Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.

History by Waterway from Portsmouth & Arundel Canal

Portsmouth & Arundel Canal

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

1815	John Rennie	The Admiralty having been approached for approval of the scheme by the canal promoters asked him for his advice and he recommended acceptance.
1815	Francis Giles	Together with Netlam Giles he surveyed a route for the canal on behalf of John Rennie.
1815	Netlam Giles	Together with Francis Giles he surveyed a route for the canal on behalf of John Rennie.
Early 1816	John Rennie	He employed Francis and Netlam Giles to survey the line on behalf of the canal promoters and reported to them proposing a barge canal from the tidal Arun at Ford to Salterns in Chchester Harbour, with a branch from Hunston to the city of Chichester. Existing dredged bargeways across Chichester Harbour would allow barges to sail or be towed to the Portsea island canal and a new 1½ mile cut with 2 locks would give access to Portsmouth Harbour. His estimate was £118,990 and later increased to £125,452.
1817	Authorised by an Act.
1823	Fully opened.
1827	Sir John Rennie	Reporting jointly with his brother he said that some of the Ford to Huston section of the canal had only been partially puddled, and part not at all, though it ran through soil 'incapable of holding water'. This lead to salt water damaging farmland. They also estimated it would cost £28,333 for the various works required on the navigation.
1827	George Rennie	Reporting jointly with his brother he said that some of the Ford to Huston section of the canal had only been partially puddled, and part not at all, though it ran through soil 'incapable of holding water'. This lead to salt water damaging farmland. They also estimated it would cost £28,333 for the various works required on the navigation.
Late July 1827	Sir John Rennie	He reported with his brother on the Portsea Canal saying " there was no water in it , nor has it, we understand, been used to any considerable extent on account of the very defective manner in which it has been executed, as it is incapable of holding water."
Late July 1827	George Rennie	He reported with his brother on the Portsea Canal saying " there was no water in it , nor has it, we understand, been used to any considerable extent on account of the very defective manner in which it has been executed, as it is incapable of holding water."
1906	No traffic after 1906.
1986	London's Lost Route to the Sea by P A L Vine, (4th edition) Published by David & Charles.
1995	London to Portsmouth Waterway by P A L Vine, Published by Middleton Press - Limited but informative text with maps.

Par Canal

1847	Opened for the carriage of tin, lead ore and china clay transhipped in containers onto boats from a tramway.
1873	Closed.

Pocklington Canal

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

1801	Henry Eastburn	It was decided to employ him on a survey of two possible routes for the canal.
August 1802	William Chapman	Produced a report considering three lines for the canal of 8, 9.5 amd 13.5 miles in length and recommends the longest one.
1812	George, junior Leather	He was asked by S H Copperthwaite, Earl Fitzwilliam's agent, to survey a line from above Sutton Lock to Pocklington. He said that this was impracticable and that the canal should join the Derwent at East Cottingwith. Without a survey he estimated that an 8 lock canal would cost £43,630 if taken to the Hull turnpike road plus £8,257 if continued another .75 mile and 2 locks into Pocklington.
August 1813	George, junior Leather	He started his survey and was thinking of having another lock on the Derwent at East Cottingwith to raise the depth to 4 feet. He had seen several vessels stuck on a shoal here for 7 or 8 days. He was unable to complete the survey at this time as he was taken ill.
June 1814	George, junior Leather	He completed his survey and produced an estimate of £32,032 for the line to the Hull turnpike road near Pocklington.
September 1814	George, junior Leather	He is asked by George Bagley, one of the promoters, to extend his survey across the turnpike road to Pocklington. He produces a plan showing a further 5 locks into the town.
1815	Promoted by an Act.
1818	Opened.
Summer 1818	George, junior Leather	He is warmly thanked by shareholders for completing the work within estimate, although there was some overspend due to additional facilities add during construction.
1993	The Pocklington Canal (Revised edition) Published by Pocklington Canal Amenity Society - Guide with sketches and maps..

Pidcock's Canal

1779	Built about 1779.
1840	Open until the mid-1840s.

Public Devonshire Canal Project

1793	Robert Whitworth	He approved the line proposed by George Bentley and Thomas Bolton.
1793	George Bentley	Appionted engineer for the project and proposed a line which was approved by Robert Whitworth.
1793	Thomas Bolton	Appionted surveyor for the project and proposed a line which was approved by Robert Whitworth.

