Derek R.

Perhaps it is I who should apologise for using the word "owned". 'Managed by', would have been more correct. Blists Hill has been managed by English Heritage on behalf of the Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust. But who 'owns' it? The Nation? The National Trust are taking on the management and much is being 'looked forward to' according to their website. Meanwhile, staff at Blists Hill are contemplating levels of redundancy, just as the NT are making 550 redundancies across their other properties they 'own'. Despite the rosy sounding future from NT, staff have been advised their future is not assured at Blists Hill, and that the recent successful 'Hallowe'en event' was the last. This contradicts NT public claims. Time will tell. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/shropshire-staffordshire/our-work/our-work-in-shropshire/ironbridge-museums https://www.ironbridge.org.uk/news/transfer-of-igmt-to-the-national-trust/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clym8029nnvo

Yes, the Hay inclined plane simply resembles what it once was. Few stop and visit. The Hallowe'en event just passed was pretty good this year, but the NT have said they will not be holding it next year. Makes one wonder what else will 'not' be happening in the future. It's all about the money.

There are a whole host of books that give details on canals and boats (historic as we now see them), but you could do worse than get hold of some of the Alan Faulkner and Robert Wilson small paperbacks. 'The George and the Mary' by Alan Faulkner is a good starting point. It's not always correct in some details, but will give you the basic understanding of the 'sizes' of the Grand Union boats. The 'Big', 'Middle', and 'Small' refer not to the length or width, but in the depth of the hull from gunnel to baseplate. Also, the Big boats were usually named after towns, the Middle and Small after constellations, often referred to as 'Stars'. In the back of The George & Mary you will find details of where registered, fleet numbers, where built and whether of wood, metal or composite. Another in a similar format is 'A Short History of the Narrow Boat' by Tom Chaplin, published by Shepperton Swan.

The thing is, that drawing was of a Royalty class boat, and every 'class' of boat will be worked up to the dimensions of individual 'classes'; Small, Middle and Large Northwiches, and small and large Woolwiches. It's all to do with scale, and studying the sizes and angles of existing cabins. Simply taking measurements from a plan that might not even match the hull details just won't work. It has to be built with an 'eye' to what works in individual cases. This is made from cardboard, and is about four feet long, made for a window display. A smaller effort based loosely on a Josher motor. Getting on for 32yrs old now. Just knocked up from cardboard scap mostly for my eldest daughter's 'show and tell' at her primary school.

Think: Helm, then imagine an old boat person pronouncing it. Birmingham - Brumagem. Marsworth - Maffas or Maffers.

From what we have learned of the family in France, they were quite tuned in to modern technology, and many photographs were taken by themselves. Some were almost comedic in nature. M. Jehovah Gouté (Anna's husband) was a land and vinyard owner of a sporting disposition engaging in racing bicycles as well as boar hunting. He was even photographed driving a motor car, one of the earliest and locally unusual means of transport of the day. Their former family home was run down after his death in 1932, and a combination of death duties and family squabbling over property saw the remaining members disperse into smaller properties in the locale. Anna passed away in 1934 from cancer, her unmarried daughter lived on in a converted (derelict) mill-house in Les-Montils until her passing in the early 1980's. Her only child emigrated to England, ending up working in the NHS. The 'big house' was occupied by the German army during the second world war, who took numerous valuable pieces of artwork and musical instruments upon departing. The house remains, and is an upmarket hotel today standing in its own grounds. https://www.relaisdeslandes.com/

Apologies all for the digression of the OP's original thread subject! There is no date on the back of that particular image, though I would hazard a guess at the late 1880's or '90's judging by the fact that both she and her husband (not in the photo) were born around 1868. The oldest image is from Dallas, Texas. Whether 1848 relates their departure from the Loir et Cher to Dallas; the date of birth of one of the subjects, or the date of the image as taken is not definitively known.

My wife's ancestors on her Mother's side were French, and being land owners got into photography early. Many images in cardboard boxes and very old albums with metal clasps. One of many. We have glass plates as well, some from the 1850's when one branch emigrated to Dallas, Texas. Mme. Anna Gouté, Louise's Great Grandmother and family members. Don't know who the gent is with the hat cocked. May have been a photographic 'style' back then. This one has been enhanced from its sepia original. Sharing any personal information into 'the cloud' opens up their availability to hackers.

I have suitcases stuffed with family images taken as far back as the early part of the last century. Then came colour photography and slides, boxes of them. Digital photography has taken us into the age of no films to process and instant abilities to discard or 're-take'. In some ways progress is better, but brings with it certain anomalies for storage. I have over 14,000 images stored in a desktop, but my favourites are printed out and on display within sight. Two specifically are of TYCHO in black and white. During power cuts, they remain.

Don't keep photos on a phone. Load them onto a disc, back-up hard drive or memory stick. Keep them safe.

A few years ago one of my other 'clubs' had issues with their server. basically they could no longer handle the volume. Much was heralded that the 'forum' section of the club was to transfer to another server. It took forever, and had a layout change in the process. Meanwhile, the former active forum didn't just twiddle their thumbs in anticipation - they went over to Facebook, never to return. Today the forum is a ghost town with claims of attempting to get more people to join in. The webmaster who oversaw the forum change, with a lot of hard work done voluntarily, has since left his post. A second club I am subscribed to, has recently (March 2025) had its lively forum shut down by 'the committee', in fear of being 'possibly' held to account over feared actions of the online safety act and Ofcom. The clubs forum summarily was shut down reducing the website to a 'Notice Board' - silencing useful debate and the usual ribald banter. In doing so, that particular club has lost members, and several committee members have resigned. Meanwhile, a separate 'forum' has been started (with discalimers from the original club that 'it's nothing to do with us') and is thriving. The 'gang' have risen from the ashes so to speak.

My youngest daughter is employed at Blists Hill Victorian Village, tends to the heavy horses and (when it's working and sufficient staff are available) drives the horse bus around the village. English Heritage (EH) have owned the village and much else (but not the Iron Bridge) and the level of maintenance has been poor. Livestock within the village has been reduced. This Summer saw several 'events' such as Steam weekends and heavy horse weekends, and the crowds came. It was also rumoured amongst staff, that EH were selling (they had not long taken over from the Gorge Trust). There was a meeting of staff just over a week ago announcing that the National Trust were taking over the Village and other EH held museums in the Gorge, but no more than that. NT are cutting staff (redundancies) of 550 people nation wide. There is to be another staff meeting this coming February at Blists Hill, and staff will discover (allegedly) how many will be made redundant when NT officially take control. Staff are concerned for their futures. The Iron bridge is owned by council, though apparently 'cared for' by EH. A few years ago it was closed to assess the movement caused by the banks either side squeezing the bridge with concerns about its longevity. Seemingly this was attended to, and it then got its new coat of paint. The NT is cash strapped, as are most councils.

Latest bid - £100. It could get silly.

There is an 'app' available on many phones that allows anything to be photographed, then searched for online. It'll probably come up with a description of some sort.

Good range of action, enjoyed that. My area was LNER North London and trips to Kings X, racing out from school to see what was hauling the Elizabethan through Wood Green. Never knew Brum back then.