THE LOCKS ON THE RIVER LEA and THE LEE NAVIGATION

To look at a summary of lock dimensions and dates click on the button to the left

The spelling of Lea/Lee is generally now regarded as interchangeable, as indeed it has been since the names were first recorded. Some of the other variants have fallen by the wayside, although they still survive in place names such as Leyton and Leytonstone and Lu(y)ton.

On 2^nd April 1571, an Act of Parliament (13.Elizabeth. c18) was passed in which the waterway was called “the Ryver of Lee”.  It is since that time that the name of the waterway has always been spelt “Lee” in official statutes.  It is therefore possible to suggest that legal uses should be spelt “Lee” and the geographical, “Lea”.  Certainly we have the “Lee Valley Regional Park Authority” and the” Lee Navigation” (both created by statute) but the “Lea Valley” and the “River Lea”

Minutes of general interest.  What follows is a distillation of minutes which caught my eye. None of them refer specifically to any particular lock but they all contribute to the overall picture.  Some are sad, some amusing in today's world (but nonetheless serious when they were written), some are of historical interest and some are there simply because they appealed to me.

6.8.1739   The first meeting of the River Lee Trust, recorded in beautiful handwriting, was held "at the House known by the sign of the Old Crown at Ware" and attended by 29 Trustees (NA Rail 845/1)

William Whittenbury was appointed Surveyor to the Trust in October 1739 (see Lee Engineers), and then on 21.4.1742 it was decided that a boat was necessary for the efficient maintenance of the River (NA Rail 845/1)

The monthly meetings of the Trust were often recorded as being "inquorate", that is without enough members to form a quorum. Between 5th November 1744 and 18th July 1848 there were only six meetings! (NA Rail 845/1)

Attendance improved for a while but then following the 10th December 1753 meeting there was not another quorum until 21st November 1757. That meeting was necessary to appoint a new Surveyor, John Clark, following William Whittenbury's death. (NA Rail 845/2)

1.7.1767      Tho. Yeoman to be appointed collector  (NA Rail 845/4)

15.7.1767 "Ordered Thomas Yeoman to provide a Ballast Engine and a Barge to be used in the Works for the Improvement of the Navigation of the said River Lee." (NA Rail 845/50)

31.7.1767 "Ordered Thomas Yeoman, their Surveyor, forthwith to stake or mark out Towing Paths for the use of the Navigation....from one end of the said River to the other"  (NA Rail 845/50)

14.8.1767 "to Forthwith give Direction for making thirty-five Towing Bridges" (NA Rail 845/50)

28.1.1769 "...that Mr Edward Rubie be a surveyor to the trustees...and shall be paid a salary of Eighty Pounds a year for executing the said office and that he also be paid the sum of Twenty one pounds towards his expense of removing his family from Portsmouth for that Purpose" (NA Rail 845/50)

11.7.1770  “Mr Thomas Yeoman, the Surveyor to this Trust and Mr William Norman of Limehouse Bricklayer be appointed Collectors of the Tolls or Sums of Money to be paid at the Lock at Limehouse…”  (NA Rail  845/4)

13.2.1773 The first instructions given to survey for widening the Limehouse Cut were recorded like this:

NA Rail 845/51

It seems that, despite the fact that Yeoman was recorded as the Surveyor in 1770, this instruction was still addressed to John Smeaton  (see the Lee Engineers page).

6.3.1780 “It is resolved that fifteen Walksmen be appointed for the Care and Management of the Navigation and that thirteen Cottages be built for them (two being already built)” (NA Rail 845/5)

18.6.1784  “ …that the Surveyor do provide ffire arms for the use of  several Collectors of the Tolls…..” (NA Rail 845/6 

15.6.1785 "...that the Surveyor do repair the Bridge upon the Waltham Cutt lately damaged by some Person or Persons of Waltham to prevent the inhabitants of the Parish of Cheshunt enjoying a right of Commonage between the said Cutt and Waltham" (NA Rail 845/51)

19.7.1810 A Survey was carried out by John Hancock (NA Rail 845/8) but no map appears to have survived

17.12.1812  “…the Collectors having petitioned for more wages on account of increased Expences of provisions, Candles, etc….their Wages be increased to four Shillings a day or twenty eight shillings a week from the end of this week.”