Peak Forest Canal

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

1794	Promoted under Acts of Parliament
1794	Benjamin Outram	Was appointed engineer. He was later also commissioned to supply 'Cast Metal Railways' from the Butterley iron-works in which he was a partner.
1794	Thomas Brown	Appointed resident engineer under Benjamin Outram.
October 1794	Robert Fulton	Together with his partner, Charles McNiven, he accepted a contract for cutting part of the canal.
October 1794	Charles McNiven	Together with his partner, Robert Fulton, he accepted a contract for cutting part of the canal.
March 1795	Benjamin Outram	He reports to the committee that 'Messrs. Fulton and McNiven are not proceeding in the cutting that part of the said Canal contracted to be cut by them'. This refers to Robert Fulton and Charles McNiven.
April 1795	Benjamin Outram	He was sent with two others to view the operation of tub-boats and inclined planes at Coalbrook Dale and reported favourably on their use.
April 1795	Robert Fulton	The committee take up his suggestion for a cast iron aquduct over the River Goyt and he later suggests the use of tub-boats and inclined planes.
June 1795	Robert Fulton	The company award him 100 guineas for the ideas and plans that he had put to the committee.
September 1795	Robert Fulton	The last time he is recorded to be working on the canal (as a contractor).
1796	Benjamin Outram	He was engaged in a scheme for a line from the canal near Marple to run above Macclesfield and past Rudyard to the Caldon Branch about 4 miles from Leek. This proposal also included a reservoir at Rudyard.
January 1798	Benjamin Outram	His estimate for a tramroad at Marple, to connect the upper and lower pounds without locks, was accepted.
1800	Opened with a connecting tramroad at Marple.
1800	Promoted under Acts of Parliament
1801	Benjamin Outram	He leaves his post as engineer.
1804	Marple Locks were opened.
October 1804	Thomas Brown	The opening of Marple Locks, for which he was engineer. These were to replace the Marple tramroad.
1805	Promoted under Acts of Parliament
Summer 1810	Nicholas Brown	By this time he had completed a survey for a link to the Cromford Canal.
1811	Thomas Brown	As part of the Wright & Brown partnership he leased limekilns from Samuel Oldknow and managed them until about 1860.
1966	IWA National Rally at Marple.

Whalley Bridge Branch

1800	Opened on 1 May 1800.

Polbrock Canal

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

1796	John Rennie	About this time he directed James Murray in a survey for the 5½ mile canal from Wadebridge along the western side of the river past Polbrock to Dunmere, with a ½ mile branch to near Ruthernbridge.
1797	Authorised by an Act but no work done.

Padstow - Lostwithiel Scheme

Late 1793	George Bentley	Together with Thomas Bolton he made a survey for a line and suggested a short canal with improvements to the river navigations or a longer canal that was not dependent on river improvements.
Late 1793	Thomas Bolton	Together with George Bentley he made a survey for a line and suggested a short canal with improvements to the river navigations or a longer canal that was not dependent on river improvements.
1796	John Rennie	He was asked to comment on the plans and suggested a canal using pairs of narrow boats 35 feet long and 7 feet 6 inches wide. Although he expected useful traffic from the coast inland he did not forsee much coast to coast use of the navigation and suggested a navigation from Guinea Port near Wadebridge to Bodmin - see the Polbrock Canal.
1796	James Murray	He resurveyed a shorted route, that ended at Dunmere about 1.5 miles from Bodmin, under John Rennies direction.
1825	Sir Marc Isambard Brunel	Examined a 13 mile Padstow to Fowey route for a ship canal, including a large tunnel near Lanhydrock. He estimated the cost at £450,000.

Plas Kynaston Canal

1820	Authorised.
1830	Opened about 1830.
1914	Closed.

Pembrey Canal

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

1824	Probably built around 1824.
1840	Probably closed in the 1840s.

Pen-clawdd Canal

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

1811	Authorised by an Act.
1811	David Davies	Made a survey for the canal with Edward Martin.
1811	Edward Martin	Made a survey for the canal with David Davies.
1814	Opened.

Penrhiwtyn Canal

1790	Built between 1790 and 1795.
1795	Built between 1790 and 1795.
1797	Became part of the Neath Canal.

Pensnett Canal

1839	Built from 1839 to 1840.
1840	Built from 1839 to 1840.
1950	Closed.

Perth Canal projects

1805

John Rennie

Gave guidance to Robert Frazer in drawing up his plan for the canal.

Parnall's Canal

1720	Built about 1720.
1732	Closed due to a tunnel fall.

Parrott's Canal

1765	Built around 1765 and formed part of the Coventry Canal line when that was built.

River Parrett

1699	Promoted by Act.
1707	Promoted by Act.
1795	Promoted by Act.
1795	Josiah Easton	Was in charge of works to improve the navigation.
Late 1796	Robert Whitworth	He was asked to examine the works and to estimate the costs of completion.
After 1800	Henry Lovibond	He built a railway to carry barges past the obstruction of Langport Bridge. By 1834 goods were being transhipped "on mens shoulders, and carried on planks under the arches".
1804	Promoted by Act.
1836	Promoted by Act.
Summer 1836	William Gravatt	Was appointed engineer.
Summer 1836	Charles Hodgkinson	Was appointed resident engineer under William Gravatt.
1840	Opened for navigation.

Preston Ship Canal Schemes

1834

Thomas Fletcher

Surveyed and reported that a 9 mile canal taking vessels of up to 200 tons with a draught of 14 feet 6 inches could be built for £101,078.

