The MetamorphosisMetamorphosis ofof thethe Ellesmere Canal

BY RICHARD DEAN Of the existing published accountsaccounts ofof the inception and development of the Ellesmere CanalCanal project,project, those byby Charles HadfieldHadfield restrest onon the firmestfirmest ground,'ground,' and several othersothers addadd usefuluseful informationinformation withwith varyingvarying degrees degrees of of accuracy.' accuracy.' The present writer's intention isis toto detaildetail thethe rapidrapid andand complexcomplex changeschanges which took place mainly between 1791 and 1805, resulting in a waterway very differentdifferent both from that originallyoriginally conceived andand fromfrom thatthat firstfirst authorised. AsAs an aid to understanding these changes, considerable attentionattention has been given to the preparation of thethe accompanyingaccompanying maps.3maps.' Little will be found here concerning Pontcysyllte Aqueduct as it is hoped to devote a separate article toto it in the near future.

The Main Line The earliest proposals for what laterlater becamebecame thethe Ellesmere Ellesmere CanalCanal havehave already been noticed in the Journal.Journal.' 4 The project waswas revived inin 1789, and it was a trio of Shropshire gentry who called the first public meeting in AugustAugust 1791 'to consider of the scheme andand ofof thethe lineline toto bebe adopted.'adopted.' John Duncombe,Duncombe, aa locallocal engineer fromfrom Oswestry, carried out the initial technicaltechnical appraisalappraisal and made a preliminary estimate of £100,000 for a narrow canal.' Whatever routeroute the promoters had in mind (and the venuesvenues of the firstfirst meetingsmeetings at Overton andand EllesmereEllesmere may givegive some clue) it was clearly a subject of considerable discussion: aa draftdraft circular toto landowners indicatedindicated thatthat 'the coursecourse of the canal is notnot at present absolutely fixed'.fixed'. TheThe unanimous resolution at the August meeting stated 'that itit isis practicablepracticable toto makemake suchsuch canalcanal soso asas to passpass near to or communicate with branches from several extensive coal limelime and slate works in the ParishesParishes of of Chirk, Chirk, Ruabon Ruabon .•.. . . Llangollen• Llangollen ... .. ; and. and Oswestry Oswestry ...... andand with a branch to extend toto Llanymynech'Llanymynech' withwith thethe possibilitypossibility of further branchesbranches to Wem andand Whitchurch.Whitchurch. The draft presented at thethe meeting had not includedincluded the words in italics, and both versions are carefully recordedrecorded in the minutes. Dumcombe was directed to make an additional surveysurvey 'of'of aa lineline whichwhich has been mentioned at this meeting'.`meeting'" AA route route from from the the Mersey Mersey toto ChesterChester andand easteast of the River Dee to Shrewsbury was set out inin aa preliminary newspapernewspaper notice agreedagreed at the meeting, formally reportedreported on byby JosephJoseph TurnerTurner inin September,'September,' andand described by him in a pamphlet published on 11 October 1791.88 BranchesBranches werewere included to Ruabon andand Llangollen,Llangollen, to Whitchurch, toto Llanymynech, and to the Grinshill quarries. ItIt seemsseems likely that DenbighshireDenbighshire coal and iron proprietors, dissatisfied at being on a branch, suggested the possibility of a main line west of the Dee which DuncombeDuncombe waswas to to examine,examine, but but thatthat theythey had to accept for the time being thethe proposals put forward at thethe AugustAugust meeting on which the preparatory work had alreadyalready been done. With the prospect of seriousserious disagreementdisagreement looming, the Committee resolved to ask William J Jessopessop toto surveysurvey 'the'the said canalcanal andand thethe (two) different lineslines which have beenbeen proposed for the same and to consider and give hishis opinion'.opinion'. HeHe waswas to be accompaniedaccompanied by DuncombeDuncombe andand WilliamWilliam Turner,Turner, another locallocal engineer, and the latterlatter waswas toto explainexplain hishis ideasideas for aa shortenedshortened easterneastern lineline usingusing the existingexisting Chester Canal asas farfar asas Tattenhall,Tattenhall, andand from there to Braden Heath near 228 Welshampton, and also a branch from Whitchurch to nearnear Prees.Prees!9 JessopJessop reported toto aa meetingmeeting on 99 January 17921792 heldheld inin WrexhamWrexham (on the western route) when it was determined to defer any parliamentary application thatthat sessionsession pending completion ofof thethe survey work.ID work." ThisThis report report was was subsequentlysubsequently with-with­ drawn at his request and