 Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
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1929 | Formed in the years 1929 and 1932 by the amalgamation of many old canals. | |
1932 | Formed in the years 1929 and 1932 by the amalgamation of many old canals. | |
1995 | At the Heart of the Waterways...Braunston...a Canal History by David Blagrove, Published by Bridgewater Canal Company - A history of the waterways and the local communities part in their story. | |
1996 | The Grand Union Canal Walk by Clive Holmes, Published by Cicerone Press - A guide to the canal walk between London and Birmingham. | |
Description: Runs 6 miles from Marsworth Junction to Aylesbury.
History: Built under the Grand Junction Canal Act of 1794 but completed in 1815.
1794 | Authorised by the Grand Junction Canal Act. | |
1809 | GU Aylesbury Branch construction was started at the end of 1809. | |
1815 | Completed. | |
1815 | Marsworth Top Locks (No 1 & 2) built as a staircase. | |
1961 | IWA National Rally at Aylesbury. | |
Description: Runs 11.75 miles from the Junction with the Cromford Canal at Langley Mill to the junction with the River Trent at Trent Lock.
July 1787 | With John Hodgkinson and others he met with the Erewash Canal company to propose an extention of the canal to Pixton but could get no agreement. This being the start of the events that led to the building of the Cromford Canal. |
Description: A short canal (also called Duckett's Cut) which links the Regent's Canal with the River Lee.
History: In 1824 Sir George Duckett obtained an Act of Parliament to build this canal, which was opened in 1830. The engineer was Francis Giles. Sold to the Regent's Canal Co. in 1857.
1824 | Sir George Duckett obtained an Act of Parliament to buld this canal. The engineer was Francis Giles. | |
1824 | Was appointed engineer. | |
1830 | Opened in early 1830. | |
1857 | Sold to the Regent's Canal Co. | |
Description: Runs 66 miles from the Grand Union Main Line at Norton Junction to the River Trent, near Trent Lock.
History: Acts of 1776 (River Soar Navigation) and 1791 (Leicester Canal) and opened in 1794. The old Grand Union Canal, linking the Grand Junction to the Leicester line, was Authorised by an Act was passed in May 1810 and it was opened in 1814.
1776 | Act of 1776 (River Soar Navigation) passed. | |
1791 | Act of 1791 (Leicester Canal) passed. | |
1794 | Leicester Canal opened. | |
1796 | Called in to assess the line of Saddington Tunnel. He judged it was not straight but did not consider the problem serious. | |
1799 | Took charge of repairs on a burst reservoir on the Leicester Navigation. Surveyed a line to link the navigation to Braunston. | |
1802 | Surveyed a line from the Leicester Navigation to Norton with 16 locks and two tunnels. | |
Late 1808 | Surveyed a connection between the navigation and the Grand Junction Canal. | |
1810 | The old Grand Union Canal, linking the Grand Junction to the Leicester line, was Authorised by an Act was passed in May 1810. | |
1812 | Foxton Locks built as two staircase flights of five locks. | |
1814 | The old Grand Union Canal, linking the Grand Junction to the Leicester line, was opened. | |
1814 | Watford Locks Nos 3 to 6 built as a staircase flight. | |
1967 | IWA National Rally at Leicester. | |
1972 | The Leicester Line by Phillip A Stevens, Published by David & Charles - A History of the Old Union and Grand Union Canals. | |
1976 | Leicestershire Canals by J Anderson , Published by A B Printers. | |
1978 | Foxton, Locks and Barge Lift by P Gardner & F Foden, Published by Leicestershire County Council. | |
1994 | An Exploration of the Leicester Navigation by Brian C J Williams, Published by Leicester Navigation 200 Group - published to commemorate 200 years of the navigation. | |
Description: Runs 5.5 miles from Market Harborough to the junction with the Grand Union Leicester Section at Foxton Junction.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1793 as part of the Leicestershire & Northamptonshire Union Canal, intended to terminate at Northampton but only completed to Market Harborough in 1809.
1793 | Authorised by an Act. | |
1809 | Completed to Market Harborough. | |
1950 | IWA National Rally at Market Harborough. | |
Description: Runs from Salford Junction to the River Thames at Brentford.
History: Formed from the Grand Junction Canal (Acts of 1793, 1794, 1795, 1798, 1801, 1803, 1805, 1812, 1818 and 1819); Warwick & Napton Canal (1794, 1796 & 1809); Warwick & Birmingham Canal (1793 & 1796); Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal .
