tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post3188655316627000511..comments2023-12-01T10:35:12.938+00:00Comments on Boatlife: Cruising Aboard NB Valerie: THE MILLS OF HEMELLes Biggshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200731053479474814noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-60825767714066697372007-12-02T18:50:00.000+00:002007-12-02T18:50:00.000+00:00A red kite has a pronounced V shaped tail, very di...A red kite has a pronounced V shaped tail, very distinctive and easily identifiable. If you go anywhere near Beaconsfield (not by canal obviously) you'll see dozens of them. Lovely birds. <BR/>LesDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-57347268556981152772007-12-02T11:40:00.000+00:002007-12-02T11:40:00.000+00:00HiSueI`m moored near to the Croxley site at the mo...HiSue<BR/>I`m moored near to the Croxley site at the moment, and being born in Paddington i spent my childhood watching working boats on the Gd. Union, maybe i`m now living a childhood dream.<BR/>See you soon i hope,hi Vic.<BR/>Be safe.Les Biggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200731053479474814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-24322182569837011102007-12-02T11:27:00.000+00:002007-12-02T11:27:00.000+00:00Thanks Annon for copying all that info onto here. ...Thanks Annon for copying all that info onto here. Readers will find it interesting. Nice contribution.Les Biggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200731053479474814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-87740714570491431742007-12-01T22:21:00.000+00:002007-12-01T22:21:00.000+00:00Les, I remember Croxley Mills being there back in ...Les, I remember Croxley Mills being there back in the 1970s, I was walking along the towpath watching working boats up through the locks! <BR/><BR/>I was living in Uxbridge at the time at the RAF base.. the home of the Queens Colour Squadron no less.<BR/><BR/>SueSuehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07911045617767626806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-78212113794438082007-12-01T19:58:00.000+00:002007-12-01T19:58:00.000+00:00The canal & papermakingAt the end of the 16th cent...The canal & papermaking<BR/><BR/>At the end of the 16th century, the poor state of the roads made land transport slow, unreliable and expensive and, in the case of bulky goods such as coal, near impossible. The building of the canals solved the problem bringing great benefit to commerce.<BR/><BR/>Loading a canal boat<BR/><BR/>Loading a canal boat<BR/> <BR/><BR/>Canal boats in the mill<BR/><BR/>It was the diversion of the Grand Junction Canal at Apsley in 1818 from its original route to follow the course of the Gade by Apsley and Nash Mills which gave John Dickinson direct access to the canal network. All the Dickinson mills were connected by canal to the Dickinson depot at Paddington (later Kings Cross). From there deliveries were made to the London area.<BR/><BR/>The boats took finished goods to London and brought back raw materials such as waste paper and rags. Other raw materials such as esparto grass, woodpulp, chemicals and china clay were also used in vast quantities. Once steam engines were in use in the mills, coal came in by canal. During the period 1904-1928, the average annual amount of coal delivered was 38,540 tons. The last deliveries of coal were made between 1960 and 1970 as the mills switched to oil.<BR/><BR/>It is not clear who manned the boats in the early days but Dickinsons did own some boats such as Lord Nelson and Hero of the Nile (registered 1870 and 1891). However, in 1890 Fellows, Morton and Clayton Ltd. contracted to operate the Dickinson intermill service. In 1897 they had replaced horse-drawn boats with "steamers" - Countess and Princess together with two "butties" - Maud and May, followed in 1910 with replacement "butties" - Alice and Kate. In 1927 motor boats - Jackal and Jaguar replaced the steamers and new butties - Helen and Hettie came into service in 1930.<BR/>-<BR/><BR/>Top of page | Terms of use | Privacy | Contact usAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-35621822022168621472007-11-29T18:14:00.000+00:002007-11-29T18:14:00.000+00:00Hi Les/HeidiLooking forward to seeing you.There mu...Hi Les/Heidi<BR/>Looking forward to seeing you.<BR/>There must be a lot of folks in Hemel who had family at JD`sLes Biggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200731053479474814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-70593553514570089272007-11-29T18:11:00.000+00:002007-11-29T18:11:00.000+00:00Hi Lesley KThankyou and keep "popping in".You have...Hi Lesley K<BR/>Thankyou and keep "popping in".<BR/>You have encouraged me by thinking there must be so many like you who pop in.Les Biggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200731053479474814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-73644024412284528662007-11-29T18:07:00.000+00:002007-11-29T18:07:00.000+00:00Hi Annon SPlenty of Buzzards to be seen travelling...Hi Annon S<BR/>Plenty of Buzzards to be seen travelling the canals but don`t think i would know a Red Kite even if i saw one.Les Biggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06200731053479474814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-59838461833151530682007-11-29T10:23:00.000+00:002007-11-29T10:23:00.000+00:00Nice one Les. You see your blog has something just...Nice one Les. You see your blog has something just that little bit different to snare the interest and here it is! Fascinating..<BR/>Lesley K.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-69488471150735292742007-11-28T22:08:00.000+00:002007-11-28T22:08:00.000+00:00Good to see you back on the history trail once mor...Good to see you back on the history trail once more. It feels strange to read that the areas where I shopped in 21st century Britain used to be a part of 'those dark Satanic mills'! Well, sort of, anyway.<BR/>Did you also read on the Hemel link that Red Kites have now been seen regularly in the area? - still waiting for my buzzard sighting!<BR/>Have a great weekend.<BR/>S xAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11311723.post-4948219257333296352007-11-28T19:20:00.000+00:002007-11-28T19:20:00.000+00:00Hi Les,We'll be at KingsLangley at the weekend so ...Hi Les,<BR/>We'll be at KingsLangley at the weekend so may see you sooner than you thought !<BR/>I loved the Dicko's blog, several generations of my family worked there so know it well. You didnt mention Shendish House, amongst other things was once the companies sports and social centre now a manor house and golf course up on the jill overlooking Apsley. My old dad used to take us up there when we were kids toplay snooker lol<BR/>Anyway, we;re loving being afloat..and about to purchase those little inverters for the same reason as you mention, good advice there so thanks.keep blogging Les you have lots of support.<BR/>Les+ Heidi<BR/>Blue PearlAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com