 Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
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1768 | Built under the Birmingham Canal Act. | |
1769 | Completed. | |
Description: Runs from Horseley Fields Junction, on the BCN Main Line, to the Junction with the Anglesey Branch.
History: Originally the canal carried on from Anglesey Junction, past Lichfield, to join the Coventry Canal at Huddlesford. The canal was opened throughout in 1797.
1792 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1792 | He is appointed engineer. | |
1797 | The canal was opened throughout. | |
Description: Runs from Ryders Green Junction on the Wednesbury Old Canal to Walsall.
History: Started in 1786 as a branch from the Birmingham canal and reached Walsall in 1799.
1784 | He was engineer for the canal. | |
1786 | Started in 1786 as a branch from the Birmingham canal. | |
1799 | Reached Walsall. | |
Description: Runs from Beverley (Yorkshire) to the River Hull, Three-quarters of a mile.
History: Promoted by Acts of 1727 and 1744. Opened in 1731.
1727 | Promoted by Act of Parliament. | |
1731 | Navigation opened. | |
1744 | Promoted by Act of Parliament. | |
Late 1802 | He designed Grovehill lock at the the point where the Beck meets the River Hull. As engineer to the Beverly & Barmstom Drainage he had built a tunnel under the Beck and had advised that a lock be built to maintain sufficient depth. | |
Description: From junction with Bridgewater Canal Main Line to the River Irwell. This has now been replaced by the new Pomona Lock opened on 26 May 1995.
History: Built under the Bridgewater Canal Act of 1762 but completed in 1838.
1762 | Authorised under the Bridgewater Canal Act. | |
1838 | Completed. | |
1995 | Now replaced by the new Pomona Lock opened on 26 May 1995. | |
Description: Various plans for a 15 mile canal to link the Great Ouse with the Grand Junction Canal. See also the Bedford & Milton Keynes Waterway.
History: The route was surveyed by John Rennie in 1812 to provide a canl between Bedford and fenny Stratford. In 1817 a route to the Newport Pagnell Canal was considered and in 1823 one between the Ivel Navigation and the Grand Junction. Another scheme was advanced in 1892.
1812 | He produced an estimate of £180,807 for a 15 mile canal between Bedford at the head of navigation on the Great Ouse and Fenny Stratford on the Grand Junction Canal. |
Description: A short branch of the Bridgewater Canal that links the main line with the Trent & Mersey Canal at the start of Preston Brook Tunnel.
History: Built under the Bridgewater Canal Act of 1762 but completed in about 1773.
1762 | Authorised under the Bridgewater Canal Act. | |
1773 | Completed in about 1773. | |
Description: An important link to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal and of historic significance as it passes through Worsley, where the canal age was born, and passes over Barton Swing Aqueduct.
History: Built under the Bridgewater Canal Act of 1760 but completed in 1761.
1760 | Authorised by the Bridgewater Canal Act. | |
1761 | Completed. | |
1894 | Barton Swing Aqueduct (see also Seven Wonders of the Waterways) over the Manchester Ship Canal opened. | |
Description: Proposals for a connection from the Basingstoke Canal to Southhampton or to the Southampton & Salisbury Canal. Never authorised of built.
History: At the end of 1789 John Rennie surveyed a route and a plarliamentary notice for the canal appeared in 1790. It was discussed again in 1792, 1796-7 only to be abandoned in 1809.
Late 1789 | The Basingstoke Canal committee asked him to survey the route to Salisbury which was to be built on the same scale as the Basingstoke Canal. He poited out difficulties on the summit which would need to be supplied with water by steam-pumps but considered the rest of the route straightforward. The line was to join the Andover Canal for some way before continuing to Salisbury. The estimated cost was £135,770 for the cheapest alternative which excluded widening the Andover Canal. |
Description: A proposal by the Wilts & Berks company for a canal from their navigation near Malmsbury to the Gloucestershire coalfields around Pucklechurch and Coalpit Heath then on to Bristol.
History: Proposed and surveyed in 1810, a Bill was introduced and withdrawn before the second reading in 1811. Never authorised or built.
1810 | He did a preliminary survey for the route. |
Description: In 1825 a 7.3 mile canal with a fall of 181 feet was proposed to the town. It would have been an expensive navigation to build and Billericay's trade could not justify the capital required.
1825 | Prepared proposals, with J & H Claytons, surveyors, for this navigation which was never authorised or built. | |
1825 | Prepared proposals, with Alexander Clark, engineer, for this navigation which was never authorised or built. |
Description: A five and a half mile tidal navigation near Southwold, Suffolk. Runs from the River Mouth to Blythburgh.
History: An Act of 1757 authorised the navigation but the locks were closed in 1934, by an order under the 1930 Land Drainage Act.
