Charles Pettifor
Charles Pettifor was a vital long-term employee and contractor for the Wilts and Berks Canal, serving primarily as the lock keeper at Lacock Lock while also managing extensive structural repairs across the line.
Lock-Keeping Duties
Pettifer was responsible for the Lacock Lock for many years. His salary for lock-keeping was typically recorded as follows:
- Annual Salary: He received approximately £49 to £52 per year for his lock-keeping duties.
- Weekly Wages: Records show regular payments of roughly £1 per week for lock-keeping, often paid in chunks of 12 to 21 weeks.
Major Construction and Repair Projects
Beyond his daily duties as a lock keeper, Pettifer was a primary contractor for large-scale structural maintenance, particularly on the western end of the canal and the Calne Branch:
- Lock Rebuilding: In October 1814, he was paid over £137 for the massive task of taking down and rebuilding Semington Lock, Tockenham Lock, and Stanley Lock, as well as repairing associated bridges and towing paths.
- The Calne Branch Aqueduct: Pettifer was heavily involved in rebuilding the aqueduct on the Calne Branch after it was "blown up by the flood" in the winter of 1814–1815. His work there included cleaning bricks, managing 16 to 38 weeks of labor, and procurement of timber.
- Stream Management: In 1816, he was paid for putting pipes under the canal in Pewsham Forest to convey small streams to the river.
- Gravel and Stone Work: He frequently managed the digging, carting, and boating of gravel and stone to repair towing paths between Semington and Foxham.
Other Maintenance and Logistics
- General Repairs: He was a frequent recipient of payments for "sundry repairs" of locks, bridges, and towing paths, with single bills sometimes exceeding £100 to £150.
- Painting and Glazing: He was credited for painting and glazing the lock houses at Seven Locks, Dauntsey, and Woodcommon.
- Canal Cleaning: He was paid for cleaning out the canal near Stanley and the Calne Branch.
Financial and Asset Transactions
Pettifer also engaged in commercial transactions with the canal company:
- Boat Purchase: In December 1814, he purchased a boat from the company for £63. In 1817, the company paid him for the use of this boat over a two-year period (after deducting the purchase price).
- Materials: He sold stone and bushes (likely for bank stabilization) to the company at various times.
- Timber: He was recorded as having "Oak plank" at Stanley for use in canal repairs.