List of Maps and Documents

The items in the History archive are arranged into sections:

• Lock House Artefacts
• Staffordshire Past Track photographs
• Historic Maps
• History Articles and Transcripts
• Fiction
• Newsletter Archive
• External Links

Scroll through the items and click on the image to open the file.

"BRITAIN FROM ABOVE" Photographs of the Stafford Branch Canal and surroundings at Baswich in 1951

"Photographs of the Stafford Branch Canal at Baswich (St Thomas') in 1951" by David Jones (2016) (40 pages)

Lock House Artefacts

"1861 Penny" by David Jones (2016) (2 pages)


"The Lock House Cooking Range" by David Jones (2016) (4 pages)


"W.D.Batkin Mineral Water Bottle" by David Jones (2016 and 2020) (13 pages)


"Lockett & Sons Mineral Water Bottle" by David Jones (2020) (16 pages)


"P B Co Ltd Brick" by David Jones (2016) (2 pages)


"Uncovering the Past: The Great Haywood Brewery Bottle" by David Jones (2024) (4 pages)

Staffordshire Past Track photographs relating to the River Sow/Stafford Branch canal.

The Links to these photographs are courtesy of Staffordshire Past Track. The owners of the original images are named under the 'source' heading on each image resource page.

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View image (1) River Sow, Royal Brine Baths and Green Bridge (1909/1910)

View image (2) River Sow, Royal Brine Baths and Green Bridge (1975)

View image (3) River Sow and the Royal Brine Baths (1975)

View image (4) Royal Brine Baths (1975)

View image (5) River Sow from the White Bridge; canal arm (with towpath embankment) leading to the Coal Wharf opposite the Royal Brine Baths (1911)

View image (6) River Sow downstream from the White Bridge (1890/1900)

View image (7) Boating on the River Sow downstream from the White Bridge (1908)

View image (8) Riverway Bridge (1912)

View image (9) Sandyford Brook where it flows into the River Sow at the Brick Bridge, Fairway (c 1930/1940)

View image (10) The Ladder Bridge (1880/1890)

View image (11) The Ladder Bridge (1880/1890)

View image (12) The Ladder Bridge (1900/1910)

Historic Maps

The links to these maps are courtesy of the National Library of Scotland.

(A) These maps are from the OS Six-inch England and Wales 1842-1952 Series [ Staffordshire Sheet XXXVII.SE ] .

(1) Surveyed 1880, published 1889 [View Map]

(2) Surveyed 1900, published 1902 [View Map]

(3) Surveyed 1921/22, published 1925 [View Map]

(4) Surveyed 1912/22, published 1925 [View Map]

(5) Surveyed 1938, published ~1946 [View Map]

(B) This map is from the OS 1 inch 7th series Great Britain 1952-1961 Series [Sheet 119]

(1) Surveyed 1949, published 1953 [View Map]

(C) This map is from the OS 1 inch New Popular Edition 1945-1947 [Sheet 119]

(1) Published 1946 [View Map]

(D) This map is from the OS 1:25,000 1937-1961 Series [Sheet SJ92]

(1) Revised 1938-1949, published 1952 [View Map]

(E) These maps are from the OS One-inch Revised 1892-1908 New Series [Sheet 139]

(1) Stafford (Outline): Revised 1898, published 1899 [View Map]

(2) Stafford (Hills): Revised 1898, published 1899 [View Map]

NLS Map Image Home page Link [Click here]

History Articles and Transcripts

"Origins of the Stafford Riverway Link" by David Jones (2022) (1 page)


"History of the Stafford Riverway Link" by David Jones (2005) (11 pages)


"The Proposed Stafford and Radford Canal: 1797-1800: A Journey of Discovery" by David Jones (2022) (41 pages)


"Communication with Canals in the Stafford Area" by S.R. and E.R.Broadbridge (13 pages)
[Staffordshire Industrial Archaeology Society Journal: Volume 1 1970]
[Courtesy of Staffordshire Industrial Archaeology Society]


"Radford to Stafford - A Transport Saga" by Roy Lewis (2012) (21 pages)
[Courtesy of Roy Lewis]


"Stafford Branch Canal / Sow Navigation" (1974) (4 pages)
[Extract from Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Towpath Guide No.1 1974. Courtesy of Dr J.Ian Langford]


"Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Company Committee Meeting Minutes Relating to the Stafford Branch Canal / River Sow Navigation 1816-1948" by David Jones (2018) (21 pages)


"The Lock Keepers of Baswich?" compiled by David Jones (2010) (1 page)


"William Smith: Lock Keeper 1836/1837 to 1839/1840" by David Jones (2013) (3 pages)


"John Gallamore: Lock Keeper 1839/1840 to 1842 & possibly until 1849"
by David Jones (2013) (9 pages)


"William Sambrook: Lock Keeper 1848/1849 to 1873/1878 & possibly again from 1886 to 1889"
by David Jones (2015 & 2020) (17 pages)


"Edwin Wall: 'Lock Keeper' 1873/1875 to ~1885"
by David Jones (2022) (25 pages)


"Harry Holloway: 'Lock Keeper' 1898/1899 to 1929"
by David Jones (2015, 2020 & 2022)


"History of the Lock House" by David Jones (2010) (17 pages)


"History of the Lock House" by David Jones (2014): Revised and Extended Text (7 pages)


"The Lock House Cooking Range" by David Jones (2016) (4 pages)


"Census Records for the Lock House 1821-1961" by David Jones (2013 & 2022) (9 pages)


"Electoral Registers for the Lock House 1883-1956" by David Jones (2010) (13 pages)


"Bradshaw's Guide to the Stafford Branch (1904)" by David Jones (2013) (1 page)