1757 | An Act authorised the navigation. | |
Spring 1757 | He gave evidence for the navigation Bill that the river could easily be made navigable. | |
10 August 1757 | He reported the results of his survey to the commissioners, estimating the cost of the work at around £3,000. | |
Mid 1759 | Was asked to resurvey the river and again estimated £3,000 as the cost of improvements. | |
June 1759 | He was asked to give a second opinion on Langley Edwards survey for the navigation but was too busy to take on the task immediately. He did however set out his terms for the work which proved too expensive for the commissioners to consider. | |
30 October 1759 | He sent his regrets at being unable to attend the commissioners meeting. Unforseen circumstances had detained him at Biggleswade. | |
3 November 1759 | He attends a meeting of the commissioners at which they place a contract for earthworks. | |
July 1760 | Was assistant engineer to Langley Edwards. | |
30 July 1760 | Defects discovered in newly constructed bridges prompt the commissioners to seek his explaination but they find his whereabouts are unknown. | |
5 August 1760 | He writes to the commisioners saying that he is detained on business and cannot attend their meeting on the 9th but he "was surprised at the account of the brickwork as I have had many built of the same dimensions of wall and have never yet had one failed". | |
23 August 1760 | He writes to the commisioners saying he is sorry he did not attend their meeting on the 20th. | |
10 September 1760 | He attended a meeting with the commisioners and appologised for missing the last meeting as he had arrived a day late due to having been taken ill on the road and he had other jobs to complete. He had missed another meeting due to a fall from his horse and a third due to his horse being taken lame on the road. | |
1761 | Was appointed as toll-collector, surveyor of works, lock-keeper and warehouse-keeper at the salary of £45 a year. | |
13 May 1761 | The commissioners very dissatisfied with his non-attendence at meetings advertised the meeting in the press in the hope it would ensure his presence. He arrived late and appologised. | |
23 July 1761 | The navigation was completed at a cost of £3,822 compared to his original estimate of £3,000. | |
1764 | His employment is renewed at a reduced salary of £42 a year. | |
1765 | He leaves the navigation when the commissioners want to reduce his salary to less than £40 a year. | |
6 January 1820 | He reported on the deterioration of Sothwold Harbour which he attributed to the embanking of the saltings but could not identify a practicable remedy. | |
1840 | He supervised a survey of Southwold Harbour, carried out by John R Wright. It was found that the scouring effect of the tide had been reduced by no less than 148,296,490 cubic feet of water on each tide due to the reclaimation of 1,504 acres of marsh land. | |
1840 | He did a survey of Southwold Harbour, supervised by James Walker. It was found that the scouring effect of the tide had been reduced by no less than 148,296,490 cubic feet of water on each tide due to the reclaimation of 1,504 acres of marsh land. | |
1934 | The locks were closed, by an order under the 1930 Land Drainage Act. | |
Description: A partly built canal from Grangemouth to Bo'ness.
History: Authorised as a branch of the Forth & Clyde Canal in 1768, survyed in 1772, subscriptions opened in 1782. Most of the canal works were completed but the money ran out so it was never opened and was abandoned in 1796.
1789 | He surveyed the unfinished canal and reported that £17,763 was required to complete it. |
Description: A 3 miles 3 furlong broad canal from Shipley on the Leeds and Liverpool to Bradford.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1771 and opened in 1774, closed in 1867, 3 miles reopened in 1873 closed in 1922.
1771 | Authorised by an Act. | |
After April 1771 | He was consulted on the engineering aspects of the canal. | |
1774 | Opened. | |
1867 | Closed. | |
1873 | 3 miles reopened. | |
1922 | Closed. | |
Description: Runs from the junction with the Rochdale Canal in Manchester to Runcorn. The Stretford and Leigh Branch runs ten and three-quarter miles to the junction with the Leeds and Liverpool Canal.
