 Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
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1792 | The Thames & Severn Canal company ask him consider how a canal could be built from the Thames above Oxford to the proposed canal. | |
1792 | He surveyed a route, with Samuel Weston, for a canal from Hampton Gay, six miles north of Oxford, to Thame, Wendover, Amersham, Uxbridge and Maylebone (later changed to the Thames at Isleworth). The 60-mile canal was also to have a branch to Aylesbury. | |
1792 | He surveyed a route, with Samuel Simcock, for a canal from Hampton Gay, six miles north of Oxford, to Thame, Wendover, Amersham, Uxbridge and Maylebone (later changed to the Thames at Isleworth). The 60-mile canal was also to have a branch to Aylesbury. |
Description: A one mile length of canal from Lydney Harbour (tidal basin), through a lock then on to Lydney Station.
History: Promoted under an Act of 1810 and opened in 1813. Originally connected to Pidcock's Canal, which ran a further 1.5 miles.
February 1807 | He produces a report for the Department of Woods & Forests into the development of transport in the area. He suggests a wet-dock or basin at Nass Point beyond Lydney, perhaps with a canal up to Lydney and a basin there. | |
1810 | Promoted under an Act. Originally connected to Pidcock's Canal. | |
August 1810 | He was appointed consulting engineer, on William Whitworth's recommendation, and drew up plans for the canal and basin. | |
August 1810 | He was dismissed from his post as clerk and engineer. He had originally been employed by the Severn & Wye company to build a tramroad but this idea was changed to a canal scheme. | |
August 1810 | He recommended Josias Jessop as consulting engineer for the canal. | |
1811 | His role of consultant ended when Thomas Sheasby junior was taken on as resident engineer. | |
1811 | His was taken on as resident engineer. | |
1813 | Opened. | |
1861 | He recommended the enlargement of the harbour entrance and the deepening of the inner basin. | |
Description: Also called the Brecon and Abergavenny Canal, it runs 42 miles from Brecon to Newport, Gwent. The first 33 miles are navigable.
History: The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was promoted by Acts of 1793 and 1804 and opened in 1812. The Monmouthshire Canal by Acts of 1792, 1797 and 1862. The canals amalgamated in 1865. In 1933 commercial traffic ceased and the lift bridge at Talybont was replaced by a very low fixed bridge in about 1948. The Inland Waterways Association held a rally at Brecon in 1952 and in 1968 restoration work started with work on Brynich Lock, near Brecon. Official reopening of the canal from Pontypool to Brecon on 16 October 1970.
1793 | The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was promoted by Act. | |
1804 | The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was promoted by Act. | |
1812 | The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was opened. | |
1865 | The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal and the Monmouthshire Canal amalgamated. | |
1933 | Commercial traffic ceased. | |
1948 | The lift bridge at Talybont was replaced by a very low fixed bridge in about 1948. | |
1952 | The Inland Waterways Association held a rally at Brecon. | |
1968 | Restoration work started with work on Brynich Lock, near Brecon. | |
1970 | Official reopening of the canal from Pontypool to Brecon on 16 October. | |
1972 | Cruising along the Mon. & Brecon by J Eyles, Published by Starling Press. | |
1974 | Breknock & Abergavenny and Monmouthshire Canals by R Alan Stevens, Published by Goose & Son - Towpath Guide No 2. | |
1974 | Canals of Welsh Valleys & Their Tramroads by David D Gladwin & J M White, Published by Oakwood Press. | |
Description: Was a 20.25 mile, 8 locks, river navigation from Bank Quay, Warrington, to Quay Street, Manchester.
History: Authorised by an Act of June 1721, work started in 1724, opened in 1736. By 1894 most of the navigation had been replaced by the Manchester Ship Canal.
