 Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
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1515 | Promoted by Act. | |
1594 | Made navigable around this date. | |
1695 | Made navigable again around this date, having become unnavigable previously. | |
1791 | He said "in the time of King Edward VI it is said there was an attempt to make a Harbour from Sandwich into the Downs, and that the evident traces of a canal, which still subsist in the level grounds, between Sandwich and Sandown Castle, are the remains of that attempt." | |
1792 | He planned a 4 mile cut from below Fordwich to Barton Mill below Canterbury and estimated the cost at £4,638. He rejected the cheaper solution, to make the river navigable by building two locks above Fordwich, because there were too many shallows in the river. | |
1801 | About this time he was employed to survey a 100-ton ship canal to Canterbury. He proposed a line to St Nicholas Bay west of Margate. He said that the harbour at St Nicolas Bay would piling over the whole area. | |
After 1801 | He approved Robert Whitworth's line and proposed an increase in the size of the canal to take 150-ton vessels, a dock area at the sea entrance and a side lock to the Stour. He estimated the cost at £86,000. | |
1810 | He was consulted on Samuel Jones' plans which he expanded. He estimated the upgraded plan as £155,207 of which £94,178 was for the harbour and wet dock, £54,042 for the barge canal and branch, and £6,987 for the approach road to the basin at Canterbury. | |
Summer 1811 | He found that St Nicolas Bay bottom was quicksand and accepted the suggestion that a smaller harbour tham planned should be built. | |
1818 | He advises against a canal from the river to Nagden Creek near Faversham to improve communication with the Thames & Medway, saying "an improved land carriage to Whitstable, or even to Nagden, would supersede, or so far divide the business, as to render it inadvisable to incur the expense". | |
1823 | Acted for the Commision of Sewers in regard to this river. | |
1824 | He was employed to survey the river with a view to making some improvements in the navigation but produced a more radical plan than had been expected. He suggested that the shallow meandering river between Sandwich and the sea should be replaced by a new cut and a new harbour be built near Sandown Castle at a cost of £45,777. | |
1824 | He said that the Stonar drainage cut near Richborough had caused the harbour at Sandwich to become silted. | |
1824 | Was asked to adjuge between the Commission of Sewers and the navigation company. | |
28 September 1824 | His report supporting James Morgan's plans for the navigation was approved at a shareholder's meeting. Telford's report increased the dimensions of the entrance piers, basin and channel to Sandwich and estimated the cost of the 18 mile navigation as £67,650. This was later raised it to £76,858. | |
1825 | Promoted by Act. | |
Early February 1825 | Following a survey he reported that a canal from the proposed Sandown Castle harbour to Deal would cost £30,535 for a 1.75 mile canal that would take 500-ton vessels. | |
1916 | The Great Stour. By P Bonthron. First published. | |
Description: Runs 35.5 miles from Sudbury to Harwich where it joins the sea
History: Promoted under Acts of 1705 and 1781. Opened about 1709. Abandoned 1937.
Points of Special Interest: Famous as the subject of John Constable's paintings. Constable lived at Flatford Mill and Gainsborough was born at Sudbury.
1705 | Promoted under Act. | |
1709 | Opened about this date. | |
1781 | Promoted under Act. | |
1836 | The river proprietors sought his advice on competition from the railways. | |
27 August 1862 | It was decided that he should build a barge with a steam engine for £400 and that it should be delivered by 25 Decenber. He had previously shown models to the proprietors of the navigation and delivered the steam barge in 1863 but it was not to prove satisfactory. | |
1937 | Abandoned. | |
1957 | The Suffolk Stour , Published by Norman Allard - Illustrated. | |
1992 | The Valley of the Stour From Weston Green to Harwich by N G Rogers, Published by Ian Henry Publications Ltd - An illustrated history and topography of this valley. Two chapters cover the Sour navigation including the work of the River Stour Trust. | |
Description: Runs 13.75 miles, from Bishop's Stortford, to south-west of Roydon, where it joins the River Lee.
History: Acts passed in 1759 (but no work done) and 1766, fully open in 1769.
