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Tuesday 8 December 2015

The Old Canal Through Nash Mills

Fascinating morning looking for information about this canal, started by an idea I found hard to swallow posted on Facebook, about the presumed route of the old canal through Hemel Hempstead.

One old route was apparently abandoned through leaks and taking water away from Dickinson's Mills. From what I can make out, today's Minoan Drive and the end of Ebberns Road, used to take the old canal route; there is ONS map evidence of its continuation south westerly towards today's Belswains Lane.

I'm indebted to "Boatlife" for pointing me towards creating this comparison, who provides further explanations of locks, and guesses at where the canal went, as compared to today's landscape. http://boatlife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/more-of-old-route-through-apsley.html




______________________________________________
Was this the route?
Les Biggs writes, "Alan your Yellow dotted line is wrong. The start of your line by the lock was just an arm into one of Dickensons factory`s.
Without doubt the old line left by lock 65 and closely followed what is now Ebberns Road passing behind your Yellow starting point (the arm) and crossing Belswains Lane." 19/10/2015
______________________________________________


 On here, there's a write up about Thomas Telford :
"The problems stemmed from the [Grand Junction Canal Company] diversion of the rivers Bulbourne and Gade into the canal, resulting in the loss of some of the mills’ motive power and of water for making paper pulp. In an effort to remedy the problem, the Company installed a Boulton and Watt beam engine to back-pump water from the canal below the four locks next to Nash Mills, in effect recycling water that had already flowed down through the locks. But this failed to provide a complete solution, due in part to a further problem, that of water loss through leakage in the bed of the canal in this section, which appears to have been badly constructed.

By 1812 the mills had been acquired by John Dickinson, who commenced litigation against the Company. The outcome was that the Company was required to act to prevent the loss of water referred to. Side ponds were built at the four locks in the disputed section in an attempt to reduce the water loss, but Dickinson’s complaints continued, resulting in further litigation. Telford had already been consulted by the Company on the extent of water loss in the disputed section, his opinion conflicting with that of Dickinson’s consulting engineer, and he was now engaged to survey a deviation around the problematic section of the canal, a solution that had been proposed by Dickinson himself. The survey, undertaken by Telford and W. A. Provis,  resulted in a new Act (17th March, 1818) to authorise the abandonment of the existing section of the canal and the construction of a deviation. The Act stated that the route was to be along the course of the united Bulbourne and Gade, between Frogmore Swing Bridge and its junction with the tail-water of Nash Mills."
Source: http://gerald-massey.org.uk/Canal/c_chapter_05.htm#Apsley

Scene at John Dickinson's factory at Apsley on the Grand Union Canal
Black and white photograph showing the factory with the removal of the awning taking place, there is a narrowboat on the canal with officials in it doing an inspection.
Date: early-mid 20th century

Black and white photograph showing Durrants Hill and Apsley Lock. Contentious location. [Taken from a postcard] c1900.

==

All credit to "Boatlife" for this old map. Original map from `The Grand Junction Canal, A. J. Faulkner
and "Boatlife's" explanations of his annotations:
A   Lock 65 start of the original route.
B   Lock 66 the boaters service area and the Canal Trust yard. Ebberns road runs to the rear of here.
C   The point the canal crossed Belswains Lane at the junction of Olive Rise.
D   Belswains Lane near to the pub, Two Tuns I think it`s called.
E   Red Lion Lane. Notice how the junction E/F are in line on this old map. Check a modern map and they don`t line up. Reason is John Dickenson didn`t like Red Lion Lane running through Nash Mills so he moved it.
F   The private road leading into the school grounds.



A volunteer researcher at canalrivertrust.org.uk looked into this for me and wrote in December 2015:


We have carried out some preliminary research for you.

You are probably aware that this part of the Grand Union Canal was originally built as the Grand Junction Canal, completed in 1805. It became part of the Grand Union amalgamation in 1928.

