’s Report

Account balance was £5077,67 with £943.52 of planned expenditure

still to be debited. The promised donation of £200 for a defibrillator at

Stoke Bruerne is still pending whilst other contributors are sought.

Northampton Arm Adoption

The next Task Party will be around Lock 1 with re-painting of the shed

and the Lock Keeper’s hut and Lock 2 where a new gate has been in-

stalled.

Branch Magazine and Website

A special Endeavour with the Festival Event Programme as the flip side

in addition to the normal August edition was agreed.

Reports from Local Societies

Buckingham Canal Society — The Society’s AGM was held on 31st Janu-

ary with 60 people attending and Richard Parry giving a talk on the Fu-

ture of the Canal Network and Restoration. Cosgrove Festival will be

over the weekend 11th –12th July and will combine with the Cosgrove

Feast, which the village is reviving.

Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership—The planning for the installation of

interpretation boards is proceeding slowly. Wood for the supports is be-

ing brought from the Kennet and Avon via road and Sculptor.

Friends of Canal Museum—Six new picnic tables/benches have been or-

dered for the Museum Green.

APRIL Election of Officers

Branch Chairman - Bernard Morton

Vice-Chairman – Geoff Wood

Treasurer - Alex Madisons

Secretary - Sandie Morton

Membership Secretary/Task Parties - Geoff Wood

Events Committee Chairman /Task Parties - Mick Butler

Publicity Officer/Grants Officer - Lynda Payton

Branch Meeting Organiser - Graham Treagus

Editor - Tony Clarke

Website/Social Media Officer - Sam Line

All above were elected unopposed

Arm 200th Anniversary Celebrations

The mural will be made by the children of Gayton Primary School, who

14

are very enthusiastic.

Treasurer’s Report

A balance of £5392.20. Alex proposed that we should forego the per

capita payment for Endeavour. This means we will not have to pay pro-

duction costs and we should realise a surplus due to the level of adver-

tising.

Festival of Water 2015

It was reported that boat bookings are slow but more publicity will be

forthcoming, which should help. As promised EA have been busy dredging

the river near Lock 17, a very shallow area, and by Carlsberg.

Northampton Arm Adoption

A new sponsor is needed for the printing of the Northampton Arm leaf-

let. CRT had made an offer in the past to assist, so it was greed that

Lynda Payton would ask CRT if they are prepared support us with this

task. All notices about closing gates and paddles were in place.

CRT had requested Task Party help with clearing lock weirs. Geoff Wood

has been to look at these and considered we could only tackle one per-

Task Party as it is a time consuming job. Mileposts had been painted. No

2 still missing.

CRT

A new SE Waterways Manager, Vicky Martin, has been appointed. Sarah

Brown has recently been appointed as Community Development and En-

gagement Manager. Joe Salmon has been appointed as Sports Participa-

tion Manager and will be funded by Sport England. Stoke Bruerne Muse-

um will be selling licences etc on Wednesdays similar to the arrangement

at Braunston Stop House. Among CRT-funded projects are £100k on

towpath resurfacing, £300k on Northampton Arm, £300k at Cassiobury

Park, £200k on the digital Foxton Inclined Plane project and £350k on

the Aylesbury Arm.

Reports from Local Societies

Stoke Bruerne Canal Partnership -Task Parties are continuing and have

cut back hedging that was encroaching onto the Museum Green. Consent

applied for defibrillator as the Museum is a listed building. The Branch

has promised £200 towards the defibrillator costs and £200 towards

the picnic tables.

May Mile Post No. 2 /Eric Young memorial plaque

The Navigation

Stoke Bruerne

2 Meals for £10

Monday – Thursday

Live Music every Friday

Like our facebook to keep updated

with all offers and promotions

www.facebook.com/navigation.sb

www.navigationpubtowcester.co.uk

15

CRT is looking for a template and will seek quotes for the manufacture.

The Branch intends to hold a fund-raising appeal to help with costs.

Festival of Water

Mick Butler has secured sponsorship from Briggs and Forrester which

will cover the cost of wrist bands, and from Persimmon Homes for the

large entertainments marquee.

Northampton Arm

All agreed that the 200th Anniversary Celebration had been very worth-

while. It was well attended, not just by Branch members but by CRT, who

have supported our adoption and work on the Arm, and by new CRT ap-

pointees Vicky Martin and Sarah Brown. After opening the London Caval-

cade, Richard Parry later joined us and was very impressed with our work

and enthusiasm. Thanks go to Bill and Liz Mann for the BBQ and The

Friends of The Canal Museum for bringing Sculptor and equipment. Task

Parties were continuing to be well attended with 10-12 people at each

one. The area around the sani station had been cleaned up prior to the

event. The next few Task Parties will focus around Lock 17 where vege-

tation is growing quickly and encroaching on the landing point below the

lock. Mick Butler will see if Bellway

Homes will build a block bench

which could be covered in mosaic at

a later date. Santander are keen to

do another Task Party; this will be

different to our normal Tuesday

Party and will focus on painting

Locks 16 and 17

Nene Task Group

EA is in talks with landowners about

extending the moorings by the busy

Thrapston road bridge, with a poss-

ible new access point. Any install-

ation of pump-out/Elsan disposal

point here is dependent on lottery

funding. EA is proposing to charge

for its River Nene Guide in line

with other river guides.

