From the Chairman
Bude Canal Society and Bude Canal Trust were asked
by the Inland Waterways Association’s National Restoration Committee to apply for a
grant towards the restoration of the Bude Canal Sea Lock to support the fund-raising
effort required by North Cornwall District Council. We have submitted an application and
also urged the Trust to apply. In late November North Cornwall District Council were
advised that their bid for funding from the European Regional Development Fund has been
successful and as a result work will commence in the New Year and should be completed
within six months.
On behalf of the Committee I wish you and your families a very Happy New Year and may
it bring good luck.
The Society looks forward to the completion of the Strategic Canal Study and its
implementation. As we enter the New Millennium, it is good to see that everyone’s
efforts to restore the canal look like coming to fruition. The restoration of the canal
holds benefits for everyone in Bude and the surrounding area.
Stan Noakes, Chairman
Review of "Walking Along the Bude Canal" by Bill Young.
| This small reference book (A5, 26 pages) is a
revised and updated version of Bill Young’s previous publication (1991) "Walking
along the Old Bude Canal". Such alterations as there are consist of much improved
photographs, larger route maps, and the inclusion of page numbers. The acquisition and
ownership of Bude Aqueduct by the Bude Canal Trust and the Strategic Study initiated by
NCDC are also important additions. The map inside the front cover gives a complete
picture of the length and extent of the canal as built, while elsewhere each double page
spread covers a specific section in detail with excellent photographs on the left of the
text and a route map travelling from bottom to top of the page showing canal, towpath,
roads and other features mentioned in the text, on the right.
There is a short introduction and below this an index of the route-maps inside. Another
index gives viewing points from public roads of the sections of the canal in private
ownership and Bill Young is careful in his introduction to emphasize that "towpath is
not synonymous with right-of-way". The previous edition of this slim, easily carried
book has sold well and I'm sure this second edition will also.
It is a gem for the explorer of industrial archaeology and canal buff alike, having been
compiled with enormous care and attention to detail after much painstaking research from
records and in the field. Bill Young’s book is available from the Society (01288
352298) at £3.99. Audrey Wheatley |
 |
View from Virworthy
A very quiet time of the year with the traditional wet weather. Now the leaves
have left the trees, and most of them ended up in my garden! It is possible to get a
better view of the countryside from the canal path. Still a few hardy walkers and bird
watchers about - particularly as the winter migrant birds are arriving now. There is such
a variety of colourful birds feeding on the lawn; a Brambling is easily mistaken for a
chaffinch. I was sure I heard a cuckoo the other day - but what I didn’t know was
that the Collared dove makes a call similar to that of the cuckoo at this time of the year
- well, well!
In passing, I noticed that the latest information board at the lower lake says that the
Lower Tamar Lake was built by the Bude Canal Society in 1805! What does South West Water
know about it?
I picked up a booklet at the Holsworthy museum recently titled, "The Story of the
Holsworthy Branch of the Bude Canal" by S P Dymond. It is a potted history with
extracts, presumably, from previously published works. The proceeds from its sale go to
the Holsworthy Museum Society.
Geoff Lowe
Good News
North Cornwall District Council has managed to find the £538,000 required to repair
the lock gates, including £222,150 from European Regional Development Fund, £222,000
from English Heritage, £96,000 from NCDC (including £5,000 from Town Council), and will
start on the work in the year 2000.
Maritime Exhibition and Evening
Bude Canal Society held a Maritime Exhibition at the Parkhouse Centre Bude on 6
November. Exhibitors included North Devon Maritime Trust and Museum, Hartland Quay Museum,
Bude Museum, North Cornwall Heritage Coast & Countryside Service, RNLI Bude, Bude Old
Cornwall Society, and Bude branch of the Royal Naval Association.
There were also displays of marine paintings by Harry McConville and a special exhibit by
Mrs Anne Longley of her great grandfather, Nicholas Tregaskes, a notable Bude ship owner
of the last century, and some of his ships. Bude Canal Society’s own display included
coverage of the 1992 visit of HMS Dasher and the screening of the video tape made at the
time.