1811 | Wolverton Aqueduct (Over the Great Ouse) opened. | |
1930 | The Grand Union Canal Company embarked on a major modernisation scheme. | |
1933 | In about 1933-37 Bascote top two locks rebuilt as a wide staircase, replacing the single narrow locks. | |
1979 | Stoke Bruerne by K B Sherwood, Published by Nene College, Northampton - Impact of canal on village. | |
1985 | IWA National Festival at Milton Keynes. | |
1985 | Lock, Stock & Barrel, written by Shirley Ginger, - The author's experiences of keeping a shop beside the top lock at Buckby in the early 1980s. | |
1986 | IWA National Festival at Brentford. | |
2001 | IWA National Waterways Festival held at Milton Keynes | |
Description: Runs 4.75 miles from Northampton to the Grand Union Main Line at Gayton Junction.
History: Built under the Grand Junction Canal Act of 1793 but completed in 1815.
1793 | Authorised under the Grand Junction Canal Act. | |
1793 | The Northampton Branch was authorised as part of the original Grand Junction Act of Parliament. | |
1796 | Surveyed a line for the branch on behalf of the Grand Junction Canal Company and estimated the cost at £25,349. | |
August 1813 | As engineer responsible he reports progress on the building of the branch. The foundations for the bottom lock were nearly completesome canal was cut and puddled and bricks were being produced for the locks. Oak had been procured and was being sawed, and two lime kilns built. | |
June 1814 | Reports that there is one mile and three furlongs of canal cutting to be done and ten more locks to be built before the target opening day at the end of October. | |
November 1814 | Reports that there are still seven locks and over half a mile of cutting to be done. The revised openning date was put back to March 1815. | |
1815 | The Northampton Branch was opened in May 1815. | |
Description: Runs from the GU main line at Bulls Bridge Junction to Paddington. At Little Venice, where it joins the Regent's Canal.
History: Built under the Grand Junction Canal Act of 1795 but completed in 1801.
1795 | Authorised under the Grand Junction Canal Act. | |
1801 | The Paddington Branch is opened. | |
1963 | IWA National Rally at Little Venice. | |
Description: Runs from the GU Paddington Branch at Little Venice to Limehouse basin (formerly Regent's Canal Dock) where it connects with the Thames and the River Lee.
History: Regent Canal Company formed in 1812 and the canal opened in 1820.
Points of Special Interest: Includes a length through London Zoo.
1773 | He was aked by the City of London to survey a line for a canal from Moorfields to Waltham Abbey and from Moorfields to Marylebone. The line he proposed followed in part the same line as the Regent's Canal was to take, particularly in the curve to Islington but was to pass under the Pentonville Road and over the New River near Sadler's Wells. | |
1812 | Regent Canal Company formed. | |
1812 | Appearing for E B Portman in oposition to the Regent's Canal Bill he estimated the cost for the canal as £506,697. | |
10 August 1812 | He was appointed engineer with a salary of £1,000 a year. | |
April 1814 | A report on his "invention for saving lockage water" which he had patented the previous year. This he described as "the hydro-pneumatic lock". | |
7 June 1815 | He reported that there were some leaks in his hydro-pneumatic locks but every other part had been proved. This did not convince everyone and his locks were replaced by single conventional locks the next year. | |
1817 | He surveyed the canal on behalf of the Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners who agreed to lend £200,000 for the completion of the canal if £100,000 was raised by shares and that the company supplied any additional money needed to complete the work. | |
1820 | Opened. | |
1835 | He left the company. | |
1845 | While serving as company engineer he suggested building a railway along the canal to link the London northern railway termini with the docks. Sufficient subscriptions for this scheme were not raised. | |
July 1846 | He was asked by the company to report on a scheme for converting their canal to a railway. He estimated it would cost £685,000 to build a line from Paddington station to the Regent's Canal Dock, using the line of the canal where ever possible, with a branch to the West India Dock. | |
1859 | He and William Radford prepared a plan for a railway to run beside the canal from Kings Cross to the Regent's Canal Dock but the proposal did not get past the draft bill stage. | |
1859 | He and John Fowler prepared a plan for a railway to run beside the canal from Kings Cross to the Regent's Canal Dock but the proposal did not get past the draft bill stage. | |
1955 | Canal Cats by Cicely Fraser-Simpson , Published by Blackie & Son Ltd . A small book, set on the Regents Canal, that will apeal to children and cat lovers | |
1961 | London's Canal by Herbert Spencer , Edition: 1st edition 103 pages, Published by Putnam & Co. Ltd . An Illustrated History of the Regent's Canal. | |
1977 | Discovering London's Canals by Derek Pratt , Published by Shire Publications Ltd. | |
Description: Runs from the GU main line at Cowley Peachy Junction to Slough.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1879 and opened in 1882
1879 | Authorised by an Act. | |
1882 | Opened in 1882 the Slough Branch the last GU branch to be opened. | |
Description: At present only navigable from Bulbourne Junction to the lock at Tring Pumping Station. There is no turning point at the end and only a 50 foot turning point at new Mills.