“having considered …with respect to the lock keepers….they be allowed two shillings and sixpence a week in addition to their present wages of fifteen Shillings a week from the expiration of the present week.” (NA Rail 845/8)

26.10.1820 A committee was formed “to consider the expediency of providing a superannuation fund by deducting of Wages of Servants of this trust who from age or accidents shall be disabled to discharge their duty.” (NA Rail 845/9)

8.1826 Also at this meeting the Committee appointed to inspect and destroy the old and Useless Books and Papers belonging to the Trust reported that they met on Tuesday last and after examination destroyed nearly all such as appeared useless. (NA Rail 845/10)

15.11.1831 It is ordered that it be notified to the different lock keepers that if in consequence of their selling table beer or any other Article the Houses in which they live become liable to the Poor Rates they are to pay the Rates themselves (NA Rail 845/10) 

18.6.1844 "Resolved unanimously (32 Trustees being present) That Mr Francis Giles be appointed to make a General Survey of the River Lee from Hertford to London including Bow Creek and Limehouse Cut with Plans and Sections of the same and to furnish these Documents to the Trustees with all possible Dispatch" (NA Rail 845/10) - see below 23.10.1849.

“A letter from Mr Baker the Coroner for Middlesex of 27^th June (1844), written at the instance of a respectful jury assembled at Stratford to enquire into the cause of the Deaths of three Persons drowned in the River Lee and requesting that some precautionary Meassures be taken by boards or otherwise intimating the dangerous parts of the River which are most likely to be resorted to for Fishing or Bathing, having been read.  Resolved that a respectful answer be sent to the Coroner stating that the Trustees will do all that lies in their power to meet his Wishes and that the Surveyor be directed to put up Cautionary Boards at the most dangerous parts of the River with the Words “Deep Water” legibly painted thereon.” (NA Rail 845/10)

15.8.1848 "....ordered that Mr Griggs be directed to select some proper place for a privy under or near to Ware Bridge for the use of Bargemen..." (NA Rail 845/13)

19.9.1848 "....resolved unanimously that on and after Sunday the first of October next all the locks on the River Lee Navigation be closed from 8 o'clock in the morning till 6 o'clock in the evening on every Sunday and that the Clerk give proper Notice to all the Traders and Bargemen of this Resolution" (NA Rail 845/13)

15.5.1849 "...Mr Griggs be authorised to direct the lock keepers to pull the Weeds out of the Navigation in their districts and not to leave their locks without his authority." (NA Rail 845/13)

23.10.1849 With reference to the Minute of 18.6.1844 and "the Minutes of Conference with Mr Rendel and his Letter of the 20th September 1849 having been read and it appearing that Mr Giles never completed the Survey nor was he paid for it.  Resolved that the Survey of the Lee Navigation Ordered by the Trustees at their Meeting on the 18th June 1844 to be made by Mr Giles but interrupted by his death be forthwith completed by Mr Comrie or some other Person under the superintendence of Mr Rendel.  Resolved that Mr Rendel be requested to place in the hands of the Committee such a memorial upon the Improvements he would recommend in the Lee Navigation and the means of carrying them into execution as his present knowledge of the River Lee will enable him to suggest that the Committee may lay the matter before the body of the Trustees at their next meeting on the twenty third instant. (NA Rail 845/13)

16.4.1850 "Charles Phelips Esquire (a Trustee) having stated certain circumstances connected with a charge of Felony made against John Hawkins a lockman in the employ of the Trustees which had come under his cognisance as a Magistrate Resolved that Hawkins be suspended from Saturday next till the nest meeting of the Trustees.   (Hawkins was discharged on 18.6.1850.)  (NA Rail 845/13).

4.9.1850. James Robert Griggs appointed Surveyor to the Trustees (NA Rail 845/14)

17.9.1850 Nathaniel Beardmore appointed Engineer. (NA Rail 845/14)

17.12.1850 Letter from Mr Griggs "resigning his Office of Surveyor of the Navigation on account of Ill health," but it was resolved that he "be continued Receiver of the Tolls of the River Lee at the yearly salary of Twenty Five Pounds" (NA Rail 845/14)

18.3.1851 "Resolved that Nathaniel Beardmore be and he is hereby appointed Surveyor to the Trust at a salary of 300£ a year....(NA Rail 845/14)

19.6.1851...that all Lock keepers and others having charge of Tumbling Bays...be required to keep the River clear of Floating and Growing Weeds at each Station for at least  a quarter of a mile above and below by drawing them out of the Water  and depositing neatly on the Banks..." (NA Rail 845/14)

On 17.4.1852, the River Lee Trustees objected to pigs being kept by lock keepers. (NA Rail 845/14)

18.12.1852 The death of James Griggs was reported and it was resolved that Mr Glass be instructed...to take the tolls temporarily and pay them into the Commercial Bank. (NA Rail 845/14)

21.10.1854 The Trustees listed their pensioners as follows:

Thomas Barker 10/- per week

Sarah Catlin  7/- per week

Jane Want 5/- per week

William Jones  5/- per week

Widow Wilbourne  2/- per week

7.7.1859 A note inserted during the Survey whilst at Cheshunt Lock “Resolved unanimously that £500 be appropriated for a Steam Boat.   Mr Beardmore to prepare design and submit it to a future meeting”

21.12.1861 Contract placed for a steam barge.

15.8.1861 The new steamer has arrived from Glasgow and is satisfactory and agreeable to contract.  The bill was £836 including about 50 tons of steam coal delivered with her as ballast. (All NA Rail 845/15)

18.6.1863 Resolved that the "Salisbury" Steam Barge be offered for Sale by Tender.  (NA Rail 845/15)  (It was not sold and continued in service until 1925 when it was replaced by the motor barge "Musgrave")

18.11.1865 "An application from Carlo Gatti* of New Wharf Road Caledonian Road King's Cross, for the occupation of Land between Homerton and Hackney Wick Bridges for an Ice Store, with the right of taking Ice from the River, was refused" (NA Rail 845/16). 

*Whose business was in the building that now houses the London Canal Museum

29.6.1870   William Cadmore, lock keeper at Pond Lane, was summoned before the Magistrates for having possession of several sacks the property of others. The Magistrates...recommended the Solicitor for the Sack Protection Society to withdraw from the prosecution there being no case against the prisoner of unlawful possession. (NA Rail 845/17)

13.7.1870  Following this, two notices were circulated to Lock keepers... who "upon breach of the same will be instantly dismissed. viz: That all Collectors and Lock keepers employed by the Board, do send all sacks or other articles that may be left at their respective locks, or on the towing path near thereto, to the Storekeeper at Enfield Lock within one week after finding the same, together with a ticket stating the description of the property and where it was found and the day of the month" (NA Rail 845/17)

5.10.1870 Nathaniel Beardmore resigned and was briefly replaced by Joseph Forbes. (NA Rail 845/17)

26.5.1871  "Lock keepers - There are two vacancies to fill up.....I would recommend that where an increase of Wages will be the result that Lock keepers at other stations or Labourers...should have the privilege of applying for the situations they have a claim in preference to strangers.