Portsmouth, Southampton & London Junction Canal

1807	Michael Walker	He resurveyed the route for a 35 mile barge canal from the Itchen at Winchester through Alresford, Alton and Farnham to either Aldershot on the Basingstoke Canal or Godalming on the Wey Navigation. The summit was to crossed either by a 7 mile railway or (as was later proposed) a two mile tunnel. The cost was estimated at £140,000 with a railway or £200,000 with a tunnel.
Early 1809	John Rennie	He estimated the cost of the canal with a tunnel at its summit would be £440,790.

Petworth Canal

1793	Opened in 1793 but only used for a few years.
1795	William Jessop	He surveyed a line for the proposed canal.
1995	London's Lost Route to Midhurst by P A L Vine, Published by Alan Sutton Publishing Ltd - A history of the Rother Navigation, the Petworth Canal and their links to London via the Wey & Arun navigations.

River Ribble

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

1806	An act was passed for imprving the navigation of the river.

Ribble Link

2002	This new link between the River Ribble and the Lancaster Canal was opened.

Rochdale Canal

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

Mid 1766	James Brindley	He surveyed two routes for the canal and estimated the cost as £79,180 for a route similar to the one later built, and £102,625 for a route through Bury.
Spring 1791	Robert Whitworth	He was asked to do a survey for the canal but could not find the time.
April 1791	William Jessop	He was asked to do a survey for the canal but could not find the time.
June 1791	John Rennie	He is choosen to survey the line with William Crosley senior assisting him.
June 1791	William, Senior Crosley	Appointed to assist John Rennie in the survey of the route.
August 1791	John Rennie	He is told to survey branches into Rochdale and Oldham, and from Todmorden to limeworks at Craven on the proposed line of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal.
1792	John, junior Gilbert	He was made a member of the new canal committee following the defeat of the canal Bill earlier in the year.
Early 1792	Robert Mylne	He was retained by the company as an expert in water supply matters at the time the company were trying to get a Bill through parliament and were opposed by millowners.
Early 1792	John Rennie	He proposes the use of steam engines for keeping the canal supplied with water, three on the Yorkshire side and eight in Lancashire.
September 1792	John Longbotham	He assisted William Crosley in surveys for reserviors so that the canal could be supplied with water without affecting the water supplies to mills.
September 1792	William, Senior Crosley	Surveyed for reseviors, assisted by John Longbotham.
1793	William, Senior Crosley	Produce the survey plan for the third Bill under John Rennie's direction.
Early 1793	John Rennie	He estimates a cost of £291,929 for the whole canal from Sowerby Bridge with no junction with the Ashton Canal. This was a narrow canal with a 3,000 yard tunnel and eleveb reservoirs.
1794	Promoted by an Act.
1794	John, junior Gilbert	At some time at or after this date he became a contractor building the canal.
1794	Henry Taylor	He was appointed resident engineer (together with William Crosley) but he soon resisigned.
Early 1794	Robert Mylne	He was retained again to give parliamentary evidence in the second attempt to get their Bill through parliament.
Early 1794	William, Senior Crosley	Was appointed resident engineer, at first jointly with Henry Taylor but he soon resigned.
January 1794	William Jessop	About this time though "so much engaged" he found time to survey parts of the canal where water supplies were giving concern to mill owners.
17 June 1794	William Jessop	Having been over the line layout by William Crosley and proposed the elimination of the planned tunnel by the addition of 14 locks, thus saving £20,000. His canal was to be 42 foot wide, except on embankments or in cuttings, and 5 feet deep and he specified postions for each of the locks.
Late 1796	Thomas Bradley	Appointed resident engineer.
Spring 1796	William Jessop	He inspected the works and reported favourably on what had been done.
Early 1797	Thomas Townshend	He is appointed resident engineer.
1800	Promoted by an Act.
Late 1802	William, Junior Crosley	Appointed engineer under William Jessop's supervision.
Late 1802	Thomas Townshend	He left the company.
1804	Opened.
1804	Promoted by an Act.
9 September 1804	Charles McNiven	He writes to the Liverpool corporation and points out that although the Rochdale Canal is not complete "timber & other goods" from Hull are arriving at Manchester through that route even "under the disadvantage of twelve miles of land carriage".
1806	Promoted by an Act.
1807	Promoted by an Act.
Late 1830	William, Junior Crosley	Checked the actual traffic level on the Manchester to Sowerby Bridge turnpike road as part of the canal company's opposition to a proposed railway between these points.
October 1830	James Walker	He was engineer, with George Stephenson, for a proposed Manchester To Sowerby Bridge railway that was to run parallel to the canal between Todmorden and Littleborough.
October 1830	George Stephenson	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.
1845	James Thomson	He was asked to "survey the line of Canal and ascertain the practicability of converting the whole or any part of it into a Railway". He recommended against conversion instead suggesting a new canal to replace the Calder & Hebble Navigation.
1952	Closed to navigation.
1996	At Sowerby Bridge Tuel Lane Lock opened, giving access to the Yorkshire end of the Canal.
1998	The South Pennine Ring by John Lower, Published by Hallamshire Press - A boaters' and walkers' guide to the Huddersfield and Rochdale Canals.
2002	The whole of the canal was reopened.

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.