16

From the earliest days of the Grand Junction Canal, Northampton wanted to be con-

nected with the main canal system. The opening of the upper River Nene to naviga-

tion in 1761 had been of benefit to the trade of the town, and when the first proposals

of a trunk canal passing through the county were beginning to be aired, local land-

owners and businessmen began to show a desire for such communication to pass

through the county town. There was, however, a most significant problem: North-

ampton lies in the valley of the River Nene and all communications, other than north-

eastward along the river valley, must cross a range of hills at some point.

Various proposals were made that offered the town a transport facility, including a

canal that would pass northwards from Northampton through Market Harborough to

Leicester and the Trent, but on 30th April 1793 the Grand Junction Canal received its

Enabling Act authorising the building of a branch to Northampton, thus causing great

satisfaction. However, more than 18 years were to pass before this branch canal be-

came a fact. The height difference of just over 107 feet (32.1m) between the Grand

Junction Canal and the River Nene at Northampton was to prove a hard obstacle to

overcome; but the financial difficulties were even greater.

By the spring of 1796 a point of junction was selected at the boundary of the parishes

of Blisworth and Gayton. The Grand Junction’s engineer, James Barnes was ordered

to survey and estimate for a canal on the newly selected line. In September 1796 the

Grand Junction Canal was open to Blisworth from the north; the road from Towces-

ter to Far Cotton passing through the village had been turnpiked and improved and,

pending the completion of the rest of the canal, Northampton had to be content with

that for the time being. During the years 1796 to 1800 the Grand Junction Company

was completing its main line and the Paddington Arm and concentrated its efforts on

these tasks. In the meantime a planned canal to Northampton from the north had run

into difficulties, largely the result of price inflation due to the war with France. Con-

struction had stalled at Debdale Wharf, north of Foxton, and no work had been done

since April 1797. Northampton now found itself with only one water route, via the

Nene and The Wash to London and the north; otherwise its industries were depend-

ent upon turnpike roads. The River Nene Commissioners were also becoming frac-

tious and even offered to assist with the finance. Several solutions involving horse

railways were put forward but unfortunately for the town nobody else was prepared

to finance these proposals and the matter rested.

Agreement was reached in February 1803 to build a part canal, part railway, which

eventually became a very short arm out of the main line at the selected point on the

Gayton/Blisworth boundary and a long length of railway from there to Far Cotton,

THE STORY OF THE

NORTHAMPTON ARM

By David Blagrove

17

where an interchange wharf was to be built beside the river. Work commenced in

late 1804 and then speeded up with the completion of Blisworth Tunnel in the fol-

lowing spring. Work was completed on 7th October 1805 at a final cost of £12,000.

Like its predecessor at Blisworth Hill, the railway was of plateway section.

For nearly 10 years the railway served Northampton but from the very beginning its

shortcomings were many. Pilfering and breakages were always problems, while

some commodities did not lend themselves to transport by the small wagons, timber

being a good example. There seemed to be little prospect of the canal down the val-

ley from Market Harborough ever being completed and when, in 1809, a canal was

promoted to link the unfinished Old Union Canal with the Grand Junction at Norton,

Northampton opposed the Bill which was largely sponsored by Grand Junction inter-

ests. At this point the Grand Junction agreed to build a canal to Northampton - but

with narrow locks. This was because, although the Grand Union’s line was built with

wide bridges and tunnels the locks at Watford and Foxton were made narrow to save

water and consequently the Grand Junction would not receive water from the GU

summit in sufficient quantity to operate wide locks to Northampton. A clause was

inserted in the Act to the effect that should the locks at Watford and Foxton be wid-

ened, the Northampton Arm locks would also be dealt with. This clause has never

been repealed.

Work on the Northampton Arm began in summer 1812. The Northampton railway

now brought materials on site more readily than road-based carts. Finally, on 1st May

1815, a huge crowd gathered at Far Cotton to see the first boats arrive. The final

length of the Arm from the Main Line to the Nene was a little over five miles.

Northampton as a town had stagnated for decades. Its population in 1811 was proba-

bly less than it had been in 1400. From 1815, though, the town’s population began to

grow, and has done ever since. By 1831 it had nearly tripled. Industries sprang up

round the waterside. Breweries, foundries, gasworks, timber yards and storage

wharves appeared in what became known as the South Quarter and as far upstream

as West Bridge. The provision of public hygiene was ignored and the South Quarter

became notorious for disease, but the rest of the town, including the boot and shoe

industry, flourished. Almost immediately the Arm carried a large volume of mer-

chandise and a considerable quantity passed onto the Nene. Upstream traffic though,

if carried by river lighter, had to be transhipped at Far Cotton or other wharves.

The advent of the railway after 1844 does not seem to have greatly affected the for-

tunes of the Northampton Arm. The new railway threw off a branch to Market Har-

borough. It is believed that much of the brickwork required for the Market Har-

borough line was brought down the Arm from Savage’s brickworks at Stoke Bruerne

and Gayton and unloaded onto contractors’ wagons at the site of the original bridge.

The growth of the town continued, with a huge spurt in late Victorian times. The

requirements of this augmented population more than compensated for any traffic

lost to railway competition, particularly as so much industry was concentrated near

the waterside.

