Gloucestershire Society for Industrial Archaeology

Weekly letters from Brimscombe Agent J R Denyer to Company Treasurer J S Salt in London reporting on current issues such as the coal trade, effects due to weather, ongoing maintenance work, shortage of water. Key topics mentioned are given

The specific years covered and Gloucestershire Archives reference in brackets are 1809 (TS/215), 1811 (TS/216), 1822 (TS/223) and 1824 (TS/224).

Click on the appropriate link below to download a transcript of the contents of the letters for a given year.

Letters for 1809 (TS/215)
Price of coals varied with the season.
Controversy over assessment for the Property Tax in parishes or for the business as a whole.
Floods worse than 1795 led to a serious slip at Wallbridge.
Long delay over finalising conveyances with Mrs Lewis.
Need for long open shed at Brimscombe to be enclosed.
Information about best available roofing materials for buildings at Brimscombe.
Dispatch policy changed from holding for particular boat to shipping by first that arrives.
Maintenance carried out when traffic held up elsewhere.
Completion of Bristol docks made cranes available to purchase.
Difficulties in collecting signatures to deed restructuring Company’s finances.
Good trade this year.

Letters for 1811 (TS/216)
Bad weather in January delayed traffic – coal on the way to Lechlade was sold at Cricklade.
Concern about Sills & Co at Hambro Wharf after one of the partners went bankrupt.
Costs of shipping coal to Lechlade provided with a recommendation to reduce prices.
Information about the qualities of Lydney vs Bullo coal and need to reduce prices.
Kennet & Avon Canal opening had drastic effect on traffic to and from Bristol.
Shortage of small change met by parcels from London.
Competition amongst the carriers has led to disputes – particularly Wyatt vs Miller.
Good stock of coal at Lechlade in December ready for winter.

Letters for 1815 (TS/218)
Waters & Co sent two vessels with Forest coal on a trial trip to Oxford and Henley.
Clerk William Dicks died after a long illness.
Trade in the past financial year was better than the previous year.
Several yards of the tunnel side walls and arching bulged, and a stoppage was being arranged.
Lydney coal masters have permission to send coal to Bristol either duty free or for a trifling sum [for onward shipment via the K&A Canal]. Mr Waters has given up his trial to Oxford In November, the canal ass partially impeded by ice.

Letters for 1816 (TS/219)
Depressed sale of coal at Lechlade attributed to depressed state of agriculture and commerce.
Many canals are suffering. Situation beyond precedent. Imports limited and prices reduced.
Balance of the half-yearly statement is the smallest ever remembered.
Repairs to Wallbridge lock gates carried out when Stroud Canal stopped for repairs.
Forest coal owners introduced their coal to distant markets on the River Thames as T&S Co agreed an additional drawback. Forest coal well received.

Letters for 1817 (TS/220)
Wall supporting the embankment at Cox’s Valley has bulged forward, but no leakage.
A two week stoppage planned to reinstate the clay lining at the Coatesfield end of the tunnel.
Boat carrying Forest coal to Oxford canal wharf was taken by force back to River Thames.
One leak in the summit the size of a common hat has been stopped and other smaller ones.
Work has been done to receive stop planks on the summit in place of the useless stop gates.
Sensing a bad leak, the stop planks were put in and showed it was between bridges 26 and 29.
Making every effort to place a stock of coal on Lechlade wharf to meet a frost.
Following the late rains, it is expected that boats over the summit will carry a full cargo.

Letters for 1820 (TS/221)
Shortage of supply raises coal prices in January, but trade flourishing again in February.
Dry weather in April requires Thames Head pump to be used early.
Richard Miller in financial difficulties and asking his creditors to give him time.
Water levels low throughout the country. Thames barely navigable for boats with only 50 tons instead of 65 tons. Total stoppage on Wilts & Berks Canal.
Dry weather has allowed inspection of the galleries linked to the pump well at Thames Head.
Miners deepening well to obtain more water.
Lower gates at Bowbridge Lock destroyed by being struck by a boat.
Enlargement of the ponds at Daneway in progress

Letters for 1822 (TS/223)
Maintenance work on the summit level, including the Cirencester branch,
Changes in the price of coal,
Stages in the bankruptcy of vessel owner Richard Miller,
Concern about mud accumulating in pounds fed by streams.
Concern about proposed tramroad from Stratford-on-Avon into Oxfordshire,
Managing stoppages to minimise the effect on traders.
Making best use of the Wilts & Berks Canal,
Renewing the lease of Sapperton Mill,
W Davies of Lydney asked for support in selling coal at Bourne Wharf.
Lechlade agent Hipsley replaced by Jeffery, shortage of stock found at Lechlade,
Water supply could not maintain full level on the summit which was leaking badly,
Thames traffic delayed by floods in December.

Letters for 1824 (TS/224)
Coal imports in last year considerably higher than any former year.
Richard Miller disposing of his barges and boats, including Neptune, but still in debt.
Concern about effect on trade of proposed Stratford & Moreton railroad.
Proposed Thames & Isis Steam Navigation Co was later dissolved.
Reduction in inland duty paid on coals going below Staines on the River Thames.
Maintenance work to include replacing lock gates and repairing the summit level.
Condition of summit found to be worse than expected, and shortage of manpower due to other major projects in the area.
Proposal to convert the warehouse at Lechlade into a malthouse.
An acrimonious meeting of the Stroud Canal Committee agreed to reduce tolls to combat railroad from the Severn, but railroad promoters want a bigger reduction.
Looking forward to good trade as canal is full of water at a much earlier period than usual, but trade disrupted by floods on the Thames.

We are grateful to Gloucestershire Archives for permission to put these documents online