Limehouse Lock

LIMEHOUSE LOCK

Lock	State	Date	Length	Length - Working Distance	Width	Fall	Removed or bypassed
Limehouse Lock	Built	1768				Tidal	1865
Limehouse Lock	Rebuilt	1865	89' 10''	84' 0''	19' 8''	Tidal
Limehouse Lock (Brick and Timber)	Report	1917			22' 0''	Tidal	1968

Finally we come to Limehouse, a name used for at least four different locks built in three different places. The history of Limehouse has been well detailed elsewhere. The name itself probably comes from the lime oasts or kilns established there in the 14th Century and used to produce quick lime for building mortar.

The Limehouse Cut chamber was authorised on 21.7.1768 at an estimated cost of £1547s 13s. (NA Rail 845/4).

19.12.1792 "...it is ordered that the Collectors of Tolls at Limehouse and Bromley be provided with Lamps for their service in dark nights..."

On 7.9.1805 it was reported that the lock had bulged in the sides and the Collector’s house on the west side had cracked. The lock was in a dangerous state and was to be repaired. By 4.11.1811, the lock was said to be in a good state. (NA Rail 845/8)

On 16.10.1852 Beardmore reported that "The Limehouse Lock has bulged and the late Lock keepers house must be pulled down both to get at the repair required and because the house is in the act of Tumbling down (NA Rail 845/14)

Between 1^st January 1854 and 24^th April 1864, the lock was in the ownership of the Regents Canal Co and was possibly little used. The main traffic would have passed via the new cut into Limehouse Basin.

When the lock was returned to the ownership of the Trust in 1864, it was reported to be “old and in poor repair”. The Engineer, Nathaniel Beardmore, recommended building a new lock but it was decided to repair it and the lock was reopened on 5^th October 1864.

On 27^th March 1865, the lock broke down again and all traffic had to be stopped. Beardmore again recommended building a new lock and on 18^th May 1865 this was confirmed. Beardmore’s recommendation was for a lock 90’ long by 20’ wide with the upper cill 2’ and the lower cill 3’ lower than the old lock. “The lock would be built with timber sides with arched sheets overhead to prevent bulging and save the necessity of land ties; this is the Dutch fashion so often advocated by the noble Chairman. If greenheart timber be used, the work may be very permanent but the invert can be made of concrete and brickwork” On 19^thAugust the Chairman, the Marquess of Salisbury, suggested building a larger lock but Beardmore pointed out that it would involve an increase of cost of £3600.

The plan below shows the new lock with the old chamber faintly outlined.

LMA ACC 2423/P1422

Beardmore hoped the new lock would be open by 1^st November 1865 but construction was delayed following an injunction by William Powell, tenant of the Bricklayers Arms Public House, Limehouse. This was eventually removed and work recommenced to enable re-opening on 24^th January, 1866 with the first barges passing through at 6 pm. (NA Rail 845/16)

9.11.1867 The conditions of work at Limehouse Lock were described by Nathaniel Beardmore "...the peculiar duties at Limehouse Lock require two efficient Lock keepers in addition to first rate Collectors. The great points to be secured are - rapid passage of barges to save tide - safe working of this lock which is much larger than any other on the River - avoidance of blocks that occur daily on the Cut above Britannia Lock, for which the assistance of the Officers is required at any moment during the busy time - lastly the safe shutting of the gates at high water during spring tides." (NA Rail 845/16)

In October 1877, it was recommended that “new houses and offices for the Collectors and Lock keepers be built here.” (NA Rail 845/21). The plan in 1878 was for four houses and two offices with a privy block at the end, though this was modified to provide a WC each for the collector's and lock keeper's offices. The occupation from left to right was the Chief Collector's house, the Assistant Collector's house, the Collector's office, the Lock keepers lobby, and then two Lock keeper's houses. (The names pencilled in are from 1931)

All from LMA ACC 2423/P002

LMA ACC 2423/275

A survey, taken in June 1880, shows the layout at Limehouse which prevailed right up to the closure of the lock in 1968

On 20.4.1883, the new lock houses and offices were insured for £1700 (NA Rail 845/23)

3.3.1888 "The Limehouse Offices and Lockhouses have been thoroughly cleaned and placed in a perfectly satisfactorily sanitary state in accordance with a notice received from the Limehouse Board of Works" (J Child) (LMA ACC 2423/003)

In 1893 it was recorded that “the lockhouses want ventilating, write to Regents Canal Co for permission to open up windows into their premises. Board will pay a rent.” (NA Rail 845/26).

This was followed by a comment in the Survey of 28.7.1897 "We are paying for an easement in rear of lock houses for ventilation, but no openings have yet been made – Engineer report why – and when openings can be made." (NA Rail 845/28)

In Charles Tween's report of 5.8.1897: "Ventilators for these Houses were ordered some years ago - but have not yet been fixed - I will have them done the next time the Bricklayer is in the neighbourhood."

15.10 1897 A Tender has been obtained from Mr Thomas Pollett, Builder, Waltham Abbey for making and fixing 10 windows in the Lockhouses at Limehouse Lock - as ordered at your last meeting. I think £15.5.0 is reasonable and might be accepted. (C Tween - LMA ACC 2423/006)

He goes on to report on 9.12.1897 that "The Houses at this lock require Cleansing and papering and as one should be done before the new Collector C N Crace goes in - I have obtained Tender from Mr Pollitt of £23.7.0. This work can be done at the same time the small windows are being fixed... (C Tween - LMA ACC 2423/006)

The photograph on the left was taken in about 1898. Augustus Wright, one of the lock keepers (see below), is standing second from the left. The two children in the back ground are almost certainly his children, Augustus Agoss Wright (on the left) and Leo Arthur Peter Wright (who started work as a Relief Lock keeper at Bow Locks in 1939!)

