Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
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Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
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Surveyor of the Basingstoke Canal.
1796 | He made a survey of the route and estimated the cost as £157,566. |
Engineer of Reading.
21 July 1790 | He was appointed at a salary of £300 for the period up to 1st October 1791. | |
15 January 1791 | He was ordered to set up a brickworks at Hanford bridge. |
Surveyor of Packington. Born circa 1746 -1749, place and parents unknown.
First recorded as working as a surveyor in approx 1767. Apprenticed to William Wyatt(of the famous architect, engineers and surveying family) of Sinai Park, Burton on Trent, Staffordshire probably before 1769. In 1769 he married the daughter of William Wyatt, Mary Wyatt and lived at Sinai Park Burton on Trent from his marriage in 1769 up to about 1775 when he bought a property right on the border of the parish of Measham (which was then in Derbyshire) and the parish of Packington Leicestershire where he lived up until his death on 25th Jan 1820. He is buried in Packington Church yard next to his wife Mary. John and Mary had 11 known children of which his 2 sons William Henry Smith and Granville Smith were also surveyors. After John's death in 1820, his surveying business passed to his son in law Edward Phillips Jackson who had married his eldest daughter Matilda Wyatt Smith.
Thanks to Judy Barradell-Smith for the above information and for other entries concerning this John Smith. This information came from some original research by Dr Sarah Bendall Archivist of Merton College Oxford .
1776 | He was appointed engineer to build the navigation on contract. | |
Autumn 1776 | He surveyed a line from the Trent below Sawley and just above the mouth of the Soar past Long Eaton, up the west bank of the Erewash river to a crossing aboveIlkeston. From there it followed the east bank to Langley Mill, a total rise of 108 feet 8½ inches according to his survey. | |
After December 1777 | He was thought too slow and was replaced. | |
1782 | A state of the depths of water upon the shallows in the River Trent between Cavendish Bridge and Gainsboro as taken by William Jessop and John Smith | |
1786 | He and William Jessop are believed to have surveyed part of the Cromford Canal around this date. | |
1792 | Surveyed the canal for Robert Whitworth. | |
1792 | Surveyed the river with William Jessop. | |
1794 | Surveyed the canal with Robert Whitworth and William Jessop. |
Engineer of St Helen's.
June 1793 | His steamboat was tested on the navigation. | |
1797 | His steamboat travelled the canal fron Runcorn to Castlefield. | |
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. |
Engineer from Attercliffe, Yorkshire, and son of the River Don engineer. Son of John, senior Smith.
March 1758 | 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. | |
22 June 1758 | The contract was signed for his river improvements that included 20 pound-locks 10 feet 6 inches wide and 100 feet long. | |
1759 | The navigation reached Wellingborough where he built wharves. | |
7 August 1761 | His navigation works to Northampton were completed. | |
1767 | He supported Richard Firth in giving evidece for the parliamentary Bill. | |
1767 | He was appointed resident engineer for the canal and Ure Navigation. | |
1767 | He was appointed engineer. | |
1769 | He estimated that £25,000 was needed to complete the navigation in addition to the £11,400 already spent. | |
1772 | He surveyed a proposed 24 mile canal with 19 locks from Wakefield through the Went valley to the Dutch River at Went Mouth. The locks were to be 15 feet 6 inches wide and 56 feet long. A broad tunnel 2,128 yards long was also included in the plan which was estimated to cost £36,414 for the whole navigation. | |
12 June 1772 | As engineer for the canal he put his plans and estimates to the first meeting of commissioners at the Black Swan, Market Weighton. His proposal included a sea lock and four other locks with rises of up to 16 feet. | |
Autumn 1772 | Following John Grundy's criticisms of his plans for the canal he is dismissed as engineer. | |
October 1777 | He reported on the river works currently in progess and stated some £3,600 had been spent and another £2,951 was needed to complete the navigation. | |
25 February 1778 | He agreed to continue work on the navigation following the raising of more funds. |
Engineer. Originally a carpenter from Brightside, Sheffield. Father of John, junior Smith.
August 1731 | He was appointed engineer. | |
1748 | He surveyed the river and recommended vigorous dredging. | |
1752 | About this time he surveyed the river and produced a plan for a lock at Naburn, which he estimated would cost £5,517. | |
1762 | At this time John Needham was acting as his deputy. | |
1767 | It was agreed to allow him 3 shillings and 6 pence for every day he worked in his old age. |
Geologist and canal surveyor. His greatest acheivement came in 1815 with the production of his geological map of England and Wales, the first of its kind in the world. This brought a new understanding of the formation of rocks. Assisted by William Bennet.
1793 | He made a survey for the canal under the direction of John Rennie he also attended William Jessop on his survey of the line. | |
1794 | He attended two committee men, Richard Perkins of Oakhill and Samborne Palmer, on a 900 mile tour to study canal and railway construction. | |
1795 | He prepared plans for summit level canals assisted by William Bennet. | |
5 June 1799 | He was dismissed from his post of surveyor. | |
1808 | He was appionted engineer. | |
July 1817 | He was engineer for the project. |
Surveyor. Worked with John Bull.
