The AGM of the Bude Canal Society on 20 February proved to be a very positive, confident meeting and set the seal on a successful second year for the reconstituted society. February also saw the publication by NCDC of the draft study of the Bude Canal by Messrs W S Atkins, which we hope will be the catalyst to a serious, positive plan to preserve/develop the whole canal system. Just the time for me to step down as your chairman. The work of the society will increase with the growing interest in the canal and the society's input to deliberations on the canal's future will remain important. A change of chairman can often provide an impetus to a committee to tackle a greater workload.

My time as chairman was made very pleasant and easy by a committee whose individual expertise and dedication to canal matters is tremendous. I thank them all for their commitment and hard work and offer the new chairman, Stan Noakes, my best wishes and support.

An indication of the potential of the canal was provided by the return to Bude of its Tub Boat. To some, perhaps, a collection of derelict timbers; to others an icon, a symbol of heroic Victorian engineering; an object built by our grandfathers' grandfathers that our children can take pride in. This was evidenced by the number of local residents who gathered at Bude Castle to hear Bryan Dudley Stamp talk of its history and significance and to hear the Mayor, Councillor Rogers, welcome it home. The swift generosity of local businessmen in funding its return also indicates the strong local interest.

This interest is, of course, much wider than just local; the whole canal is listed as a canal of National importance. This unique tub boat, half barge, half railway wagon, built specifically to negotiate the inclined planes which are such an unusual feature of our canal must surely be classified a National treasure. It is hoped, very shortly, to have the tub boat on display in the barge workshop at Helebridge.

The Tub Boat arriving at the Castle, Bude on 11th February 1999.

John Bolitho

Update on the NCDC Strategic Study

Following my article on the draft report produced by W S Atkins in Tub Boat No.5, we received the final copy of the Bude Canal Strategic Study in January which was distributed for public discussion and comment. A small display was arranged at the Bude Library from 5th to 19th March during which NCDC officers were available to answer questions at various times. Questionnaires were issued which were due to be returned to NCDC by 19th March.

The society's comments on the draft report were positive and there was general agreement with the broad thrust of the study. Although we were in favour of a trip boat on the Barge Canal we had some reservations about it being horsedrawn due to the practical difficulties of such an operation. We agreed that the Barge Workshop should become the main visitor centre and suggested that an access path should be made from the Barge Workshop to the foot of the plane rather than a bridge as originally proposed in the draft report. We also recommended that the dam under the bridge should be removed allowing the canal to join the basin at Helebridge. This would enable the slipway to be positioned at the basin rather than on the Bude side of the A39 as originally proposed. It was felt that SWW should be pressed into removing the pumping station on the incline and that many residents whose gardens had been extended over the plane would allow the plane to be restored, particularly if the wheelpit can be uncovered and cleared. There was an indication that there is much support among the villagers in Marhamchurch for the restoration of the plane. It was felt that there should be more emphasis on Merrifield since the wheelpit has been cleared and the owner is cooperative. We are in favour of rewatering the feeder arm below Virworthy Wharf as far as is presently feasible.

Examination of the final report reveals little change from the draft report and a failure to take note of some of our comments made above.

The proposed strategy to develop the Bude Canal as a tourism and recreation asset includes the following schemes.

  • Restore the Barge Canal between Bude and Helebridge

  • Improve pedestrian links at Falcon Bridge and Helebridge

  • Establish a horsedrawn trip boat between Bude and Helebridge

  • Develop the Barge Canal with attractions at Helebridge Wharf and lower wharf and the canal as a link between the two

  • Encourage the use of the sea lock and the lower wharf as a visitor mooring

  • Complete the Tamar Trail to Bude Tamar Lakes using the canal route as far as possible

  • Create a circular walk from Bude following the canal as far as possible to Tamar Lakes returning via existing rights of way

  • Rewater sections of the Aqueduct to improve the heritage, interpretation and ecological value

  • Devise a scheme for public access to a wheelpit suggesting Merrifield

  • Create short walks on the Holsworthy Branch

  • On all routes, and for surviving isolated features, interpret the canal by means of restoration, enhancement, information and education

  • Devise management strategies to preserve and enhance the natural and cultural heritage of the canal