18

The main carrying company, Pickfords ceased regular long-distance canal trade in

1841. Much of their work was taken over by the Grand Junction Canal Carrying

Company, and an engraving of the 1840s shows a pair of Grand Junction boats lying

stern on to Bridge Street in a long-vanished arm on what is now the site of Carls-

berg’s Brewery. During the 1880s the railway geography of Northampton was great-

ly altered with the building of a loop line directly from the main West Coast line. As

part of the new arrangements, a new locomotive shed was required and the railway

company purchased part of the original line above the bottom lock for this. The canal

was then diverted to pass north of its original line, which course it still follows. The

entrance to the old line is still evident between Lock 17 and the adjacent lift bridge

site.

A very intensive traffic worked over the Arm at one period was ironstone. In the

Blisworth area there were several ironstone pits connected by tramway to loading

points on the canal and the raw ironstone was taken from these points down the Arm

to a wharf below Lock 15, from where it was taken to the adjacent Hunsbury Hill

furnaces for smelting. A heavy traffic ensued, augmented by the demands of the 1914

-18 war. However, the furnaces ceased production in 1923 and the traffic ceased.

Bricks were also carried from a small brickworks near Bridge No 3 at Sandlanding

Wharf.

After the end of hostilities in 1918, although the local ironstone industry fell on hard

times, the Arm remained busy with traffic, notably coal, grain and timber and such

items as imported strawboards for boot and shoe packing purposes as well as iron

ingots for castings. The Grand Junction company built a warehouse just above Lock

17 at Far Cotton to deal with some of this traffic requiring covered storage. One up-

ward traffic was gas tar from the Northampton gasworks to tar distilleries at either

Banbury or Oldbury.

In 1929 the Grand Junction Canal was taken over by the Regent’s Canal Company

and the new augmented concern renamed the Grand Union Canal. The new company,

looking to increase the traffic carried over the whole system, soon after acquired a

small carrying concern, Associated Canal Carriers Ltd of Northampton and set about

increasing the fleet. This fleet grew considerably during the 1930s and was renamed

the Grand Union Canal Carrying Co (GUCCC).

The once-extensive grain trade to Northampton and Wellingborough, which was se-

verely curtailed during World War Two, revived again after the war. Following na-

tionalisation of the canals as from January 1948, a steady general decline set in. The

last regular coal trade, to the Rousselot Gelatine Works on the Nene, ceased around

1959; the gas tar trade ended in 1953 and other commodities gradually ceased as road

competition strengthened.

By 1968 it was evident that the survival of the Arm was in doubt. There was very

little pleasure traffic using it, one reason being that the River Nene authorities de-

manded an extra licence for passing beyond Lock 17. In consequence, a group of

19

local enthusiasts formed what was to become in due course the IWA Northampton

Branch at a meeting at the Plough Hotel, Northampton, in September 1968. Although

the grain trade could not be saved (the last boats passed in April 1969), the Branch

was more successful in persuading the powers-that-were to retain the Arm in naviga-

ble condition. Rallies were organised to publicise the fact that the Arm formed a link

between the Fenland waterways and the main system, culminating in the hugely suc-

cessful IWA National Rally of 1971, attended by some 650 boats, the majority of

which made the passage down the Arm.

As the leisure use of waterways increased during the 1970s and 80s, so the demand

for secure off-line moorings rose. In 1980 a piece of land that lay between the one-

time clay pit north of Bridge 2 and the oil depot was excavated to form what is now

Gayton Marina. Then, during the planning stage of the A43 Blisworth bypass in the

late 1980s, it appeared that the proposed road would adversely affect the part of the

Arm between Locks 2 and 12. The Branch entered an objection to this aspect and was

supported in this by British Waterways. Following a Public Enquiry at Blisworth at

which the Branch’s objections were heard, the line of the road was altered slightly so

as to protect the amenity of the canal. Presently, in the wake of our Branch’s adoption

of the entire length, the Arm would seem to be entering a new, positive era.

Long live the Northampton Arm!

This view from Lock 10, with the M1 in the background, was taken by John Russell in April 1992

20

Lynda Payton, Branch Publicity Officer, issued the following Press Re-

lease after our celebration at Gayton Junction:

A mosaic mural to mark the 200th anniversary of the opening of the Northampton

Canal Arm on 1st May 1815 has been unveiled at Gayton Junction on the Grand Un-

ion Canal.

The mural, funded by The Inland Waterway Association’s Northampton Branch

which adopted the 4¾ mile long Arm two years ago, has been designed and made by

children from Gayton C of E Primary School with the help of local mosaic artist Da-

vid Bowers.

Francesca, aged 9, one of the children who helped make the mural, supported by

Richard Parry, Chief Executive of the Canal & River Trust, which provided the ac-

companying commemorative plaque, unveiled the artwork. Richard Parry said: “It

was a real pleasure to join such a positive and active local group of volunteers to

celebrate the 200th anniversary. The mural is wonderful - a very fitting celebration

of the history of this very special section of our great canal system”

The ceremony, which also featured a barbecue party and the cutting of a large birth-

day cake, marked the start of the bicentenary celebrations that will culminate in the

IWA’s Northampton Festival of Water, which is being held at the bottom of the Arm

on the River Nene at Becket’s Park over the August Bank Holiday weekend on Au-

gust 29th -31st.

More information about the Northampton

Festival of Water can be found at

www.waterways.org.uk/etc.