History: Built under the Grand Junction Canal Act of 1794 but completed in 1799.
1794 | Authorised by the Grand Junction Canal Act. | |
1799 | Wendover Branch was fully open. | |
Description: Runs for 10.75 miles north-east of Tiverton. Open to unpowered and electric powered boats.
History: Promoted under Acts of 1796, 1811 and 1812. Opened in 1814, Taunton extension opened in 1838. Abandoned from Lowdwells to Taunton in 1864 and from Lowdwells to Tiverton in 1962.
1792 | He did a second survey of the line for the canal, Robert Whitworth having done the first. | |
1792 | He surveyed the line a proposed a route from Topsham on the Exe estuary up the Clyst valley (with a short branch to the Exeter Road near Sowton) past Clyst Hydon up the Culm valley by Cullompton (served by another short branch) then south of Sampford Peverall where there was a brach to Tiverton. The canal continued past Runnington notth of Wellington to Bradford and the River at Taunton about half a mile above the Tone Bridge. Water was to be supplied by a feeder from Culmstock and two reserviors beyond and two more reserviors north of Burlescombe. The estimated cost was £166,724 including £22,229 for the Cullompton and Tiverton branches. | |
1793 | He seems to have worked for William Jessop when he was advising on the line of the canal. | |
1793 | He revised the line surveyed by John Longbotham and his work was in turn used by Hugh Henshall working on behalf of William Jessop in his task of deciding between the routes. | |
28 November 1793 | He gave his report on the lines proposed by Robert Whitworth and John Longbotham, favouring the shorter line of Longbotham but not his Tiverton and Cullompton branches. He also recommended a navigation that would take 50 ton barges. | |
1794 | He, with two assistants, reviewed the line and suggested many changes to William Jessop and John Longbotham's route. | |
1796 | Promoted under Act. | |
April 1810 | As company engineer he starts the construction of the canal near Holcombe Rogus. | |
1811 | Promoted under Act. | |
1812 | Promoted under Act. | |
1812 | After it was decided only to complete the canal between Holcomb and Tiverton he encountered many unforseen difficulties and expenses. | |
1814 | Opened. | |
August 1827 | He made the first suggestion that the canal should form part of a small ship canal to link Bridgwater to Exeter using new and existing canals at a cost of £500,000 for a navigation taking vessels up to 80-ton or £700,000 for up to 100-ton craft. | |
1 May 1829 | He presented to the shareholders his idea for extending the canal to Taunton as a tub-boat canal with inclined planes. He was then asked to make a survey on the basis of the line set out in the 1796 Act. | |
Early August 1829 | Together with James Green he completed a survey for the extension of the canal to the Bridgewater & Taunton Canal. | |
March 1830 | He reported that the canal would cost £61,324 with seven lifts and one inclined plane. | |
Mid 1834 | He reported that to prevent alterations of the levels of the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal affecting the working of the boat lifts (which depended on constant levels) locks would be needed at Lowdwells and Taunton. | |
June 1835 | The committee criticise him in their annual report because of problems with the boat lifts, saying he had "with too much confidence on theoretical principles, never subjected it to a full and fair trial". Five lifts were working on the open part of the canal to Wellington. | |
Early 1836 | He was asked to report on the lifts and Wellisford inclined plane on the as yet un-openned canal. The lifts were satisfactory but the plane was not. He thought that the water filled buckets used to counter balance the cradle and boat should be 25 tons rather than 10. | |
27 January 1836 | He is replaced as engineer after problems with one of the lifts and a complete failure of the Wellisford inclined plane. | |
1838 | Taunton extension opened. | |
28 June 1838 | The canal was reopenned using his steam engine powered inclined plane at Wellisford. | |
1864 | Abandoned from Lowdwells to Taunton. | |
1962 | Abandoned from Lowdwells to Tiverton. | |
1973 | The Grand Western Canal by Helen Harris, Published by David & Charles - Inland Waterways History series. | |
Description: A short canal from Tireinon and Llwynhendy to Dafen pill.