Wright (who saved 24 people from drowning during his service) died of peritonitis at the early age of 34 in 1904.

The other men are probably Charles Napoleon Crace (in the boater), the collector, who had a long career with the Conservancy rising from office boy at Enfield to become the Chief Collector, retiring in 1930. His assistant collector Albert Thompson stands to the right of the group and the seated man is James Haggar, the other lock keeper.

They are standing outside the door to No 3 Lockside, which, together with No 5 (where the children are standing), were the two offices at the lock. In 1898, Thompson lived at No 1, Crace at No 7, Haggar at No 9 and Wright at No 11, Lockside.

The photograph is courtesy of Jon Wright, great-grandson of Augustus Wright

19.3.1920 "LIMEHOUSE LOCK HOUSES Considerable repairs have been carried out to these lock houses, the roofs have been overhauled and the house occupied by the late Collector Thompson has been repaired, three ceilings renewed and the plaster to the walls reinstated. The floors where rotten have been made good. The work of painting is now in hand" C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/018)

19.6.1925 "During the burning off of some old paint on the window frame at the front of the cottage...No 7, Lockside Limehouse...the flame from the blowlamp set the curtains on fire and the window frame was slightly damaged and the ceiling blackened and the wallpaper damaged...the Fire Insurance Company have been notified" (LMA ACC 2423/022)

The photograph to the left shows the steel cage which replaced the timber framing used to "prevent the sides bulging" mentioned by Nathaniel Beardmore in 1865.

British Waterways

In 1931,the alterations to reduce the accommodation to three houses instead of four to enable

"the installation of WC's etc" upstairs, resulted in the layout shown in the plan below. The cellars were converted to four sculleries with a copper in each.

LMA ACC 2423/P002

Martyn Denney

The photograph above, taken in 1967, shows the chains (centre and right) which were used to open and shut the gates. Because of the constricted space, there was no room for balance beams. By that date the lock was in such a poor condition that the decision had been taken to build a new canal to connect the Limehouse Cut directly to the Regents Canal Basin (again!). The alternative was to rebuild the lock but there was no room alongside to create a new chamber and "to close it for a year to reconstruct it would mean loss of traffic"

Limehouse Lock remained in service until 1^st April 1968, when the new link was opened.

The old line was filled in although the metal stank at the Thames end of the Cut is still in place. The cottages somehow survived the Regeneration of Docklands and the position of the old lock chamber in the new Docklands is marked by a shallow pool. The former Conservancy houses have been refurbished and stand overlooking the pool.

