Illustrated Talks about Royal Gunpowder Mills
RIVER LEA or LEE – from Luton to Leyton
A journey from the source of the river in Luton to Old Ford Lock in London, with various digressions en route. The talk covers the history and development of the Lee Navigation, with modern photographs and contrasting turn of the century postcards.
One and a half hours
THE LEE FROM OLD FORD TO THE THAMES
This continues the journey from Old Ford to the Thames with trips around Bow Back Rivers, Waterworks River, Bow Creek and Limehouse Cut. There's even an excursion up Canary Wharf!
One and a half hours
THE STORT STORY
The 13¾ winding miles of the Stort Navigation are generally acknowledged to be among the prettiest in England. This talk looks at the history of the river and follows its story from 1766 up to the modern day. We travel the whole waterway from the head of navigation at Bishops Stortford to the Lee Navigation at Hoddesdon.
One and a half hours
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF... A THAMES TUG
A close look at the work done by the Cory tug General VIII, which is one of a fleet of seven vessels engaged in the movement of refuse lighters for the Western Riverside Waste Authority. The talk features a voyage from Wandsworth to the aptly named Mucking in Essex. It gives an insight into one of the remaining commercial operations on the tidal Thames.
One and a half hours
THE MANCHESTER SHIP CANAL
This presentation examines the history, building, development and rise and fall of the largest man-made waterway in England. We travel eastwards in Victorian times to follow the creation of the canal and then board a Mersey ferry to Liverpool for the return journey.
One and a half hour
PRESIDENT N0 195
A detailed history of Fellows, Morton and Clayton's most famous steamer, from her building in 1909, through her life under steam, until in 1925 she was converted to diesel and continued as a working motor boat until 1973. She was on the scrapheap, when she was recognised as an ex-steamer and meticulously restored to her original configuration. She now lives at the Black Country Living Museum and tours the canal system as a living museum piece.
One and a half hours
A WALK WITH THE ADMIRAL
The history of a suburban road. A simple story of a street, from the first land records in 1527 up to modern aerial photographs of the 1990's. You see the plans of the Victorian developer, meet the first families and follow the growth of the community up to the present day.
One and a half hours
INTRODUCTION TO WATERWAYS
This talk gives an insight into the world of British Inland Waterways. Developed originally as the first of a series of waterway lectures, It is a general interest presentation for non-waterway audiences who may want to learn more of the relaxed and quiet life to be found by the towing-path.
One and a half hours
THE IMFOSSIBLE DREAMS 1 and 2
This is a journey along the Foss Way from Exeter to Lincoln, examining the history of this fascinating Roman road. Since it also links the two oldest manmade canals in England we have an excuse to take a look at these and the twenty other waterways past and present that the Foss crosses.
In two talks:
Exeter to Cirencester and Cirencester to Lincoln - One and a half hours each
WATERWAYS WONDERS
A tour of some of the engineering marvels around the waterways system. We visit Foxton Inclined Plane, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Harecastle Tunnel, Anderton Lift and Bingley Five Rise Locks among others perhaps not quite so well known.
One and a half hours
THE ROYAL GUNPOWDER MILLS
This is a tour of the former Royal Gunpowder Factory at Waltham Abbey. We examine both the history of the site and the development of gunpowder and chemical explosives including nitro-glycerine, guncotton and cordite. We look at the canals and boats that formed the backbone of the transport system within the site.
One and a half hours
THE GUNPOWDER PLOT
This is a look at the background of the "Powder Treason" and the involvement of Catesby, Percy and Guido Fawkes and the ten other conspirators who laid the Plot. We examine closely the events of early November in 1605 and we follow the flight and fate of the conspirators and hear of the trial and executions of those who were captured.
One and a half hours
THE HIGHLAND CANALS
This comprises a passage along the Crinan and Caledonian Canals in Scotland. The Crinan is the 9 mile short-cut across Argyll and the Caledonian is the 60 mile journey through the Great Glen linking the North Sea with the Atlantic and including Loch Ness. Both canals are surrounded by stunning scenery.
One and a half hours
THE LOWLAND CANALS
This journey is a celebration of the success of the Millennium Link, the £83 million restoration of the canals which join Edinburgh with Glasgow and the Forth with the Clyde, culminating in a journey on the Falkirk Wheel.
One and a half hours
THE FORTH AND CLYDE CANAL
A detailed examination of this important restored Scottish canal, looking also at the remains of the Monkland and Paisley canals in Glasgow. We visit the Dalmuir droplock and the Falkirk Wheel.
One and a half hours
THE UNION CANAL
A similar detailed look at the Union Canal, known as the Mathematical Canal, 32 level miles between Edinburgh and Falkirk until it reaches the Wheel and drops 112’ to the Forth & Clyde Canal.
One and a quarter hours
THE STORY OF PANAMA
The creation of transport links across the 50 mile isthmus at panama cost more in human lives and money than any other comparable route in the world. We look at the four centuries of endeavour that started with Christopher Columbus in 1502 and culminated in the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914.
One and a half hours
Some talks can be presented in a condensed version of one hour length.
The time shown is for the actual presentation and does not include half-time breaks or question time, both of which are welcomed.
FEES - £40 for audiences up to fifty people. For larger gatherings, add £3 per ten audience members up to a maximum of £76.
TRAVELLING EXPENSES - For venues over 20 miles return, a charge of 25p per excess mile is made to cover fuel costs.
For venues within the M25, the full distance is charged.
EQUIPMENT - All necessary items including screen, projector, stand and extension lead are supplied.
BOOKING CONTACT DETAILS:
Richard Thomas,42 Admirals Walk, Hoddesdon, Herts, EN11 8AG
Tel: 01992 466180 Fax: 01992 414664 Mobile: 0780 1144007