COMMEMORATING 200 YEARS

OF THE NORTHAMPTON ARM

21

A full programme has been announced for the Northampton Festival of Water being

held at Becket’s Park in Northampton over the August Bank Holiday, 29th-31st Au-

gust. The free entry event will have plenty for everyone to see and do. Starting with a

Boaters Quiz and BBQ on Friday evening, the weekend continues with live music

from Braunston Pickle, Ukebox Jury, Martin Day, Dave Fry, Chris Tymkow and

Chris Tobin and headline band, Grandma’s Wooden Leg, will be entertaining on Sat-

urday night. As well as trade and market stalls, there will be trade and historic boats

on the water and an illuminated boat parade. Local Queen’s Oak and Brackley Morris

Sides will be dancing on Saturday and Sunday and a Dog Display Team will also be

going through its paces. Children will be kept amused by family entertainer Chuckle-

foot, Thomas the Tank Engine will be chugging around the site and other children’s

rides will be available as well as face painting and other activities. Boaters who have-

n’t explored Northampton’s waterways before will have the opportunity to take part

in a regular Northampton Branch event – the Westbridge Challenge. A boat handling

competition is planned and it’s rumoured the local Sea Cadets will be out in force.

The weekend is set to be a bumper one so if you are coming by boat, caravan or are

camping - book in now! For those without a Gold Licence and wanting to explore the

local waterways further, special 2-for-1 registration is being offered by the Environ-

ment Agency and the Canal & River Trust, which will double your cruise duration

when booked through the Festival booking process.

Forms and more details are available on the website at:

https://www.waterways.org.uk/events_festivals/festival_water/

northampton_festival_water_2015

Opening hours are 10—6 Saturday & Sunday and 10-4 Monday with the usual boat-

ers entertainment on the Friday evening. Parking in Northampton Borough Council

car parks and the event car park in Midsummer Meadow will be free all weekend.

The Festival is being organised jointly by the IWA Events Committee and North-

ampton Branch, so we hope you will all want to support the event. There are plenty

of jobs for volunteers to do, from lock wheeling to giving out programmes.

Any Branch members who are willing to help should contact Sandie Morton on

01604 858294 or e-mail northampton@waterways.org.uk

Festival of Water, 29th-31st August,

at Becket’s Park, Northampton

An overall update

22

23

RICHARD GILL BSc, MABSE

BOAT SAFETY TESTING BW AND EA APPROVED

EXPERIENCED EXAMINER WITH 25 YEARS WORKING ON THE

WATERWAYS

Grand Union, Oxford & Leics Canals

Rivers Nene and Thames

RING: 07889 10 99 39 rgbarcos70@btinternet.com

The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine, but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy or an official announcement unless so stated, otherwise the Association accepts no liability for any matter in the magazine. Neither the editor nor IWA can accept responsibility for any errors or omissions in the magazine, and opinions stated are those of individual contributors. We will, however, gladly publish corrections if notified. The editor reserves the right to shorten or modify articles published in the interests of clarity or space.

HIGH HOUSE MARINA LTD

High House Wharf, Heyford Lane, Weedon, Northants NN7 4SF

OUR SMALL MARINA (ONLY 24 BOATS)

IS A VERY FRIENDLY PLACE TO BE MOORED, HENCE OUR CLIENTS

TEND TO STAY PUT

Our car park is quite secure and well hidden from the road

WE DO NOW AND AGAIN HAVE A VACANCY,

SO WHY NOT GIVE US A CALL?

Contact Phil Gardner on 01327 349519, E-mail:phil.h.gardner@btconnect.com

DAY BOAT HIRE FROM BRAUNSTON

OUZEL 11

Cruise either towards Napton or Hillmorton and return

The Ouzel 11 seats up to 12 people

It has hot and cold water in the galley, crockery, cutlery and glasses on board,

a gas ring, kettle and flush toilet. Buoyancy aids on request.

Prices:

Weekends and Bank Holidays: £160.00. Monday - Friday: £125.00

Returnable deposit: £50.00

UNION CANAL CARRIERS LTD

Braunston Pump House, Dark Lane, Braunston, Daventry, Northants. NN11 7HJ

Tel 01788 890784 Fax 01788 891950

24

25

Tim Coghlan, of Braunston Marina, writes: Plans and preparations are well under way for the 13th Braunston Historic Narrow-

boat Rally & Canal Festival – co-sponsored by Braunston Marina and Towpath Talk.

From its small beginnings in 2003, the event has become the premier rally and festi-

val on the English canals. Its success formula is now much copied, with similar

events springing up all over the canal network. This is good for the canals – but

Braunston Rally remains the best, with by far and away the most historic narrow-

boats and visitors in attendance.

The Rally’s location is at the heart of the canal network, in the beautiful setting of

the historic Braunston Marina and the canal and village at Braunston. But probably

most importantly for the boaters and visitors is the ability for the boats to parade in a

sort of figure of 8. The twice-daily parades of 80 or more ancient canal leviathans is

a challenge for the steerers and a spectacular sight for visitors and photographers

alike, with so many vantage points along the canal and within the Marina, including

the famous waterside beer tent – the Wet Dock!

The Rally also inspires the restoration and ongoing maintenance of the surviving

fleet of historic narrowboats, 150 of which have already attended various rallies over

the years, with some not seen before already booked in for this year. Three of the

regular attendees are having makeovers this winter, with Raymond and Sculptor both

having the work done in our large dry dock at Braunston Dock – both sponsored by

Braunston Marina.

Another historic narrowboat that has received a major makeover this winter is the

Fellows Morton & Clayton butty Kildare, which is paired with President – the last

surviving steam working narrowboat. The pair will be the star of the Rally which will

have the theme of the surviving Fellows Morton & Clayton fleet, several of which

predate WWI, including President and Kildare.

