River Stour Trust-News

Restoring and conserving the River Stour Navigation

News

CB 08/07/10

John Constable Lighter: A New Chapter Begins

Wednesday 7th July 2010

Pioneer Sailing Trust's yard, Brightlingsea

The Stour Lighter ‘John Constable’ was successfully transported to the yard of the Pioneer Sailing Trust at Brightlingsea where it has been placed in their workshop. Now that the wood has partially dried and the concrete that was placed in the lower parts of the hold has been chipped out, all aspects of the lighter are being measured and plotted before scale drawing are made.

*Click on the thumbnail images to view on a larger scale*

Tuesday 22nd June 2010

120 years ago a Stour lighter was built at Flatford and plied its trade from Manningtree to Sudbury along the 300 year old navigation that is the River Stour. All those years later, on 22^nd June 2010 that same lighter was lifted gently from the silt near Great Cornard Lock to begin the next stage of its life. Download Full Press Release

The John Constable Lighter was craned out of the water near Great Cornard Lock in order to be transported to Brightlingsea where it will undergo a 2 year restoration carried out by the Pioneer Trust who have been contracted to do the work under the 'Managing a Masterpiece' scheme for the Stour Valley

*Click on the thumbnail images to view on a larger scale*

Volunteers Needed Now!

We are always in need of more volunteers and the need is greater as our activities expand and we move towards our objectives of restoring through navigation along the length of the river. If you can offer some time and would like to join the team then we have some new roles and the need to strengthen some existing ones. Contact us for more information.

FRANCIS J. BATTEN

The untimely death of Francis J Batten on 9th September 2009 is a significant chapter in the River Stour Trust's history. We are saddened to have lost a friend and ardent supporter of the Trust's work. As a Vice President of the Trust, Francis made it his business to know what was going on and to offer advice and support. Francis was a founding member of the RST and served as Chairman of Council at a decisive time in the Trust's history. He represented the Trust when the water authority at that time sought to remove the right of navigation on the Stour. The subsequent successful hearing at the House of Lords ensured that the right of navigation continues to this day - unbroken since 1705.

He was totally committed to the restoration of the river and his unwavering enthusiasm and interest in the current Stratford St Mary Lock restoration works, as demonstrated by his frequent site visits, has been a great source of encouragement to us and will be greatly missed.