In the evening Tom Walters of the North Devon Maritime Trust assisted by Gerry
O’Leary gave an interesting talk on "Tales of Bude Vessels" illustrated by
pictures of many of the ketches and schooners that used the port of Bude. Oddly, virtually
all left Bude in ballast, returning with cargoes mainly of coal from South Wales. He
concluded with a video of the restoration of a ketch-rigged schooner, the
"IRENE", which makes charter voyages today, its hold converted into a
well-appointed saloon.
The Mayor, Councillor Gordon Rogers, and Mrs Longley ceremonially cut a "Ceres"
cake, specially made for the occasion by Jackie Stevens which was then distributed among
the audience and washed down by tea or coffee.
The evening concluded with a concert of maritime music excitingly played by
"Friggin’ Riggin’" a combination of violins, guitars, accordion, penny
whistle (which now costs £3.95!) and vertically-held drums played with one hand. This
expert group of musicians played jigs, hornpipes, etc with a nautical flavour which had
the audience foot-tapping and clapping with great enthusiasm.
The evening was compered by Bryan Dudley Stamp, Hon Secretary, who with Chris Jewell,
Treasurer, organized the whole Maritime event.
Ed.
| Bude Lifeboat Station The RNLI has decided not to appeal against the current refusal
of planning consent for new lifeboat house facilities at the lockhead. An inshore lifeboat
will continue to be stationed on the lockhead site and operated from Summerleaze beach on
a trial basis to assess the suitability of the location in all operational conditions.
Meanwhile efforts will be made to identify an appropriate site and design for permanent
facilities adjacent to Summerleaze beach. |
 |
Treasurer’s Report
Balances at 31 December 1999: A/c 1 £871.61; a/c 2 £153.65; making a total of
£1025.26. The buoyant state of the accounts since the reformation of the Society in
September 1997 is due to the continued support of our members through subscriptions and
donations and the active support of fund-raising events held by the efforts of my fellow
committee members. I look forward to another profitable year with your help.
The disposal of the monies of the former Bude Canal Trust to which I referred in Tub
Boat No.7 is still unresolved. The Trust has not instituted the replacement of stiles by
gates on the Dexbeer to Virworthy Wharf section as had been agreed and now say they have
more pressing problems on the Aqueduct for which this money could be used. We still await
clarification of these. Nonetheless, we hope before too long to close this saga to the
benefit of the Bude Canal despite this unfortunate delay which is not of our making.
Chris Jewell, Hon Treasurer
| Rolle Canal Visit We are pleased to announce that
this visit has been re-arranged for Saturday 11 March 2000. It will be conducted by Mr
Barry Hughes of Northam, a friend of the Society. A charge of £2 per adult will be made
for this visit.
As parking space is strictly limited, the initial meeting will be at 10.30 a.m. at the
Riverbank Car Park which is next to Victoria Park in Bideford. Some cars will be left here
and the remaining cars will be shared. Please wear suitable clothing and footwear. Lunch
will be at a local hostelry.
If you would like to come on this visit please contact either Chris Jewell (01288)
352298 or Betty Moore (01288) 361878 after 7pm.
Betty Moore, Events Secretary |
 The
beam Aqueduct which takes the Rolle Canal over the River Torridge. |
Dredging the Barge Section
We are pleased to report that dredging work has been completed on the Middle and Upper
Pounds of the Barge Section of the Bude Canal between Rodds Bridge Lock and Whalesborough
Farm Bridge. This work was carried out during October and November and was jointly funded
by North Cornwall District Council and the Bude Canal Angling Association. Although this
is the second time that the Middle Pound has been dredged in recent years, it is the first
time that this work has been done on the Upper Pound for a long time. NCDC should be
congratulated on this initiative.
See photos below.
Views upstream from Whalesborough lock by
Mike Moore & Chris Jewell |
Letters to the Editor:
The Bude Canal Trust - Monica Ellis Slide Collection
In the Tub Boat No.9 Autumn 1999 it is stated that the Monica Ellis slides are
available for a search fee of £10 and £10 for a slide if published. And the Trust
retains the copyright!