We are delighted to announce that Richard Parry, CEO of the Canal & River Trust,

has accepted our invitation to open the Rally. He has sportingly agreed to don work-

ing boatmen’s clothes to perform the traditional opening by steering President with

Kildare in tow, into the marina from the Grand Union Canal and declaring the Rally

open – to the fine sounds of church bells of Braunston and Daventry Brass band.

Kildare will be steered by CRT Chairman Tony Hales, who is a regular attendee and

joiner-in at our Rallies, and has already opened the rally in 2011. The traditional

theatrical-spectacular opening should make for a splendid start to what will undoubt-

edly be THE canal Rally of 2015! Here’s looking to seeing you there!

Steaming up for the thirteenth Braunston

Historic Narrowboat Rally & Canal Festival

at Braunston Marina, 27 th – 28th June, 2015

26

27

Hello to all Endeavour recipients. Enclosed with this edition are two books of

Grand Draw tickets which will give you the splendid opportunity to take part, not

only in the prize draw, but perhaps most importantly, support the efforts of the vol-

unteers in the restoration of more canal for your use and enjoyment.

The Wendover Arm Trust Grand Draw this year is again to raise further funds for

the restoration of the canal, which feeds water from Wendover to the summit level

of the Grand Union canal at Bulbourne. The restoration is carried out by a dedicated

team of volunteers who meet for seven days each month to continue restoring the

route of the canal, now working from Drayton Beauchamp towards Little Tring. The

current cost to restore one metre of canal has been calculated at about £450.00,

hence the ongoing need to raise further funds. There are no grants.

The prizes for this year include a first prize of one weeks Boating Holiday, spon-

sored by Wyvern Shipping of Leighton Buzzard; a second prize of a Day Boat hire,

sponsored by Lee Valley Boat Centre; a third prize of a Virgin Experience Day - a

visit to the Shard, with dinner for two; a fourth prize of £100 cash. There are many

other valuable prizes to be won. These are shown on the Trust’s website –

www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk , along with the latest information regarding restora-

tion.

The Trust hopes you will sell these two books of tickets, returning the counterfoils

and a cheque to the Promoter. If you can sell more tickets to your friends or at your

workplace, then call Michael Wright on 01727-860137, E-mail

draw@wendoverarmtrust.co.uk Your enquiry would be most welcome. The tickets

this year have been sponsored by P E Mead and Sons, Wilstone Farm Shop and are

priced at £1 each.

The Draw will take place on Sunday 6th September 2015, during the Retsoration

Open Day at Drayton Beauchamp, when it is possible to see our restoration volun-

teers in action and the progress being made.

Visit www.wendoverarmtrust.co.uk for full details. Visit us to see the new section

that has just been re-watered

Thank you in anticipation of your essential support

Wendover Arm Trust — Grand Draw 2015

These pictures were taken from bridge 4a before and after re-watering in April

28

SUPPLIES

29

Northamptonshire

RESTAURANT º BARS º BOAT TRIP

DINE IN STYLE IN WOODWARD’S

CANALSIDE RESTAURANT

01604 862428

www.boatinn.co.uk

We are a family run, customer friendly

business based adjacent to Bridge 32 at

Nether Heyford. Our service point is clear

of moored boats making your stop quick

and easy. We offer the following services:

DIESEL – always competively priced

PUMP OUT – no meter clock here

BLUE TOILET FLUID

ODORLOS – organic waste tank treat-

ment

CALOR GAS – all sizes of bottled gas

including Camping Gaz.

SOLID FUELS – all types of smokeless

fuel or coal. Plus firelighters, sticks and

logs.

CHARNWOOD STOVES – all sizes of

multi-fuel stoves with or without boilers

MORRIS OILS – popular grades of

engine oil plus water resistant grease

FUEL SET FUEL CONDITIONER

Most Major Credit Cards Accepted.

Open: 8.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday,

8.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays

Fred Tarry Bridge Cottage

Furnace Lane

Nether Heyford

Northampton, NN7 3JY

Telephone/Fax: 01327-341202 Email : rhigginbottom@btconnect.com

SAVE THE BRANCH

MONEY!

Stop receiving Endeavour by

post and instead get it elec-

tronically. You will be notified

by email when it’s published on

-line. This will save in postage

and printing costs. The printed

version will be available at

Branch meetings.

Contact Geoff Wood at

geoff.wood@waterways.org.uk

and he will organise it.

Editor

30

IWA’s Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) has launched its 2015 Canal Camp dates. WRG

will be running 27 Canal Camps across England and Wales from as far south as the Stover

Canal to as far north as the Driffield Navigation.

A close up on Camps Canal Camps are a great way to experience the great outdoors whilst working on really worth-

while projects. If you love spending time in Britain’s countryside learning about its industrial

heritage, then Canal Camps are for you. They also offer a great opportunity for you to meet

new people and learn new skills. Volunteers come from all walks of life - all you need is the

enthusiasm to get stuck in and learn. Each camp costs £56 for the week and is open to anyone

aged over 18. In 2014 WRG spent 40,000 volunteer hours working towards the restoration of

derelict waterways and we want to do even more in 2015!