"Jenks' Guide to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal (1907) with particular reference to the Stafford Branch" by David Jones (2018) (2 pages)


"19th and 20th Century Gazetteers of the Inland Waterways of Britain: 1816-1975 with particular reference to the Stafford Branch" by David Jones (2015) (9 pages)


"Lock House Valuation (1910) by David Jones (2010) (1 page)


"St Thomas' (Baswich) Aqueduct: An Insight" by David Jones (2016) (7 pages)


"Standing Orders of the House of Commons of the 7 June 1792 with reference to Navigable Canals, Aqueducts, and the Navigation of Rivers" (Transcript) (3 pages)


"Standing Orders of the House of Commons of the 7 May 1794 and 16 June 1795 with reference to Navigable Canals, Aqueducts, and the Navigation of Rivers" (Transcript) (4 pages)


1799 (13 February) Draft Letter seeking support for Branch Canal (Transcript) (1 page)


"1799 (25 February) Petition presented to Parliament for Stafford Branch (Transcript 2020)" (1 page)


1799 (29 August) Letter from John Wright to Mr Jesson (Transcript) (1 page)


1799 (27 September) Notice from J.Jesson (Transcript) (1 page)


1811 Sow Navigation Counterpart Lease (Transcript) (6 pages)


1811 Sow Navigation Lease (Transcript) ( 6 pages)


1814 Sow Navigation Lease (Transcript) (7 pages)


1864 Sow Navigation Lease (Transcript) (5 pages)


1880 Draft Agreement for construction of a Wharf Wall in Stafford (Transcript) (1 page)


1885 Sow Navigation Counterpart Lease (Transcript) (6 pages)


1895 Sow Navigation Underlease (Coal Wharf) (Transcript) (4 pages)


1897 (16 January) Staffordshire Advertiser Report "Drowned in the Canal" (Transcript) (1 page)


1906 Sow Navigation Counterpart Lease (Coal Wharf) (Transcript) (3 pages)


1927 (15 January) Staffordshire Advertiser Report "Stafford Town Council: Purchase of Land from Lord Stafford" (Transcript) (2 pages)


"The Hebe and the Stafford Branch Canal in August 1929" by David Jones (2018) (3 pages)


1968 "Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society Report on the Northern Section of the Canal relating to the Stafford Branch" by David Jones (2013) (4 pages)


"St Thomas' (Baswich) Lock in 1971" by David Jones (2018) (10 pages)


1976 "Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society Enquiry into Restoring the Stafford Branch Canal / Sow Navigation" by David Jones (2013) (5 pages)


1976 (23 August) Express & Star Report "Stafford May Again See Boats" (Transcript) (1 page)


1997 (14 February) SRL Minutes of the 1st Committee Meeting (Transcript) (1 page)


1997 (14 April) SRL Minutes of the 2nd Committee Meeting (Transcript) (3 pages)


1997 (10 November) SRL Minutes of the 3rd Committee Meeting (Transcript) (2 pages)


1998 (12 February) Staffordshire Newsletter Report "Boat comes in for tourism" (Transcript) (1 page)


1998 (6 March) SRL Minutes of the 4th Committee Meeting (Transcript) (2 pages)


2003 (17 September) SRL Minutes of the 5th Committee Meeting (Transcript) (2 pages)


2004 (14 May) SRL Presentation to the Environment Agency by David Jones (6 pages)


2009 SRL Articles of Association (25 pages)


2012 Feasibility Study - Executive Summary (1 page)


2012 Feasibility Study - Full report (73 pages)


2016 (17 July) Photographs of the Baswich Site (David Jones) (5 pages)


2017 Strategic Plan (2017-2027) (12 pages)


"The Sun Inn (Stafford), The Titanic Brewery and The SRL" by David Jones (2018) (19 pages)


"2024 SRL Heritage Report (David Jones January 2024) " (6 pages)

Fiction

"Omar Hall - An Imaginary Autobiography" by Roy Lewis (2012) (Fiction/Fact) (11 pages)


"Towpath Walkers of Stafford-a tale of Old Stafford" by David Jones (2011) (Fiction/Fact) (6 pages)

Newsletter Archive

Click on to download

Newsletter 1 (October 2006)


Newsletter 2 (April 2007)


Newsletter 3 (July 2007)


Newsletter 4 (January 2008)


Newsletter 5 (June 2008)


Newsletter 6 (April 2009)


Newsletter 7 (July 2009)


Newsletter 8 (November 2009)


Newsletter 9 (March 2010)


Newsletter 10 (June 2010)


Newsletter 11 (October 2010)


Newsletter 12 (December 2010)


Newsletter 13 (March 2011)


Newsletter 14 (September 2011)


Newsletter 15 (March 2012)


Newsletter 16 (December 2012)


Newsletter 17 (November 2013)


Newsletter 18 (January 2014)


Newsletter 19 (March 2014)


Newsletter 20 (May 2014)


Newsletter 21 (November 2014)


Newsletter 22 (May 2015)


Newsletter 23 (April 2016)


Newsletter 24 (November 2016)


Newsletter 25 (July 2017)


Newsletter 27(Jan 2018)


Newsletter 28 (October 2018)


Newsletter 29 (January 2019)


Newsletter 30 (April 2019)


Newsletter 31 (November 2019)


Newsletter 32 (Nov 2020)


Newsletter 33 (March 2021)


Newsletter 34 (June 2021)


Newsletter 35 (January 2022)


Newsletter 36 (September 2022)


Newsletter 37 (January 2024)

External Links

Staffordshire Past Track: www.staffspasttrack.org.uk

Staffordshire Record Office (Stafford): www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Heritage-and-Archives/contact/sro/Overview.aspx