Subsequently, the Kennet built by John Hore opened in 1723, the Mersey and Irwell opened in 1725, and the Bristol Avon in 1727. In 1699 legislation was passed to permit the Aire & Calder Navigation which was opened 1703, and the Trent Navigation which was built by George Hayne and opened in 1712. In 1670 the Stamford Canal opened, indistinguishable from 18th century examples with a dedicated cut and double-door locks. In 1635 Sir Richard Weston was appointed to develop the River Wey Navigation, making Guildford accessible by 1653. In 1605, the government of King James I established the Oxford-Burcot Commission, which began to improve the system of locks and weirs on the River Thames, which were opened between Oxford and Abingdon by 1635. Some 29 river navigation improvements took place in the 16th and 17th centuries. One horse-drawn canal barge could carry about thirty tonnes at a time, faster than road transport and at half the cost. Because of the small loads that could be carried, supplies of essential commodities such as coal and iron ore were limited, and this kept prices high and restricted economic growth. The poor state of most of the roads meant that they could often become unusable after heavy rain. The restrictions of coastal shipping and river transport were obvious, and horses and carts could only carry one or two tons of cargo at a time. In the 17th century, as early industry started to expand, this transport situation was highly unsatisfactory. There was also a small amount of traffic carried along navigable rivers. The transport system that existed before the canals were built consisted of coastal shipping and horses and carts struggling along mostly unsurfaced mud roads (although there were some surfaced turnpike roads). Simple flash locks were provided to regulate the flow of water and allow loaded boats to pass through shallow waters by admitting a rush of water, but these were not purpose-built canals as we understand them today. The first Act of Parliament was obtained by the City of Canterbury in 1515, to extend navigation on the River Stour in Kent, followed by the River Exe in 1539, which led to the construction in 1566 of a new channel, the Exeter Canal. In the post-medieval period, some natural waterways were "canalised" or improved for boat traffic in the 16th century. Some closed canals have been restored, and canal museums have opened. At the outset the boats were towed by horses, but later they were driven by diesel engines. Since then, canals have been increasingly used for recreation and tourism.ĭifferent types of boat used the canals: the most common was the traditional narrowboat, painted in the Roses and Castles design. In 1948, much of the network was nationalised. From the beginning of the 20th century the road network became progressively more important canals became uneconomic and were abandoned. From 1840 the canals began to decline, because the growing railway network was a more efficient means of transporting goods. The majority of the network was built in the "Golden Age" of canals, between the 1770s and the 1830s. The Bridgewater Canal followed in 1761 and proved to be highly profitable. The Sankey Canal was the first British canal of the Industrial Revolution, opening in 1757. The Exeter Ship Canal was completed in 1567. In the post-medieval period, some rivers were canalised for boat traffic. The canal network was extensive and included feats of civil engineering such as the Anderton Boat Lift, the Manchester Ship Canal, the Worsley Navigable Levels and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. The canals allowed raw materials to be transported to a place of manufacture, and finished goods to be transported to consumers, more quickly and cheaply than by a land based route. The UK was the first country to develop a nationwide canal network which, at its peak, expanded to nearly 4,000 miles (6,400 kilometres) in length. The canal network of the United Kingdom played a vital role in the Industrial Revolution. In Great Britain nearly 4,000 miles (6,400 km) of canals (shown in brown) were built
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |