driffield navigation guide

By 1922 the tolls were £714 and the profits £88. In 1931 receipts were £414 and the profits down to £11. With less traffic, lower profits, and little prospect o a growth in trade, maintenance standards fell. By 1937 the Locks and Bridges were in a poor state of repair. A report in 1939 records that the canal was weedy throughout its entire length. Water began to leak through the Banks between Whinhill and Snakeholme Lock and a real danger to the surrounding land drainage was evident. Some dredging was carried out during the early l940’s but this did little to improve the condition of the Canal. The last commercial craft to reach Driffield was the Keel ‘CAROLINE’ loaded with 50 tons of wheat on 16th March 1945. The last commercial craft on the Navigation was the vessel 'Ousefleet', delivering coal to Frodingham Wharf during the period to December 1951.

With the demise of commercial, navigation, the interest of the Commissioners waned. A special meeting was called in November 1948 and it was decided to sell the Warehouses at River Head and settle all liabilities. The last meeting of the Management Committee was in July 1952. They heard that the Hull and East Yorkshire River Board had applied to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for the transfer of their powers, As the meeting was without a quorum, no agreement could be reached, and the scheme for transfer was dropped. The Commissioners thus continued as the Navigation Authority.