Camps in 2015 WRG ’s 27 Canal Camps will be hosted by 12 different canal trusts and societies this year on

some great sites. We will be working on the Monmouthshire Canal helping to restore the Ty

Coch Lock flight as well as possibly having the chance to assist in the installation of modular

lock gates. We will also be working on the Ashby Canal restoring and rebuilding not one but

two bridges as well as heading over to the Grantham Canal working on an exciting new site

carrying out lock restoration work. If you’d like to know more about volunteering with WRG,

please contact Jenny or Amber at WRG Head Office – 01494 783 453 ext 604, email enquir-

ies@wrg.org.uk or visit the WRG website www.wrg.org.uk

2015 so far…

Already this year WRG volunteers have been working hard having cleared vegetation and

undertaken towpath improvement works on the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation on the

February Canal Camp. Over 40 volunteers also spent two weeks brick laying at Bowbridge

Lock on the Cotswold Canals. A bit closer to home found 100 volunteers in April clearing the

Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) on 18th and 19th April. Volunteers spent the weekend

clearing over 40 tonnes of rubbish along the BCN Old Main Line at Smethwick Junction and

surrounding locks.

Festival Season

On August Bank Holiday WRG will be holding their ‘Drive a Digger’ attraction at IWA’s

Northampton Festival of Water. From Saturday 29th

- Monday 31st August we will be running 10 mi-

nute long sessions where both children and adults

can have a go at operating the excavator’s arm and

play a series of ‘games’ to test your skills. Look out

for us there and make sure you get involved.

To support these camps and enable them to take

place, WRG owns a set of four vans. These vans

will travel around 10,000 miles annually across the

country to ensure WRG keeps running smoothly.

Help keep WRG on the Move – £120,000 Appeal

IWA has launched an appeal to help WRG raise

£120,000 to purchase the four vans with the aim of

buying two vans in 2015 and a further two in 2016.

Since WRG first purchased the set of vans around

WRG’s Summer Canal Camps

31 eight years ago, they have been driven a total of 400,000 miles. This is the equivalent of trav-

elling around the world sixteen times! WRG’s vans play a vital role transporting volunteers,

equipment and tools on WRG’s week-long Canal Camps and weekend digs across England

and Wales, and without them WRG couldn’t continue to support canal restoration. The current

fleet of four much-loved Transit vans needs to be retired and it is time to find new sets of

wheels for the next generation of volunteers.

We can’t do this without you. The appeal needs the support of people like you who are pas-

sionate about waterways restoration to help reach the target. If you would like to help WRG

get the essential equipment for restoring canals, then please make a donation or get involved in

one or more of the many exciting events and activities that will take place throughout the ap-

peal.

Ways to Donate

Online: See www.wrg.org.uk/wrgvanappeal for how to donate via the Virgin Money Giving

appeal page.

Cheque: Make cheques payable to The Inland Waterways Association and send them to WRG

Van Appeal, Island House, Moor Road, Chesham, HP5 1WA.

Debit/Credit Card or Direct Debit: See the appeal leaflet inside this issue of Waterways that

explains how to pay by credit/debit card or set up a direct debit.

If you would like any further information on the appeal visit www.wrg.org.uk/wrgvanappeal

or contact Toby Gomm at 01494 783453 ext. 611.

TO SUM IT ALL UP — a note

from our Branch Treasurer

First, a thank you. Without those people who support Branch social events, attend the Boat

Gathering, advertise in the magazine and make a donation towards the Northampton Arm Task

Parties, we wouldn’t be able to survive as an IWA Branch. We rely on the funds and donations

that these events raise to be able to campaign for better and safer facilities, to help bring back

disused stretches of waterway and to help improve the quality of the waterways for all users.

We have made donations to other waterways groups to the sum of £1,098 over the year and

our major donation from the proceeds of the Boat Gathering went to Braunston Canal Society.

Our monthly social event at The Walnut Tree at Blisworth has financed itself again, thanks in

part to Bernie and Donald Turnbull keeping the charge for the room at the same rate again this

year.

At the end of the year we had a balance of £6,092. This might seem a lot to hold in our ac-

counts. We took a decision to reduce this amount to close to £4,500 which would be made up

of funds allocated for use on the Northampton Arm from the disbanded Grand Union Canal

Society (£1,600), and a £2,000 contingency for our Boat Gatherings – we need to be able to

meet any unforeseen costs, because in two previous years (2012 –2013) we made a loss owing

to cancellation due to adverse weather conditions. We also need to keep a £1,000 as a general

reserve fund.

However, we don’t want to spend the remainder in order just to reduce the balance, so are

reducing this balance slowly. As a committee, we would welcome any ideas you may have so

funds can be put to good use. This little note is far from being a financial report, but I hope it

gives you a small view of how we try to use the funds we receive. If you do have any ques-

tions, you can contact me at alex.madisons@waterways.org.uk

Alex Madisons

32

With the IWA’s mini “national rally” at Northampton just around the corner, it

seems timely to delve into the history books to learn something about the Associa-

tion’s first ever rally – it lasted the best part of a week – at nearby Market Har-

borough in mid-August 1950.

My chosen work of reference is, of course, Robert Aickman’s The River Runs Uphill,

written in 1967 but which languished unpublished until 1986, the Association’s 40 th

anniversary year, when Michael Pearson was able to organise publication by his com-

pany, J.M. Pearson via “a friend of a friend”. The book deals with the early years of

the IWA, the material being sourced largely from the Association’s Bulletin – a tour

de force from the author’s own pen – but the only chapters concerning us here are

those entitled The Festival 1 and The Festival 11. Both are prime examples of Aick-

man’s individualistic stylish prose. I won’t go into the politics surrounding the book

and its publication – Market Harborough is my chosen topic and I will stick with it.