Limehouse Lock

Census/Date		Name	Title	Wife	Location given by enumerator/Comments				Source Reference
1961-1966		Allan McLean Tait	Lock keeper	Transferred from Harlow Mill Lock. Retired 1966. Died 1980					Eddy Tait (son)
n.d poss. 1951		J A Love	Lock keeper	Appointed at £5.3.6					LCB Records
17.9.1947		C W Follon (42)	Lock keeper	Appointed at £4.15.0					NA Rail 845/128
14.3.1947		F Lowe (46)	Collector	16 years in service. Earns £5.15.0. Appointed ex Old Ford as Collector at £6.10.6 Last recorded r.o.p. £6.18.5 n.d.					NA Rail 845/128 LCB Records
14.3.1947		A Brennan (40)	Asst Collector	12 years in service. Earns £5.0.0. Promoted to Asst Collector at £5.10.6 (lives in Board’s house at Bow)					NA Rail 845/128
14.3.1947		P Cole (46)	Relief Asst Collector	7 years in service. Earns £5.0.0. Transferred to Bow Locks as Asst Collector at £5.10.6					NA Rail 845/128
14.3.1947		H Brennan (43)	Asst Collector	23 years in service. Earns £5.15.0 Now promoted to Collector at £6.15.6 at Bow Locks					NA Rail 845/128
14.2.1947		W Simpson	Collector	Earns £7.8.0. Is 65 on 26.4.1947 and will retire. Pension lump sum £351.4.4. with £2.5.0 per week					NA Rail 845/128
Simpson was awarded the B E M in the New Year Honours list as a recognition of his services during the war
8.11.1946		A Brennan	Lock keeper	To £4.12.6 per week. Appointed at Limehouse as Relief Asst Collector					NA Rail 845/127
8.11.1946		A W G Lake	Lock keeper	To £4.12.6. per week (Transferred to Old Ford as Relief Asst Collector)					NA Rail 845/127 (Assumed)
19.7.1946		D Davis	Lock keeper	65 on 17.8.1946, to retire. Pension lump sum£139.17.10 with 17/11 per week					NA Rail 845/127
25.10.1944		J F Bickley	Lock keeper	Returned to Board’s service at £4.5.0 with uniform. £5 .6.0 (no date)					NA Rail 845/126
20.9.1944		George Hudson (42)	Lock keeper	Ex Merchant Navy for 26 years, appointed at £4.1.0					NA Rail 845/126
29.9.1944 Hudson has now applied to be released from the Boards service. Recommended that “The Ministry of Labour and National Service be informed that the Board cannot see their way to release George Hudson from their service”
27.10.1944 Hudson failed to report for duty on 12.10.1944 and “is unlikely to return” The National Service Officer has been notified. (NA Rail 845/126)
9.6.1944	A W G Lake		Temp. Relief Collector	Appointed 19.5.1944 at £4.2.0. per week					NA Rail 845/126
9.6.1944 Lake was previously employed since 8.1942 as a temporary Police Constable, but “suffered from internal trouble” and was off sick on a number of occasions. After an operation he returned to work but only for light duties with regular hours.
9.6.1944		W Simpson	Collector	Off sick for long period, need to find temporary relief cover					NA Rail 845/126
2.11.1943		H Brennan	Collector	Increase of 2/6 per week					NA Rail 845/126
1.4.1942		G Payne	Temp Lock keeper	Appointed at £3.15.0 with uniform replacing J Bickley					NA Rail 845/126
28.11.1941		S V Sparkes	Lock keeper	(former Capstan Hand) with H M Forces. Increase of 3/- per week					NA Rail 845/125
28.11.1941		J F Bickley	Lock keeper	With H M Forces. Increase of 5/- per week					NA Rail 845/125
28.11.1941		H Brennan	Asst Collector	Increase of 2/6 per week					NA Rail 845/125
4.4.1941		R W Savory	Lock keeper	Absent 18 weeks .					NA Rail 845/125
Savory’s sick pay ceased 15.4.1941. He will receive half pay until 12.4.1941 or his return whichever is sooner. Then he was transferred to Brimsdown Mud Shoot as caretaker and watchman. In March 1942 he had a further breakdown. Board will allow him 10/- per week for 6 months. (NA Rail 845/125 and 126)
1.4.1939		H Brennan	Asst Collector	£3.7.6 to £3.10.0					NA Rail 845/123
9.1938		J F Bickley	Lock keeper	Naval reservist recalled to the Colours					NA Rail 845/126
1.4.1938		S V Sparkes	Capstan Hand	£2.19.0 to £3.3.0					NA Rail 845/122
1.4.1938		H Brennan	Asst Collector	£3.5.0 to £3.7.6					NA Rail 845/122
1.4.1938		D Davis	Lock keeper	£2.16.0 to £3.0.0					NA Rail 845/122
1.4.1938		J Bickley	Lock keeper	£2.16.0 to £3.0.0					NA Rail 845/122
1.4.1938		R W Savory	Lock keeper	£2.19.4 to £3.3.4					NA Rail 845/122
1.4.1937		H Brennan	Asst Collector	£3.2s.6d to £3.5s (inc House)					NA Rail 845/121
24.4.1936		H A Cosson	Relief Lock keeper	Death on 18.3.1936, after short illness					NA Rail 845/120
Cosson was appointed 17.6.1926 (and to Limehouse 23.9.1927) At the time of his death he was earning £3 per week with uniform but no house. (See comment about his transfer to relief Lock keeper in 1931)
1.4.1936		D Davis	Lock keeper	£2.15s to £2.16s					NA Rail 845/120
1.4.1936		J Bickley	Lock keeper	£2.15s to £2.16s					NA Rail 845/120
1.4.1935		S V Sparkes	Capstan Hand	£2.10.0 to £2.16.0					NA Rail 845/119
1.4.1935		H Brennan	Asst Collector	£3 to £3.2s.6d per week					NA Rail 845/119
1.4.1935		W Simpson	Collector	£5 to £5 5s per week					NA Rail 845/119
27.2.1935		Reginald William Savory	Lock keeper	Appointed at £2.5s per week with house and uniform					NA Rail 845/119
6.3.1935		Rupert Kitson	Lock keeper	Transferred to Enfield Lock					LCB Records