  • Give all surviving features protection

The costs shown in the report associated with the above proposals are rather vague and difficult to summarise due to the alternatives shown and the absence of figures shown against some items of expenditure. However, an estimated cost in excess of £1m is quoted for the basic restoration of the canal from the Upper Wharf at Bude to the A39 bridge at Helebridge. This cost could be doubled if Falcon Bridge was to be replaced by a lift bridge and the canal was reconnected to Helebridge Wharf. Further costs would be involved in improving pedestrian links at Falcon Bridge and Helebridge and setting up the operation of a trip boat. Unfortunately no costs or estimates appear in the report for the improvement and enhancement of the Helebridge Wharf area including the proposals for a visitor centre or museum and improved access to the Marhamchurch Inclined Plane. Similarly no costs are shown for the proposed improvements to the Lower Wharf area and Sea Lock at Bude.

The total cost of establishing footpaths along the line of the Tub Boat Canal to form the Tamar Trail and the Bude/Tamar Lakes Circular Walks amounts to over £240,000. Again no costs are shown for rewatering any sections of the Bude Aqueduct, establishing walks on the Holsworthy Branch, or the cost of Interpretation, Management and Protection of the canal.

The report concludes by emphasising that the study is "an audit of the current state of play supplemented by informed ideas on what can be achieved". This is followed by a list of tasks remaining to be completed before proposals are finalised and work can commence towards implementation. The tasks are basically more detailed investigation of many of the points raised in the report, which indicates that there is still a long way to go before the whole study is complete. The Canal Partnership had already decided that part 1 of the study would be published for discussion by the public and the appropriate council committees and that a brief would be prepared for part 2 of the study based on their responses. I understand that a meeting of the Canal Partnership will be called during the summer to consider the implementation of part 2.

During the consultation period copies of the Final Report were available from the NCDC Offices at the Crescent Car park, Bude at a cost of £3. If any member requires a copy I suggest they contact NCDC (telephone 01288 353111) or if unsuccessful contact the society through the Hon. Secretary.

Mike Moore

The Barge Section

As we go to press NCDC have been clearing reeds in the lower pound of the Barge Canal and have repaired the banks with gabions continuing the work done by the Waterway Recovery Group some years ago. They are also carrying out some minor dredging and bank repairs in Whalesborough Pound and dredging on the section of the canal opposite the weir into the River Neet which is near the A39 road bridge.

Following a meeting between Chris Jewell and Mike Vanstone, the Harbourmaster at Bude, to discuss ways in which the society could help the council, on Easter Monday a work party of seven volunteers from the society carried out work on behalf of NCDC at Whalesborough. This involved the clearance of shrub, trimming and removal of trees on the canal banks in preparation for the work mentioned above. Welcome refreshments were provided by Audrey Wheatley and her daughter, Tess.

The society hopes to continue this cooperation with NCDC and has arranged a further work party on Saturday 24th April meeting at Helebridge at 10.00 a.m. Please come and join us. If you cannot attend, but would like to help in the future, please contact Stan Noakes on 01288 353560 or Chris Jewell on 01288 352298 for further details.

The Work Party near Whalesborough Bridge on Easter Monday.

Membership Report

We welcome the following new members who have joined since December.

Mr M Smith, Parkstone, Pool, Dorset

Mr M J White, Totton, Southampton, Hants

Membership Renewal

Thanks again to those members who have already renewed their subscription for 1998/99 and particularly to those who have given additional donations. However a few members have still not renewed and could I please ask those of you to complete the enclosed renewal form and respond by return if you wish to maintain your support for the Bude Canal Society and ensure that you receive future newsletters.

You can help us reduce costs by using the Standing Order Mandate attached to the renewal form.

Committee Changes

As you will be aware at the AGM two former committee members did not wish to stand for re-election. Lawrence Wheatley resigned as a full committee member but wished to continue as an ex-officio member acting as editor of the Tub Boat. Although Fred Copeland had only served on the committee for a short time, due to other commitments he has not been able to attend committee meetings on a regular basis and consequently felt unable to continue. However following an appeal by the Chairman at the AGM, Bryan Dudley Stamp offered to serve on the committee and was coopted by the members present.

