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Canal Workers in the 1881 Census

Linslade Lock about 1930
Linslade Lock about 1930 [Z50/72/179]

The following references to canal workers come from the 1881 Census return for Linslade. Clearly some canal workers on the Linslade stretch would live elsewhere but these figures show the impact on Linslade.

Charity Wharf lay on the west bank of the canal in the area recently redeveloped for housing known as The Wharf. Linslade Lock lies just off the northernmost point of Bossington Lane.

Bossington

  • Elsa Redhead, 59, boatman's wife, Leighton Buzzard

Charity Wharf

  • John Cook, 46, coal and lime merchant, Linslade
  • Wharf Cottage - William Taylor, 64, general labourer, Heath & Reach
  • George Ruff, 20, general labourer, Marsworth [Buckinghamshire]
  • George Pepper, 17, general labourer, Leicester
  • James Berrie, 20, general labourer, Leicester
  • William Pepper, 20, general labourer, Leicester
  • John Hody, general labourer, Hillmorton [Warwickshire]

Leighton Road

  • Robert Smith, 50, wharfinger, Uttoxeter [Staffordshire]
  • William John Norris, 21, carman for canal company, Irthlingborough [Northamptonshire]

Lock Keeper's House

  • John Samuel Hollyer, 66, toll clerk, Saint Catherine's, Commercial Road, London

Old Road

  • William Lucas, 22, coal wharf labourer, Wing [Buckinghamshire]
  • George Tompson, 22, coal wharf labourer, Leighton Buzzard

Boats

Smethwick

  • Thomas Bates, 54, captain, Wolverhampton

Sphynx

  • John Baylis, 66, captain, Warwick
  • Daniel Kendle, 18, mate, Warwick

Hero

  • William Bavington, 37, captain, Worsley [Lancashire]
  • Henry Stokes, 17, boatman, Birmingham

Perseverance

  • Edward Wenlock, 40, captain, Worcester

Struggler

  • Thomas Nicholand, 32, captain, Droitwich [Worcestershire]
  • James Walker, boatman, Worcester

Three Brothers

  • John Birch, 60, captain, Stoke [Staffordshire]

Braunton

  • William Boswell, 33, captain, Braunton [Northamptonshire]

Comet

  • John Hough, 35, captain, Droitwich

Kate

  • Philip Preswell, 31, captain, Buckingham

[Unreadable]

  • William Jewell, 24, captain, Bedworth [Warwickshire]
  • Henry College, 22, steerer, Stratford-upon-Avon [Warwickshire]
  • John Smith, 12, driver, Banbury [Oxfordshire]

Total: 28; 15 on boats and 13 on shore
10 captains
6 general labourers
2 boatmen
2 coal wharf labourers
1 boatman's wife
1 carman
1 driver
1 mate
1 merchant
1 steerer
1 toll clerk
1 wharfinger