Newsletter of the Bude Canal Society - No.9     Autumn 99

From the Chairman

Those of you who read the Bude & Stratton Post will be aware of the latest developments regarding cycle paths, lock gates, and the Bude Canal Strategic Studies. For those who live farther afield let me bring you up-to-date:

Additional Funding.
NCDC have been briefed to apply to the heritage Lottery Fund to bridge the shortfall of money to repair the sea lock. Funding procedure dictates that they must write to any interested parties about making contributions. Many of these applications to the Heritage Lottery Fund have been successful purely because they did manage to get the support of interested parties. We very desperately need to find supporters for our application. Please let us know any ideas or suggestions for possible candidates.

Local fishing boats using the Sea Lock

The Cycle Track.
One of our new members voiced his concern, when he joined, that the towpath should not develop into a “canal trail” type cycle track, which would greatly upset the walkers and anglers who have been enjoying the peace and tranquillity of the canal banks for many years. The Society has now written to NCDC expressing our concerns.

Canal Restoration.
The Bude Angling Association together with the Council is funding some dredging of the canal in the area above Rodds Bridge, hopefully during the late autumn.
Stan Noake

Stop Press: I recently learned that in October the Council are to construct a temporary coffer dam inside the inner gates of the sea lock to protect them from further damage during the winter. It will remain in place until the repair of the lock has been completed. Mike Vanstone, the Harbourmaster says it would be more useful to repair the lower gates because it would probably be possible to get boats through the top gates as they are.
(I agree. Ed.)
I also understand that this year there have been more requests from craft wishing to use the sea lock to gain access to the lower basin than in recent years. This should give even greater impetus to the efforts of the council to obtain funding for the urgent repair of the sea lock .

Further profiles of Committee members

Geoffrey Lowe

Geoffrey actually lives in Devon adjacent to the feeder canal (Aqueduct) at Virworthy Wharf. Joining the RAF at the age of fifteen, he served twelve years travelling around the UK and the near and far east. On leaving the RAF he entered the aeronautical engineering industry and ultimately became Manager of a Technical Publications Department. He retired in 1990 and in 1995 he decided to move to the West Country from Basingstoke and became involved in local activities, such as the New Parish Hall project for Pancrasweek, a member of the Anglican church PCC in Holsworthy, and indoor bowls in Bradworthy. Living on the canal at Virworthy Wharf, he made the obvious choice of joining the Bude Canal Society and soon the Committee.

Membership Secretary

Mike Moore was born in Walsall and spent his childhood surrounded by canals and railways. Interest in these modes of transport continued throughout his teenage years leading to membership of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society during the 1970s and 80s. During this period he occasionally cruised local waterways even venturing onto the Severn and Avon on a friend's cruiser. He has also been a member of the Severn Valley Railway since 1968, initially working as a volunteer in the Permanent Way Department. He moved to Bude in 1989, and joined the newly formed original Bude Canal Society in 1990. Immediately he was “volunteered” as Treasurer and Membership Secretary and set about formalising the accounting procedures and producing accounts from the formation of the society. After the Society obtained charitable status the Bude Canal Trading Company was formed to carry out the permanent trading activities which the charity was not permitted to undertake. Mike was one of the founding directors and acted as Company Secretary until the formation of the Bude Canal Trust. He resigned as Treasurer of the society in order to develop the sales activities of the Trading Company but unfortunately, due to the policy decisions of the Bude Canal Trust, he was removed as a director in 1997. However, he continued as Membership Secretary throughout, including the period when the organisation operated as Bude Canal Trust - Social Section. He is a keen photographer, maintains the Society's slides and is its projectionist. He is also a member of the Inland Waterways Association and serves on the committee of the West Country Branch.

Events Secretary

Betty Moore was born in Erdington, Birmingham and worked in an office of a large tyre company for many years. She married Michael who is the Membership Secretary. Betty & Michael were members of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society and occasionally cruised local waterways. She moved to Bude in 1989 to be with her sister and joined the newly formed original Bude Canal Society in 1990. She acted as minuting Secretary to the Bude Canal Trust - Social Section for a short while. She enjoys walking especially along the canal from Marhamchurch into Bude. She is now Events Secretary and as well as full time work, she spends her spare time organising events, fund raising and working on the canal with a team of volunteers. She is also a member of the Inland Waterways Association and served on the committee of the West Country Branch for three years.