1759 | Act passed but no work done. | |
1766 | Act passed. | |
1766 | He became engineer for the navigation. | |
1769 | Fully open. | |
Autumn 1769 | He had completed the 15 locks and other works to make the river navigable from Bishop's Stortford to the Lee. | |
Mid 1788 | He made a survey for a branch to Saffron Waldon. | |
Description: Was a river navigation with 12 locks and 4 half locks between Stourbridge and Kidderminster.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1662 the improvements were completed in 1667.
1662 | Improvements were authorised by an Act. | |
1665 | He started work on making the river navigable for 16 ton craft between Stourbridge and Kidderminster, building 12 locks and 4 "turnpikes" (thought to be half-locks) a task he completed in 1667. He wrote that he "fell on, and made it compleatly Navigable from Sturbridge to Kederminster; and carried down many hundres Tuns of Coals, . . . and there it was obstructed for want of money, which by Contract was to be paid". He also constructed a tramroad from near Stourbridge to a colliery, for a £1,255 fee. | |
1667 | Improvements were completed. | |
1667 | He attempted to complete the works but lack of money meant little more was done. | |
Description: Was a 2.25 mile level canal to carry coal from pits at Stevenston, Ayrshire, to Saltcoats harbour for shipment to Ireland.
History: Completed 1772, branches added around 1778, closed about 1830.
1772 | Completed. | |
1778 | Branches added around 1778. | |
1830 | Closed about 1830. | |
Description: A 1 mile 7 furlongs long canal from the River Teign at Jetty Marsh, Newton Abbey. It had a staircase pair of locks near the entrance and three others above.
History: Started in January 1790 as a private venture of James Templer of Stover House, Teigngrace. An Act was passed in 1792 to enable him to continue the canal but its powers were never used. The top five furlongs of the canal were in disuse around 1867 and the whole by about 1939.
January 1790 | Was engineer for the canal. | |
1827 | He was asked how the approach to Newton could be improved and he proposed a mile long canal from a basin in the town centre, across the shallows, to a tide-lock at the entrance. |
Description: This canal includes the main Line, the Llangollen (or Welsh) Canal, the Middlewich Branch and the Montgomery Canal.
History: See separate canals for the various historys.
July 1845 | He hosted a meeting at which the idea of the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company was agreed. He, together with William Cubitt and William A Provis, were later nominated as engineers of the new company. | |
1846 | Appointed as one of three engineers of the newly amalgumated canals. | |
1869 | He was appointed canal engineer. |
Description: Runs 25.5 miles from King's Norton Junction, where it joins the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, to Stratford-upon-Avon, where it joins the Avon
History: Promoted by Acts of 1793, 1795, 1799, 1809, 1815, 1817 and 1821. Opened 1816. The Stratford upon Avon Canal Society formed in November 1956. In 1958 the Warwickshire County Council decide to apply for the abandonment of the southern section of the canal and the following year over six-thousand formal objections were lodged concerning Warwickshire County Councils plans to close the canal. The southern section of the canal transfered to the National Trust on 29 September 1960. The official reopening of the southern section was on 11 July 1964.
1793 | Promoted by an Act. | |
November 1793 | He began work building the canal. | |
1795 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1799 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1799 | He was engineer when cutting restarted, having previously been Josiah Clowes assistant. | |
1809 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1815 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1816 | Opened. | |
24 June 1816 | The canal, for which he was engineer for the extension from Kingswood to Stratford, was opened. This length included three aqueducts the longest of which is Bearley. | |
1817 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1821 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1956 | Stratford upon Avon Canal Society formed in November. | |
1958 | Warwickshire County Council decide to apply for the abandonment of the southern section of the canal. | |
1959 | Over six-thousand formal objections were lodged concerning Warwickshire County Councils plans to close the canal. | |
1960 | Southern section of the canal transfered to the National Trust on 29 September. | |
1962 | Waterways to Stratford by Charles Hadfield & John Norris, Published by David & Charles - The History of the Avon, canal and tramway routes to Stratford. | |
1964 | Official reopening of the southern section on 11 July. | |
1983 | Save the Stratford Canal by Guy Johnson, Published by David & Charles - A history of the restoration. | |
Description: This branch runs one furlong from the Shropshire Union Main Line to the River Dee
History: Authorised by the Chester Canal Act of 1 April 1772.
Points of Special Interest: Notice is required to navigate on to the Dee, which is only possible at high tide.