The route running via Frogmore, Apsley and Nash mills came about due to a diversion opened in 1819. The original route in that area, known as “the long pound”, was abandoned.

“The Grand Junction Canal” by Alan H. Faulkner published by David & Charles : Newton Abbot, 1972, ISBN 0 7153 5750 6 contains a plan of the original route and the diverted route and discussion of the circumstances bringing about the diversion. We have a reference copy in the archive.

We have a number of original documents in the archive:

[BW99/12/1/6] –“A Plan of the Proposed Grand Junction Canal ..…”  (undated, assumed 1792) showing the parishes which the canal is proposed to pass through. This is drawn to a scale of about ¾” to 1 mile and therefore does not indicate many features of the landscape other than important roads, some villages & stately houses. This plan is approx. 1400 x 550 mm. This small scale plan was drawn before the Ordnance Survey – in some areas we have found it difficult to get a precise match with modern maps!

[BW99/12/1/4] – “References to the Plan ……….” recording names of owners and occupiers of land in each parish in each county with reference letter and number; with note of when volume lodged in office of clerk of the peace of County of Northampton (1792). For plan, see BW99/12/1/6.  This is in the form of a small notebook.

[BW99/1/2/2] – Agreement with mill owners to deviate route at Apsley and Nash mills dated 1817. There is no plan attached to the document. Document less than A3 size.

[BW99/5/3/3] – Plan of Dickensons land at Apsley mill dated 1835. This shows only a small part of the new route. This is a photocopy less than A4 size.

Please note that documents in the archive are copyright. There are charges for copies of documents for private research only and then fees for using copies for publishing or commercial use. If you require copies please ask for charges and the order form and form of declaration if appropriate. (Please note that documents larger than A3 size may have to be sent to specialists for copying.)

We also allow self-service photocopying if you visit – A4 copies @ 20p per sheet, A3 copies @ 40p per sheet, again providing they are for personal research or private study only (neither of which maybe for a commercial purpose).

At present there is no charge for photographing documents using you own digital camera during a visit, again for personal research only.

See the notes below detailing charges for research.

Our main catalogue is searchable on line at   http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/home  . “Images” refers mainly to photographs. When searching for documents (i.e. other than photographs) please un-check the box for images only.

Many of the Grand Junction Canal (and other canals) records are held by the National Archive. You may find their on-line catalogue to be helpful.




Shops

I wonder what shop names there have been in Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead?

After WW II, and prior to the coming of the new town,

Here's some:
MARLOWES EAST SIDE 

  • Northwards from The Plough 
  • Large house on corner of Wood Lane (now St. Albans Road)
  • House, Mr. Jarman’s (agent for Prudential)
  • House, Humphreys
  • Railway bridge
  • Jack Harris, Barber
  • Smiths, picture framers and furniture restorers
  • Garments, grocers and off-licence
  • Entrance to rear of shops
  • Dan Fortnum, butcher with slaughterhouse at rear
  • Moorcrofts, greengrocer (Joe Edmunds)
  • Hemmings, toy shop
  • Moores, shoe shop
  • Row of six houses
  • Greig, furniture shop and house. Later two shops in front,Walters and Tailor
  • Bakers, main shop at bottom of Puller Road, Boxmoor
  • Miss Monk, employment agency and corsetry
  • Painters, wood shop
  • Mayhews, radio shop
  • Cannons, clothes shop
  • Beckleys–Johnsons, grocers shop
  • Cannon, later Hukes junk shop
  • Frith, radio shop
  • Smiths–Bowlers, fish shop
  • Charlesworth, chemists shop
  • Rowdens, used by Aloysius College during World War II; then became Henderson's, department store
  • Half Way House, public house
  • Bevan, cycle shop
  • Head, sweet shop
  • Grange, butchers; later Charmans from Boxmoor
  • Vineys, paper shop and sub-Post Office
  • Albion Hill
  • Kitcheners
  • Greig, butchers
  • House, A.J. Adams solicitor
  • Buckles, grocers
  • Littler, sweet shop; later Bennetts
  • Maud Kershaw, hat shop
  • House
  • House
  • Footpath to Maynard Road
  • Sketchley, cleaners
  • Attwoods, cycles
  • Joan Harbourn, baby clothes
  • Café
  • Sweet shop
  • Goodrich, hardware shop
  • Villas up to Hillfield Road (known locally as “Hospital Lane”)