Perhaps I should put the record straight. The copyright has never passed from Monica
Ellis to myself, nor from me to the Bude Canal Society. "Ownership" does not
automatically take with it copyright. You can "own" a book but you cannot
publish parts without the author’s permission. For example, in our video we used a
copy of the Ceres coming round Barrel Rock. We had written permission of the artist’s
widow to do this.
When we were about to write the book on the Bude Canal in 1997 we asked the Bude Canal
Trust for the use of this unique and important collection of slides. The Company
Secretary, Mr G W Mills, replied that Monica Ellis donated the slides to the then Bude
Canal Society "with no money changing hands". In fact, I paid Monica Ellis £25
as a "token" payment, with her permission to use them, if desired, in the
proposed book. I then passed the whole collection to Mrs Wheatley in good faith, who
reimbursed the £25. We asked Mr Tyson and Mr Selby-Heard for the use of the slides, and
they agreed subject to a payment of £10, plus "royalties" on the books sold.
This we ignored, and published our book, "Bude Canal, Past and Present" anyway.
The collection consisted of 378 slides in 12 boxes of sleeves. I have a 15 page list of
the individual slides, catalogued by box and subject-matter.
I feel that the only honourable thing for the Trust to do is hand over all the slides to
the Town Museum, who allow genuine researchers, publishers and students access to them.
Joan Rendell and Monica Ellis have whole-heartedly allowed us to use their books and
photographs. Surely, the least we can do is to make freely available to all concerned, the
mass of comprehensive information for the benefit of future generations and for the
increasingly popular Bude Canal itself. After all isn’t that the stated aims of the
Canal Society and the Trust? W A Young.
Bude Sea Lock (in reply to article in Tub Boat No.9)
As only a limited sum of money is secure at the present time it would not have been
possible to remove, repair and re-fit the outer gates before the worst of the winter
weather sets in.
On balance the Consultants felt it prudent to offer some degree of protection to the inner
gates by doing work that will be required in any event and for which money is available.
I'm sorry you don't agree.
Every effort is being made to secure the remaining funds required and I am hopeful that
these will be in place shortly.
Bob Pyman, Deputy Housing & Environmental Officer, North Cornwall District
Council. 11/10/99
Please note that this reply was received well before the final approvals were given
for the remaining funds (see article on page 3). Ed.
Books, Books, Books.
We have an interesting selection of books about waterways and local interest available
for sale to members:
1 Bude Canal Past & Present, Bill Young & Bryan Stamp £5.50
2 Walking the Bude Canal, Bill Young, revised reprint
(reviewed on page 2 of this newsletter) £3.99
3 The West Countryman (Ketches & Trows of the Bristol Channel), Gordon Mote £3.75
4 The Cornish Coast in Old Photographs, Tom Bowden £3.99
5 West Country Waterway Heritage, Jean Hall & Joy Yates £2.00
We also have other leaflets and booklets about canals in the West Country.
Orders with remittance to Hon Treasurer, 4a The Crescent, Bude EX23 8LE.
If you live outside the EX23 post code area please add 50p per book for
post & packing.
Please make cheques payable to Bude Canal Society.
Membership Report
We welcome the following new members who have joined since the middle of
September:
Miss E M Ould, Truro
Mrs B McConville, Upton, Bude
Mrs W Pullen, Bridgerule
Membership Renewal
Many thanks to those members who have already renewed their subscription for 1999/2000
and particularly to those who have given additional donations. However some members have
still not renewed. Will they please complete the enclosed renewal form by return to
maintain their support for the Bude Canal Society and receive future newsletters.
Remember that only fully paid up members can vote at the AGM in February.
You can help us reduce costs by using the Standing Order Mandate attached to the renewal
form.
Mike Moore
Final profile of committe members
Secretary, Bryan Dudley Stamp
| He was born in Ashtead, Surrey, gained an Honours
degree in geography at McGill University, Canada, after National Service. Came to Bude in
1938 and lived here ever since, travelling to London by train to work as a land agent.
