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SHEERING MILL
LOCK
|
Lock |
State |
Date |
Length |
Length - Working Distance |
Width |
Fall |
|
Sheering Lock |
Built turfsided |
1766/9 |
90' 0'' |
87' 6'' |
13' 5 1/2' |
5' 8'' |
|
Sheering Lock |
Rebuilt in brick/concrete |
1917 |
90' 0'' |
87' 6'' |
13' 5 1/2' |
5' 8'' |
1884 Report: "Upper and lower
gates and brickwork all in very good condition. Sides renewed
1875, closed nearly to upper pool level, all in most satisfactory
condition. Ample depth over sills. Lock house and shed. lath and plaster
built and tiled, old but in fair condition."
1901 Report: "Upper and lower gates
and brickwork all in fair condition. Sides renewed 1875, closed
nearly to upper pool level, all in fair condition. Lower sills should be
lowered 12 inches. Lock house and shed. lath and plaster built,
and tiled, old , but in fair condition."
Although a mill
in Sheering was recorded in Domesday, it is not certain that that the
site corresponded with the present position. The mill here was
called Quickbury Mill in 1241 but the date of the change of name to
Sheering Mill is not
known. The Mill, from which the photograph below was taken, closed in 1914, probably due to
lack of demand for its produce. It was purchased by the Lee
Conservancy and demolished in November 1917. The tail race tunnels are
still visible.
Sheering Mill Lock
Cottage in the early 1950's (Jenny
Snow)
The 1799 lock cottage
lasted until 1980 but was then allowed to deteriorate, unoccupied, until
it had to be demolished. However, the original plaster plaque that was
over the front door, bearing the red hand of the baronet and Sir George
Duckett’s still survives.
The old cottage was
replaced by the present building in 2000.
The photograph below is
said to be taken in 1910, on the day of the Annual Survey although no
record survives of any survey before 1915.
The lock keeper standing by
the towing path gate is probably Edmund Higgins. His wife Caroline is to
the left. Far left is possibly Elizabeth Reed, noted in the Census as a
domestic servant. Higgins was first recorded as the lock keeper at
Sheering Mill in the 1901 Census. He died on 1st May 1921.
The rebuilding of the lock
chamber was commenced in September 1916 and completed by June 1917.
Sheering Mill Lock
|
Census/Date |
Name |
Title |
Wife |
Location given by
enumerator/Comments |
Source Reference |
|
c. 1.1962 |
Albert Ernest Todd |
|
Appointed from Aqueduct Lock |
Mick Welsh |
|
4.10.1954 |
William Frederick Watkins |
Labourer/Lock keeper |
Appointed at £7.14.11. Died
1.3.1962. |
LCB Records |
|
4.10.1954 |
Charles Edward Welsh |
Lock keeper |
Transferred to Spellbrook Lock |
Jenny Snow 9.2.2010 |
|
20.9.1950 |
Charles Edward Welsh |
Lock keeper |
Appointed ex LCB Police Constable at
£4.18.6 |
LCB Records |
|
1.4.1939 |
D O’Brien |
Lock keeper |
£1.6.0 to £1.7.0 |
NA Rail 845/123 |
|
15.7.1938 |
David O’Brien |
Lock keeper |
Appointed 26/- per week |
NA Rail 845/122 |
|
31.7.1938 |
A Hammond |
Lock keeper |
15.7.1938 Retired with pension
7/2 per week with lump sum of £41.5.6 |
NA Rail 845/122 |
|
1.4.1938 |
A Hammond |
Lock keeper |
£1.5.0 to £1.6.0 |
NA Rail 845/122 |
|
5.11.1937 |
A E Hammond (67) |
Lock keeper |
To retire after 17 years service |
NA Rail 845/121 |
|
6.11.1936 |
A E Hammond (66) |
Lock keeper |
16 years service |
NA/Rail 845/120 |
|
1.4.1935 |
A Hammond |
Lock keeper |
£1.1s to £1.2s |
NA Rail 845/119 |
|
5.10.1928 |
A Hammond |
Lock keeper |
Increase to £1.1s (minimum wage) |
NA Rail 845/112 |
|
13.5.1921 |
A Hammond |
Lock keeper |
Increase from 15/- to 17/- per
week |
NA/Rail 845/48 |
|
1.5.1921 |
Hammond |
Lock keeper |
Ex Police constable, appointed at
15/- per week |
NA/Rail 845/48 |
|
1.5.1921 |
E Higgins (74) |
Lock keeper |
Died |
|
|
23.7.1920 “That a uniform was due
to Lock keeper Higgins for the year 1919, but that as he was
then and still was very unwell….” It was agreed that “…the cost
viz £6.5.6, should be given to him” (NA/Rail 845/47) |
|
14.11.1919 |
E Higgings |
Lock keeper |
17/- + house, garden, and uniform
|
NA/Rail 845/46 |
|
5.2.1918 |
E. Higgings |
Lock keeper |
15/- per week |
NA/Rail 845/66 |
|
31.11.1916 |
E Higgins (70+) |
Lock keeper |
12/- up to 13/- per week with
house , garden and uniform. Allowed to keep boats for hire |
NA/Rail 845/43 |
|
4.3.1915 |
E T Higgins |
Lock keeper |
+2/- per week |
NA Rail 845/42 |
|
13.10.1911 |
E T Higgings |
Lock keeper |
Into the service of the Board at
10/- per week |
NA/Rail 845/38 |
|
2.4.1911 |
Edmund Thomas Higgins (66) |
Lock keeper |
Caroline Eliza |
Lock House, Sheering |
RG14PN9803 RG78PN517 RD189 SD3 ED10 SN118 |
|
31.3.1901 |
Edmund T Higgins (56) |
Lockman to Stort Nav. |
Caroline E.D |
Back Lane Cottage |
Ex/Sheering/10/19 |
|
5.4.1891 |
James Dorrington (71) |
Lock keeper |
Maria |
Sheering Mill Lane Lock House |
Ex/Sheering/14/19 |
|
4.4.1881 |
James Dorrington (61) |
Lock keeper |
Jane |
Back Lane |
Ex/Sheering/14/23 |
|
2.4.1871 |
James Dorrington (50) |
Lock keeper |
Jane |
Sheering Lock House, River Stort |
Ex/Sheering/14/23 |
|
8.4.1861 |
James Dorrington (41) |
Lock keeper |
Jane |
River Stort Lock House |
Ex/Sheering/14/9 |
|
30.3.1851 |
George Dorrington (71) |
Lock keeper |
Widr |
Lock House |
Ex/Sheering/7b/3 |
|
7.6.1841 |
George Dorrington (60) |
Lockman |
Susannah |
Lock house (James D 20y) |
Ex/Sheering/14/5 |
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