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Documents on file

BCN Gauging 16089

pc       

5.3.1898

Port of London Gauging 9997

pc       

23.4.1898

Census at City Road Basin

pc       

5.4.1901

Letter FMC/Oxford Canal Co re error in declaration

pc       

9.12.1903

GJ Gauging  11812

pc       

27.6.1911

GJ (OC) gauging 12140

pc       

12.10.1926

BCN Gauging 1547

pc       

2.1.1930

Paul Hunter – History of Marquis

orig

22.6.2001

 

 

Millner Letters

5.7.1899

 

At 8.35 pm on Monday 3rd July, I received a wire from Danks stating that M Canvin’s steamer JUBILEE had sunk in Braunston Tunnel and stopped the traffic at 6 pm.  After sending the men and stanking material forward from this yard, I rode over to Braunston and found Messrs Fellows Morton & Clayton’s steamer MARQUIS Captain T Wenlock and butty boat loaded with starch and sundries for Birmingham had run into that Canvin’s Steamer JUBILEE and butty boat Captain T Canvin loaded with 23 and 30¼ tons of Wyken Coal for Leckhampton, between the 13 & 1400 yards in the tunnel.  The JUBILEE lay across the tunnel with the bow on the offside and the stern on the towpath side and he was struck an inch on the inside of the stempost with the guard iron almost knocked off.  The MARQUIS then appeared to have run up on her foredeck and pressed her under.  The tunnel was thick and both steamers look to have been on their wrong sides.

Wenlock states that he sounded the whistle several times but heard no reply.  The MARQUIS followed the same owner’s SULTAN close behind from hear and was probably running hard at the time of the collision.

The stank was driven at Bridge No 6 Wilton and the water in the tunnel (and summit for a distanceof 1½ miles 275 yards was run off to a depth of 2’ 8” before the JUBILEE could be floated after lightening her cargo 6 tons and pumping all the water out.  She rose at 2 pm, but it was 7 pm before the summit could be raised sufficiently to allow boats to move.108 lockfuls of water were required from the reservoir to make up the deficiency.In my opinion the JUBILEE is not a safe steamer to navigate the tunnels without sidecloths and she ought not to be allowed to carry such heavy loading.Also considering we may always expect to have boats sunk in the tunnels, proper stop grooves should be placed in Welton Bridge wing walls as soon as possible to prevent future delays to traffic and considerable loss of water.  Millner/Thomas

12.9.1899

 

I have reports from our tug captains that your steamers will work through the tunnels at too great a speed for safety and our men fear there will be another accident if the speed is not reduced.

GIVE CAPTAINS GENERAL ORDER – Use more care, slow down, especially when passing the tugs and fleet of boats.

On Friday evening last (8th September) the three steamers MARQUIS, EMPEROR and EMPRESS passed through Braunston Tunnel and one or the other broke our tug HASTY’s mooring chain and afterwards cast her loose at the fore end, and when the men returned to work on Saturday morning she was near the tunnel entrance. Millner/FM

9.12.1903

 

On September 19th our steamer “MARQUIS” steerer Edwards left Brentford with 9 tons of sugar for Digbeth and 5 tons for aventry.  By an error on part of our Brentford people, the whole was declared to Digbeth.  We have duly advised the Grand Junction Co of this, and they wish us to notify you of the mistake.   FMC/Oxford CC

23.12.1908           

 

Herewith I beg to enclose….your steamer MARQUIS running into the top offside gate at Lock No 2  at Braunston on 17th inst.  I may state it has been necessary to chain the gate back for the present, and we shall  be forced to put in a new pair of gates next year as the next blow will probably knock the gates down.   After Christmas we shall have the iron centres up in Braunston Tunnel in a  very low place and I must ask you to especially caution your men on the steamers.  Wishing you the compliments of the season.  Millner/FMC

28.5.1917           

 

I am obliged for your wire and letter of the 26th inst respecting steamers DUKE, SPEEDWELL, MARQUIS – but none have cleared the Buckby stoppage although I gave instructions for the locks to remain open until 6am.  The steamer COUNT was probably the last steamer to clear the stoppage…

 

 

 

Current Owner: James Woolcock

 

 

 

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