1785 | He, together with John Bull, surveyed the line of the canal. | |
1791 | He, together with Josiah Clowes, surveyed the line of the canal. | |
1793 | He surveyed the line of the canal. | |
1802 | He, together with Charles Handley, was retained by the Western Division commisioners to prove that sufficient water supply could be found for the Grand Junction Canal Company to build a canal link to Northampton. |
Also spelled Sorrowcold, Seracoll and Seracold. An early engineer from Derby, who in the years 1692 to 1693 had provided a water supply to the city. In 1694 to1695 he built a water works for Leeds. Probably taught engineering to Thomas Steers.
1695 | He produced plans for making the river navigable on which two unsuccessful Bills were promoted in 1695 and 1698. | |
1699 | He surveyed the river again for a Bill introduced in 1700, which failed, but an Act was passed in 1701. | |
1702 | He produced plans for the Bill proposing four new cuts and nine locks with a fall of 50 feet. |
Engineer.
1850 | He was engineer for a company proposing use the canal as part of a new navigation from the Thames near Deptford to the Kennet & Avon at Reading. The proposed route was 22 miles compared to the 42 miles by river. |
Engineer.
After 1753 | He proposed a plan for making the river navigable from Thrapston to Northampton for 13,000 guineas. |
Engineer.
1827 | Was appointed resident engineer for the Liverpool side of the canal. | |
1828 | He reported together with James Fletcher, his fellow joint engineer, on alternative proposals to improve the River Douglas below Tarleton or to build a new canal parallel to the river. | |
Spring 1839 | He reported together with James Fletcher, his fellow joint engineer, and Robert Nicholson, the law clerk, on proposals from the Leeds & Armley Navigation Company to build a new River Aire lock. | |
1844 | He became engineer for the canal following the death of James Fletcher. |
Engineer.
17 August 1893 | As assistant engineer for the eastern side of the canal he took part in the oppening ceremony of the Winterburn Reservoir. | |
1896 | Now a director of the company he discussed with Bingley Urban District Council his scheme for generating electricty by water power from the canal. No agreement on charges was reached. | |
November 1904 | He suggested that as he was working full time for the company in his role as managing director he would prefer to become a paid general manager. The board did not agree to this but agreed to increase his salary. | |
May 1907 | Following the death of the company engineer, R H White, he resigned his directorship and became general manager and engineer. | |
1924 | He retired as general manager and engineer but was retained as consultant. |
Engineer of the Leicestershire & Northampton Union and surveyed the Oakham Canal. Son of Christopher, Senior Staveley, father of Edward Staveley, son of Christopher, Senior Staveley and father of Edward Staveley.
1790 | He surveyed the line for the canal under William Jessops guidance. | |
Autumn 1790 | He and William Jessop proposed a canal and river line to Leicester, the canalisation of the Wreak to Melton Mowbray and a rail and water line to the Leicestershire collieries. | |
May 1791 | He was appointed surveyor at £200 a year. | |
1792 | He did a detailed survey for the canal line and later became engineer. | |
Late 1797 | He left his post as engineer. |
Engineer of the Leicester Navigation under William Jessop.
Chris Stanley wrote in February 2007 That :-
My mother's maiden name is Staveley. Our family is from Quebec City. Edward Staveley, I gather, fled to Quebec City (via the States) after that nasty embezzlement bit. This is part of our family-lore.
The painting has been in our family for as long as I can remember. We have always been told that the painting was of Christopher Staveley.
The painting is unsigned. My quest was to identify the painter. That proved futile.
I have no difficulty with you using the portrait on your Web site as you see fit.
Autumn 1790 | He reported with William Jessop proposing a canal and river line to Leicester. | |
Early 1792 | He was asked to do a survey to extend the navigation from Leicester to Market Harborough. | |
1793 | He worked with John Varley on the parliamentary survey for the canal under William Jessops direction. He was also joint engineer with Varley at the start of work on the canal but did not stay long. | |
1795 | He was appointed engineer of the completed navigation. |
Engineer of the Leicestershire & Northampton Union with his father. Disappeared in 1833 owing the company £1,400.
Peter Staveley (not related to this Edward) has researched the Staveley family history and adds:-
"Edward Staveley (1795-1872) did indeed appear to have embezzled £1,700 of funds of the Leicester Navigation company (maybe £100k today?) and my information is that his brother Christopher was also implicated and comitted suicide which was tragic.
Edward however made a dash for it with his wife and fled to America.
The following is from the Passenger Emigration Lists of 1833.
1833 Edward Staveley (38) and Mary Ann Staveley (28) to Baltimore
Edward worked in the US as a canal and railway engineer firstly in Baltimore and latterly in Canada where he died in Quebec in 1872 aged 77. Edward started a notable architectural practice in Quebec and is credited with numerous private homes, public buildings, churches, banks, hotels, schools and commercial buildings many of which are still standing. One of his crowning achievements was the 'Domaine Cataraqui' in the Sillery district of Quebec, built in 1853 for a wealthy private client, James B. Forsythe, a timber magnate which is today an official House of the Quebec Government and is used as a museum and art gallery as well as a venue for concerts and exhibitions.