The Bude Canal Trust - Slides Collection

Following enquires regarding the whereabouts of the records and the slides of Monica Ellis, co-author of “The Bude Canal”, we have received confirmation from the Bude Canal Trust that they have custody of these items. The slides are available for publication at a cost of £10 as a search fee and £10 per slide published. Bude Canal Trust will make the necessary copies and the client will pay the cost, but the Trust retains the copyright. The slides are held by Gerald Fry, 18 Valley Road, Bude, telephone 01288 353273 to whom application should be made.
Bryan Dudley Stamp

Casting House & Cream Tea

The approach to Laundry Cottage on the far side of the canal, is a mini history lesson for the canal enthusiast. On the left are the backs of the once bustling upper wharf and the site of Stapleford’s boat yard where vessels were built and launched into the canal and tub boats constructed and refurbished throughout the working life of the canal. To the right, Bude’s last remaining lime kiln is clearly to be seen, in good order, but sadly locked to all comers. Ahead, is the massive building, complete with chimney, whose spectacular length was necessitated by its original function as a sawmill supplying timbers to the boat yard. This in turn, became Bude’s steam laundry and the once tiny building beyond it, Laundry Cottage. The Laundry Cottage we see today is a far cry from the early one which started life at the beginning of the last century as Rounds Casting House. It is now the much admired canalside residence we all see from the towpath and the home of our chairman, Stan Noakes, and his wife, Dee.

Following the success of last year's innovative Society cream tea in their garden, Stan & Dee's suggestion that we repeat the event was readily agreed to by all the committee, and in the event it turned out to be another splendid occasion. The weather was superb, the scones & cream delicious and the undulating woodlands and grass walks of the Noakes’ lovely two acres as enticing to the steady stream of visitors as ever. Stan's guided tours never lacked customers and he must have walked several miles in the course of the afternoon and talked himself hoarse! Tea was taken at tables under the trees and elsewhere in the garden, the raffle was well patronised and the many excellent prizes much appreciated. The success of the whole event owed much to the efficient organization of Betty Moore assisted by the hard work throughout the day of the rest of the committee. Above all, our thanks to Stan and Dee for the loan of their lovely premises, their unremitting hard work and for the great generosity shown to the Society to ensure the success of a delightful occasion.
Audrey Wheatley

Membership Report

We welcome the following new members who have joined since June.
    Mrs K M Millichap, Marhamchurch, Bude
    Grand Western Canal Trust (Honorary Membership)
    Sharon Jenkins, Launcells, Bude
    Miss S A Bills, Lynstone Road, Bude

Mike Moore

Membership Renewal

As many of you will realise, this is the time of the year when I have to remind you that subscriptions were due on 1st September for all members except those who joined after 1st May. Renewal forms (where appropriate) are included with this newsletter. Members are encouraged to return the Standing Order Form to me as it is a more efficient method of payment for the Society and avoids your renewal being overlooked. Membership cards will automatically be sent to members who have already completed Standing Order Mandates when payment has been credited to the Society's bank account.

Mike Moore

Treasurer’s Report

The Society’s finances continue to be buoyant and in good order. As at 30 September the balances held in the accounts were as follows: account 1 £919.55, educational account £215.28. During August, the Society attended public events in Bude to inform and raise funds. Our usual visit to the afternoon fete on Carnival Day, 21 August, was a great success. As last year a raffle was held for a fine framed print of a Harry McConville watercolour of Rodds Bridge on the Canal. This was won by Mrs Marion Martin of Bude.
The following weekend was the start of RNLI’s Lifeboat Days. Our stall was manned on both Saturday and Sunday. Another successful outing with many enquiries about the history and future of the canal and, of course, we made a profit for our efforts. A new feature tried for the first time was a Treasure Hunt based on a map of Bude town. The task was to locate the site of the buried treasure by purchasing a pin and choosing the spot to insert it.
The prize of £10 was won by a holidaymaker, Mr Peter Weston of Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. The three above events in August not only recovered costs but made a profit of £103.32 which is an excellent effort. My thanks to all who helped at these events.