I also beg to propose that each Lock keeper have a district assigned to him over which he should exercise supervision at least twice each week, and in addition, do such necessary small repairs to works as the time at his command will allow." (NA Rail 845/18)

26.5.1871 "Engineer should have a light boat of some sort placed at his service either propelled by steam or drawn by a horse;  this is an absolute necessity and will be also especially advantageous for the use of Committees appointed to inspect Works (NA Rail 845/18)

22.3.1872 "I beg to resign the position of Engineer" Joseph S Forbes (NA Rail 845/18). On 29.9.1872, Joe Child was appointed Engineer. (NA Rail 845/19)

19.7.1871  Once again the Board listed their Pensioners

Sarah Champness 6/- per week

Jane Want 5/- per week (crossed out - presumably recently died)

1874 The first mention of Telegraph posts

25.5.1877      “after this date each lock keeper on the Navigation shall, every night before going to bed securely lock back one of the lower gates of his lock, and on no account suffer  or allow any Barge to passing through at any time, without causing the bargeman in charge to produce his travelling permit, which must be signed by the lock keeper; and, after any Barge has passed through during the night, the Lock must be emptied  and the gate again be locked back; any lock keeper neglecting to do this and disobeying this order will be liable to instant dismissal. (NA Rail 845/21)

10.5.1878 Mr Potter of Hackney was awarded the contract to build the six lock houses at Hertford, Fieldes Weir, Dobbs Weir, Waltham (Town), Ponders End and Picketts Locks for £225.0.0 each”  (NA Rail 845/21)

4.10.1878 it was decreed that “a chaldron* of coke to be given to each lock keeper where a new house is built to assist in drying the same…..A shed and a closet to be built for each new  house and the Committee think that according to the old rule on the River no lock keeper should keep a pig, and when the new sheds be built all the other sheds which are as a rule very delapidated (sic) and untidy should be cleared away." (NA Rail 845/56)

*a coal measure of between 12 and 25 ½ cwt

5.3.1881 "Reports by Lock keepers - These are generally sent verbally by Bargemen who often fail to deliver them to Enfield Lock and small repairs which are urgently needed by this means are passed over. Your committee suggested that each Lock keeper be supplied with forms of a card with the Engineer's name on one side and a space on the other for the report..." (NA Rail 845/56)

19.5.1882 “That the lock keepers have notice that they will not be allowed to take charge of boats without the consent of the Board.

Also, that each lock keeper be informed that if it be found that the sale by him of ginger beer and refreshments interfere with the performance of his duties he will be dismissed; and further that the Lock keepers  will not be permitted to deface their houses by sticking placards on them” (NA Rail 845/23)

12.7.1882 “ Notice boards to be put up each lock house to put notices on” (NA Rail 845/23)

28.12.1883  The Engineer having reported that a good many of the Lock keepers had of late been passing Barges without signing the Permit and that he had cautioned them several of them; and that the other day a Barge had travelled from Enfield Lock to Limehouse and had passed through the intermediate locks without any Permit. 

It was resolved that J Biscoe, Ponders End Lock; W Hynard, Picketts Lock;  J Searle, Stonebridge Lock; J Whybrew, Tottenham Lock and J Mott, Old Ford Lock, be each fined 5/- (to be deducted out of their wages) for this neglect of duty; and that they be severely reprimanded; also that the Notices issued to the Lock keepers in 1881 as to signing Permits, etc., be renewed, every Lock keeper to have it posted up in his porch. (NA Rail 845/23)

A subject which rose first in 1836 at Ponders End and then again on 19.5.1882 was answered definitively by Mr Child on 14.5.1886 - "Lock keepers and refreshments. In accordance with your instructions, I have to report on the complaint relative to our lock keepers selling refreshments at the Lock Houses.  I find that nearly all of them...do keep and sell ginger beer but not to any great extent or to interfere with the proper discharge of their duties and I think that the keeping by them of ginger beer is a benefit and boon to the barge and boatmen using the Navigation, for they get their refreshment without leaving their boats or barges and while passing through the locks. So long as it is not carried on ... to interfere with their duties or to be a nuisance to the premises I think it might be permitted - but that is a matter for your decision" (LMA ACC 2423/002)