1712 | He proposed to make the rivers navigable by builing 8 locks and a cut at Butchersfield. | |
1721 | Authorised by an Act of June 1721. | |
1721 | He was one of the promoters of the Act to build the navigation that was passed this year. | |
1724 | Work started. | |
1736 | Opened. | |
1787 | With two other engineers he investigated the flooding and noted that the navigable depth at Hollins Ferry was 2 feet to 2 feet 9 inches, whereas it had been 1 foot 8 inches sixteen years previously. | |
1793 | He and Charles McNiven survyed the navigation and reported that if the locks and cuts were kept in good order and the millers prevented from lowering the water level the navigation could be even more successfull and more reliable. | |
1793 | He and Hugh Henshall survyed the navigation and reported that if the locks and cuts were kept in good order and the millers prevented from lowering the water level the navigation could be even more successfull and more reliable. | |
June 1797 | His plan and estimate for a canal from above Warrington to Hempstones, just above Runcorn, was approved. | |
November 1800 | He submitted a parliamentary notice for bridge near Runcorn which raised concerns about obstruction to the navigation but which went no further. | |
1804 | Around this time he was probably the engineer who built a 7.75 mile cut from the navigation at Latchford to the entrance lock into the Mersey at Runcorn. | |
1805 | Was appointed as the first full manager-engineer of the company at £500 a year with house, horse-keep and expenses when away from home. | |
August 1806 | He was ordered to have steamboats built for the company's Manchester to Runcorn passenger services. | |
Early 1811 | Met with the Bridgewater Canal company to agree on action following protests from traders about the two companies agreed higher rates. Some rates were later lowered. | |
1813 | The navigation trustees asked him to advise them on the obstruction and injury to navigation a proposed bridge across the Mersey might cause. | |
1814 | He was appointed engineer. | |
1815 | He was sent to Scotland to investigate the possibilities of steam boats. He reported that "as Steam Boats and Engines are now constructed and navigated, it is not ... practicable". He concluded that their navigation was too shallow and circuitous for deep draughted steam boats. | |
1818 | He resigned as engineer. | |
1818 | He was appointed engineer. | |
May 1825 | He was asked to survey the navigation and suggest improvements. He reported in early August. | |
29 June 1840 | He produces a Report on the Improvement of the Rivers Mersey and Irwell ... for the Navigation of Sea-going Vessels. He proposes an enlarged line to end at Regent Bridge, Manchester, many new cuts with a new canal from below Woolston Lock past Bank Quay, across Cuerdley Marsh to join the river at Runcorn. The whole route was to have six locks big enough to take four flats and a 400-ton steamer. | |
1894 | By 1894 most of the navigation had been replaced by the Manchester Ship Canal. | |
1907 | The River Irwell by J Corbett, Published by E J Morten 1974 Believed to be a reprint of a 1907 book. | |
1973 | The Dark River by Cyril Bracegirdle, Published by Sherratt & Hughes - About the river Irwell in and around Manchester, and the tales and characters associated with it over the years. | |
1979 | A Pictorial History of the Mersey and Irwell Navigations by J Corbridge, Published by E J Morten. | |
Description: Was a 5 furlong canal, with 4 locks and a 499 yard tunnel, linking the Rochdale Canal to the River Irwell.
History: Opened in 1839 abandoned in 1922.
1805 | Was asked by the Mersey & Irwell company to estimate the cost of this link. | |
1836 | He was appointed engineer. | |
1839 | Opened. | |
1922 | Abandoned. | |
Description: Runs from Marple Junction with the Peak Forrest Canal to Hall Green, on the Trent and Mersey Canal.
History: Promoted by an Act of 1826. Opened in 1831.
Points of Special Interest: It runs on a high contour, the summit at 521 feet, and has fine views.
11 March 1796 | He reported to a meeting at Macclesfield the results of his survey. It was agreed that a canal from the Peak Forest by way of Rudyard to the Caldon line at Endon would be advantageous, with a branch canal or railway from Poynton and Norbury to Stockport. He estimates were £90,000 for the project bringing a revenue of £10,175 a year. | |
April 1825 | Having produced two reports and an estimate he "most unequivocally" declared in favour of the canal. | |
1826 | Promoted under Acts of Parliament | |
1826 | He subscribed £1,000 to the canal company. | |
Summer 1826 | Appointed resident engineer. | |
1831 | Fully open. | |
1953 | IWA National Rally at Macclesfield. | |
Description: This broad canal ran from the River Irwell in Manchester 11 miles, 17 locks, to Bolton with a 4.75 mile level branch to Bury.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1791, completed in 1796, abandoned in 1961.