Lending Library

Earlier this year, Mr Ken Bennett, a friend of the Society, gave his collection of Waterway books to the Society as a basis for a lending library for members and as another way to raise funds. It has been decided that for a three month trial period the books will be available for members to borrow for a fee of £1 per book per month.
The books can be obtained on a Library Day which will be the second Tuesday of each month, i.e. 12 October, 9 November, and 7 December 1999. The library will operate from Room 6, Neetside, Bude on the above dates between 10 a.m. and noon. For those who do not know Neetside, it is the building, which was formerly the Drill Hall, and lies between the rear of the Crescent and the river near the Central Methodist Church. Room 6 is on the SW corner of the premises.
We look forward to members making use of this facility.

Chris Jewell

Rolle Canal Visit
The proposed walk along sections of the Rolle Canal near Torrington, North Devon has been postponed until the spring.


Wine & Wisdom Evening on 26 November 1999
This is a new venture for us, but a chance to raise additional funds for the society. This will be held at the Bray Institute, Marhamchurch and teams of six are required with an entry fee of £3.00 per person. Please ring 01288 352298 to book in your team or for further information.

Betty Moore, Events Secretary

Christmas Fayre on 27 November 1999

This year we are unfortunately unable to hold the Christmas Fayre at the Barge Workshop, Helebridge. This is due to the returned tub boat being stored there resulting in insufficient space for the event. However this year we shall have a stall at the Christmas Charity Bazaar which is being held at the Parkhouse Centre, Bude on Saturday 27 November 1999. We look forward to seeing you there.

“Any Old Books”?

During our recent fundraising events, one of the best money makers was the sale of secondhand books which had been donated by members for resale.
If you have any books, hardback or paperback, that you do not require, would you give them to the Society for sale to raise funds? If so please make contact with either:
    a) Betty Moore 01288 361878 (evenings)
    b) Chris Jewell 4a The Crescent Bude 01288 352298.
If transport is a problem, we can arrange collection for larger quantities from the Bude area.

Betty Moore, Events Secretary

Update on the NCDC Strategic Study

A meeting of the Bude Canal Partnership took place on Friday 9 July as mentioned in the Summer Newsletter. It was called to discuss the response to the Consultant's Report on Phase 1 of the Strategic Study and develop a strategy to implement the council's decision to proceed with Phase II of the project.
As this was the first meeting since the council elections in May, the meeting was chaired by the new Chairman of the Economic Development Committee of NCDC, Councillor Neil Burden. The chairman summarised the progress so far and the meeting discussed the notes on the previous meeting of the Canal Partnership held on 29 September 1998. Charlie David (Heritage Coast and Countryside Officer of NCDC) then outlined the responses to the public consultation exercise, which were generally supportive, although there was widespread concern over the proposal to use a horse drawn barge. These concerns and any other comments would be taken into account during Phase II of the study. He then presented proposals to proceed with Phase II of the study suggesting that it could be completed in 9 months although the meeting felt that 10/12 months would be more realistic. Following further discussion on points of detail, the meeting endorsed the wish to proceed with Phase II of the study. NCDC would prepare a brief for consultants who would then submit tenders for Phase II. This brief would be submitted to members of the Canal Partnership for comments before being finalised.
The meeting was very positive although it was disappointing that some important members of the partnership were not represented in person.
The brief was circulated on 31 August 1999 and comments were required by 14 September. The committee of Bude Canal Society felt that the brief was well prepared and comprehensive and supported the content with one reservation. This concerned the task of examining the feasibility of creating a cycle route between Rodds Bridge and Marhamchurch along the route of the canal. We believe that the towpath is not wide enough for this purpose and that the route along the old railway line passing the SWW Treatment Works would be more suitable.
We look forward to meeting the consultants appointed to undertake the next stage of the study.
Mike Moore

Maritime Day, Parkhouse Centre, Bude
6 November 1999.