A problem which arose in 1893 concerned the various Ordnance Survey Bench Marks near Bow. Mr Child wrote "...we were at last compelled to conclude that either the important Bench Mark on Bow Bridge was 3/10ths of a foot too low or that all the other marks were the same amount too high".  The situation was confirmed and solved in a letter from the Director General of the Ordnance Survey which stated "The revised altitude of this mark (on Bow Bridge) is 23.768 which shows that there has been a subsidence of .295 feet at this point".  (NA Rail 845/27).  This means that Bow Bridge had subsided 3 and 5/16ths inches since the previous survey about 25 years earlier.

20.4.1894 Mr Child's comments on the manure men.  "it is a notorious fact that the men employed in the unloading of manure barges are the greatest ruffians that can be found on the river and to keep them in order would require a staff of officers to stop with every barge during unloading, for the moment our officer or lock keeper turns his back they throw the rubbish on the paths or in the river or anywhere to get it out of the barge quickly" (LMA ACC 2423/005)

Photograph courtesy of Mrs Yvonne Ball, Joe Child's great grand-daughter

(and with thanks to Mrs Sheila Hawkins)

Joe Child, c.1896, his St Bernard and possibly two of his grand-children, Kenneth & Trevor Caldicott. 

7.8.1896      “That the name of the Collector or Lock keeper be put up at each lock, with the distance to

Hertford and Limehouse” NA Rail 845/28

22.1.1897 “That it be a General Regulation that the lock keepers are not to take in lodgers” (NA Rail 845/28)  (This was re-affirmed on 21.2.1930.  (NA Rail 845/114))

5.2.1897  The claim from G Wells for damage sustained by his horse stepping in a hole in the towpath above Waltham Common Lock - it was caused by the cover of a wooden trunk or culvert giving way being rotten - which could not be seen until it failed - the horse was examined at Enfield Lock and did not seem much the worse and I think the damage claimed is very excessive (£14.2.0) - a smaller sum might be offered him which I think would be accepted.

This complaint of a horse being knocked in the Limehouse Cut is one of a series of complaints - in this instance as no doubt most of the Board are aware the doors of Waller's stables open outwards on to the towpath and the towpath being very narrow at this point, the horse would easily back into the cut.  Some years ago, after great consideration, the Board decided to remove the post and rails on the cut side as they were such a hindrance to the barge traffic and such an enormous cost in repair - the fact is Waller's stables should not be allowed to open on the towpath at all. they are a constant source of obstruction to the towpath. (J Child LMA ACC 2423/006)

14.5.1897 Charles Tween appointed Engineer, following the death of Joe Child, reported 30.4.1897 (NA Rail 845/28)

18.3.1898 All lock keepers up to Enfield be provided with uniforms. (NA Rail 845/28)

3.3.1899 Telephones.  In reference to the suggestion to have the several locks between Enfield Lock and Limehouse placed in Telephonic communication....The National Telephone Company ask £102.3.0 per annum and the GPO ask £897.7.6 per annum....the GPO proposal is by far the best and if carried out would no doubt be very useful but it is a matter for the Board to consider if they will go to the expense. (C Tween LMA ACC 2423/006)

12.6.1901 A note in the Survey “All the lock keepers from Limehouse to Hertford have now been supplied with regular uniforms”

Note: “Ask the (New River) Company to put their man in uniform the same as the other lock keepers on the River”   (NA Rail 845/30)

12.6.1901      A note in the Survey:  “Where a note that a Lock should be rebuilt, it is understood that this means and refers to the contemplated improvement of the Locks in the Upper part of the River” (NA Rail 845/30)

27.1.1905 "FENCING IN LOCKS.  As several of the locks are very dangerous for our lock keepers on dark and foggy nights, I propose to fence them in, in the same manner as we did at Hertford Lock." C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/004)