16.3.1934		R D Griffiths (67)	Lock keeper	Retired after 20 years service, earning £2.15 per week and house at Britannia Lock and uniform. Died 29.4.1935					NA Rail 845/118 NA Rail 845/119
17.7.1933		Rupert Kitson (40)	Lock keeper	Ex RN for 22 years, married, appointed at £2 5s per week with house and uniform					NA Rail 845/117
26.5.1933		H J Dickie (63)	Lock keeper	Dickie has had long periods of sickness…..					NA Rail 845/117
….asked for transfer to a lock where the work is lighter. No opportunity arose so now retired on pension. Lock keeper for 13 years at Limehouse, (NA Rail 845/117) Died 22.3.1935 (NA Rail 845/119)
9.12.1932		J F Bickley	Lock keeper	Appointed at £2.15.0 per week , to occupy the house at Limehouse (1 Island Row)					NA Rail 845/116
17.4.1931 A letter received from Mrs Cosson, wife of one of the lock keepers at Limehouse Lock (H A Cosson) complaining of the alleged lack of privacy in connection with the lavatories serving the lock houses. There was already a proposal with the Board that “alterations in the internal arrangements of the lock houses…by which in future there will only be 3 houses instead of 4….” This allowed the installation of “w.c’s, etc., upstairs” As a postscript to this “that notice be given to Lock keeper H Cosson, terminating his employment; and that Cosson be offered the post of Lock keeper to undertake relief duties at the various locks with wages of £3 per week and uniform, but without house” (all from NA Rail 845/115)
1.4.1930		H A Cosson	Lock keeper	+5/- per week					NA Rail 845/114
1.4.1930		H Dickie	Lock keeper	+5/- per week					NA Rail 845/114
1.4.1930		R Griffiths	Lock keeper	+5/- per week					NA Rail 845/114
1.4.1930		W Simpson	Collector	+10/- per week					NA Rail 845/114
22.2.1929		H Brennan	Collector	+2/3/per week					NA Rail 845/113
5.10.1928		H Dickie	Lock keeper	£2.10s per week					NA Rail 845/112
5.10.1928		R Griffiths	Lock keeper	£2.10s per week					NA Rail 845/112
5.10.1928		H A Cosson	Lock keeper	£2.10s per week					NA Rail 845/112
1.4.1928		H Brennan	Asst Collector	+2/9 perw eek					NA Rail 845/112
1.4.1928		W Simpson	Collector	+5/- per week					NA Rail 845/112
23.9.1927		Herbert A Cosson	Lock keeper	Appointed at £2. 8s a week with house and uniform					NA Rail 845/111
1.7.1927		S J Clark “ on the 29.6.1927 in consequence of information…received he was suspended from duty.” “Resolved that his services be dispensed with forthwith: that he be called upon to give up possession of the Board’s premises at Limehouse immediately and to hand over his uniform and any other property of the Board which is in his possession…( NA Rail 845/111) He vacated the house on 6.7.1927 (NA Rail 845/111)
1.4.1927		W Simpson	Collector	+5/- per week					NA Rail 845/111
1.8.1925		Harold James Brennan	Asst Collector	£2.15s per week plus house gas, water, and uniform					NA Rail 845/110
1.8.1925		C N Crace	Collector	Transferred to Bow Locks					NA Rail 845/110
1.4.1925		W Simpson	Asst Collector	+5/- per week					NA Rail 845/109
1.4.1924		C N Crace	Collector	+5/- per week					NA Rail 845/109
11.5.1923		Letter from C N Crace "I beg leave to apply for an increase of salary hoping you will take into consideration the following facts:- The toll on all barges entering Limehouse for any destination are now collected there. Enfield Lock Collecting Station is now dispensed with. Total collected at Limehouse for year is 242,071½ tons amount £9,339. 16.8 of which 108,657 tons, amount £5077.16.1 is extra work entailed by the new method of collection. My responsibility and work is thereby doubled for which I have received no recognition."							(LMA ACC 2423/020)
9.12.1921		W Simpson	Asst. Collector	Appointed					NA Rail 845/48
1.10 1921 …the charges made by Chappell were thoroughly investigated in the presence of Collector Crace, Asst Collector Chappell, PC Griffiths and Lock keepers Dickie and Clarke. The Committee considered the charges unfounded and that Chappell’s services should be dispensed with. (NA Rail 845/48)
6.8.1921 ….Asst Collector S H Chappell left Limehouse Lock without permission ….at 10.30 am, just as he was to take duty for the day tide; that nothing further was heard from him until the 12^th August, when he returned home. That he had written several letters and had furnished two Medical Certificates, the first stating that he was suffering from a mental breakdown and the second that he had recovered and was fit for duty. ….it was decided that he should be allowed to resume duty temporarily. Notes of a statement made by Chappell on the 27^th August were read and it was resolved that consideration of the matter be adjourned; that the Clerk do make further enquiries…and the Auditors do investigate and report. (NA Rail 845/48)
4.3.1921		S J Clark	Lock keeper	Appointed on condition he arranges to have new upper and lower dentures					NA Rail 845/48
21.1.1921		T Lee (43)	Lock keeper	Transferred to Tottenham Lock					NA Rail 845/48
12.11.1920		S H Chappell (42)	Asst Collector	Appointed ex Tottenham at £3.10.0 per week					NA Rail 845/47
