Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.

History by Waterway from Aire and Calder Navigation and River Aire

Aire and Calder Navigation and River Aire

See Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals for more information.

1695	John Hadley	He surveyed the river and concluded it could be made navigable for less expence than expected.
1695	Samuel Shelton	About this time he assisted John Hadley with a survey of the Calder.
1699	Promoted by Act.
1699	John Hadley	He was appointed engineer at £420 per year.
1704	George 1 Atkinson	Built Beal and Haddlesey Locks, with James Mitchell, so completing the original from Leeds to the Ouse.
1704	James Mitchell	Built Beal and Haddlesey Locks, with George Atkinson, so completing the original from Leeds to the Ouse.
1750	Joseph 1 Atkinson	Leesed the Aire Navigation for £4,400 a year, jointly with Thomas Wilson
1750	Thomas Wilson	Leesed the Aire Navigation for £4,400 a year, jointly with Joseph Atkinson
1760	John Gott	Was appointed engineer by Peter Birt, the lessee of the navigation. Over the next few years he spent about £4,000 on capital improvements and £9,000 on maintenance, mainly on weirs.
28 December 1771	John Smeaton	He reported on the state of the navigation saying "the original projectors.. ., not having had any notion of the extensive trade that was likely to be carried on by means thereof. . . formed their plan upon too diminutive a scale, and particularly with respect to depth. . . of water". There were many shallow lock sills giving only 2 ft 6 in depth at normal summer water and there was shoaling below the locks, which he Thought due to "endeavouring to save locks in point of number, and to save length of cutting". Of the lack of water in the tideway below Haddlesey lock, he said that in ordinary dry seasons "there will not be two feet of water up to Haddlesey lock at high water neap tides". At Weeland, about a mile below the limits of the Aire & Calder, there was another shoal "over which, though the neap tides sensibly flow, yet they do not make, in the whole, above two feet depth of water". In dry seasons when little flow of fresh water, flashes had to be provided but, perhaps only two a week due to millers' requirements and of the need to keep pounds up, "wherefore, vessels will be frequently from Stock Reach to Leeds or Wakelield, a week or more in making good their passage, that otherwise would be performed in fifteen hours". This he considered resulted in was underemployment of boats and men, delays and expense.
1772	William Jessop	He surveyed the river on behalf of John Smeaton and recommended a 7.25 mile canal between Haddlesey and Newland near the mouth of the Aire.
January 1772	John Smeaton	He reports that he has aimed "to procure the essential of a navigation, the means of keeping vessels always afloat" and proposed improvements that would give 3 ft 6 in to ft of water, to take craft carrying 30 to 45 tons. These included dredging, rebuilding some mill locks, new cuts, especially a by-pass canal, to avoid low water and shoals, from just above Haddlesey lock to run on the south side of the river to Gowdall above Snaith with two locks or a similar one on the north side from Chapel Haddlesey to Newland beyond Rawcliffe. There was to be a second by-pass with one lock from Brotherton on the north side nf the river below Knottingley because "the Water is in general so shallow, that it becomes necessary, not only to raise the Water higher by temporary Boards placed on Beal Dam below, but to let down Flashes from the Mill Dam to carry the Vessels over the Shallows; and, for want of suflicient Water for the Purpose, the Vessels are often detained there in their passage many Days together". He also recommended cuts at Leeds (¼ mile, with a lock to replace the old one), Knostrop (7 furlongs, with two new locks to replace three old ones at mills), Woodlesford (1½ miles, with two new locks to replace two old ones), Methley (¾ mile, with floodgates and a lock to replace the old Methley lock) and floodgates and a lock on the mile cut to Castleford. Finally, he advised the undertakers to obtain powers to remove obstructions and build a towing path right to the Ouse.
December 1772	John Smeaton	He appeared before the parliamentary committee to support the navigation improvement plans and to oppose the rival Leeds & Selby Canal project.
1773	William Jessop	He surveyed the whole river and accepted John Smeaton,s proposals between Leeds and Castleford and drew up new proposals under Smeaton's direction for the rest of the river.
1774	Promoted by Act.
February 1774	John Gott	It is reported that he considers the number of craft on the navigation had increased by half in ten years.
1779	William Jessop	He was not regularly employed by the company after this date but was sometimes consulted.
Early 1792	William Jessop	He was asked to survey the navigation and recommend improvements but was probably too busy to undertake the task.