History: Authorised under Acts of 1737, 1759, 1760, 1762, 1766 and 1795. The "first canal of the canal age" was promoted by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, and built under the direction of John Gilbert. James Bindley worked under Gilbert's direction
1737 | Authorised under Act. | |
1759 | The Duke of Bridgewater obtained an Act of Parliament authorising him to build a canal from his collieries in Worsley to supply coal to Manchester. | |
1 July 1759 | At this date he was part-time assistant engineer for the canal and had started a survey of the Worsley to Manchester section.. | |
1760 | Authorised under Acts. | |
1760 | As Engineer for the canal he gives evidence to parliament. | |
1761 | The Duke of Bridgewater's canal, including the aqueduct across the River Irwell at Barton, opened. | |
1761 | The original Barton Aqueduct was built by James Brindley in 1761 to take the Duke of Bridgewater's epoch making canal across the River Irwell. | |
1761 | Surveys the line to the Mersey. | |
1761 | Acted as Counsel in connetion with theBridgewater Canal extension to the Mersey. | |
17 July 1761 | His Barton Aqueduct over the Mersey & Irwell Navigation was opened. | |
September 1761 | Conducted a survey for the extension of the canal from Longford Bridge to Hempstones, a little above Runcorn, including a branch to Stockport from Sale Moor. His work on this continued until January 1762. | |
1762 | Authorised under Act. | |
January 1762 | He went to London to give evidence on the Bill to extend the canl to the Hempstones, near Runcorn. | |
11 March 1762 | He told the Lords committee concerning the extension to the canal "The great use it will be in assuring a traffic to Liverpool and Manchester, and if it is carried into execution will reduce the price of the carriage of goods full one half". | |
1766 | Authorised under Act. | |
1795 | Authorised under Act. | |
1797 | He watched the trials of John Smith's steamboat on the canal between Runcorn and Castlefield. | |
1797 | His steamboat travelled the canal fron Runcorn to Castlefield. | |
1799 | His engine was used in a steamboat tried by the Duke of Bridgewater at Worsley. | |
September 1822 | He drew up plans for a 13 mile 7 furlong canal from the Bridgewater at either Sale Moor or Stretford to Stockport and on to Hope Green near Poynton. A 4 mile 1 furlong railway extension to Kerridge near Bollington was also included. | |
1833 | He recommended a new design of flat that had one-third more capacity, based on the same general type, with a nearly vertical stern, boom that did not project beyond the rudder and a mast that could be struck. As a trial one was ordered made in wood and one of iron. These proved successful and four more were ordered in 1834. | |
1 September 1872 | Having left the Weaver Navigation he became engineer and general manager of the new Bridgewater Navigation Company. | |
1875 | Having rejected a trial of a steam tug hauled on a chain or cable on the bottom of the canal that was set up by Fowler of Leeds, he now ordered 6 narrow-beam tugs. Eventually he had 28 of these. | |
1879 | He left the Bridgewater Navigation Company. | |
1893 | The Barton Swing Aqueduct was designed by Edward Leader Williams and opened in 1893. | |
21 August 1893 | The Barton Swing Aqueduct, which he had designed as engineer of the Manchester Ship Canal, was opened to traffic. | |
1972 | IWA National Rally at Lvmm. | |
1978 | Bridgewater - The Canal Duke - 1736-1803 by Hugh Malet , Published by Manchester University Press. | |
1988 | IWA National Festival at Castlefield. | |
Description: A broad canal of 15 miles and 20 locks from the Calder near Wakefield to Barnby Bridge, via Barnsley.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1793, opened in 1799 to Barnsley and 1802 to Barnby Bridge. Abandoned in 1953.
1792 | Became engineer for the canal. | |
1792 | Became contractor to the canal. | |
Late 1792 | He revised his estimate to £82,080 due to the new Haigh bridge branch, a reservior replacing steam engines and higher land costs among other factors. | |
Summer 1792 | He was asked to survey the line for the canal but was too busy. | |
August 1792 | Took part in the survey of the route and estimating pior to the first public meeting promoting the canal. | |
August 1792 | As one of the Aire & Calder's two resident engineers he took part in the survey of the route and estimating pior to the first public meeting promoting the canal. | |
September 1792 | He reported that he had looked at the various lines surveyed by William Martin, John Gott and Elias Wright and had concluded that a line from near Wakefield to Barnsley and Silkstone was best and could be built for £50,000. | |
October 1792 | He and Robert Mylne for the Dearne & Dove Canal jointly planned a level junction lock to ensure that neither canal lost water. | |
1793 | Authorised by an Act | |
1793 | He took part in the survey and estimate of £72,115 for the 6 mile Haigh bridge branch. | |
1793 | He took part in the survey and estimate of £72,115 for the 6 mile Haigh bridge branch. | |
1793 | He was appointed engineer and had a long running dispute with the contractor John Pinkerton. | |
1793 | He surveyed an extension just under 8 miles long from Haigh bridge to the Calder & Hebble Navigation at Horbury Bridge. | |
1793 | He took part in the survey and estimate of £72,115 for the 6 mile Haigh bridge branch. | |
June 1794 | He decided to replace the planned embankment and culvert to cross the River Dearne with a five-arched masonary aqueduct. | |
1799 | Opened to Barnsley. | |
1802 | Opened to Barnby Bridge. | |
Early 1802 | He reported that the canal was complete. | |
1804 | Fully open. | |
January 1805 | He was ordered to lay out the line for a 2.5 mile tramway to Silkstone but it was not to be built for several years due to lack of money. | |
1820 | Because of water shortages he is told to enlarge the pumping engine that lifts water from the Cold Hiendley reservoir. | |
October 1820 | He was employed to survey an extension of the Silkstone tramroad into the Worsbrough valley or for a new tramroad to that point. | |
1821 | He was employed to survey for a reservoir in the Silkstone valley. It was never built. | |
February 1823 | Appointed resident engineer. A year later he was also book-keeper and chief clerk and was provided with a new house at Sandal. | |
February 1823 | He leaves his post of resident engineer. | |
Mid 1828 | He became engineer following the death of Joseph Atkinson. | |
January 1830 | He completed the programme of bridge raising so that "Billy Boys" coasting vessels could use the canal. | |
1831 | While acting for the Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners in the matter of the Heck & Wentbridge Railway he was asked by the canal company how much the purchase of the land would cost. | |
July 1842 | As the company manager he reports the effects of the depressed state of trade in the country and on the competition from the railways. | |
1853 | As Company Engineer he was told to survey and estimate for a railway from the canal near Barugh locks to a proposed new colliery near Mapplewell, northeast of Barugh. | |
1953 | Abandoned. | |
Description: Various proposals for canal links that were nver authorised or built.