replaced on 2323 AugustAugust by 'a'a moremore generalgeneral and compre-compre­ hensive reportreport upon the subject containing the substance of his former report with such additionsadditions asas he waswas enabled to makemake inin consequenceconsequence ofof hishis havinghaving taken a second surveysurvey of of the the line line of of the the intended intended canal canal and and the the branches branches ...... "` .'11 It is worth quoting the introduction inin full: On the cursorycursory viewview of the countrycountry betweenbetween the the Mersey Mersey andand thethe SevernSevern whichwhich I took thethe lastlast yearyear whenwhen itit waswas a question whether aa line on the easterneastern or western side of the River Dee would be most desireable itit appearedappeared to me that the western line would be best. II couldcould notnot nearly nearly judgejudge ofof thethe comparativecomparative expence as no particular surveys had been made, in both there werewere locallocal difficulties yet I had some reason to believe that thethe westernwestern lineline would cost more than the other, butbut onon consideringconsidering that thoughthough thethe mercantilemercantile trade might be considerable it would bear no comparison with thethe carriagecarriage of coalcoal and lime which from the information thatthat I I receivedreceived waswas very great I recommend as the first object thethe surveysurvey ofof thethe westernwestern lineline forfor thethe followingfollowing reasonsreasons The towns of Chester and Shrewsbury which consume a great quantity of coalcoal are now supplied at a price not very moderate, it appearedappeared to me an object material to the interest of thethe undertakersundertakers of thethe proposedproposed canal that those towns should bebe suppliedsupplied byby it.it. IfIf thethe easterneastern lineline had been adopted the communication with thethe collieriescollieries must have been so circuitous that therethere waswas hardly a probability ofof conveyingconveying coal to those townstowns atat aa lessless expence than they now receivedreceived them at. IfIf every every possiblepossible lineline couldcould havehave been actually surveyed II might more satisfactorily have formedformed my opinion but Mr Duncombe's time havinghaving been wholly_wholly_occupied occupied by by thethe western line and he having producedproduced a survey thereofthereof I shall statestate to you my observations thereon. Jessop wentwent onon toto recommend recommend a a canal canal across across the the Wirral, Wirral, aa levellevel crossingcrossing of the Dee below Chester, and a western route viavia Wrexham, Ruabon, Chirk, and Baschurch to Shrewsbury, with branches toto Holt and Llanymynech, at a total cost of £196,898 (Map(Map No. 1B). HeHe suggestedsuggested exploration of a route, whichwhich must soon have been found impractical, to the west of Boreatton Park to avoidavoid a 476-yd tunnel at Weston Lullingfields, andand alsoalso thethe construction of a branch from Hordley to Smithy Moor that couldcould bebe extendedextended towardstowards WhitchurchWhit church ifif the necessary locks near Croesmere werewere suppliedsupplied byby pumpingpumping upup waterwater from the Hordley pound. HeHe preferredpreferred a a directdirect low-levellow-level route to Shrewsbury rather than deviating the main line from Hindford towards Tetchill atat aa highhigh level to join with and follow the southern part ofof thethe easterneastern routeroute byby CockshuttCockshutt andand Grinshill.Grinshill. The revised report was made public at a meeting in Ellesmere on 10 September 1792 which came at the height of thethe 'Canal'Canal Mania'. AlmostAlmost £1M£lM inin subscriptionssubscriptions was profferedproffered from 1500 speculators, and: So great is the Navigation Mania thatthat Shrewsbury, about 1616 milesmiles from Ellesmere, waswas soso crowded crowded on on thethe nightsnights beforebefore andand afterafter the meeting that many people found veryvery great difficulty inin gettinggetting accommodated:accommodated: severalseveral gentleman being obliged toto take care of their own horses, cook their ownown vitals, and sleep two and three in a bed; and so difficult was itit to procure horses and carriages fromfrom LeicesterLeicester andand MarketMarket HarboroughHarborough (on(on accountaccount of the people going fromfrom those towns) that six gentlemen from the latter placeplace actually hired and went in a mourningmourning coach.coach."lZ Jessop's supportsupport forfor thethe westernwestern routeroute hadhad by by no no means means extinguishedextinguished thethe earlierearlier proposals, and in the heady atmosphereatmosphere ofof thethe timetime subscriptionssubscriptions werewere alsoalso 229 MAP