29.6.1905  “Workmen’s Bean Feast 15^th July …That the same arrangements be made as last year, namely :- half a day’s holiday on the Saturday and a grant of £5” (towards  the costs)  (NA Rail 845/32)

31.8.1906  “The Engineer reported that Mr George Corble, who had been Clerk to the Board for the last 36 years, died at his residence, Bridge House, Waltham Cross, on the 24^th August, very suddenly” (NA Rail 845/32)  In September 1906, the accountants to the Board reported that Mr Corble’s total defalcations of the Board’s funds amounted to £9519.15.10. (NA Rail 845/33)  This is equal to £759,000 in 2009.

The Board paid a pension of £100 per year to Mrs Corble until her death on 13.3.1939 at the age of 87...

28.2.1913   That the Scale of Wages of Collectors, Lock keepers, Weir keepers, Police Constables and Water Bailiffs on the Lee Navigation be not reconsidered by the Board during the next five years (NA Rail 845/40)

10.3.1916 "I am sorry to have to report that one of the mares we purchased from the Army Remount Department was accidentally drowned at Enfield Lock Point on the 29th February. The mare was towing one of Fielder Hickman's barges to the Royal Small Arms Factory and the heavy stream appears to have carried the barge (a small and short one)) round the Point pulling the mare backwards into the stream when the run of water carried her down over Newman's Weir and the body was recovered a few hours after in the Old Lee inside the Small Arms Factory premises. A knacker was sent for who would only give 25/- for the carcase." C Tween (LMA ACC2423/015)

5.5.1916 "I regret to say one of the horses we purchased from the Army was accidentally drowned at Harlow on 26th April last. It appears the horse ran backwards into the River, attempts were made to get him out but as the bank is rather high at this point the men were not successful in rescuing him.  The carcase was recovered fro the River within about three hours, and the next day was removed to Harlow kennels.  I have not yet received any money for the carcase" C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/015)

12.1.1917 “That one of the old Army horses purchased by the Board was quite useless; that he would not tow an empty barge; that he had  only part of a tongue, and could therefore only eat hay;  that the best thing to do was to sell him for what he might fetch”….. (NA Rail 845/44)  23.2.1917 "...the Veterinary Surgeon advised that he be killed as he was nothing but a 'bag of bones' and very unhealthy.  I therefore had him shot but could obtain only 35/- for his carcase."  C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/016)

The following is an extract from a report by the Engineer , Charles N Tween, dated 27.7.1917, in NA RAIL 845/66      “….masonry locks of varying widths from Limehouse to and including Ponders End.   These were all rebuilt under our 1850 Act and it appears Ponders End (16’ wide) was taken as the standard width for future locks as Rammey Marsh, Stanstead and Hardmead were constructed to this gauge but Enfield and 7 others above Rammey Marsh are only 13’ 3’’ wide.  Ware Lock, which belongs to the Metropolitan Water Board, is 14’ wide and finally Hertford is 18’ 6’’.  In my opinion all the 8 wooden locks, viz Enfield, Waltham Town, Waltham Common, Cheshunt, Aqueduct, Carthagena, Dobbs Weir and Feildes Weir should be reconstructed in masonry to a standard 16’, after which – with the necessary dredging, 100 ton barges could reach Ware”

6.6.1918 “Death of a towing horse – Old Army horse “Rattie” died. The vet held a post-mortem and found that death was due to ‘paralysis of the brain’. ” (NA Rail 845/66)

1.4.1919 All Lock keepers and Collectors to be allowed a day off with pay per week (derived from LMA ACC 2423/018 - 30.6.1920)

16.5.1919 "One of the old Army horses we purchased in December 1915 has been down several times and is now in a sling. No doubt she was injured in the back when we bought her.  The Veterinary Surgeon has seen her and thinks she will not be fit for further work.  I think the most humane thing to do would be to have her killed unless she shows signs of improvement.....30.5.1919....this mare got considerably worse and fell down as soon as released from the sling.  The Veterinary Surgeon wrote me stating she would never be fit for service again and advised that she be destroyed. This was done and her carcase sold for £2.10s" (LMA ACC 2423/017)