History: The schemes seem to have started in the canal mania of December 1792 and the last serious proposals recorded four years later.
24 February 1794 | The Hampshire Chroncile & Portsmouth & Chicester Journal reported that he surveyed a line from the Kennet & Avon at Wilcot to Salisbury, 24 miles long with 270 feet of lockage, and another from the Kennet & Avon at Wootton Rivers to Andover, 16 miles long with 250 feet of lockage. Estimated at 65,000 and 55,000 pounds respectively. |
Description: A proposed canal from Bristol to the Thames Head a rival to the Bristol - Cirencester Canal project.
History: Promoted in 1793 but never authorised or built.
1793 | He supported this plan as it had a better water supply than the Bristol - Cirencester Canal project. |
Description: Runs from the Sea Lock at Bude, one and a quarter miles, to Rodd's Bridge Lock, which is now closed.
History: promoted by Acts of 1774 and 1819, opened (except for Druxton Branch which opened in 1825) in 1823 and closed by an Act of 1891.
1774 | Promoted by Act. | |
1774 | Surveyed the line for the proposed canal with Edmund Leach. | |
1774 | Surveyed the line for the proposed canal with John Box. | |
1778 | In his report he re-estimated the authorised line at £119,201, saying that "the county of Cornwall... seems but ill-adapted for the making of canals across the country, being so very frequently intersected with valleys, that to preserve a level for any considerable space between two given points, it becomes necessary to go through a vast meandering course". He proposed that instead the River Bude should be locked for 3½ miles; that 6 miles of canal with three planes should be built to the River Tamar, and then 15½: miles of river navigation with ten locks to Greston bridge, from where more locked river could carry the navigation to Calstock, or a branch canal could take it up to Launceston. His estimated the cost to Greston bridge as £46,109. He suggested that a less satisfactoy alternative would be a canal from Bude to Launceston only, but shortened to 34 miles, with five planes. | |
1785 | Based on his work in surveying the proposed Tamar Canal (an idea that developed into the Bude Canal) he published a book called A Treatise of Universal Inland Navigations. | |
Early 1793 | Together with Thomas Bolton he made a preliminary survey for a line from Bude Harbour to Hatherleigh. | |
Early 1793 | Together with George Bentley he made a preliminary survey for a line from Bude Harbour to Hatherleigh. | |
30 September 1793 | Wrote a letter to Lord Stanhope suggesting inclined planes instead of locks for the canal. Lord Stanhope replied saying his idea for working the plane had already been thought of by Edmund Leach. This was the start of a correspondence that lasted until 1796. | |
1794 | He took out a patent for improvements in inclined planes, in which wheeled boats (later used on the canal) were mentioned. | |
1796 | He was consulted by Lord Stanhope on the idea of a 'pendenter' that was a type of vertical boat lift. | |
1817 | Together with Thomas Shearn he surveyed the line for the canal. | |
1817 | Together with James Green he surveyed the line for the canal. | |
1819 | Promoted by Act. | |
1819 | Following the passing of the canal Act he subscribes £3,000 to the scheme. | |
July 1819 | He was appointed engineer and started cutting the canal. | |
1823 | Opened (except for Druxton Branch). | |
8 July 1823 | He had completed the canal and it opened to traffic. | |
1825 | Druxton Branch opened. | |
1835 | He enlarged the sea-lock and basin. | |
31 May 1838 | He reports to the Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners on the canal and says of the inclined planes "Every means appears to be taken to avoid accident; the machinery though complex - and perhaps necessarily so - is ingenious. It has, I understand, given trouble but not lately, and it does not appear with care which is indispensable, likely to do so to any extent, although with such heavy machinery accidents are unavoidable occasionally". | |
1891 | Closed by an Act. | |
1972 | The Bude Canal by Helen Harris & M Ellis , 192 pages, Published by David & Charles. | |
1998 | Bude Canal Past & Present by Bill Young & Bryan Dudley Stamp , Published by the authors - The history and present description of this abandoned canal. | |
Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
