Lengthsman

The term Lengthsman, coined in the 1800s, originally referred to someone who kept a "length" of road neat and tidy, but lengthsmen were used on canals and railways from the beginnings of both.^[1] On roads, lengthsmen were responsible for a few miles between adjacent villages and sometimes their duties encompassed the village itself. Employed by local parish councils, their job was, inter alia, to keep grass and weeds down in the verge, keep drainage ditches clear, and sometimes repair fences. Litter, such as it was in those times, was collected and even wild flowers were tended to.

Lengthsmen on canals

The term was applied to specific workers on the English canal system from its inception in the late 18th century, "lengthsmen" being responsible especially for lengths of tow-path and, in the absence of a lock-keeper, for locks and their trappings and surroundings. Many lived in isolated cottages which if close to a lock, might include the duties of lock keeper, even managing water levels and controlling weirs. Lengthsmen might also be responsible for repair and maintenance of banks on their "length", including the cutting of reeds and vegetation and the treading of puddle clay into sections of bank which were weak or suffering from leakage.^[2] A feature of the Thames and Severn Canal was the provision of unusual accommodation for lengthsmen. The buildings were circular and had three floors. Five of them, dating from the 1790s, remain to this day.^[3] See the Listed Building register.^[4]

21st century Lengthsmen

Lengthsmen are still employed by some parish councils (or groups of councils to enable financing). (e.g. Wyre Council 2011 ^[5]). Lengthsmen's tasks now are usually in tending areas of a central "common" or, if appropriate, significant parts of the village such as greens, drainage into fields and public areas. The term was picked up by the English organisation, National Parks,^[6] to define certain volunteers on "special projects" in [those] parks including, but not exclusively, hedge-laying and wall-building.

In 2014, the term was resurrected by boating volunteers for use on Inland Waterdays in a digital age.^[7] As of August 2014, the development is "Work In Progress" in and around London waterways under the initiative of Ron Gooding.^[8] The Lea and Stort rivers on the Herts. Essex borders are separately involved as of October 2015, but not yet organised.

Special Project lengthsmen

A small number of canal boaters do Special Lengthsman Projects exclusively and in isolation. (Maffi Oxford^[9])

Grand Union Lengthsmen

Through the winter, the Grand Union Canal milestones from Brentford to Braunston were marked, as a special project, by the planting of a single daffodil bulb by a volunteer lengthsman en route between the terminals. Further GU groups are being identified as the milestones are counted to Braunston. Active lengthsman teams exist on the Slough arm of the Grand Union Canal and the southern reaches of the Grand Union. As of November 2015, Croxley Green on the Herts Berks borders is involved. Croxley Green Parish Council is fully engaged via their "Towpath Taskforce" endeavour in liaison with the Canal and River Trust.

River Darent Lengthsmen

In 2015, a lengthsman team commenced duties at Dartford and Crayford Creek under the guidance of Ashe Hurst^[10] and Gerry Lane.^[11] Beginning 2016, Hugh Nisbet^[12] assumed lengthsman duties for Dartford lock and quay, following the 18th century practice of lengthsmen doing lock-keeper duties in the absence of an official lock-keeper.

Bibliography

McKnight, Hugh (1987). The Shell Book of Inland Waterways. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8239-X.

References

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