11.7.1919  "I regret to say another of the old cast Army horses, the black horse "Prince", died this morning (Friday). He was taken ill yesterday afternoon and the Veterinary Surgeon was sent for, he gave him several doses of medicine, but the horse died at 4.45 a.m. this morning (LMA ACC 2423/017)

14.5.1920  "As to the question of closing the locks on Sundays, I am of the opinion that Limehouse and Bow Locks should remain open as these are tidal locks, but that all the other locks.... could be closed to traffic from 9p.m. every Saturday night to 5 a.m. the following Monday morning... Therefore, if the locks....are closed on Sundays there will be no need for the Collectors and Lock-keepers to have any relief during the week..." C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/018)

17.2.1922  "RATS; In reference to the letter dated 19th Dec 1921 from the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar as to alleged rats coming from the Limehouse Cut and infesting the neighbourhood, also that the rats are conveyed in barges; I have made enquiry and have also inspected the Cut but none have been seen.  Even if there are any rats we do not harbour or feed them!" C Tween (LMA ACC 2423/019)

7.7.1922 Closure of the Navigation from Enfield Lock as work started on rebuilding the Locks at Enfield, Waltham Town, Waltham Common, Cheshunt, Aqueduct, Carthagena, Dobbs Weir, Fieldes Weir and Ware. The Navigation reopened up to Cheshunt Lock on 18.1.1923, to Dobbs Weir Lock by 2.2.1923, to Ware Lock by 10.2.1923 and throughout on 6.3.1923. This meant that 9 locks had been totally rebuilt in 8 months. (LMA ACC 2423/019, 020)

.

20.6.1924 “…the steam launch “Seagull” which sank in the boat shed during the war, had been removed to the barge dock, and that she had been inspected by Mr Radley, boat builder of Lee Bridge, who had given a rough estimate that the cost of carrying out repairs would be £65." Approved. (NA Rail 845/74)

21.1.1925.   The new motor barge of 13’ 3” beam will soon be launched at Millwall and named “The Musgrave”  (NA Rail 845/110).

In NA Rail 845/76, on 15^th January 1926, the Board listed their pensioners:

Name                   Pension           Date Granted                  Age                Present age

Mrs Corble             £100 pa              11.1.1907                    56                    74           

Mrs Wright             7/- pw                6.5.1904                     35                    56

Mrs Norton             7/- pw               25.9.1891                    43                    77           

(appears to have been granted for 1 year only – still being paid)

Mrs Martin              5/- pw               15.1.1915                    42                    52

Mrs Porter              7/-                      7.1.1921                    69                    73

Mrs Campkin          10/-                    14.3.1924                    64                    66

(To be reconsidered when she reaches 70)

Mrs Judge             10/-                    23.10.1925                   60                    60

(Until 31.1.1926 only, (renewed each year until 1929))

W Smith                3/-                      17.7.1914                   76                    87

Thos Martin           8/-                      16.2.1923                    72                   74

B Salmon               8/-                      25.5.1923                    79                   81

F Eve                    8/-                      13.4.1923                    75                   77

20.5.1927 "GENERAL STRIKE By reason of the strike, no traffic passed through Limehouse and Bromley Locks from May 4th to midnight on May 12th. All employees of the Board remained at work"  (LMA ACC 2423/024)

2.7.1927  It had been found necessary to destroy three of the Board’s horses which were very old and past work, and that the sum of £8 had been received for the carcases  (NA Rail 845/111)

3.1.1928 "I regret to say that the last of the nine old Army horses, purchased by the Board during the War, fell into the Navigation below Enfield Lock and was drowned.  He was past work.  His carcase was sold for £2.5.0 (LMA ACC 2423/025)