MARLOWES WEST SIDE

  • Northwards from The Plough 
  • Misses Sells, sweet shop
  • Plough, public house
  • Grocer, Charlie Sheffield
  • Several cottages, known locally as Bug Row 
  • Railway bridge
  • Woodman Bros, general builders’ merchants 
  • Mill Stream Café, Horace Mayle
  • Several cottages
  • Wagon & Horses, public house
  • Stonemason, Albert Smith
  • Davis & Bailey, ironmongers
  • Yard
  • Tozers, coal office
  • Tozers, record and radio shop (later a “British Restaurant”) 
  • Three cottages
  • Cossars, greengrocers
  • Entrance to Keens Yard
  • Keens, butchers and slaughterhouse
  • Solicitors/Accountants?
  • Jewellers?
  • Ramshaw & Berwick, sweetshop
  • Horace Neal, hairdresser
  • Mr. Masters, tailor
  • Entrance to George Ausden rag and bone yard at rear
  • Entrance to Keen’s Yard (League Square)
  • Humphreys, corn and seed merchant
  • Wadkins house
  • Wadkins, bakers
  • House?
  • Potters, greengrocers
  • Joe Bevan, cycle repairs
  • Junkshop
  • Chocolate Box
  • Davis & Bailey, iron foundry
  • Henry VIII, public house
  • House
  • Flower Box, florist
  • Gordon Phillips, gents outfitters
  • Maud Kershaw, dress shop
  • Cameron, gents tailor
  • Neales, hairdressers
  • Cakebread, grocers
  • House
  • Glenisters, builders merchants
  • Luxor Cinema
  • Saunders Garage
  • Bridge Street
  • Attwoods Cycles
  • Bethel Church
  • Shoe Repair shop (Mr. Price)
  • Dixons, sweet shop (Beth Marks)
  • Salvation Army
  • Post Office
  • Gas Showrooms
  • Selden Builders
  • Horn’s the undertakers
  • Co-op
  • Electricity Showrooms
  • Princess Cinema
  • Red Tiles, tea shop
  • Gurton, grocers
  • Bean, gents outfitters
  • P.J. Cook, gents outfitters
  • Bath Street
  • Public Baths

What Do you know About This?

Looking north towards the 'old town', the tallest building was Henderson's department store as mentioned above. This shows the shops from about Painters, wood shop to Friths radio shop as mentioned in John's excellent post. Cannons was probably the one with the fluting above the sun canopy. The sun blinds would be pulled out using a long wooden pole with a metal hook at the end.



What About This?


"The first shop on the left was a bakers on the corner of Albion Hill, named Hemeldonia. The one next to that was Vineys . That was 1945."
"The tallest building on the right hand end of the photograph Henderson's, we can then name the other shops from the previous list of the East Side of Marlowes.






Monday 28 January 2013

'Lake Gadebridge' — The 2013 Flood of Gadebridge Park, Hemel Hempstead

Taken by Alan D Winter on the afternoon of 27 January 2013.

Alan says, “The deep blue sky was a great bonus as it reflected nicely on the waters.”

Find out about River Gade restoration work at Environment Agency.










Gadebridge Park in February 2024



Planning Application 22/00143/MFA ... Received Tue 18 Jan 2022
| The proposed re-alignment and restoration of the River Gade in Gadebridge Park including proposed footbridge crossings and associated landscaping. Plans here.





Monday 1 November 1999

Norman Wisdom at the Hemel Pavilion

It happens quite a lot - Ian Lee on BBC3CR says things that I actually agree with.