1772 | Authorised by the Chester Canal Act of 1 April 1772. | |
Description: Runs 46 miles from Llantysilio Bridge, near Llangollen, to Hurleston Junction, where it joins the Shropshire Union main line
History: Promoted by Acts of 1793 and 1796.
1793 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1795 | Staircase locks built at Grindley Brook. | |
1796 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1871 | He was appointed to the Board of the tramway company building a line down the Ceiriog valley to join the canal at near Chirk. | |
1873 | He suggested the canal from Llangollen and the Weston Branch could be converted into a narrow-gauge railway and extended to Wem. | |
1921 | Canals, Cruises, and Contentment by A Neal, Published by Heath Cranton - Illustrated book describing two round trips, one to Llangollen and one to Oxford, from the authors home next to the Derby Canal. | |
1935 | Vagabonding Through the Midlands by W Byford-Jones, Published by Heath Cranton - Includes a pleasure trip by narrowboat from Wolverhampton to Llangollen. | |
Description: Runs 10 miles from Barbridge Junction, where it joins the Shropshire Union Main Line, to Wardle Lock, Middlewich, where it joins the Trent & Mersey Canal
History: Promoted By Act of 1827. The last 20 yards of the canal, including Wardle Lock, was once part of the Trent & Mersey, known as the Wardle Lock Branch, or Wardle Canal.
1827 | Promoted by an Act. | |
May 1888 | An experiment, started at his suggestion, for hauling boats using Crewe locomotives running on 18 -inch gauge track over about a mile of the branch. First two then four boats were pulled at 7 mph. Later eight boats were pulled by one engine. | |
July 1888 | As resident engineer he reported on the cost of providing rails for an experiment with hauling boats using a small 18 inch gauge steam locomotive over about a mile on the branch. | |
Description: Runs 66.5 miles from Autherley Junction, where it joins the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, to Ellesmere Port where it joins the Manchester Ship Canal.
History: Promoted by Acts of 1772, 1793 and 1826. The original canal companies were formed into The Shropshire Union in 1846.
1775 | Northgate Staircase Locks constructed between 1775 and 1797. | |
1779 | Northgate Staircase Locks constructed between 1775 and 1797. | |
1797 | Northgate Staircase Locks constructed between 1775 and 1797. | |
1846 | The original canal companies were formed into The Shropshire Union. | |
Early 1890 | He made an estimate of £895,475 to rebuild the 66.5 miles of canal from Ellesmere Port to Autherley to take larger craft. | |
1959 | IWA National Rally at Chester. | |
1995 | IWA National Festival at Chester. | |
Description: A proposed canal from the Stourbridge Canal to Broomfield near Tipton Factory Junction. The canal was to be 5.75 miles with a mile long tunnel.
History: Proposed in 1836 but never authorised or built.
After April 1836 | Made a survey and proposed the line for a new canal. | |
Early 1837 | He made an estimate for a reduced line from Brockmoor to just beyond Shut End which he costed at £32,404 including a Sandhills branch. This was to be built as the Stourbridge Extension Canal. |
Description: A proposed canal running from Salford past Eccles, Worsley and Leigh to within half a mile of Wigan.
History: Was surveyed in 1753, a Bill went before parliament in 1754 but was defeated by the opposition of landowners and others.
1753 | He surveyed the line of the proposed canal, which was to take water from the Irwell and return it to the navigable part of the river. |
Description: Schemes for canal links from Scarborough and Whitby to the River Derwent. No navigations to either town were built.
History: Proposals were being made in 1793 and 1794.
1793 | Did a survey for a 25 mile narrow canal from Whitby to Pickering, estimated to cost £66,447. He also looked at the possibility of a branch to Danby. | |
Late 1793 | He proposed a 25 mile narrow canal from Whitby to Pickering at an estimated cost of £66,447. | |
25 November 1793 | A group of promoters met to hear his first survey report for a canal from Scarborough to Malton. | |
22 May 1794 | A meeting was held to consider his report on a revised line from Scarborough to Malton. |
Description: A tributary of the Yorkshire Ouse, which it joins at Swale Nab. This is the point where it is generally considered that the River Ure also joins the Ouse but many asserted that the Ure changes to the Ouse at Ouse Gill Beck, in which case the Swale does not join the Ouse but the Ure. The geography of the situation cannot be disputed but the nomenclature can. The river is now unnavigable.
History: An Act was passed in 1767 and another, giving the commisioners powers to issue shares, in 1770. The Swale navigation was never completed but the commissioners powers covered part of the Ouse around Linton Lock which they controlled for over a hundred years.
1767 | He was appointed engineer. | |
Early 1767 | He gave evidence on the Bill for the navigation estimating the cost as £19,844. | |
1768 | As resident engineer he started work on Topcliffe Lock but had problems getting workmen and with the fluctuating river levels which made delivery of materials difficult. | |
1769 | He estimated that £25,000 was needed to complete the navigation in addition to the £11,400 already spent. | |
January 1769 | He completed Topcliffe Lock and keels were able to reach Topcliffe bridge. Shortly after he resigned his post of engineer. |
Description: A 15 mile 1 furlong, 36 lock, canal from Henneuadd to Swansea, divided into two parts by the Trewyddfa Canal which formed part of the through route.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1794, part open in 1796 and completed in 1798. Abandoned by a series of Acts from 1928 to 1962
1790 | He made a survey for a route up the Tawe valley to Ynysgedwyn for William Padley, a Swansea merchant. | |
April 1793 | He was asked to survey up the Tawe valley as far as Devynock. | |
1794 | Authorised by an Act. | |
1794 | Around this date he was employed as assistant to Charles Roberts. | |
1794 | Around this date he was employed as assistant to Charles Roberts. | |
May 1794 | About this time he became engineer for the canal assisted by Thomas Sheasby senior then junior. | |
January 1795 | About this time he left his post of engineer. | |
1796 | Part open. | |
1798 | Completed. | |
12 August 1803 | He reported to the Swansea corporation on the advantages of extending the canal to Oystermouth to carry limestone from the Mumbles cliffs. He was then asked to do a survey and estimate and to consider the use of a tramroad. | |
1804 | As canal engineer he was instructed to make out 'the allotments and alterations of the Wharfs and communication with the Tramroad required by the Oystermouth Tramroad Act'. | |
1832 | Acted as engineer for the Brecon Forest Tramroad that was a feeder for the canal. | |
After 1832 | Acted as engineer for the Brecon Forest Tramroad that was a feeder for the canal. | |
1928 | Abandoned by a series of Acts from 1928 to 1962. | |
1962 | Abandoned by a series of Acts from 1928 to 1962 | |
Description: Was an 8 mile, 10 lock, broad canal with a further 8 miles 6 furlongs and 4 locks in its branches. The main line ran from Sankey Bridges to the Old Double Lock after which a number of branches served the collieries.
History: Authorised by Acts of 1755, 1762 and 1830, opened in 1757 and the branch from Sankey Bridges to Widnes in 1833. Abandoned in 1963.
1754 | Surveyed the line of the canal with William Taylor. | |
1754 | Surveyed the line of the canal with Henry Berry. | |
1755 | Authorised by Act. | |
1757 | Opened. | |
1757 | The Sankey Brook Navigation, later called the St Helen's Canal, was opened. | |
1757 | The first recorded staircase lock on British Canals, Old Double Lock on the Sankey Brook Navigation. | |
1762 | Authorised by Act. | |
1762 | He surveyed the extension of the canal towards the River Mersey, the Act for which was passed this year. | |
June 1793 | His steamboat was tested on the navigation. | |
16 June 1797 | According to the Billing's Liverpool Advertiser, dated the 26th, his "vessel heavily laden with copper slag, passed along the Sankey Canal ... by the application of steam only ... it appears, that the vessel after a course of ten miles, returned the same eveningto St Helen's whence it had set out". This boat was powered by a Newcomen engine working a paddle crankshaft through a beam and connecting rod. | |
1829 | He was commissioned to to make a survey for a route from St Helens to the Mersey. | |
1830 | Authorised by Act. | |
1830 | Was appointed engineer for the 3.5 mile extension of the navigation to Widnes. | |
1833 | The branch from Sankey Bridges to Widnes opened. | |
1963 | Abandoned. | |
1991 | The Sankey Canal by Colin Greenall & Peter G Keen, Published by Sankey Canal Restoration Society - "Towpath guide to England's first industrial waterway". | |
Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