29.10.1920		John Obee	Asst Collector	Appointment terminated					NA Rail 845/47
26.11.1920 “that John Obee…absented himself from duty on Thursday 30^th September at about 6am, the time he should have commenced work and was reported missing: that the Police were informed but he could not be found; that he returned to Limehouse Lock at about 8pm on Wednesday 13th October, after being absent 14 days; that the Police stated he was in “rather a dazed condition”; that the Engineer an Manager was of the opinion that he was suffering from loss of memory.” 29.10.1920 After being medically examined on 18.10.1920, by Dr Thomas Power, he was found to be “suffering from fatty degeneration of the heart with softening of the brain. He is therefore permanently unable to follow his employment” (NA Rail 845/47) and (LMA ACC 2423/018)
23.7.1920		C N Crace	Collector	Plus 10/- per week					NA Rail 845/47
30.6.1920		In reference to the one day per week allowed off duty which came into operation 1.4.1919, I find Crace has not had relief for 60 days which equals 8 and 4/7th weeks at 80/- per week (his present wage) would amount to £34.5.9d ...Agreed to pay							LMA ACC 2423/18
11.6.1920		J Obee (61)	Asst Collector	Appointed at £3 per week ex Aqueduct Lock. (In Board’s service since 9.1916)					NA Rail 845/47
14.5.1920		H W Platt	Asst Collector	Resigned from Asst Collector at Limehouse.					NA Rail 845/47
Platt requested return to former position as Relief Collector. Acceded to by the Board. Now recorded at Enfield
6.2.1920		Hugh J Dickie (50)	Relief Lock keeper	Appointed at 52/- per week. Medical report "has no useful vision with his left eye"						NA Rail 845/47 LMA ACC 2423/018
23.1.1920		H W Platt	Asst Collector	Appointed on return to duty after demobilization on 29.1.1920. 19.3.1920 Allowed £5 towards removal expenses to Limehouse. £3 per week						NA Rail 845/47 LMA ACC 2423/018
23.11.1919		A Thompson	Asst Collector	Died						NA Rail 845/46
14.11.1919		C N Crace	Collector	80/- + house, uniform and gas						NA Rail 845/46
14.11.1919		A Thompson	Asst Collector	49/- + house, uniform and gas						NA Rail 845/46
29.3.1919		Letter from C N Crace to C Tween "Sir, I beg to apply for an increase of wages hoping you will favourably consider same upon the following facts:- That you are paying me £2 less per year than what I was receiving in in 1917. That all Workmen, Lock-keepers and Collectors on the River except myself have been granted an increase since that date viz:- Lock-keepers 5/- per week; Collectors £3 per year. Therefore I am £3 per year short to make my wages equivalent to grants to date given to Collectors. Since May 1917 all labour has greatly advanced in price and having a responsible position to uphold, I find it difficult to make ends meet. My hours on duty are 94 per week day work...and 75 per week night work. I remain, etc."								LMA ACC 2423/017
1.12.1916		C N Crace	Collector	£15 War bonus						NA Rail 845/43
1.12.1916		A Thompson	Asst Collector	War bonus £5						NA Rail 845/43
1.12.1916		R Griffiths	Lock keeper	+2/- per week and £2 war bonus						NA Rail 845/43
1.12.1916		T Lee	Lock keeper	+2/- per week and £2 war bonus						NA Rail 845/43
16.9.1916		C N Crace wrote to the Board "The cost of living having increased, I beg to apply for an increase of wages, hoping you will take into consideration that other collectors receiving the same amount (£2.10s) whose responsibilities are not so great, have gardens from which they not only derive pleasure, but profit therefrom..."(There is no record of the result of this appeal)								LMA ACC 2423/15
16.6.1916		R Griffiths	Lock keeper	Increase of 1/- per week in lieu of a garden						NA Rail 845/43
16.6.1916		T Lee	Lock keeper	Increase of 1/- per week in lieu of a garden						NA Rail 845/43
10.3.1916		R Griffiths	Lock keeper	Appointed, previously hydraulic capstan operator at Limehouse						NA Rail 845/43
10.3.1916		R Price	Lock keeper	Returned from Army service in November 1915, now resigned						NA Rail 845/43
25.2.1916		T Lee	Lock keeper	Increase of 2/- to £1.5s per week						NA Rail 845/43
25.12.1915		T E Lee	Lock keeper	£3 War bonus						NA Rail 845/42
30.12.1915		A Thompson	Asst Collector	£5 War bonus						NA Rail 845/42
30.12.1915		C N Crace	Collector	+5/- per week & £15 War bonus						NA Rail 845/42
3.12.1915		R Griffiths	Lock keeper	Appointed as additional Lock keeper at 30/- per week						NA Rail 845/42
4.3.1915		T E Lee	Lock keeper	+2/- per week						NA Rail 845/42
4.3.1915		A Price	Lock keeper	+2/- per week						NA Rail 845/42
4.3.1915		A Thompson	Asst Collector	+3/- per week					NA Rail 845/42
4.3.1915		C N Crace	Collector	+3/- per week					NA Rail 845/42
25.9.1914 “Price has been called up for Army service. He was in receipt of £1.1s per week with house and uniform….I have allowed his wife half pay viz 10/6 per week. Mrs Price receives 1s 1d per day Army Pay and her husband sends her 1s 2d per day.” (NA Rail 845/41) 9.10 1914 “Mrs Price will be allowed 5/- per week (which, with Army pay, will equate to the amount her husband received as a Lock keeper) while her husband is on active service (NA Rail 845/41)