1791 | Authorised by an Act. | |
1791 | He did the parliamentary survey for the Act passed this year. | |
1791 | He was appointed engineer at the first company meeting. | |
October 1791 | He reported on the survey he had done in preparation for a Bill and said that the canal could be supplied by floodwater reserviors and rivulet water without interfering with mills. He estimated a cost of £42,400 for an 11 mile canal with 16 locks. | |
September 1793 | He was found 'not to have acted in the Execution of his Duty with proper discretion and Oeconomy' and was dismissed as engineer. | |
1796 | Completed. | |
Early 1796 | Following an inspection of the works he reported that £26,924 would be needed to complete the canal with wide locks and bridge-holes. | |
September 1830 | He reported on the proposal to convert the canal to a railway line. He said it was possible and gave a rough estimate of costs. | |
1835 | Was appointed engineer. | |
1881 | He reported on the canal's condition to the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. | |
1881 | He engineered major construction works following major subsidence problems. This work was to continue until 1888. | |
1961 | Abandoned. | |
1969 | The Manchester, Bolton and Bury Navigation by H M Tomlinson , Published by Lancashire and Cheshire Antiquarian Society. | |
1989 | A Towpath Guide to the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal by Steven Parker & Richard Chester-Browne, Published by Manchester, Bolton & Bury Canal Society - Guide with maps. | |
Description: Was a 300 yard tidal cut from a pill on the River Neath about a mile below Neath town.
History: Built in about 1696 to serve Sir Humphrey Mackworth's lead and copper works, disused about 1720.
1696 | Built in about 1696 to serve Sir Humphry Mackworth's lead and copper works. | |
1720 | Disused about 1720. | |
Description: A proposal for a ship canal from the Dee estuary to Manchester.
History: Surveyed in 1823 and 1824, a Bill was introduced and rejected in 1825. Variations to the plans were made in 1825, 1826, 1828 and 1837 but the canal was never authorised or built.
1824 | He surveyed a line for a ship canal taking 400-ton craft from the Dawpool (between West Kirby and Heswall) past Frodsham, Lymm and Didsbury to Manchester. | |
1825 | Reported on a scheme to build a 51 mile canal to carry vessels up to 250-tons from the River Dee to Manchester. He estimated the cost at 1,569,000 pounds. | |
1828 | He together with Alexander Nimmo and Robert Stevenson reported on a scheme for a 7-mile ship canal from Hilbre islands off West Kirby parallel to the north coast of the Wirral to Wallasey, to avoid the difficult Mersey entrance channels. | |
1828 | He together with Robert Stevenson and Thomas Telford reported on a scheme for a 7-mile ship canal from Hilbre islands off West Kirby parallel to the north coast of the Wirral to Wallasey, to avoid the difficult Mersey entrnce channels. | |
1828 | He together with Alexander Nimmo and Thomas Telford reported on a scheme for a 7-mile ship canal from Hilbre islands off West Kirby parallel to the north coast of the Wirral to Wallasey, to avoid the difficult Mersey entrance channels. | |
1837 | He surveyed a route for a canal 16 feet deep from Liverpool to Warrington that could without difficulty be carried on to Manchester. |
Description: The navigation runs 42 miles from Tonbridge to Sheerness, where it joins the Thames estuary.
History: Navigation was promoted by Acts of 1664, 1740, 1792, 1802 and 1824. Navigation between Maidstone and Tonbridge was promoted by the Act of 1740 and was opened in 1750. Navigation between Halling and Maidstone was promoted by the 1792 Act.
1664 | Navigation was promoted by Act. | |
1740 | Navigation between Maidstone and Tonbridge was promoted by Act. | |
1750 | The Navigation between Maidstone and Tonbridge was opened about this date. | |
1792 | Navigation between Halling and Maidstone was promoted by Act. | |
1802 | Navigation was promoted by Act. | |
1824 | Navigation was promoted by Act. | |
1829 | Around this date he became engineer for the Penhurst Canal Company who were extending the Medway Navigation by six miles to Penhurst. | |
1916 | The Medway. By P Bonthron. First published. | |
1993 | The River Medway by Derek Bowskill, Published by Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson - Guide of the river from Gillingham to Tonbridge with 4 inch to the mile maps. | |
Description: This tidal navigation runs 43 miles from Bank Quay, Warrington, to the Mersey Bar Light Vessel.
History: Act of Parliament of 1805 enabled the collection of tolls.
Points of Special Interest: The river below Garston is only suitable for sea-going vessels.