Recently retired from the Town Council on which he was chairman of the Museum committee. |
 |
Yvonne Lowe
| Yvonne was born in Essex. Her early schooling was interrupted by the
war and she was evacuated to Wales, where she got a taste for farming. Returning to Essex
she went to agricultural college, after which she spent many years managing a dairy herd.
Having the wander lust, she bought a narrow boat moored on the Grand Union Canal and spent
a few more happy years cruising the canals. These boats were not big enough for her so she
sailed as purser on the Sail Training Ships, the Winston Churchill and the Malcolm Miller,
for many years. In 1995 she came with her husband, Geoffrey, to Virworthy and became
involved in many local activities including the Bude Canal Society hoping to help maintain
the canal and keep it free from weeds, but decided instead to buy some ducks who do the
job much more efficiently! |
 |
"Tub Boat"' editor, Lawrence Wheatley
| He was born in south London and started work at the age of 14 in a
solicitors’ office at 15 shillings per week, continuing as a junior clerk for four
years before joining the RAF in February 1939 as a direct entry observer and later an
armourer, serving throughout the War, four years overseas in seven countries. He trained
as a teacher at an Emergency Training College near Watford in 1946/7 and taught in Norbury
and Welwyn Garden City. He retired in 1984 and moved here on his wife’s enforced
retirement in 1987. He edits newsletters for RAFA and the Burma Star Association, is
secretary of the League of Friends of Stratton Hospital, Minuting secretary for the Music
Society, delivers meals on wheels once a fortnight, and plays golf when the weather is
clement! |
 |
Bude in 1852
I am indebted to Bryan Dudley Stamp and John Bolitho for the following
extracts from a delightful article on Bude by Caroline Pierce published in
"Englishwoman’s Magazine" in 1852.
In a quaint, somewhat euphuistic style she describes this "straggling sea-coast
village on the northern shores of Cornwall". She mentions the "low crescent; the
houses of which, having their backs to the sea, and their roofs very low, look as if
crouching in the sand from fear lest their great foe should pursue and overtake them; and
truly they may well fear! for tales are told of high wintry tides bathing their lower
stories (sic), and threatening to sweep away these modest dwellings in their fury."
She lodges at the Falcon Hotel. "Of course", she says, "the drawing-room is
ours. There are two windows. In front of one is the basin of the canal. Groups of sailors
are busily employed on the vessels, in shifting cargoes."
Her description of bathing is fascinating; follows an edited version:
| After breakfast - "not a very early one," she admits, "-
Nanny More has led the way to the bathing-point, ‘Mair Lake.’ Just beyond the
drawbridge, ere we reach the crescent, we turn to the left, and skirt round ‘Shalder
Hill’, pass by the castle-gate; and arrive at a small group of cottages by the
river-side. The furthest cottage touches on an old and very suspicious-looking apology for
a bridge. Over its weak and tottering rails, were lately hanging a collection of coarse
flannels and serges, which have disappeared. They are bathing dresses for the unfortunates
who are unprovided!" For twenty five years Nanny had conducted bathers through the
waves but now her daughter, Harriet, has replaced her and Nanny watches over dresses and
dressers. "Little thought of nerves, little sense of dignity, or respect for rank, or
for aught of honorary distinction, have these bluff unceremonious waters; and timid
strangers shrink at the thought of stemming the tide, with no rope to hold by. Be of firm
heart, poor trembling invalid! There is a stout arm better than a rope, and a watchful
eye, and steady cautious good sense, choosing the pleasantest waves for you to dip under;
or drawing you back when the tumult is too great; or guiding you forward as the tide
recedes here comes a glorious wave. ‘Now DIP.’ |
 The Ladies Bathing Beach, Bude |
You are independent; assisted, but not controlled. What a
shower-bath! tumbling heedlessly on; and then breaking into spray on your head! You rise
instinctively; breathe quickly for an instant; laugh, too, instinctively; with a mixed
sensation of frolic and freshness, and a half conviction of some kind of danger - passed.
You feel animated for the next wave, though it comes before you think you are quite ready
for it. You kneel now, (on one knee at the least,) to get the whole burst of the breaker.