31.7.1914		T E Lee	Lock keeper	Appointed at 20/- per week plus house & uniform					NA Rail 845/41
31.7.1914		Haggar	Lock keeper	Resigned					NA Rail 845/41
1.3.1914		A Price	Lock keeper	Wages increased by 1/- per week					NA Rail 845/41
28.2.1913		C N Crace	Collector	Wages increased by 2/- per week					NA Rail 845/40
28.2.1913		A Thompson	Collector	Wages increased by 2/- per week					NA Rail 845/40
28.2.1913		J Haggar	Lock keeper	Wages increased by 1/- per week					NA Rail 845/40
6.12.1912 “Price had been medically examined by Sir John Collie, M.D., who reported that ….he had had a large number of back teeth removed and was practically without masticating power…make the appointment conditional upon him providing himself with artificial teeth within , say, three or four months.”
22.11.1912		R Price (31)	Lock keeper	An Army Reservist, appointed (previously acted, some time ago) as temporary relief Lock keeper) at £1 per week with house & uniform					NA Rail 845/39 LMA/ACC 2423/012
25.10.1912		H A Howes	Lock keeper	Resigned					NA Rail 845/39
2.4.1911		Albert Thompson(62)	Toll Collector	Lucy			1 Lockside		RG14PN1566 RG78PN55 RD20 SD2 ED19 SN393
2.4.1911		Charles Crace (36)	Toll Collector	Eliza			7 Lockside		RG14PN1566 RG78PN55 RD20 SD2 ED19 SN394
2.4.1911		James William Henry Haggar (36)	Lock Keeper	Rebecca			9 Lockside		RG14PN1566 RG78PN55 RD20 SD2 ED19 SN395
2.4.1911		Herbert Arthur Howes (28)	Lock keeper	Laura			11 Lockside		RG14PN1566 RG78PN55 RD20 SD2 ED19 SN396
1.4.1909		W Howes	Lock keeper	Increase of 1/- per week					NA Rail 845/36
1.4.1909		A Thompson	Asst Collector	Increase of 1/- per week					NA Rail 845/36
1.4.1909		C N Crace	Collector	Increase of 1/- per week					NA Rail 845/36
24.7.1908		Herbert A Howes (26)	Lock keeper	Ex Royal Navy. Appointed at 20/- per week					NA Rail 845/35 LMA/ACC 2423/011
26.6.1908		S Chappell	Lock keeper	Transferred to Bow					LMA/ACC 2423/011
23.2.1906		C N Crace	Collector	Collects £3000 annually. Now on 35/- per week plus house and uniform .Raised 2/6 a week					NA Rail 845/32
7.4.1905 CN Crace, Collector commended for vigilance in uncovering a case of under-declaration (NA Rail 845/31)
20.5.1904		James Hagger	Lock keeper	20/- up to 22/-					NA Rail 845/31
6.5.1904		S Chappell	Lock keeper	Brother of Mrs Wright, 26, single, french polisher with Elliott & Sons, Caversham, Reading, appointed					NA Rail 845/31 and LMA ACC 2423/008
22.4.1904 “Reported the death of Augustus Wright, Lock keeper, at Limehouse, on 18^th instant after undergoing an operation for appendicitis, as follows:- “He was 34 years of age, and had been engaged on this River since a boy of about twelve years of age, first as a Messenger Boy for the River Lee Traders’ Police, then as Lock keeper at Limehouse Lock. He was an excellent Lock-keeper and always most attentive to his duties. He has saved 22 lives from drowning and it will be remembered the Board presented him with the Royal Humane Society’s Vellum about six weeks ago. He leaves a widow, aged 35 years and three children, two boys aged 11 and 9 years, and one girl 6½ years and another child is expected very shortly” £5 grant and pension of 7/- per week to widow. (NA Rail 845/31 and LMA ACC 2423/008)
8.4.1904 “The Chairman presented the Honorary Testimonial (of the Royal Humane Society, Case 33098) on Parchment dated the 15^th of February, 190, to James W H Haggar, Lock keeper, Limehouse Lock, for saving Kate Wood, from drowning at the Thames entrance to the Lock on 9^th January 1904” (NA Rail 845/31)
15.1.1904 “The Chairman, in the presence of the Board presented with suitable remarks to Augustus Wright, Lock keeper at Limehouse, the Certificate of the Royal Humane Society for assisting in saving the life of a man from the Thames at the Limehouse Lock entrance. Wright has been instrumental in saving the lives of 24 persons and has been awarded 4 Certificates from the Society (NA Rail 845/31)
23.10.1903		Charles Napoleon Crace	Collector	Sworn in as a Canal Constable					NA Rail 845/31
23.10.1903		Albert Thompson	AssistantCollector	Sworn in as a Canal Constable					NA Rail 845/31
23.10.1903		Augustus Wright	Lock keeper	Sworn in as a Canal Constable					NA Rail 845/31
9.10.1903		Charles N Crace	Collector	Raised 2/6 per week to 35/-					NA Rail 845/31
11.7.1902		A Wright	Lock keeper	Raised from 20/- to 22/- per week both plus house and uniform					NA Rail 845/30
11.7.1902		A Thompson	Sub-Collector	Raised from 27/- to 28/- per week both plus house and uniform					NA Rail 845/30
31.3.1901		Albert Thompson (53)	Collector of Tolls	Lucy	1, Lockside				Lo/Limehouse/Limehouse/13/1
31.3.1901		Charles Crace (26)	Collector of Tolls	Eliza	7, Lockside				Lo/Limehouse/Limehouse/13/1
31.3.1901		James William Henry Hagger (27)	Lock keeper	Rebecca	9, Lockside				Lo/Limehouse/Limehouse/13/1
31.3.1901		Augustus Wright (31)	Lock keeper	Salina	11, Lockside				Lo/Limehouse/Limehouse/13/1