“Towards the end of 1949, we felt that it was time we did something for the Mem-

bers,” wrote Robert, adding: “We thought that a small rally of boats would best meet

the case: undeniably a contribution to the Association’s campaign, and at the same

time an established method of promoting competitive enjoyment among boatowners.

An important point, however, was that only a small minority of our Members owned

boats: we were neither a boat club nor a trade association. The need to provide sup-

plementary attractions for the majority led to conflict and to astonishment.”

The co-operation of Market Harborough Urban District Council (do you remember

these bodies?) was sought and quickly given, the event going forward under the ban-

ner declaring a “Festival of Boats and Arts”, which clearly appealed to Robert’s

strong theatrical leanings. Tom Rolt’s initial estimate of boat attendance was 20 to

30. The final boat count was 120 – “filling the Canal Basin and winding far out into

the country”, we are told.

A major feature of the Festival was the plays presented in the Assembly Rooms.

Explorer and ornithologist Peter Scott filled a major role in this venture as well as in

the general organisation of the event. Overall, Robert made full use of his theatrical

and other wide-ranging connections; he was adept at name-dropping but all to great

effect.

Robert wrote: “In the Basin we placed the converted narrow boats, and arranged for

them to be floodlighted every evening; the Severn Wildfowl Trust’s Beatrice was

moored in a small inlet of her own, where her blithe complement dispensed joy at all

times. Every day the Festival lasted, the crowds on the towpath grew. The District

Council’s estimate of the final attendance was more than 50,000 persons. Unfortu-

Old Stager looks back to…

THE MARKET HARBOROUGH RALLY WHICH SPARKED THE FESTIVAL SCENE

IWA Northampton Branch now has a Facebook page. It’s at https://www.facebook.com/IWANorthamptonBranch Members will find posts

there about our talks, Task Party dates and much more, as well as being able to use it for discussion purposes. We’d like to hear your

views. We also have a Twitter account @northamptoniwa where you can leave us a message or engage in general discussion.

33

nately, no arrangement could be arrived at, whereby we, who did not own the tow-

path, could charge for the spectacle; and the spectacle was not of the kind for which

more can be extracted from voluntary collecting boxes than from a fixed payment, as

is the case, for example, with a cathedral; though, of course, we did what we could in

that way. The weather remained generally fair, despite some very heavy showers; or

the towpath would have become impassable, as happened at several subsequent Ral-

lies.” He added: “Morale seemed to remain high; with a large number in an appro-

priate condition of continuously advanced euphoria.”

There were fringe attractions “almost beyond cataloging”, ranging from a Festival

Queen and displays of Polish National Dancing to a chess tournament. “We had

smoked out all the talent which hides away, insufficiently vitaminised , in every Eng-

lish country town,” Robert observed. There were “alfresco nocturnal oscillations for

all” to the Rogues of Rhythm Dance Band. A firework display at the cricket ground

attracted an estimated crowd of 20,000. The whole event was rounded off with a

Grand Festival Ball and awards presentation. The Market Harborough Advertiser

“took photograph after photograph”.

Robert summed up: “The 1950 Festival changed the entire prospect for the water-

ways of Britain; in the main, by simply reminding people, other than specialists, of

their existence, and especially by manifesting the enormous potential for pleasure

boating. It would hardly be too much to say that an entire new form of public recrea-

tion entered history at Market Harborough. Brought in first, amid much controversy,

as a somewhat desperate auxiliary in the campaign for a revival of commercial car-

riage, pleasure boating came to dominate the entire struggle, and ultimately trans-

formed the inner life of the Association.”

Condensing the happenings at the Market Harborough Festival from two chapters

comprising 13 pages crammed with personal detailed observation in Robert’s inimi-

table style, has proved a challenging exercise. The best way is to get a copy of the

book and read it for yourself

Sadly, the Festival was dogged by internal conflicts – but that was happening within

the Association at the time. Nevertheless, undoubtedly it was a glorious occasion,

achieved principally through Robert Aickman’s sheer force of personality and drive,

wholeheartedly supported by the VIPs he attracted to the event. We learn there was

a deficit - £70, a sum which Robert describes as “minuscule”. I am sure our Joint

Founder persuaded a kindly benefactor to help out!

Buckingham Canal Society

34

It is evident that 2015 is going to be a good year for the Society. Already we have

obtained grants from the Local Area Forum and the Community Chest. The LAF

grant was for £2,000 and was used for materials, enabling us to buy new signage for

the Buckingham end of the canal. CRT, in allowing us to use their procurement sys-

tem to buy both signage and timber, extended this money which means we don’t pay

VAT so out grant is effectively boosted by 20%. And as always our volunteers and a

corporate volunteering day provided the labour. So new signs, new benches in the

Hyde Lane Nature Reserve and raised awareness of our work. The Community Chest

grant was for £7,000 and will enable us to appoint our first employee, a part-time

Support Officer (SO). Once again CRT is helping and our SO will be able make use

of office accommodation at the Trust’s Milton Keynes offices. The benefits of part-

nership and CRT’s commitment to canal restoration are highlighted by both projects.

The post will advertised soon and Network Rail’s HR team has indicated it will help

provide the necessary documentation and policies.