1805 | Act of Parliament enabled the collection of tolls. | |
1878 | The Mersey Ancient and Modern by B Blower, Published by E Howell - A short description and history of trade on the Mersey, illustrated by lithographs. | |
1920 | Bridgewater Lock, Runcorn (Junction with Manchester Ship Canal) closed. | |
1973 | Mersey & Weaver Flats by Edward W Paget-Tomlinson, Published by Wilson - The Sailing River and Canal Flats of NW England. | |
1993 | Mersey Flats and Flatmen by Michael Stammers, Published by Terrence Dalton Ltd - Informative work illustrated by photogrphs and drawings. | |
Description: This was a proposal to build a canal from near Maidenhead to Isleworth to provide a route to bypass a stretch of the River Thames where navigation was difficult.
History: The first scheme was proposed in 1770 and a similar one followed in 1792-4 neither was authorised or built.
August 1793 | He and Robert Mylne were appointed joint engineers to the project. | |
After August 1793 | He and Robert Whitworth were appointed joint engineers to the project. | |
February 1794 | He and Robert Whitworth attended a meeting of canal supporters that decided that new locks on the Thames would not meet the needs of navigation. | |
February 1794 | He and Robert Mylne attended a meeting of canal supporters that decided that new locks on the Thames would not meet the needs of navigation. |
Description: A network of waterways, primarily used for land drainage, between the Rivers Nene and Great Ouse.
History: Promoted by Acts of 1753, 1793, 1810, 1844, 1848, 1852, 1862 and 1874.
1753 | Promoted by Act. | |
1774 | Lord Orford's Voyage round the Fens. Three contempory accounts of the voyage by Mr Thomas Roberts, Mr Geo. Farrington and Lord Orford. Introdcuced by H J K Jenkins and published by Cambridgeshire Libraries Publications, 1993. | |
1793 | Promoted by Act. | |
1810 | Promoted by Act. | |
1844 | Promoted by Act. | |
1848 | Promoted by Act. | |
1852 | Promoted by Act. | |
1862 | Promoted by Act. | |
1874 | Promoted by Act. | |
1936 | Fenland Rivers by Iris Wedgewood, Published by Rich & Cowan - Impressions of the Fen Country. | |
1953 | The Fens by Alan Bloom, Published by Robert Hale. | |
1953 | Vermuyden and the Fens by L E Harris , Published by Cleaver Hume Press. | |
1954 | A History of the Fens by J Wentworth-Day , Published by George G Harrap & Co. | |
1968 | The Draining of the Fens by H C Darby , Published by Cambridge University Press. | |
1969 | Fenland River by Rodney Tibbs, Published by Terrence Dalton Ltd - The Story of the Great Ouse and its Tributaries. | |
1972 | Fenland Barge Traffic by J K Wilson & Alan H Faulkner, Published by Robert Wilson - Based on a thesis by J K Wilson. | |
1976 | The Fenland by A K Parker & D Pye, Published by David & Charles. | |
1978 | Fenland by Sir H Goodwin, Published by Cambridge University Press. | |
1995 | Branch Line to Upwell - including the Wisbech Canal by Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith, Published by Middleton Press. | |
Description: Vermuyden's Drain is another name for this waterway, which runs 10.5 miles, from Wells Bridge, where it joins the Old River Nene, to Welches Dam Sluice, where it joins the Old Bedford River and Counter Wash Drain.
Points of Special Interest: The length between Horseway Lock and Welches Dam Lock is not normally navigable due to low water levels. Special arrangements must be made to navigate this section.
1649 | He cut this river from Ramsey to the Old Bedford River at Weches Dam. |
Description: A second canal across the Isle of Dogs (after the Isle of Dogs Canal) but became the Millwall Dock.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1864.
1864 | Authorised by an Act. | |
Description: Runs 26 miles from Mere Mouth, where it joins Bevill's Leam and Black Ham Drain, to Outwell, the junction with Well Creek.
1844 | About this time he built Marmont Priory sluice to enable vessels of 4 feet draught to navigate through Upwell and Outwell. | |
1997 | Marmont Priory Lock was lengthened in 1997. | |
Description: Runs 9.6 miles, from Three Holes Bridge, where it joins Popham's Eau, to Sixteen Foot Corner, where it joins the Forty Foot River.
1649 | He started cutting this river fromWell Creek to the Forty Foot river to drain the area around Chatteris. |
Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
