Waterways Chronology from 1726

Act passed to make the river navigable from Doncaster to Tinsley.

First surveyed.

He surveyed the river above York while working for York corporation.

Promoted by an Act.

He caught a fever and was dangerously ill while the Bill to make the river navigable to Sheffield was in the commons.

Navigation between Hanham Mills and Bath opened.

Promoted by Act of Parliament.

Appeared as engineer to support a Bill to extend the navigation from Holmstile to Sheffield.

Promoted by Act.

He produced a survey of the whole river from York to Trent Falls for a new Act of parliament that established trustees for the river. After the Act was passed he was taken on as manager and engineer.

The first barge arrived at Bath after the 11.5 miles of river below the city had been made navigable by 6 locks and other works said to have been built by him.

He produced some figures of what was spent on making the Kennet navigable but these were rejected by the proprietors as he had kept no proper accounts. He was therefore not given the money he was claiming.

He surveyed the route and recommended a 8.25 mile canal, with 12 locks, to take 60-ton barges at an estimated cost of £20,000.

An Act was passed to make the Stroudwater (a small river or stream) navigable.

Work started.

He was appointed surveyor-general.

Navigation opened.

He was appointed engineer.

Promoted as a navigation under Act.

Promoted by Act.

Closed due to a tunnel fall.

Opened in the beginning of 1732, having 11 wooden locks.

Surveyed the river. Later he tendered for the erection of a flash lock, providing a model with the tender, which was accepted.

He surveyed the river and warned that, unless drastic action was taken immediately, not only would the navigation fail but also the lands between Lincoln and Boston would be lost for want of draining.

He started his survey of the navigation and later recommended the building of a canal for the estimated cost of £12,870 against the £9,355 he estimated was needed to make the river navigable.

Promoted by Act.

He ceased to be surveyor-general.

Opened.

About this time he did a survey for the navigation Act.

Authorised under Act.

Promoted by an Act.

Promoted under Act.

He made a survey of the proposed navigation and together with Thomas Steers produced a projection.

He produced a projection of the proposed navigation together with John Eyes who had made the survey on which it was based.

Promoted by an Act.

Navigation between Maidstone and Tonbridge was promoted by Act.

Is recorded as being surveyor to Trust.

Opened around 1742.

Promoted by Act of Parliament.

Was granted a leese of the River Calder for £3,600.

Promoted by Act.

Promoted by Act.

5 locks built by Lord Windsor around the time of the Restoration but the intended sixth lock was not completed. Bills introduced in 1693 and 1747 but no work done.

Promoted by an Act.

About this date he, his son and William Elstobb proposed cutting off the great bend near King's Lynn.

About this date he and the Kinderley's proposed cutting off the great bend near King's Lynn.

About this date he built half-locks (having only single-gates) on the river.

He surveyed the river and recommended vigorous dredging.

Blocked the river at Wilden with his ferry rope, then built a bridge of boats and defended it with hired men, to stop a group of Nottingham merchants from using the river.

The new Denver Sluice was opened incorporating the navigation lock that he designed.

Navigation Act.

Sank a barge in King's Mill Lock, where it remained for 8 years, as part of his plans to preserve a monopoly of trade on the river.

Leesed the Aire Navigation for £4,400 a year, jointly with Thomas Wilson

Leesed the Aire Navigation for £4,400 a year, jointly with Joseph Atkinson

Promoted by an Act.

The Navigation between Maidstone and Tonbridge was opened about this date.

Made navigable by Act.

Navigation opened.

Became a lessee of the river, with Joseph Broadbent and Thomas Smith, at £3,500 a year plus 6.25% interest on new capital expenditure that they requested.

Became a lessee of the river, with Joseph Broadbent and Joseph Atkinson, at £3,500 a year plus 6.25% interest on new capital expenditure that they requested.

Became a lessee of the river, with Joseph Atkinson and Thomas Smith, at £3,500 a year plus 6.25% interest on new capital expenditure that they requested.

Promoted under Act.

A second act was passed to make the river navigable and to appoint commissioners.

River improvements authorised by an Act.

Instructed by the Nar Commissioners, together with Langley Edwards, to make a survey and estimate for making the river navigable.

Instructed by the Nar Commissioners, together with John Aram, to make a survey and estimate for making the river navigable.

About this time he surveyed the river and produced a plan for a lock at Naburn, which he estimated would cost £5,517.

Built between 1752 and 1754.

Authorised by an Act but no work done under this Act.

Promoted by Act.

He surveyed the river from Thrapston to Northampton.

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.

He proposed a plan for making the river navigable from Thrapston to Northampton for 13,000 guineas.

Promoted by Act.

Around this time he put proposals to the Western Division commissioners for making their part of the river navigable.