During the last two months we have made great inroads into solving the problem of

the leak at Bourton Meadow in Buckingham. Many of you will be aware of the prob-

lems following the initial relining, with ionic exchange causing the original liner to

fail. Well, in March, four trustees waited on a very cold day for a large articulated

lorry to arrive from Germany. Although it was a little late, with the help of Nick

Hawes we unloaded the large rolls of geotextile and HDPE liner and got them onto

the land next to the canal. Soon afterwards the original contractor spent four weeks

laying and heat sealing the three layers and backfilling with soil. Just after Easter the

canal was refilled with water and so far water loss has been in line with our expecta-

tions. We now have 6,000 aquatic plants to plant, also supplied at no cost by the con-

tractor; so all volunteers are welcome to help with this and other work. The most

important thing is that this work has been completed at no cost to us for materials and

labour although many volunteer hours and visits by the trustees throughout the works

have enabled successful completion.

Now we are keeping our fingers crossed that a grant application to WREN will be

successful. This will provide £30,000 to purchase material for the construction of a

sustainable and hardwearing footpath along the full length of the canal within the

nature reserve. Again, in the autumn, we will need lots of volunteers to undertake the

construction and to move the many tons of stone we will have to purchase. Obvious-

ly more news on this when we hear from WREN, but the LAF has already granted

£2,700 towards this project and this is an important element of any successful WREN

grant application.

Finally, in closing, whilst we always welcome new volunteers, you can also support

our work by attending the Cosgrove Canal Festival which this year is in partnership

with the Cosgrove Feast over the weekend of 11th-12th July.

Mike Annan, Society Chairman

35

Local Crafts & Gifts

THE CANAL SHOP

at Stoke Bruerne

Under the management

of Sue Austin, who

warmly welcomes all visitors

Crocheted lacework a speciality

Special offer –10% off for boaters

SUMMER OPENING TIMES

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and

Sundays from 11am - 3.30pm

Contact 07760 778638

You will find The Canal Shop oppo-site the Museum at Stoke Bruerne

Now fully open

WHILTON

MARINA

CHANDLERY

Diesel Pump out

Well stocked chandlery

Groceries

Pay us a visit, just browse

and see what we have to offer

Open daily 9am –6pm ALL YEAR ROUND

Tel 01327 844639

E-mail: marinachandlery@gmail.com

`

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COMMERCIAL RATES

1/4 Page (box) £12.00 +VAT

1/2 Page (box) £25.00 +VAT

Full Page £40.00 +VAT

Other sizes by arrangement

10% discount for 4 issues paid yearly in advance

5% discount for 4 issues paid quarterly

CLASSIFIEDS

(suggested donations)

£1.50 for 22 words,

15p each additional word

£3.50 for box around classified advertisement

(nb. telephone numbers count as one word)

£3.50 for photographs

BRANCH SOCIAL MEETINGS

Regular Branch Social Meetings are held on

the second Tuesday of each month from September to May inclusive at

THE WALNUT TREE INN, BLISWORTH, at 8pm All members and non-members welcome.

Food and drink available

Noggin and Natter during summer months

Tuesday 9th June, 8pm The Wharf, Cornhill Lane, Bugbrooke.

Tuesday 21st July (check website for details)

Geocaching Evening at Stoke Bruerne

Tuesday 11th August, 8pm The Britannia, Bedford Road, Northampton.

NEXT MEETING

Tuesday 8th September, at 6pm A 3 mile walk starting and finishing at the Walnut Tree Inn, Blisworth.

ADVERTISING

All advertisements must comply with the requirements of the Trades Descriptions Act and avoid

misrepresentation of goods offered for sale. The Business Advertisements (Disclosure) Order 1977

requires that businesses seeking to sell goods must clearly indicate this in an advertisement.

The next edition of Endeavour will be published August 2015

37

Branch Chairman Bernard Morton 07785 375787

E-mail: bernard.morton

@waterways.org.uk

WHO’S WHO IN

NORTHAMPTON BRANCH

2015/2016

Newsletter & Joint

Website Editor Tony Clarke 07939 977859

E-mail: tony.clarke

@waterways.org.uk

Publicity & Grants

Officer Lynda Payton

E-mail:lynda.payton

Branch Meetings Graham Treagus E-mail: graham.treagus

@waterways.org.uk

Boat Gathering Sub-Committee members

Michael Butler (Chairman), Catriona

Butler, Linda Clarke, Tony Clarke,

Alex Madisons, Steve Miles, Bernard

Morton, Sandie Morton and John

Pomfret

Non-Committee posts Sales: Catriona Butler 01604 473756

Endeavour Assistant Editor/

Advertising & Distribution, Archivist

Roger Hasdell 01604 248582

38

Branch Secretary

Sandie Morton E-mail: sandie.morton

@waterways.org.uk

Treasurer Alex Madisons

E-mail: alex.madisons

@waterways.org.uk

Vice Chairman, Joint

Task Party &

Membership Secretary Geoff Wood E-mail: geoff.wood

@waterways.org.uk

Boat Gathering

Chairman & Joint

Task Party Organiser

Michael Butler

E-mail: michael.butler

@waterways.org.uk

Festival of Water

Chairman John Pomfret E-mail: john.pomfret

@waterways.org.uk

Planning Officer Helen Westlake E-mail: helen.westlake

@waterways.org.uk

Joint Website &

Social Media Officer Sam Line E-mail: sam.line

@waterways.org.uk

39