Harry, his son, was not only in partnership with his father but was also a famous wood carver in the Quebec shipbuilding era, and indeed his sons, Edward Black Staveley and Harry Staveley II continued the family tradition and founded the Montreal firm of architects Staveley and Staveley. There are undoubtedly descendants of this family line living in Canada today."
Son of Christopher, junior Staveley, grandson of Christopher, Senior Staveley and son of Christopher, junior Staveley.
1825 | He was appointed joint engineer with his father. | |
1827 | He became engineer and superintendent following his father's death. | |
1833 | Called on his solicitor to announce that he owed the company £1,400. He then disappeared leaving his records inaccessible. The records were recovered but Staveley and the money were not seen again. |
An army officer from Kent. Surveyor and engineer of the Mersey & Irwell. Master of Henry Berry and taught George Sorocold.
1712 | He surveyed the river and recommended a navigation for carrying coal from Wigan to the Ribble. | |
1712 | He proposed to make the rivers navigable by builing 8 locks and a cut at Butchersfield. | |
1721 | He was one of the promoters of the Act to build the navigation that was passed this year. | |
Early 1721 | He supported the Bill that became the Weaver Navigation Act to make the river navigable to Winsford and Witton Brook navigable to Witton bridge. | |
7 April 1721 | Under an Act of Parliament he and William Squire were given powers to make the river navigable from the Ribble estuary to Miry Lane End, Wigan. | |
June 1721 | He was taken to court by some shareholders who alleged that his scheme to make the river navigable was impractical and only designed to raise money from unwary persons. | |
1736 | About this time he did a survey for the navigation Act. | |
1740 | He produced a projection of the proposed navigation together with John Eyes who had made the survey on which it was based. |
The famous railway engineer.
1825 | His route for a Liverpool & manchester Railway was defeated by opposition from the canal company supported by the Sankey Brook, Ashton and Peak Forest companies. | |
1830 | He was asked by the canal committee to survey a new locomotive line from Smithy Houses to Derby. | |
Autumn 1830 | He was asked to report on the conversion of the company's tramroad into a railway.He recommended retaining the exsisting engine-worked incline from the Ribble bridge, the building of four self-acting inclines and two diversions at a total cost of £11,895. | |
October 1830 | He surveyed a railway from Manchester to Sowerby Bridge that ran parallel to the canal from Littleborough to Todmorden. After opposition from the company the Bill was defeated. | |
Late 1831 | He was asked to report on the practiabliity of converting the canal, and the other Newcastle canals, into railways. He oposed the idea because the canal turns were too sharp for a railway. He recommended a single-track inclined plane to carry boats from one canal to another at a cost of £2,206 plus land, cutting and embanking. | |
Early 1836 | He and others representing the promoters of the Manchester & Leeds Railway Bill approached the company with offers of good bridge clearances for navigation, and free access for the navigation to "Fields of Coal or other Minerals" but failed to persuade the company not to oppose the Bill. | |
1846 | He proposed to the company that they, together with the Loughborough company and himself, should jointly build a railway line from Derby to Rugby along the Soar valley. | |
1846 | He proposed to the company that they, together with the Leicester company and himself, should jointly build a railway line from Derby to Rugby along the Soar valley. |
Railway engineer. Worked with G P Bidder and assisted by George W Buck.
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. | |
1847 | He ageed that no permanent solution to flooding on the river could be found until the obstructions at Wisbech were removed. | |
1849 | He acted as arbitrator in a dispute between the company and the Lancaster & Carlisle Railway awarding £55,552 of outstanding tolls to the canal company. | |
1850 | His iron bridge at Sutton was opened about 100 feet south of the site of the original oak bridge with a moveable iron centre span that it repalced. | |
July 1851 | Together with G P Bidder he reported the problems of working locomotives on tramroads with sharp curves. |
Engineer.
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. | |
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. |
Engineer.
1792 | Re-surveyed the line of the canal, with Samuel Dickinson, making minor amendments to earlier proposals. | |
1801 | The plan of his survey is deposited showinga new 1½ mile cut from the Humber to join the existing drain, which, apart from three shortening cuts, would then be used to the junction. The then existing Roos Bridge drain would then be utilised, but the drain to Owstwick would be extended by a short cut to the Roos-Burton Pidsea road. |
Engineer from Gloucester.
1754 | Around this time he put proposals to the Western Division commissioners for making their part of the river navigable. | |
1765 | He revived the 1735 idea of extending the navigation to Chippenham and was supported by the Bristol corporation for a short time before the idea was dropped. | |
1765 | He and his brother were retained by Maldon objectors to the navigation. They both contracted ague and fever on the survey from which he died. |
Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.