Surveyed the line of the canal with William Taylor.

Surveyed the line of the canal with Henry Berry.

Built between 1752 and 1754.

He made a survey and proposed building a reservior to supply the mills on the proposed navigation.

Authorised by Act.

He surveyed the river and produced a plan to make it navigable from Tempsford to Biggleswade Mill.

Navigation from Thrapston to Northampton promoted by Act.

He was asked to survey a navigation between Wakefield and Elland but was too busy with work on the Eddystone lighthouse.

He reported on his preliminary survey of the proposed navigation.

An Act authorised the navigation.

Existed in 1757 carrying coal and men.

Navigation improvements authorised by an Act.

He and Langley Edwards were appointed surveyors.

Was appointed surveyor following the death of William Whittenbury.

Opened.

The Sankey Brook Navigation, later called the St Helen's Canal, was opened.

The first recorded staircase lock on British Canals, Old Double Lock on the Sankey Brook Navigation.

Used before 1757, when the Tern Forge that it served was closed.

He gave evidence for the navigation Bill that the river could easily be made navigable.

Gave evidence to the Parliamentary committee examining the navigation bill. He proposed a depth of 3 foot for 20 ton barges which would pay a charge of 3 pence a lock.

Was appointed surveyor together with Thomas Yeoman.

He was paid £100 for survey and for "putting out the works from King's Lynn to Westacre for himself and his assistants untill the same is completed". He produced an estimate of £2,500 for the entire works, chiefly for the making of new cuts.

He was again asked to survey a navigation between Wakefield and Elland and agreed to come in the autumn, requesting a scale plan of the river in preparation.

He reported the results of his survey to the commissioners, estimating the cost of the work at around £3,000.

He reported to a meeting at Halifax on his proposals, based on his recent survey, for a 23½ mile navigation to take 20 to 25 ton craft with a draught of up to 3 feet 6 inches. This was to run from Wakefield to Salterhebble bridge.

Promoted by an Act.

Navigation improvements completed to Biggleswade (7 miles).

James Brindley did a survey for Earl Gower for a canal from Wilden Ferry on the River Trent to Stoke-on-Trent.

At the request of Earl Gower, Lord Anson and Thomas Broade he surveyed the line of a canal from Wilden Ferry to Stoke-on-Trent.

Proposed to make the rivers Trent and Tame navigable to Tamworth.

Undertook a survey of the river and proposed improvements to the locks and navigation channel.

Put in plans for improvements to the Western Division of the river but later dissented from these proposals and the terms required for the work.

Did a survey to extend the proposed navigation to Sowerby Bridge.

He put in an estimate for improving the navigation between Thrapston and Northampton. His plans were rejected in favour of those from a Mr Case who later withdrew his proposals. Smith then submitted new plans and an estimate of £14,070 4s 2½d that was accepted.

He was asked examine the propsals of John Smith junior and Mr Wyman for making the western division of the river navigable and found that both schemes were sound.

He put forward a proposal for making the river navigable from Thrapston to Northampton. His plan was approved by Thomas Yeoman but he withdrew in favour of a plan by John Smith junior "on account of Mr Smith's cheaper proposals, his Integrity and superior Experience in such affairs".

As engineer to the commissioners he did an estimate for extending the navigation to New Bridge.

The contract was signed for his river improvements that included 20 pound-locks 10 feet 6 inches wide and 100 feet long.

He was appointed part-time superintendent (or engineer) at £250 a year.

He was asked to complete the work on the river by 1st January 1759, lter extended to 15th February but with a £20 a week penalty for any over-run.

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.

Was paid ten guineas for his part in surveying the river.

He reported that the navigation between Wansford and Waternewton was very bad in places and that the commissioners seem to have had little or no authority over the proprietors, who had sole use of the tolls for themselves.

The navigation reached Wellingborough where he built wharves.

An Act was passed allowing the navigation to be built without locks.

He gave evidence in support of the Bill that became an Act in early April.

Act passed but no work done.

Promoted by an Act.

He appeared in Parliament supporting the bill that became the Wear Act and was asked to make a survey and prepare a plan for buildinf 12 locks and a number of short cuts.

Was asked to resurvey the river and again estimated £3,000 as the cost of improvements.

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.

At this date he was part-time assistant engineer for the canal and had started a survey of the Worsley to Manchester section..

He completed the navigation but was in dispute with the commissioners over the payment of the costs for two additional staunches that had been found to be needed.

He sent his regrets at being unable to attend the commissioners meeting. Unforseen circumstances had detained him at Biggleswade.

He attends a meeting of the commissioners at which they place a contract for earthworks.

His pay for work as engineer began and it is believed that construction started after this date.

He assisted Smeaton on the Wakefield to Dewsbury section.