You are growing covetous. You cannot afford to lose any portion of your promised play with
that romping child of ocean; and you are sure, very sure, that one shoulder did not get
all the wetting which fairly belonged to it from the last wave" She goes on to
consider the relative merits of using the "Tent" or a rock behind which to
disrobe. She prefers a rock but requires assistance so travels to the beach on a donkey
with a maid bringing a large umbrella, and the donkey boy carrying the basket containing
bathing-dress, brush and comb, and a couple of towels. A rock shelters her "from the
land-view and the umbrella will keep off any little superfluous breeze. The first scene in
the drama does not take long. As soon as hooks-and-eyes, and strings, and buttons, are
duly released, slip the bathing-dress over you, and then you are free to let the land
attire slip away from you."
After the bathe, "I have braved the ocean; walked amidst the roar of wild waters;
wrestled with mighty surges; won health and strength from them; and am here again to tell
of victory and triumph."
Her account of dressing is equally delightful but space is pressing so I leave her to her
triumph.
Discovering the wheel
During the autumn of 1999, I was informed by Don Bott, one of our long established
members, that he had been told that one of his neighbours in Upton had an interesting item
in her home relating to the Bude Canal. The householder understood that the wooden wheel
built into her staircase was a pattern for a cast iron wheel which was used as a part of
the overhead mechanism at the top of one of the inclined planes on the Bude Canal. Don
arranged a visit to inspect the wheel in October.
  Two
views of a wheel built into a local cottage |
The wheel was 6ft in diameter and consisted of eight
spokes each tapering from 37/8" wide to 31/8" wide. The section of the rim was
27/8"x 3" with square cut teeth on the face. The wheel was known to have been in
place as part of the staircase prior to 1942. We were told that the pattern had come from
Marhamchurch, so we assume that it came from Box’s Foundry between Helebridge and
Marhamchurch.
At the Maritime Evening in November, I discussed these theories with Barry Hughes, an
engineer who has a particular interest in the design of these old structures. He felt that
a wheel of this design would not be strong enough to be used as part of the overhead
mechanism on an inclined plane, but it was more likely that it would have been used as
part of the mechanism in a mill.
If anyone has any further information about this wheel or any other theories about its
use, we would be pleased to hear from you.
Mike Moore
Society Lending Library
As forecast in "Tub Boat" no.9, this library was open at the place and times
stated therein. As nobody took advantage of this scheme it has been abandoned. The
committee is considering the best use of these books. Anyone wishing to view them should
contact me on 01288 352298.
Chris Jewell
On the Internet
We are in the early stages of setting up a Web Site on the Internet for the Bude Canal
Society. It will give a brief description and history of the Bude Canal and include other
useful information. As it is being designed on a "part-time" basis, it will
inevitably be a slow process to complete the site. However, you can now get access to the
site to view recent newsletters and look at "latest news" items.
The address of the site is www.bude-canal.freeserve.co.uk
Mike Moore
Annual General Meeting 19 February 2000 2.30 p.m. at The Falcon Hotel
After the AGM circa 3.40 p.m. the guest speaker will be Mr Chris Shaw of the Cornwall
and Devon Bat Groups who will give a talk and slide show on "Bats and Canals".
Dates for your Diary
| Saturday 19 February 2000 |
Society AGM at The Falcon Hotel, Bude at 2.30 p.m.
followed by a talk & slide show by Chris Shaw on "Bats and Canals". |
| Saturday 11th March 2000 |
Visit to Rolle Canal, Torrington, meeting at Riverbank car park,
Bideford at 10.30am. |
| 15-24 April 2000 WRG Canal Camp on the Barge Section
installing gabions |
| Committee Members |
| Chairman: |
Stan Noakes |
| Vice Chairman: |
Audrey Wheatley |
| Secretary: |
Bryan Dudley Stamp |
| Treasurer: |
Chris Jewell |
| Membership Secretary: |
Mike Moore |
| Events Secretary: |
Betty Moore |
| Other committee members: |
| Geoff Lowe, Yvonne Lowe |
|
| Tub Boat Editor: |
Lawrence Wheatley |
|
|
|