According to the constitution of the society, at the AGM members are elected to serve on the committee rather than to specific offices. At the first committee meeting following the AGM the officers are elected to specific positions. This meeting was held on 17 March but was preceded by the resignation of Malcolm Hector from the committee due to his suspicion of the apparent association of the society with the Bude Canal Trust. On a more positive note, the following were elected at the meeting: Stan Noakes as Chairman, Audrey Wheatley as Vice Chairman, Bryan Dudley Stamp as Secretary, Chris Jewell as Treasurer, Betty Moore as Events Secretary and myself as Membership Secretary.

We wish to thank the members, who have recently left the committee due to other commitments, for the work, which they have done during their term. I was particularly saddened by the decision of Malcolm Hector to resign after he had worked so hard to prepare and present the talk on "The Social Impact of Canals and Railways on Rural England" which took place on the day before his resignation. I can understand his concern about a committee member of the society also serving as a trustee of the Bude Canal Trust in view of the history of the relationship between us and the Trust and bearing in mind that the society was reformed in 1997 to be independent of the Bude Canal Trust.

Mike Moore

Illustrated Talk on Inclined Planes and Lifts on Inland Waterways by Robert Harris on 17 February 1999.

For this, our second presentation on the subject, we were delighted to welcome back Robert Harris, the Society's founding chairman from 1990 to 93 and a life member of the Society. Robert, an architect by profession and until recently a partner in The Jonathan Ball Practice in Bude, was in his early days not only an ardent waterways explorer but also one of the pioneers who worked on the remarkable restoration of the Basingstoke canal through Surrey & Hampshire.

Knowing that the first slide show had dealt fairly comprehensively with the six inclines on our own Bude canal, Robert concentrated his talk on lifts and inclines elsewhere in the world from the far east to the far west and several nearer home in Europe and our own country. We were shown many ingenious ways of overcoming differences in level between two stretches of water using water power, horse power, steam, electricity and even man power! One tends to think of the pound lock, familiar to us all throughout the canal system, as being the only method of raising and lowering boats from one level to another. Not so! We were shown boats being lifted vertically in tanks and out of tanks, dragged up slopes on rails (such as on Bude canal) and without rails, and even pushed up by a kind of shovel.

Robert's use of an overhead projector rather than slides was an innovation which proved effective and successful and enabled the showing of relevant details of drawings and plans which in no small measure added to the lively session of questions over coffee and biscuits after the talk.

We are indebted to Robert for giving us his time, enthusiasm and expertise and hope he will come again one day. Thanks also to Mike Moore who liaised throughout with Robert, and to Betty Moore and helpers for the usual welcome refreshments.

Audrey Wheatley

Annual General Meeting on 20 February 1999.

The Society's 2nd AGM, held as usual in the Falcon Hotel by kind permission of life member Tim Browning, was attended by 20 members and 4 visitors.

The chairman reported on a busy and satisfactory year and called people's attention to the forthcoming display in the library of the Strategic Study plan and proposals by WS Atkins on behalf of NCDC. The treasurer reported on healthy finances and thanked the Hon. Auditor, Ian Whitfield, for his services.

In an additional item indicated to members as they arrived and taken prior to the election of the committee, the potentially serious matter of a BCS committee member having also recently become a Trustee of Bude Canal Trust Ltd was discussed at length. The possible conflict of interest which could arise in view of the past history of the two associations was considered in depth and after a show of hands it was decided by one vote that the committee member should remain in his post. A rider was added to the effect that in view of the closeness of the vote, the situation should be reviewed after one year and reconsidered by the committee.

After refreshments and a lively interchange of opinions, Tony Rymell, well known to most of us as a leading light in the West Country waterways restoration scene, gave an illustrated talk on his latest project, The Grand Western Canal and its Trust. His style was as always lively, authoritative and hugely enjoyable. Our thanks to Tony for coming yet again from Somerset to give of his time and enthusiasm.

Copies of the minutes of the 2nd AGM are available to members on receipt of a SAE, from Tregea, Lower Upton, Bude, Cornwall EX23 0LS.

The following is a summary of the Treasurer's report to the AGM.

At 31.12.98 the balance of monies held in the Society's bank accounts was as follows:

Account 1 £824.07

Account 2 £206.63

Total  £1030.70

Membership

Annual 87

Life members 12

Total 97

This is slightly down on last year but reflects a good renewal rate and continued interest by new members.

