The original crane was built in the mid-18th century to hoist coal and timber on and off the barges using the canal as an important way of industrial transport. It was blown down in gales in the 1980's.
The crane on the Wharf was re-instated by the Newbury Society in July 1996.
Mr. Charles Hoile, retired coroner for West Berkshire, worked to build the crane to the original specifications using two-and-a-half tons of timber donated by the Yattendon Estate. The late John Gould MBE (one of the founder members of the Inland Waterways Association now known as the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust) advised and helped Mr.Hoile to build the crane to the exact specifications of the original. The design of the original crane came from the railway goods shed at Newbury and all metal parts seen on the refurbished crane are original. The Society currently pays a peppercorn rent to West Berkshire Council for the land on which the crane stands.
The design of the original (replacement ?) crane came from the railway goods shed at Newbury and all metal parts seen on the refurbished crane are original.
The original crane was there long before the railway came along I assume.
The crane in the black & white photo was a crane which was in use in the railway shed in the old railway goods yard. This crane was salvaged and was, I thought, the source for the replacement that the Newbury Society put together. What came from where I'm not sure but I belived that it was a major donor both in design and components.
This oak plaque is high on the Eastern wall of a group of almshouses in Enborne Rd. They were built in 1884 but the plaque is dated 1672. It originally however, came from a group of almshouses in West Mills that were demolished when these were built and the plaque moved on.
This oak plaque is high on the Eastern wall of a group of almshouses in Enborne Rd. They were built in 1884 but the plaque is dated 1672. It originally however, came from a group of almshouses in West Mills that were demolished when these were built and the plaque moved on.
The almshouses (Pearce's) in West Mills (that the plaque used to be on) were not demolished, they are still there.
Mr. Charles Hoile, retired coroner for West Berkshire, worked to build the crane to the original specifications using two-and-a-half tons of timber donated by the Yattendon Estate. The late John Gould MBE (one of the founder members of the Inland Waterways Association now known as the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust) advised and helped Mr.Hoile to build the crane to the exact specifications of the original. The design of the original crane came from the railway goods shed at Newbury and all metal parts seen on the refurbished crane are original. The Society currently pays a peppercorn rent to West Berkshire Council for the land on which the crane stands.
The crane now on the Wharf does indeed mimic the design of the one from the railway goods shed - as a result it is totally inappropriate as a representation of a canal crane. There were considerably doubts at the time of its construction as to whether it would stay up for long. If anyone ever tried to lift something heavy with it it would almost certainly collapse. In the goods shed it was supported at the top by the roof structre (see the photo), now it only has a couple of iron rods holding it up. Canal cranes would have been very different. However, it decorates the Wharf and adds a bit of interest - lets face it no one is going to use it to lift anything.
The almshouses (Pearce's) in West Mills (that the plaque used to be on) were not demolished, they are still there.
I beleieve you reminded me about that last time (on the previous and deleted forum). When I wrote that this time, I sort of knew that I was wrong so thanks for the correction. Am I right in thinking that those old almshouses are the building on the right behind the Mercedes.
I beleieve you reminded me about that last time (on the previous and deleted forum). When I wrote that this time, I sort of knew that I was wrong so thanks for the correction. Am I right in thinking that those old almshouses are the building on the right behind the Mercedes.
I don't want to be picky, but you must be a bit of a motorhead to assume that everyone will identify the Mercedes in the picture. I assume that it is the red car, which would have been a better way of identifying it.
And what exactly do you mean by 'behind the Mercedes'? Do you mean the tall building with the white rectangular window in the gable end, or the smaller one to the right?
All right, so I am being picky and off-topic, but I am bored with sitting in front of the fire trying to keep warm. I've read all the books I bought at the Borders closing-down sale and I cannot get outside to do anything except clearing snow and cutting firewood.
I don't want to be picky, but you must be a bit of a motorhead to assume that everyone will identify the Mercedes in the picture. I assume that it is the red car, which would have been a better way of identifying it.
And what exactly do you mean by 'behind the Mercedes'? Do you mean the tall building with the white rectangular window in the gable end, or the smaller one to the right?
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Red car, are you a blonde. O.K the blue square van thing behind that looks a bit like a Land Rover.
It's the smaller building with the gable and the little gable window in the roof and immediately to the left of the lamp post. But, I might be wrong in retrospect as I think Pearce's might have been a few doors down.
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