STANSTEAD LOCK
Lock |
State |
Date |
Length |
Length - Working Distance |
Width |
Fall |
Removed or bypassed |
Stanstead Turnpike |
Built |
1743 |
~ |
~ |
15' 0'' |
6' 9'' |
c1767 |
Stanstead Weir |
Extant |
1725 |
~ |
~ |
|
3' 6'' |
c1767 |
Stanstead Old Lock |
Built |
1767 |
|
|
|
|
1857 |
Stanstead Lock (Brick) |
Report |
1917 |
|
|
16' 0'' |
|
|
Stanstead Lock (in present position) |
Built |
1857 |
89' 0'' |
85' 0'' |
16' 0'' |
8' 4'' |
|
30.4.1746 "Whereas it appears to
the Trustees...it will be a great convenience to the Navigation...to
have a Man constantly to attend and lye at the Turnpike House...for the
Expediting the Passage of Boats and barges thro' the said Turnpike and
for preventing the Turnpike being broke open or otherwise misused.
It is therefore ordered that a Lodging Room be Erected built and made
over the said Turnpike....with a chimney in it at an Expence not
exceeding the sum of Twelve Pounds." (NA Rail 845/1)
6.7.1791 "Ordered that Amwell Marsh and
Leak's Locks be repaired" (NA Rail 845/52)
LMA ACC 2423/P1472
As part of the improvements authorised by
the 1850 Act,
Stanstead new lock was completed
in September 1857, replacing Amwell Marsh Lock above and the old
Stanstead Weir and Lock of 1767 below the Stanstead Abbotts road bridge
to the south, and which was known for a short time as Leak’s
Lock.
LMA ACC 2423/P588
LMA
ACC 2423/P905
The Stanstead lock house
(shown on the plan above as "Lockman's House at New Amwell Marsh Lock,
June 1858") was
not completed until 21.4.1859. It was recommended on 26.10.1877 that
“wooden floors be placed on the present concrete ones” and on
20.4.1883, the lock house was insured for
£150 (NA Rail 845/23)
22.1.1886 "Stanstead Lockhouse - This
house was in bad condition and its sanitary arrangements very
objectionable. I have had a new W.C. built and the old one which
drained into the river, entirely removed" (J Child) (LMA ACC 2423/002)
11.11.1898 ...the present house has
only one story with concrete floors for all the rooms. I propose to lift
the roof 2' 6'' and build up under it in brickwork and form 2 bedrooms
up stairs.. This could be done for about £120 - As the present
house must be repaired, I think it would be wise to improve it at the
same time.
9.12.1898 I have again examined
this house and had some of the brickwork cut away to ascertain if any
damp proof course existed, but found
none. The walls are built in cement as far as the ground floor
line and the upper portion in lime mortar.
To cut away the walls and insert a 3'' perforated
damp course would cost about £30, which in
addition to the other alterations would make a total of about £180.To
build a new house with 14" walls and three bedrooms upstairs, similar to
the ones recently erected at Aqueduct and Waltham Common Locks would
cost with foundations about £350. The
Chairman, as requested by the board kindly met me at Stanstead Lock on
the.......and examined the cottage and will give you some valuable
advice as to what should be done" - C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/006)
LMA ACC 2423/P/89
28.4.1899 We are now putting in the foundations for the
new Lockhouse at Stanstead Lock.... We had to go down 12 feet for
a firm bottom. - C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/006)
The lock house was
built at a cost of £345 by F Hitch of Ware -
C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/006)
On 15.9.1899 it was
reported "I have had a 2" tube well driven for a water supply to this
cottage. The pipes were driven 44 feet into the chalk and yields a
good supply. The cost with Pump complete is £6" -
C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/007)
LMA ACC 2423/P044
The house eventually erected at Stanstead was built using
the plan prepared (and used) to build the lock house at Waltham Common.
It was simply updated by pasting the new name over the original.
11.5.1900 The Lock keeper is in the new
Lock house and the old one has been demolished; and the fence will be
completed next week - C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/028)
Stanstead Lock, c1910
Stanstead Lock
Census/Date |
Name |
Title |
Wife |
Location given by
enumerator/Comments |
Source Reference |
1977 - 1987 |
Bill White |
Lock keeper |
Moved from South Mill Lock. Moved to Feildes Weir Lock |
Carol Byatt |
1974 - 1977 |
Bill Newton |
Lock keeper |
Moved from Aqueduct Lock. Moved to Kings Weir |
|
9.6.1948 |
H W Hughes |
Lock keeper |
£4.15.0. (Last recorded r.o.p. £7.14.11 n.d.) |
LCB Records |
1939 |
Harry W Hughes (b. 22.10.1894) |
Lock keeper |
Charlotte A b. 19.3.1898 |
1939 Register |
4.1.1936 |
H W Hughes |
Lock keeper |
27/- to 29/- |
NA Rail 845/122 |
8.11.1935 |
G Drage (67) |
Lock keeper |
Retired after 16 years service.