As we approach the Millennium the Bude Canal Society feels it is appropriate to have a celebration of Bude and North Cornwall's maritime history and the effect that had on the town and the surrounding area, particularly during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Society intends to hold an exhibition in the Ivor Potter Hall, Parkhouse Centre, Bude during the afternoon of 6 November 1999. This will be followed by an evening presentation based on the maritime history with entertainment and refreshments, which will include the cutting of a “Ceres” cake.
Bude has had a colourful maritime past. For many centuries, it was known as “Bede's Haven” after the holy men who placed a light on Chapel Rock at the end of the present breakwater to guide ships into the haven. This, of course, was contracted into Bude Haven which it has remained to this day. Our river valley was once tidal right up to Helebridge on the A39. Over the centuries, it has gradually silted up as the river mouth has become choked with sand with the formation of the dunes.
In the late 16th century, Lady Gertrude Arundel of Efford built a salt water tide mill at what we now know as Nanny Moore's bridge. Her neighbour just across the river was Sir Richard Grenville (1542-91) of Stowe and the “Revenge” fame who built a quay together with a cottage for a Harbourmaster. On the south side of the haven lay “Efford Cellars” one of which still exists today having been converted into a holiday home, Efford Cottage, by the Aclands. In the early 19th century, ships would be beached on the sand and their cargoes taken ashore in carts and stored in the cellars around the haven. In the 18th century, stores or cellars had been built along the Strand. A legacy of all this is Travis Perkins builders merchants’ store lying behind the Strand Hotel. With the coming of the canal in the 1820s and the improvements to the “Port of Bude” the whole trade of the haven greatly increased. A breakwater was built to protect the new sea lock so that ships could now be locked in to be unloaded in the lower and upper basins. A shipyard was established in the upper basin in the 1830s and was in existence for over 80 years.

A Trading Ketch on the sands at Bude

Bude has had connections with many colourful ships over the years the Ceres, for instance, the oldest ship on Lloyds register. When she sank in 1936 her replacement, Traly, continued to trade here right through the war. Another ship, the Agnes, built in Bude as “Lady Acland” in 1835, was finally wrecked in a hurricane in the West Indies, 122 years later, in 1957.
It is this spirit of Bude's colourful maritime past that the Society hopes to conjure up in its forthcoming “Maritime Day” on November 6th.
Bryan Dudley Stamp

View from Virworthy

By the time you read this, the summer will almost certainly be over and the autumn colours will have replaced the lush green. We did see a dry spell in August sufficient to remove all the water from the feeder canal at the wharf end. The poor ducks had to make do with a “lick-and-a-promise” in a bowl of water! But it was not long before our beloved rain came and replaced the water. Gerald Fry, together with work experience volunteers, has done a lot of clearance work along the towpath where brambles and small trees have been cut back and some remedial work done on the path. They have also constructed two rustic seats at strategic intervals between Dexbeer Bridge and Virworthy Mill for the weary walker to rest and enjoy the quiet.
Much of the aqueduct is in the parish of Pancrasweek. It is a very spread out parish and in need of a focal point. To that end, the old dilapidated church hut, adjacent to the church, has been bought by the Parish Council and a newly formed committee is actively engaged in fundraising and making applications to the National Lottery and other funding agencies in order to have a new hall built on the site of the old. Perhaps in the future the hall could be a focal point for the canal in this area.
Geoff Lowe

Robert Fulton

Apart from designing inclined planes, torpedoes, and submarines, Robert Fulton designed a machine for digging out the earth for canals.
In a letter to Earl Stanhope he describes it thus:
“The idea is to have a cutter which will take up a furrow of earth about 4 inches square which it pushes into a segment of a circle about one foot from the ground, and a movement being taken from the Axel of the Hind wheels, which puts the Flies in motion, they by the velocity which they actuate are to stroke the earth out of the segment or stage on the Bank of the Canal. Each fly is calculated to strike off about half a pound at a time, And the distance which the earth will move through will be in proportion to the force with which it is struck.”
He goes on to say that “as it takes a small quantity at a time it will work any place you could plough.” And goes on to calculate that if you suppose “a horse to walk 15 miles per day every 81 lenial yards would be one Cube, 21 Cube yards per mile in 15 miles 310 yards:

This is not one Penny per Cube Yard, which in all Cases that I know would be 3d.” ( It is interesting that a man is paid the same as a horse, four shillings. Ed)
His biographer, H W Dickinson, says that “the machine was a crude and impracticable apparatus. The power for cutting the earth was to be obtained through the axle of the machine from the four horses employed in dragging it. The number of cuts works out......at 28 per lineal yard traversed. At this rate the velocity of the flies would be so great that they would deal a shattering blow instead of the slow motion necessary with a shovel.”
He apparently never produced the machine, whether from realisation of its impracticability or lack of money - he was chronically impoverished - is not clear.
Ed.

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 8 December 1999.

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

E-Mail mike@bude-canal.freeserve.co.uk