Lengthsman

The term Lengthsman, coined in the 1800s, originally referred to someone who kept a "length" of road neat and tidy, but lengthsmen were used on canals and railways from the beginnings of both.^[1] On roads, lengthsmen were responsible for a few miles between adjacent villages and sometimes their duties encompassed the village itself. Employed by local parish councils, their job was, inter alia, to keep grass and weeds down in the verge and keep drainage ditches clear. Litter, such as it was in those times, was collected and even wild flowers were tended to.

Lengthsman in the 20th entury

The term was also applied to specific workers on the English canal system from its inception, a "lengthsman" being responsible for a length of canal and tow-path, especially in the absence of a lock-keeper. Many lengthsmen lived in isolated cottages, sometimes close to a lock, in which case their duties could include acting as lock keeper and managing water levels by control of weirs. Lengthsmen might also be responsible for repair and maintenance of banks in their "length", including the cutting of reeds and vegetation and the treading of puddle clay into sections of bank which were weak or suffering from leakage.^[2] A feature of the Thames and Severn Canal was the provision of unusual accommodation for lengthsmen. The buildings were circular and had three floors. Five of them, dating from the 1790s, remain to this day.^[3] See the Listed Building register.^[4]

Lengthsman in the 21st century

Lengthsmen are still employed by some parish councils (or groups of councils to enable financing). (e.g. Wyre Council 2011 ^[5]). Lengthsmen's tasks now are usually in tending areas of a central "common" or, if appropriate, significant parts of the village such as greens, drainage into fields and public areas. The term was picked up by the English organisation, National Parks,^[6] to define certain volunteers on "special projects" in [those] parks including, but not exclusively, hedge-laying and wall-building.

In 2014, the term was resurrected by boating volunteers for use on Inland Waterdays in a digital age.^[7] As of August 2014 the development is "Work In Progress" in and around London waterways under the initiative of Ron Gooding.^[8] As of January 2015, a lengthsman team commenced duties at Dartford and Crayford Creek under the guidance of Ashe Hurst. An active lengthsman team exists on the Slough arm of the Grand Union Canal< and to date the southern reaches of the Grand Union. The Lea and Stort rivers are separately involved as of October 2015 but not yet organised. As of November 2015 Croxley Green on the Herts Berks borders are involved. Croxley Green Parish Council are engaged via their "Towpath Taskforce" initiative. Further GU groups will be netted as the milestones are counted to Braunston.

Through the winter the Grand Union Canal milestones from Brentford to Braunston are being marked, as a special project, by the planting of a single daffodil bulb by a volunteer lengthsman enroute between the canal terminals. A small number of canal boaters who cruise continuously do special projects exclusively. (Maffi Oxford)

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