Pension 7/- per week |
NA Rail 845/119
NA Rail 845/120 |
17.9.1920 |
George Drage (52) |
Lock keeper |
One of the Board’s employees,
appointed |
NA Rail 845/47 |
23.7.1920 |
The late J Thickings was a widower and his son with wife and
family lived with him. It is necessary that notice to quit
be given to Thickings junior |
LMA ACC 2423/018 |
7.7.1920 |
Thickings (76) |
Lock keeper |
Died this day.
|
NA Rail 845/47 |
14.11.1919 |
Jas. Thickings |
Lock keeper |
27/- + house, garden, and uniform
|
NA Rail 845/46 |
15.2.1918 |
J Thickings |
Lock keeper |
22/- per week |
NA Rail 845/66 |
1.12.1916 |
J Thickings |
Lock keeper |
£2 war bonus |
NA Rail 845/43 |
4.3.1915 |
J Thickings |
Lock keeper |
+2/- per week |
NA Rail 845/42 |
28.2.1913 |
J Thickings |
Lock keeper |
Wages increased by 1/- per week |
NA Rail 845/40 |
2.4.1911 |
James Thickings (66) |
Sock keeper (sic) |
Lucy |
Stanstead Lock Ho |
RG14PN7464 RG78PN361 RD133 SD1 ED2 SN88 |
14.11.1902 |
Thomas Thickings (56) |
Lock keeper |
Of Bishops Stortford. Appointed |
NA Rail 845/30 |
31.3.1901 |
Daniel Chapman (35) |
Lock keeper |
Ann |
Lock House |
Great Amwell/8/1 |
11.11.1898 "The Lock keeper , J Reeve, who was spoken to
on the Survey because his lock was in such an untidy condition,
has left his situation; I have placed one of our men there
temporarily." C Tween - LMA ACC 2423/006 |
5.4.1891 |
James Reeve (45) |
Lock keeper |
Edna |
Stanstead Lockhouse |
Great Amwell/6/1 |
28.5.1886 |
James Reeve |
Lock keeper |
Appointed |
NA Rail 845/23 |
16.10.1885 |
H Wilkins |
Lock keeper |
Drowned 1885.
"in consequence of his accidentally
falling into the lock on Monday night last (the 12th). It
will be remembered that the last Lock keeper at this lock met
his death in a precisely similar manner about 6 years ago" (J
Child) |
NA Rail 845/23
LMA ACC 2423/002 |
13.7.1883 “A complaint was
made….of Wilkins…..being constantly absent from his duties –
having been previously admonished the Clerk was directed to give
him notice that should it occur again he will be summarily
dismissed. (NA Rail 845/23) |
20.4.1883 |
H Wilkins |
Lock keeper |
3 year’s service, 16/- per week |
NA Rail 845/23 |
4.4.1881 |
Henry Wilkins (49) |
Lock keeper |
Elizabeth |
St. Margarets, Stanstead Lock |
Great Amwell/5/55 |
23.6.1880 |
Henry Wilkins |
Lock keeper |
Appointed |
NA Rail 845/22 |
21.11.1879 |
Edward Kadwell |
Lock keeper |
* see below |
NA Rail 845/22 |
* Edward Kadwell , Lock keeper,
was drowned after falling while crossing foot plank on the gates
on a dark night. The Engineer to report on fixing a handrail to
the gate. 5.12.1879 £20 paid to his widow. |
9.6.1871 |
Edward Kadwell |
Lock keeper |
Appointed at 13/6 per week |
NA Rail 845/18 |
9.6.1871 |
John Smith |
Lock keeper |
Transferred to Hertford at
13/6/per week |
NA Rail 845/18 |
2.4.1871 |
John W Smith (60) |
Lock keeper |
Ann |
Lockhouse (nr Pratts Cottage) |
Great Amwell/5/51 |
19.10.1870 Smith was
reprimanded for having allowed the slackers to be drawn before
the gates were shut and not reporting the bargemen. (NA Rail
845/17) |
8.4.1861 |
John W Smith (50) |
Lock keeper |
Ann |
Lock House (nr Amwell Marsh) |
Great Amwell/5/33 |
19.4.1860 |
J Smith |
Lock keeper |
6d less wages per week due to
provision of garden |
NA Rail 845/15 |
21.4.1859 |
Smith |
Lock keeper |
Transferred from Ware Tumbling
Bay |
NA Rail 845/15 |
Stanstead Old Lock
|
17.10.1857 |
Christopher Chamberlain |
Lock keeper |
Services no longer required.
"That he be placed on the Superannuation List at 10/- per week
without a house or six shillings a week with a house" |
NA Rail 845/14 |
17.11.1855 |
Christopher Chamberlain |
Lock keeper |
18/- per week. Also carpenter
from Fieldes Weir to Hertford |
NA Rail 845/14 |
21.10.1854 |
Christopher Chamberlain |
Lock keeper |
18/- per week |
NA Rail 845/14 |
17.8.1830 |
Christopher Chamberlain |
Lock keeper |
Appointed |
NA Rail 845/10 |
20.7.1830 |
Thomas Cundall |
Lock keeper |
Dismissed |
NA Rail 845/10 |
16.9.1828 |
Thomas Cundall |
Lock keeper |
Appointed |
NA Rail 845/10 |
18.3.1780 |
Thomas Phipp |
Walksman |
Employed but without building a
cottage for him |
NA Rail 845/5 |
26.7.1776 |
Phipp |
|
Looking after Stansted Bay and
Lock £12 pa |
NA Rail 845/5 |
|