History: Probably opened prior to 1770.
1770 | Probably opened prior to 1770. | |
Description: Were navigable levels in a mine at Gwauncaegurwen at the head of the Upper Clydach River.
History: Existed in 1757 carrying coal and men.
1757 | Existed in 1757 carrying coal and men. | |
Description: A canal through the lands of Heol Fach and Pwll Cefn for carrying coal, culm, timber, stone and other goods.
1786 | Deed granting him lands including "navigable cut or canal through the common called DoleVawr y Bynie, in the hamlet of Berwick ... for the carrying of coals from part of the said lands to be shipped at the river Burry. He now proposed to open a new colliery near Dafen Bridge and intended to make a new improved shipping place at Yspitty, he was authorised by this deed to enlarge his existing canal and extend westwards. | |
1797 | Inherited this canal in joint ownership with his brother Henry. | |
1801 | Sold his interests in this canal, together with his brother Henry, to Major-General Warde. |
Description: Was a 43 mile, 22 lock, narrow canal from the Severn at Gloucester to Hereford with tunnels at Oxenhall (2,192 yards) and Walsopthorne (440 yards).
History: Authorised by an Act of 1791, some of the canal opened in 1794 and was open from Over to Newent in 1795 (16 miles and 13 locks). The final 18 miles to Hereford was not opened until 1845. Closed in 1881.
20 December 1777 | He proposed a canal from Ledbury to Gloucester. | |
1789 | He made a survey and proposed a line for the canal from the Severn at The Haw above Gloucester through Tirley, Corse, Staunton, Redmarley d'Abitot, Dymock, Ashperton, Yarkshill, Lugwardine and Tupsley to Hereford. | |
Spring 1790 | He was appointed engineer. | |
April 1790 | Reported on the proposed canal from Hereford to Ledbury and on to Gloucester with a branch to Newent. He proposed a narrow canal taking boats of 70 feet by 8 feet and drawing 3 feet 6 inches, carrying 35 tons. The estimated cost was just under £70,000. | |
1791 | Authorised by an Act. | |
1791 | He was asked to estimate for a canal on a reduced scale but was too busy to come. | |
14 July 1791 | He was asked to estimate for a canal "on a reduced scale" by the first shareholder's meeting. | |
September 1792 | He re-surveyed the line of the canal and suggested that the draught of boats should be increased by a foot to 4 feet 6 inches. | |
June 1793 | Due to concerns that the proposed aqueduct across the River Severn would cause flooding he proposed a level crossing of the river and a cut across Alney Island to Gloucester. | |
16 December 1793 | It was reported that his cutting machine had removed 1,007 cubic yards of earth in 7 days, using eleven men and four horses. | |
1794 | Some of the canal opened. | |
1795 | Was open from Over to Newent (16 miles and 13 locks). | |
Early 1795 | He was appionted engineer. | |
June 1797 | He recommended a dam across the river at Over to prevent silt getting into the canal. | |
1812 | He was probably the Walker called in to advise on increasing water supply to the summit around this time. | |
1838 | He made a survey and supported the original Parliamentary line and tunnels rather than the proposed alterations. | |
1845 | The final 18 miles to Hereford was opened. | |
1881 | Closed. | |
1979 | The Hereford & Gloucester Canal by D E Bick, Published by Pound House. | |
Description: A proposed 13 mile canal from the Kennet & Avon Canal at Newbury to Basingstoke Canal at Old Basing.
History: This connection may well have been part of the original plan for the Basingstoke Canal in 1778 and was suggested in 1793, 1802 and 1810 before it was finally surveyed in 1824. Failed Bills were introduced in 1824 and 1826. The project was dropped in 1829.
1824 | He did a survey and proposed a 13 mile canal with a half-mile tunnel, one inclined plane and a number of locks. |
Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