28.9.1900		C N Crace	Collector	Wages to be raised from 30/- to 32/6 per week					NA Rail 845/29
17.3.1899		A Thompson	Asst Collector	Wages be raised to 27/- per week					NA Rail 845/29
17.3.1899		C N Crace	Collector	Wages be raised to 30/- per week					NA Rail 845/29
1898		James Haggar	Lock keeper	Appointed					Derived from NA 845/31
26 8 1898 “at the Thames Police Court….George Judge, ex-river policeman in employ of Board, was bound over in the sum of £10 to keep the peace for 12 months towards C N Crace Collector, Limehouse: A summons against Pocock for assaulting Crace was not able to be served.” NA Rail 845/29
4.2.1898 A Thompson remains at 25/- per week with house and gas but to have a uniform (NA Rail 845/29)
21.1.1898 G Judge who has been our Constable at Limehouse for the past 8 or 10 years has handed in his resignation to expire on Saturday week (C Tween - LMA ACC 2423/006)
26.11.1897		Charles N Crace	Principal Collector of Tolls	27/- per week and uniform				NA Rail 845/28
25.11.1897 "I beg to recommend that Charles N Crace our supernumerary Collector be appointed leading Collector at Limehouse Lock. He is 24 years of age, and has been employed by the Board for the past 9 years, is married, steady, sober and industrious and has done duty at all our Collecting Stations in a satisfactory manner. I would suggest that he be put in a frock coat uniform and be the Principal Collector and held responsible for the proper collection of the Tolls and management of the Lock. His present wage is 24/- per week, - this I propose should be increased to 27/- to commence." (C Tween - LMA ACC 2423/006)
13.11.1897 “that in consequence of irregularities, the services of W H Newell, Assistant Collector at Limehouse, be discontinued forthwith and that he be paid a month’s wages (NA Rail 845/28)
24.3.1893		A Wright	Lock keeper	Appointed from Old Ford Lock				LMA ACC 2423/004
24.2.1893		McAlpine	Lock keeper	Transferred to Bow Locks				LMA ACC 2423/004
8.4.1892 W H Newell and A Thompson. Collection between them £3000 pa supervised by J Lawrence at Bow Lock These men never have more than £10 to £15 cash in hand at any one time. Board ordered security of £50 each, none given at present. (NA Rail 845/26)
23.10.1891 Wages of W H Newell and A Thompson, sub-collectors at Limehouse, raised from 21/- to 25/- p.w.
5.4.1891		Albert Thompson (43)	Collector of Tolls	Lucy	1, Lockside			Lo/Limehouse/13/29
5.4.1891		William H Newell (20)	Collector of Tolls	Unm	7, Lockside			Lo/Limehouse/13/30
5.4.1891		John Porter (40)	Lock keeper on River Lea	Mary	9, Lockside			Lo/Limehouse/13/30
5.4.1891		George Judge (37)	Constable to Lee River Conservancy	Mary A		11, Lockside		Lo/Limehouse/13/30
19.7.1889		David Albion	Asst Collector	Died				NA Rail 845/25
21 12.1888		W H Newell (18)	Asst Sub- Collector	Appointed at 16/- per week (son of James Newell at Old Ford)				LMA ACC 2423/003
23.11.1888		D Albion	Asst. Collector	From £1.1.0 to £1.5.0				NA Rail 845/25
23.11.1888		J Lawrence	Collector	Transferred to Bow Locks				LMA ACC 2423/003
3.2.1888		J Lawrence	Collector	*see below				NA Rail 845/24
“the loss he had sustained by the death of two of his children from diphtheria and stated that he had been advised to take the rest of his family away for a change. Resolved that he be permitted to reside away from the Lock for a time and that an allowance of 7/6 per week will be granted to him for the extra expenses”
9.4.1885		J Lawrence	Collector	Transferred from Old Ford and placed in charge					LMA ACC 2423/002
9.4.1885		D Albion		on trial as collector, replacing Palmer					LMA ACC 2423/002
9.4.1885		Bramwell	Lock keeper	Discharged					LMA ACC 2423/002
9.4.1885		William Palmer	Asst Collector	Resigned					LMA ACC 2423/002
9.4.1885		J Newall	Collector	Transferred to Old Ford					LMA ACC 2423/002
1883		J Newell	Collector	30 years service. 35/- per week					NA Rail 845/23
1883		William Palmer	Collector	7 years service. 20/- per week					NA Rail 845/23
20.4.1883		Newman	Lock keeper	20/- per week					NA Rail 845/23
20.4.1883		McAlphine	Lock keeper	4 years service. 20/- per week					NA Rail 845/23
20.4.1883		Woodey	Lock keeper	20/- per week					NA Rail 845/23
6.5.1881		William Freeman	Lock keeper	Transferred To Aqueduct					NA Rail 845/22
4.4.1881		James Newell (43)	Collector of Tolls	Harriett	1 Narrow St. Lockside Villas (William Hy Newell 10y)				Lo/Linchouse/15/6
4.4.1881		William Palmer (61)	Collector for Lea Conservancy		2 Narrow St. Lockside Villas				Lo/Linchouse/15/6
4.4.1881		William Freeman (46)	Lock keeper	Unm	3 Narrow St. Lockside Villas				Lo/Linchouse/15/5
18.7.1879		William Freeman	Lock keeper	Appointed at £1 per week					NA Rail 845/21
26.4.1878		Stephen Cowley	Lock keeper	Died suddenly of smallpox. In service some 30 years - £26 allowed to widow					NA Rail 845/21
12.10.1877		William Hampton	Lock keeper	Appointed at £1 per week					NA Rail 845/21
3.8.1877		Frederick Tysoe	Lock keeper	Be dismissed					NA Rail 845/21
28.3.1873		William Webb	Lock keeper	Transferred to Britannia Lock					NA Rail 845/19