During the past year the society has organized various successful fundraising events all of which made clear profits. The best results were from: a cream tea at Laundry cottage, courtesy of Mr & Mrs Noakes, profit £100.53; Christmas Fayre at Barge Workshop, Helebridge courtesy of Bude Stratton Town Council; profit £150.00.

1998 also saw the publication of the book "Bude Canal, Past & Present" by Bill Young and Bryan Dudley Stamp, both members of the Society. They kindly allowed the Society to sell their book on a sale or return basis and at a wholesale price to the Society. This kind and generous offer has netted a profit of £227 for the Society.

My thanks go to all of the above and the committee members and other members of the Society who have worked so hard to make every event successful. A special word of thanks to Mrs Betty Moore, the Events Secretary, who moulds us into an effective fundraising body.

Educational Fund Account 2

This was established to receive all donations and a percentage of all fundraising profits which are then used to raise the public's understanding of Bude Canal and to encourage support for the aims of the Society. During the past year this fund has paid for the acquisition of: 12 colour slides for the Society's collection; production of display panels and a slide storage system.

Inland Waterways Association.

The Society is a corporate member of the IWA which is a valued friend of all waterway groups. It has supported the Bude Canal in the past and continues to do so.

Bude Canal Trust Social Section.

As you may know this body was disbanded in 1997 when the Society was reformed. At that time there was £791.39 in its bank account. Despite efforts since then by the committee of the Society to realise these monies for the benefit of Bude Canal Trust Ltd no appropriate schemes have been put forward by the Trust that were acceptable to the committee. Recently the Trust have been urged to furnish details of a project that will allow the use of these monies. To date none has been forthcoming. At the date of the AGM the monies held had risen to £808.56.

Finally any member not at the AGM requiring a copy of the accounts should apply to: C R Jewell, Hon Treasurer BCS, 4a The Crescent, Bude, Cornwall, EX23 8LE.

Thanks to all members for your support by joining the Society. Exciting things are looming into view that will benefit the Bude Canal we all care about.

As at 31 March the Society's account were as follows:

Account 1  £714.23

Account 2  £189.27

The situation is quite stable at present due to continued fundraising events, new members, and late renewal subscriptions. The amount of the monies held from the Social Section referred to above is now £809.23 and the Bude Canal Trust Ltd were recently pressed to suggest a project of work on the Aqueduct section to which these monies could be put either in full or part payment of the cost. After some discussion with trust representatives four projects were submitted. After discussion your committee decided on replacement of stiles with new gates on the Dexbeer to Virworthy Wharf section. This will allow access to the ride-on mower and disabled persons to the section. When the work is completed and the monies have been used up, the account of "Bude Canal Trust Social Section" will be formally closed. A report on this will appear in due course in the "Tub Boat".

Chris Jewell, Hon Treasurer

View from Virworthy

I thought the rain was never going to stop but March has seen a great improvement in the weather. The footpaths are drying out but there are still some quite muddy areas. Clearance work along the footpaths has progressed albeit slowly because of the inclement weather and some work will now have to be delayed until after the nesting season. I have a noticed a significant drop in the bird population this year and a reduced variety; maybe a result of the very wet winter. Frogs are making their way indoors now. One has to be careful closing doors not to trap them. I don't know why they insist on coming indoors! Bluebells are now well on the way to follow the abundant dancing daffodils and it looks like being a good year for them roll on April!

I should like to explain to those members who were not at the AGM, that there was some concern expressed relating to my recent election as a Trustee of the Bude Canal Trust. As I am a committee member it was felt that there may be a "conflict of interest". I can assure members that my interest is in the Canal and its preservation and I will work to promote any venture in support of this aim. Confidentiality will be respected as with any dual role in business. The NCDC Strategic Study encourages a partnership of all interested bodies as a way forward. I believe we can work together for the good of the Canal.

Geoffrey Lowe

"Impact of Canals and Railways on Rural England"

Talk by Malcolm Hector on 16 March 1999.

This lecture gave a fascinating insight into the broad effects of improved communications throughout what had been hitherto an overwhelmingly agricultural system. Begun in the mid-eighteenth century as a result of a burgeoning industrial revolution, canal building rapidly became "canal mania" linking town to town, river to river and coast, and opening up previously unimagined opportunities for trade and travel all in the space of fifty years or so. Railways, overlapping the canal era, caused the inevitable decline and demise of canal transport and established the once huge network of fast and efficient communications which changed the face and lifestyle of England for ever.

