“The Hereford Times”,
Saturday, May 24th, 1851
Caution to Captains of Canal Boats
A case was heard the other day at Newent, Gloucestershire, which
should operate as a caution to captains of canal boats and others,
who are in the habit of impeding the free navigation of the canal.
The proceedings were instituted by Mr. P. Ballard, the Clerk of the
Herefordshire and Gloucestershire anal Company and the case was
heard before J.C. Thackwell, Esq., the Rev. H.E. Whatley and R.F.
Onslow Esq. Mr. Edward Pritchard, of Hereford appeared in support of
the complaint, which was for impeding the navigation of the canal,
by remaining a longer time than was necessary in the tunnel at
Oxenhall, and Mr. Poole of Gloucester for the defendants. Those who
are acquainted with this tunnel are well aware that it is a very
low, awkward one - that it extends for a considerable distance, and
that it is quite impossible for two boats to pass each other within
it. The roof, too, of the tunnel is but a few feet from the water
and the boats are propelled by “legging it” as the boatmen call it -
that is, the men lie on their backs and by pressing their feet
against the roof and sides of the tunnel, thus propel it through. It
may well be imagined that to be embowelled in such a place is both
dreary and dangerous. It appears that one night just preceding the
hearing of the complaint, a boat belonging to Mr. Collingbourne, of
Gloucester, entered the tunnel and made some unnecessary delay
therein. Some-time afterwards a boat of Mr. Smith of the Kerry Arms
entered the tunnel. The two boats met about midway, and the captain
of each boat refused to go back. Other boats entered the tunnel, and
all these were within it from 12 o’clock on the previous night till
nearly the same hour on the following day, and thus all navigation
was completely stopped. Three of these captains concerned in the
“blockade” were fined in the sum of £2 each and expenses. The
situation of these obstinate parties could not be one of the most
comfortable, remaining as they did, for 12 hours in their dark,
dreary and subterraneous abode.
However, in the following edition of the newspaper, this correction
was published.
“The Hereford Times”, Saturday, May 31st, 1851
Newent, Stopping the Navigation on the Canal
In consequence of our Reporter having misunderstood his informant,
we represented in last week’s paper, in the case heard at Newent,
several boats remained within the Tunnel at Oxenhall, from 12
o’clock one night till 12 o’clock the following day - a period of 12
hours, whereas, the truth is, they remained in their dark, dreary
and subterraneous abode, from 12 o’clock on the Thursday night till
10 o’clock the following Sunday morning - a period of 58 hours!
Those who are acquainted with the tunnel at Oxenhall will think it
almost incredible that a number of human beings should, because
neither party would give way to the other, choose to remain so long
in such a situation. There is no towing-path through the tunnel, but
the men as we have said, lie on their backs, and propel the boats
through with their feet. Water is continually falling from the low
roof, and, altogether, a more damp and dismal place cannot well be
imagined.
These articles were discovered in the archives of the Hereford
Record Office, by Nigel C. Jefferies, February 1984.
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