2.4.1871		William Webb (32)	Lock keeper	Emma	Lock house near Linton Place				Lo/Limehouse St Anne/16/23
2.4.1871		James Newell (33)	Collector	Harriett	3 Rickmans Rents (William H Newell 2 mos)				Lo/Limehouse St Anne/16/20
22.12.1871		Stephen Cowley	Lock keeper	Appointed ex Enfield Lock					NA Rail 845/18
9.3.1870		James Newell	Collector	Recorded as collector at 35/- per week					NA Rail 845/17
9.3.1870		F. Drummond	Collector	Recorded as collector at 35/- per week					NA Rail 845/17
9.2.1870		Drummond		Resigned as collector					NA Rail 845/17
14.12.1867		James Newall	Asst Collector	30/- per week and a house					NA Rail 845/16
14.12.1867		Frederick Drummond	Collector	35/- per week and a house					NA Rail 845/16
9.11.1867		"Drummond objects to being responsible for a Sub-Collector (Newall)"							NA Rail 845/16
12.10.1867		Frederick Chamberlain	Sub Collector	Services be dispensed with unless he can be employed elsewhere on the River. (no further record of him)					NA Rail 845/16
12.10.1867		James Newell		From Aqueduct Lock as assistant to Drummond					NA Rail 845/16
24.8.1867 "That it is desirable that a change of Collectors at Limehouse and Old Ford should be made as an experiment and that John Chamberlain should be removed to Old Ford Lock and Frederic Drummond should be removed to Limehouse Lock for twelve months and that the use of the Trustee's Barge should be granted to assist them in the removal of their goods (NA Rail 845/16)
24.8.1867		Frederick Chamberlain	Assistant Collector of Tolls	Wages raised from 15/- per week (new amount not stated)					NA Rail 845/16
30.3.1851		Edward Chamberlain (53)	Collector of Tolls	Mary	1 Regmans Rents				Mx/Limehouse/13/7
7.6.1841		Edward Chamberlain (40)	Collector of Tolls	Mary	Lock house				Mx/St Anne Limehouse/Limehouse/13/7
7.6.1841		George Letts (29)	Lock keeper	Mary Ann	Regmans Rents				Mx/St Anne Limehouse/Limehouse/13/7
16.6.1840		George Ells	Lock keeper	Appointed					NA Rail 845/12
16.6.1840		Joseph Wright	Lock keeper	Transferred to Cheshunt					NA Rail 845/12
17.7.1838		William Page	Lock keeper	Transferred to Stonebridge					NA Rail 845/11
17.6.1834		William Page	Lock keeper	In loco Stephen Stroud					NA Rail 845/11
17.6.1834		Stephen Stroud	Lock keeper	Deceased					NA Rail 845/11
18.5.1830		Edward Chamberlain	Collector	Appointed ex Ware Halflock					NA Rail 845/10
18.5.1830		William Smith		Transferred to Ware Halflock					Assumed
19.2.1828		William Smith	Harbour Master	Appointed					NA Rail 845/10
19.2.1828		Thomas Burton	Lock keeper/Harbour Master	Report of death					NA Rail 845/10
11.3.1819		Thomas Burton	Lock keeper	Be allowed 2/- per week additional wages for assisting the collector					NA Rail 845/9
8.1814		John Sewell	Collector	Of Cheshunt Labourer Appointed					NA Rail 845/8
30.6.1814		Jonathan Page	Collector	Discharged on account of deficiencies in his account					NA Rail 845/8
24.6.1813		Jonathan Page	Collector of Tolls	Of Ware appointed collector					NA Rail 845/8
24.6.1813		Benjamin Ginn	Collector of Tolls	Deceased					NA Rail 845/8
22.6.1809		Benjamin Ginn	Collector of Tolls	Of Ware plaisterer, appointed					NA Rail 845/8
22.6.1809		John Chamberlain	Collector of Tolls	Deceased					NA Rail 845/8
22.6.1809 “…the widow of John Chamberlain deceased …exerted herself well during her late husband’s Illness in discharging his duty for which she is deserving of some recompence for the relief of herself and Family of five Children. Resolved that a sum of Twenty Pounds be allowed…” (NA Rail 845/8)
11.5.1803		John Chamberlain	Collector	Dismissed *					NA Rail 845/7
* “dismissed for a breach of trust in altering a Bill of Lading delivered to the Collector at Bromley by Mr Butts’ Steersman for Ashes to show the same to be manure”
13.1.1802		John Chamberlain	Collector	Of Ware, Victualler, appointed in loco Dalgleish					NA Rail 845/7
16.12.1801		William Dalgleish	Collector	To resign					NA Rail 845/7
11.5.1791		William Dalgleish	Collector	Of Amwell, Gardener appointed in stead of Wright					NA Rail 845/6
11.5.1791		John Wright	Collector	Discharged for lack of Duty					NA Rail 845/6
1.8.1787		John Wright	Collector	Labourer , appointed					NA Rail 845/6
27.6.1787		Isaac Easley	Collector	Resigned					NA Rail 845/6
5.12.1784		Isaac Easley	Collector	Replacing his late brother					NA Rail 845/6
25.10.1784		Thomas Easley	Collector	Deceased					NA Rail 845/6
22.12.1779		"Thomas Easley proposed Simon Goulding of Limehouse, Carpenter and Jeremiah Illsley of Limehouse Victualler to be his sureties for the due execution of his office and they were approved of by the Trustees present"							NA Rail 845/51
15.12.1779		Thomas Easley	Collector	To find "sureties for receiving such tolls"					NA Rail 845/51
10.12.1779		Thomas Easley	Collector	Late servant to William Norman now appointed					NA Rail 845/5
10.12.1779		William Norman	Collector	Discharged					NA Rail 845/5
11.7.1770		Thomas Yeoman	Collector	Appointed					NA Rail 845/4
11.7.1770		William Norman	Collector	Appointed					NA Rail 845/4

This site was last updated 03-Mar-2021