11/11/2014 - "Norman Wisdom was annoying".

I agree. 

My wife and I went to a packed-out performance by Norman Wisdom at the Pavilion, Hemel Hempstead - it must have been the end of the 90's.

Everyone in the hall seemed to be laughing their heads off. 

We conferred and agreed that we couldn't make any sense of it. 

Personally, I felt like the most miserable person in the building amidst all this incomprehensible laughter. 

We actually got up and left well before the end because we couldn't take it any more.


Thursday 31 August 1989

1989 County Council Elections - Hemel Hempstead area

See this Diarised Post of events within the Liberal / SDP Alliance in Hemel Hempstead — 'The End of A Local Alliance - 1989 Hertfordshire County Council Elections'.



Friday 26 September 1980

Pretty Certain That's Me!


 While browsing for pictures of "Marlowes" "Hemel Hempstead" this one often comes up. On closer inspection, I'm in it!

Platform shoes were often worn by pop stars - the likes of Slade, Sweet, Glitter Band etc. These particular ones were very comfortable. Just about the only thing I could wear with them that was long enough was a pair of brown trousers.


And this is definitely me in the red t-shirt in the 1108 computer room, taken from "Computers are a people business" BP Oil Computer and Accounting Centre published in 1980.








Friday 1 September 1978

Parking Woes!

Parking


There was no official car park for the residents living above the shops at The Parade, Marlowes. The shop beneath us had an arrangement with a private club to rent a warehouse in a yard, and we got word from the Hemel Hempstead Bowling Club that had a bowling green behind us, that we could park in their car park. 

At the time we needed to park Dad's shop van, Mum's Wartburg estate car, my brother's Ford Zephyr. And then there was my car.

1. My first car was a Ford Capri and I used to park it in the bowling green car park. Before long, the bowling green, orchard, and car park were sold for development of the Guinness Trust flats on Alexandra Road. The flats came with parking spaces but those were strictly for use by the residents of those flats, so, I began to park beside the kerb on Marlowes. This was ok if you could find a space that wasn't taken up by a bus stop, as the traffic wardens were keen on protecting that space for buses. 

When the council decided to put down a yellow line we had to park elsewhere. 

2. When you could find a space, there was more unrestricted parking available in front of Maitland Joseph House, and if not there, in a free public bay off  Dacorum Way. 

Parking limitations were then put on the spaces in front of Maitland Joseph House, and, I think on those spaces at Dacorum Way, although overnight parking was easier there. But as a shift worker, I needed daytime parking, too. It wasn't long after that, that Dacorum Borough Council decided to reserve those bay spaces just for its council employees. 

So we had to park elsewhere. 

3. So we parked in a public car park used for visitors to the council offices. Then the council decided to make entry to this area limited to council staff cardholders only. So we had to park elsewhere. 


4. So we tried squeezing into spaces left on Alexandra Road nearby. Then the council decided to restrict parking on that road to 1 hour. So we had to park elsewhere. 

5. Sometimes, we were lucky and could get into spaces on another nearby residential road. But it wasn't long before the council decided to bring in residents-only parking (for people living on that residential road). So we had to park elsewhere. 


6. There were spaces at Gadebridge Park next to a newly created playground. These spaces were even further to walk back to the house than all the other previous options. Then the council decided to introduce a charge to park in this car park: 50p for a maximum of 2 hours.

7. So I moved. 




8. My first flat - 1977/8 - I made sure the place I chose came with a garage!









Sunday 10 November 1974

Churchill Swimming Pool

I had swimming lessons at Churchill Swimming Pool in Hemel Hempstead. It was eventually replaced by a new sports centre and indoor pools.

I remember a day when it absolutely tipped it down onto that pool. I always went for a cup of Bovril afterwards.

This swimming pool dates from around 1950. In summer in the 1970s I can remember it being absolutely packed on the better summer days.