How to make a contribution to the archive

Your Directory of Ships very interesting and informative. I have an interest in the Nurse brothers [Charles and Frank] of 'Gloucester' when they owned the topsail schooner 'Helena Tregenza' from 1904 to 1913. The Helena T dims were 103 x23 x11.6. Gross Tonnage: 133.5t. Port Registered: Hayle. Built 1869 by Tom Massey of Portreath, Cornwall. In my life biog of the Helena T [1869-1916] I have written c 2000 words about her time as a coastal trader under the Nurse company. After the death of Frank [lost in the Lucy Johns] in 1910 Charles retained ownership until his death in March 1913. The HT then passed to the Allen Co of Watchet. I still seeking any comment from anyone about this vessel when she was in Nurse hands

Firstly please do accept my apologies, for this is neither a memory nor new material but a general enquiry. 

Resulting from a recent canalside walk, with lunch at the 'Lock-keepers', Wallbridge, I enquired after 'on-line references' to the many Information/Interpretation Panels which are displayed at strategic points alongside current restoration acheivements.

Whilst reading the displayed information it occurred to me that it would be beneficial to study many of the references more deeply at home.

I have visited the six websites referenced in the audio-guide intruductory leaflet and whilst they present masses of related information, I have yet to find a specific 'link' to any such panel.

Might such illustrations be available, please?  I do believe they would be beneficial to others, especially 'teachers', and who knows one day they may become the content of a new booklet for you ... though I do apreciate that such would need to be updated as the decades pass. 

One specific panel, though a temporary one, was that displayed on the barrier on the 'Lock-keeper's' side of the 'Wallbridge Lower-lock' footpath diversion.  Partly due to its weather damaged condition plus it being a little remote/out of view of the lower-lock restoration work, I did not completely appreciate its meaning/information.

To close, an earlier visit and enquiry led to a friend's interest in the 'roun-houses', which we have subsequently discovered were 'lengthsmen's' cottages, i.e. men responsible for the upkeep of a length of canal ... but then that would be well known!  We had ben lead to believe they were p[ossibly used for drying 'teasles'.

Kind regards, David Broad 

Although the comment above does not relate to the website, it is, nevertheless, both interesting and timely.  The Interpretation Plan for the next stage of restoration is being written at the point in time.  I will make sure you comments are known!  Many thanks

Iris (Site Editor)

My family enjoyed a lovely early May weekend in Stroud.  We had a leisurely Sunday walk alongside a stretch of the canal and witnessed the restoration work in progress.  The project is invaluable to wildlife and natural habitats.  The area is one of natural beauty and will be enhanced by the hard work of all the volunteers.  Good luck with your fundraising 

Dear Editor. It has given me great pleasure to see the photo on your home page of the narrow boat Glosser.[ caption: Mrs A Perrett and her dog on the Glosser. Donated by Dennis Floyd]. This narrow boat, built by my father Desmond Sawyer (ex RNVR) in 1947, from a Brentford butty, to provide his wife and family of three children with a home, was moved by means of tows, hired horses or dragged by my parents to Saul, where my elder brother went to school. I have a photo of my brother and sister at the same window as Mrs Perrett. I also have my father's log of their journey from Brentford along the Grand Union to Birmingham and Gloucester, and his account of their trials and tribulations and eventual. During this time they got to know L.T.C. Rolt and Sonia. The prolonged effects of a war injury suffered by my father while serving with Coastal Forces contributed to my parents selling Glosser in about 1949, and them going their separate ways. In his old age my father presented me with one single steel hinge, painted like wood grain, which he had always kept, and which belonged to the original hatch door of the Brentford butty Glosser was created from. In the knowledge that Brentford was a butty boat garage for the pool of London, I like to imagine her previous existence relieving ships of their cargoes. The News Chronicle featured an article about the 'water gypsies', and the present owner might be interested to know that several press photos exist in my and my brother's possession of the interior of the glosser just after it's creation. In addition we have other photos taken en route from Watford to Saul. My parents talked about a wood turner who traded on the canal side, who made from unseasoned elm, some magnificent bowls. Once finished, and while the treadle lathe was still spinning, he embellished the side of the bowl with a chalk flourish. I still have the one of these somewhere, and my brother a traditional painted water jug. I hope this information will be interesting. Many thanks / Nick Sawyer