1807	Elias Wright	He told shareholders "On the Navigation of the general Line of the Rivers, I think I may be permitted to say, it improves every Year, and is at present better than at any former time".
1816	Elias Wright	He ceased his role as company engineer.
1816	Thomas Wood	He succeeded Elias Wright as engineer and put forward plans for improving the navigation to Leeds and building a new basin there.
October 1818	John Rennie	He was to survey a line to the River Ouse.
6 January 1819	John Rennie	He reports proposing a line from the Knottingley cut to Goole with a cut back into the River Aire at Bank Dole to give access to the Selby Canal, and a branch to the Dutch River at Newbridge. He estimated the cost as £137,700.
1820	Promoted by Act.
1820	Thomas Wood	He is dismissed for malpractice.
July 1821	John Rennie	He proposes that there should be "an intermediate basin & locks" at Goole where the canal was to join the Ouse. He also ageed with the company board that the canal depth should be 7 feet rather than 6.
After July 1821	John Timperley	He rebuilt locks on the navigation with a six foot depth over the sills even though it had been decided that the Goole Canal locks would have a 7 foot sill depth. He seems not to have been told but it cost him his job.
August 1824	George, junior Leather	He recommended a piecemeal development plan for the main line from Leeds to Castleford with a 7 foot depth all the way. He also recommended a 7 foot depth on the Calder to Wakefield and a new cut.
1825	Thomas Hammond Bartholomew	Appointed Surveyor and Clerk of Works to the Aire & Calder, the offical title for their resident engineer.
1828	Promoted by Act.
1829	Ralph Walker	He surveyed a railway from Leeds to Selby and recommended the use of locomotives. His proposal was opposed by the Aire & Calder company but the Act for the railway was passed in June 1830.
1832	Francis Giles	While acting for the Exchequer Bill Loan Commissioners in the matter of the Heck & Wentbridge Railway he offered to sell the property to the canal company but they declined.
January 1836	George, junior Leather	He writes of "the decided hostility of the Aire & Calder Company, as resolved upon at their meeting on Saturday 16th inst." concerning the proposed Manchester & Leeds Railway.
January 1839	George, junior Leather	His plan for a Leeds & Armley Navigation, to take craft drawing up to 7 feet above Leeds Bridge, was put to the board.
25 March 1841	Thomas Maddicks	The opening of the Bridgwater Dock and mile long canal that he had built as company engineer.
1852	William Hammond Bartholomew	Suggested that a fly-boat be steam powered, propeller driven, and used as a cargo-carrying tug. This experiment proved successful and other similar craft were added to the company fleet.
1853	William Hammond Bartholomew	On the death of his father he was appionted to succeed to the post of engineer.
1853	Thomas Hammond Bartholomew	Died while still engineer of the company.
1857	William Hammond Bartholomew	Reported that the introduction of two public steam tugs running between Wakefield and Goole had helped to reduce towing charges on the navigation.
20 December 1861	William Hammond Bartholomew	Proposed to the Board the lenghening of the ship lock at Goole, converting it to hydraulic-powered operation and the provision of compartment boats and hoists. The total cost he estimated to be £13,302.
14 January 1862	William Hammond Bartholomew	Was authorised by the company to lenghten Ouse ship lock and to build one train of compartment boats.
7 February 1862	William Hammond Bartholomew	Granted patent number 330 for his system of compartment boats (Tom Puddings) which were used on the canal for over a century.
1865	William Hammond Bartholomew	Proposed the Leeds Extension Canal from Leeds to Armley mills.
1871	William Hammond Bartholomew	He was paid £1,000 plus £220 for the cost of models in exchange for the right to use his compartment boat patents.
Early 1876	William Hammond Bartholomew	Was made General Manager, in addition to his post as engineer, and was paid £1,500 per annum.
1879	Charles Bartholomew	He reported that the compartment boat system was yeilding a 10.75% return on the capital invested after allowing for interest and depreciation.
1881	William Hammond Bartholomew	His Aldam Dock at Goole was opened.
1887	William Hammond Bartholomew	In his evidence on the Manchester Ship Canal Bill he said that the navigation took craft up to 187 tons, carriers doing only one-tenth of the carrying.
1888	William Hammond Bartholomew	His 500 by 47 feet Victoria entrance lock at Goole was opened.
1895	William Hammond Bartholomew	Formally retired but continued to work on building the New Junction Canal and as a consultant director untill shortly before his death.
1899	Gerald FitzGibbon	Was appointed engineer.
1907	Henry Pickard	He was appointed engineer.