The use of overhead projector for showing prints and pictures gave added impact to an interesting, excellently researched and well delivered lecture.

The society is grateful to Mr Hector for giving his time and wide knowledge for this occasion. Mike Moore was, as usual, the proficient projectionist, and Betty Moore and Yvonne Lowe dispensed coffee and tea to an audience content to linger and chat about all they had just seen and heard.

Audrey Wheatley

Engineers and workers on the GWR showing how hats indicated their status.

Robert Fulton & Lord Stanhope's views on the Bude Canal.

Fulton kept up a long correspondence with Lord Stanhope who took a keen interest in the project of the Bude Canal both in the route to be followed and in the method to be adopted in working it.

Early in 1796 he devised a scheme for getting over the facts that a) the country was very hilly and b) there was insufficient water available for the use of ordinary locks. This was an invention which he called the "pendanter". Briefly this consisted of two caissons or boat carriers worked up and down vertically; they were to be about 50 feet apart, and be connected so as to counterbalance by a set of chains passing over pulleys. To allow for the weight of the chain, which would disturb the equilibrium except when the pendanters were in the mean position, other chains were to be hung from the underside of the pendanters, to be picked up from the ground. In the extreme position, one caisson was to be level with the lower reach of the canal, and the other caisson was to be at the higher level, where it was to make a junction with the upper reach. Obviously, unless a perpendicular cliff were available to which to bring the two reaches of the canal, two pendanter pits or shafts would have to be sunk, and the lower reach of the canal brought to the bottom of the pit by a tunnel or level.

Fulton replied to this suggestion at very great length, as he did in all his correspondence with the noble lord. He said the idea was new to him but that he had once made use of a similar carriage or boat carrier with two gates in the carrier and one each in the upper and lower pond of the canal but had discarded it for a number of reasons: water leaking from the upper gate would damage goods in the boats below, and the gates would be impossible to keep from leaking after some wear; the dispatch was not sufficient and the expense greater than inclined planes; the size of a carrier to hold 12 boats and oval in shape to withstand the pressure, the size of the tunnel to allow two boats to pass would be very expensive and difficult to work. He went on to praise "your Inclined plane with Rollers" which he considered infinitely (sic) the best. It fitted every kind of ground and at much less expense than driving tunnels.

"The Boats will ascend the plane in near as little time as they could enter the tunnel, they are free from all wet or damp, there is no leakage, and it is pleasant to work above ground". He then went on to list other advantages at great length.

He did consider rollers on the plane v wheels on the boats and then came down on the side of rollers. He ended by setting out his ideas of the Bude Canal as standing thus:

12 feet boats 2 tons, Inclined planes and rollers, Tub pit and a Slough, Reservoir and Windmills (for power) where necessary.

Summarised from part of "Robert Fulton, Engineer and Artist"

by H W Dickinson, London 1913.

Illustrations from “Robert Fulton, Engineer & Artist”.

"The Tub Boat which arrived in Bude from Bristol in March was taken to the Barge Workshop at Helebridge on Wednesday 5th May 1999. The boat is on long term loan to the Bude Stratton Museum which is run by Bude-Stratton Town Council. Unfortunately at present the Barge Workshop is not open to the public but watch this space for further news!"

Dates for your Diary

Copy for the next edition of the Tub Boat should be addressed to:

The Editor, Tregea, Lower Upton, BUDE, EX23 0LS  to reach him by 9 June 1999.

Committee Members

Chairman: Stan Noakes

Vice Chairman: Audrey Wheatley

Secretary: Bryan Dudley Stamp

Treasurer: Chris Jewell

Membership Secretary: Mike Moore mike@bude-canal.freeserve.co.uk

Events Secretary: Betty Moore

Other committee members:

Geoff Lowe Yvonne Lowe

John Bolitho

Tub Boat Editor: Lawrence Wheatley

The views expressed by the contributors of this newsletter are not necessarily those of the Bude Canal Society which does not accept responsibility for them.

Published by BUDE CANAL SOCIETY. Enquiries to the Hon Secretary Bryan Dudley Stamp,  01288 352808