Aylesbury - Abingdon Canal project

1828

William Alexander Provis

He made a new estimate of the costs of the canal which was lower than the previous £200,000 estimate.

Ashburton Canal Project

1793	George Bentley	Called in to review the original line proposed by F King. Together they managed to reduce the estimate from £15,000 to £10,000.
1793	F King	He made a survey and proposed a canal with 24 locks rising 202.5 feet to a basin below Ashburton at an estimated cost of £15,000.

Aberdeenshire Canal

See Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals for more information.

Spring 1787	John Rennie	He proposes that the size of the planned canal should be increased to 27 feet 4 inches wide at the surface, 14 feet wide at the bottom and 4 feet deep.
1796	Authorised by an Act.
1796	John Rennie	He was appointed consulting engineer.
1805	Was opened.
1854	Was closed.

Aberdare Canal

See Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals for more information.

1793	Authorised by an Act.
1793	John Dadford	He subscribed to £2,000 of shares jointly with the other three Dadfords, all working on Welsh canals.
1793	Thomas Dadford junior	He subscribed to £2,000 of shares jointly with the other three Dadfords, all working on Welsh canals.
1793	Thomas Dadford senior	He subscribed to £2,000 of shares jointly with the other three Dadfords, all working on Welsh canals.
1793	James Dadford	He subscribed to £2,000 of shares jointly with the other three Dadfords, all working on Welsh canals.
September 1794	James Dadford	By this time he had completed a 3 feet 2 inche gauge edge railway from Bryngwyn collieries (south-east of Hirwaun) to Pendeyrn and possibly some way further towards Aberdare.
July 1800	Thomas Dadford junior	He is asked to re-survey the canal and to recommend improvements to the existing tramroad.
1 August 1800	Thomas Dadford junior	He reported that the canal could be built for £10,500 and that a tramroad 1.5 miles long to the Aberdare Iron Company's works at Llwydcoed would cost £1,500.
Late 1809	Thomas, junior Sheasby	He was engaged as resident engineer.
Autumn 1809	Edward Martin	He re-surveyed the line of the proposed canal.
1810	Evan Hopkin	Together with David Hopkin he was the contractor on the canal.
August 1811	George Overton	He was appointed resident engineer.
August 1811	Thomas, junior Sheasby	He resigned his post as resident engineer and went to the Severn & Wye Railway & Canal Company as clerk and engineer.
1812	Opened.
November 1851	Isambard Kingdom Brunel	Was ordered to provide transfer facilities at Aberdare to allow the transfer of coal and other materials between the railway and the canal tramroad.
1900	Closed.

Aire & Calder Main Line

1704	ACML
1721	Wholly opened from Leeds to Selby.
1818	Thomas Wood	His new basin at Leeds was opened.
September 1818	George, junior Leather	He was asked to help Thomas Wood, the company engineer, in a preliminary survey of a route from Haddlesey to the Dutch River.
September 1818	Thomas Wood	He was asked to do a preliminary survey of a route from Haddlesey to the Dutch River with the help of George Leather junior.
September 1819	George, junior Leather	He was asked to survey a possible branch to the limestone quarries at Womersley.
1820	Thomas Wood	He reported that the navigation improvements to Leeds were complete.
July 1820	George, junior Leather	He was given charge of construction of the new cut.
23 January 1822	George, junior Leather	He wrote a report proposing dock accommodation at Goole for Brigs.
After 1834	James Abernethy	Was assistant engineer to George Leather, junior, in the building of Goole Dock and ship lock.
After 1834	George, junior Leather	Was building of Goole Dock and ship lock, assisted by James Abernethy
1836	George, junior Leather	He is asked to report on making a short cut to join the Goole canal to the River Don.
1840	George, junior Leather	He designed a new dock at Leeds.
1841	Thomas Hammond Bartholomew	Under his direction work began on the new Goole Dock, which was completed in 1843.
1981	IWA National Festival at Leeds.

Aire & Calder Navigation - Selby Section

1769	Thomas Yeoman	He made a survey for a canal from Leeds to Selby and gave a preliminary estimate of £65,350.
1772	John Longbotham	He was employed to make a survey for the proposed Leeds & Selby Canal. His canal was to take 50 or 60-ton craft over a 23 mile 1 furlong route which included a long aqueduct and a 400 yard tunnel at an estimated cost of £59,468.
December 1772	Thomas Yeoman	He supported John Longbotham's Leeds & Selby Canal in parliamentary evidence. This scheme was the alternative to the Aire & Calder's Selby Canal.
1773	William Jessop	Under the direction of John Smeaton he drew up plans for a 5.25 mile canal between Haddlesey and Selby.
1773	John Longbotham	He attends a parliamentary committee on the projected Leeds & Selby Canal, which he surveyed.
1773	John Smeaton	He directs William Jessop in preparing proposals for the new route from Bank Dole to Selby.
1775	Cutting of the Selby Canal started early this year.
Early 1775	William Jessop	Cutting of the Selby canal began under his direction as engineer at £250 a year.
Early 1775	John Gott	He began cutting the canal as resident engineer under William Jessop.
1778	The Selby Canal was built by William Jessop early in his career and opened in 1778.
November 1781	John Gott	He was told to errect and finish staithes at Selby immediately. He had already drawn up plans for these.
February 1782	John Gott	He was told to put up two more staiths at Selby and to prepare plans and estimates for such warehouses, cranes and lay-bys as he thought necessary there.
July 1782	John Gott	He is told to build the Counting House, Warehouse, Crane, Rigging House, Tarring House, Sailmaker's Shop and a place fordepositing old ropes at Selby in accordance with his plans and estimates.
1787	John Gott	He was told to errect two cranes at Selby, one on the river and oneon the canal with three gantries.
November 1792	William Jessop	He came to examine William Martins Plans for a Dock and other facilities at Selby following a request to him in August. He recommended that work start immediately when he reported in January 1793.
1797	Elias Wright	He said that extra height dam boards had to be used at Haddlesey weir because the 3 feet 6 inches depth of the canal was too shallow.He also said that two miles of the canal had sandy banks which washed and blew into the canal necessitating frequent dredging.

Aire & Calder Navigation - Wakefield Section

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.