R MERSEY THE EASTERN R. MERSEY THE A. THE EASTERN B. N WESTERN AND WIRRAL WESTERN o ~,, ~, . SCHEME ~ SCHEME

SCHEME SCHEME 1 Th WIRRAL ~),‘ } Nov. 1792 ~ As Quthori ••d CANAL 1/ \ . Nov. 1792 (.-6;/56'j As authorised bridge April 1793 e r~6' 'T;'~ff~~~ ~ April 1793

ri;' D ~ ..,\,,[:.hesterschesfer fE .14.Chester~ Chester ev el

MILESI . o M LE S

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. ,?• th e E arymbe B,ym:'\ /;;i;. f ll I~ Al0nrwich Nantwich e . sme • Wrexham, Bersham • Wrexham :ShockiachShocklach ~.: ••Wrexham I· ',- " "'~ .1tt ;i,' ...m, rn( •. Ma/pasMalpas o.to' ..Z'Y • Malpas• Malpas re C , : >, ~ \8,.13 c' 800 ~ , \ Valle R b' ... Ne9'r • .... L0>tp)-.~~).„ .... orindley Brook anal , Valle puabon ID g Cry Grindley Brook Ruabon'"Rvabon. "~ ~\Cruclsprods uo o'!.{~,,~AN ,~~, ...... t',' ...... ~ .. ":. .; \-,.§JI.§'>o~~~~ t.~ -' • -":~ 'i69~ ,.-4 .' •''''''''' . WhitchurchWhifch/Jrch ""J,.Whifch/Jrch A",~ t ~ DengL/ongo/len' ollen`'"' C Overton .... 'j'~''''' . .~"L,. ,,' HonerHanmer :v.iC \ Pehley`Z,...;PeAley':.)!, 73.:b...•.... • Honmer Hanmer fens,AHall JCnirk Chirk • Fen~J.Hall '\,..~U!. .' ..... ~z t ..:'1 ...... ~,.;~tII.A... ~::, .. ?..9=`' Vs- ElleStrigrf£"esm'er~ \.Weishampton\.Welshampton Prees ...... EllesmereEllesm~re~~-:W~/shampton ,:;-14-tels,,,,,,,,,,t,,, prvesPrees Prees .•' BletchleyBletchley TetchillTetchill> I~ '''"..~~...,'... 310310'' '/' AAAA"AAA - Duncombe/YessopDvncombe/Tessop /· ...... ---' .... -- ..\·~···i··· AA~ -..:;:::17olley ..;::Ho""'~/eJ proposals, SummerSummer 17921792 OswestryOswes~ry Oswestry rye';'b~l • •VA '\'A BB-BB - Branches conditionallyconditiona/ly r"' Cockshuti:\TCockshuff~\T 'Wem rts/ ' • Weir Morda 11': '~.. authorised by by 17931793 Act.Act'. . ,,/ \ < .~~B ....A ,. \ 0,/ I.• BurlBurlton fon N Maesbury~ 11 ~ Weston rr,/':~' • •Maesbury Maesbury \ .. ,g!.C2..',.. Moes bury t, Weston A..,...... ,,/A "';'~vl"n9fields■C L(/////19 fle/CIS :' Mjdd/e}_.: Grinshill6rmshlll it ... ;'l BoreottonBorea'lton :• • t1 ...•:Baschurch -:'Llanym.Ynech \ eLlanymynech Alanymynech ,I iLlanJmYneCh~\~:~~::::onNr ‘‘ 1"-N ...... Leaton Battlefield )8am",.,d R. t ? R SEVERN / ~ ..--~ ~s~~1'---:-- , , f,,'" Ti Shrewsbury l !)~~/p''' Shrewsbury ? , ...... (/'tl

C.c. R. MERSEY DEVIATIONS D. R. MERSEY THE AND FINAL EXTENSIONS PHASE '4 As proposed As proposed LateLat. 17961796 Nov.1793Nov. 1793

Chester Chester ODDD - Turner,Turner'3 final C -- Turner'sTurner's line tofo Shrewsbury Shrewsbury scheme, 17951795 #. f'·. E - Commercial Cana/Conal 4.' schen?e ...f, at scheme v Dodleston Y CA^,1 GANA, PuifordiPu/fordli Tattenhall 7110 C' •• : Taftenhall Caerowri re. RE'R• ` Ffrwd Stoke, •• .fBroxton Moss - • RESR\~~(rfd .Jt:~f~~~~ •lEiroston StOk~ ~_ \ •~J'V.') Holt ,A4!,I& ActonActon , ; Nontwich \/...... o0'1 Nan~widh· `,Hampton Nontwich Wrexham ,,ii,.···";·Wrexham*, ..•.Wrexhom ....··1.a ....mpron.;, lE Bersham r BershonteBershamr \ -.I ~_, 4.1 ( • Mo/pos : \ maiR°Malpas5 •• t.....1114/renbury' ...... ,:;:-:'!i1v:.enbury Ruabon ~\ .... Grindley BrooktrarburyMarbury Rvabon ) Ruabonl BrooJifo Whitchurch ;0/.ttJ,~ . I~ .... Whitch/Jrch ••~: ,'·f ...... Fens Hall y .rChirk -:~hirlCanals completed/in hond sr- Hardier; Oswestry Canals completed/in hand Oswestry05we.stry /10;.... •1. ••••.~·tr._ dleJ l;~...kshuH • "'em Wem Authorised CanalsCanals .~ _ ., .., /' r • „.. Proposals • ••, \D MoesburyMoesburJ \ We~ton Weiton Earlier proposals abandoned , .~:.... ':::.' Lulli,ngfields Llongedwyn , s:Lullingfields (where(where relevant)relevont) '" ',.4!,";L:t11t f ields '),!.,. "1 ~ •y.., •• :- LlanymLlonymynechynech ~~. .. -;alonymynech , o•t I MoNTGoMERYSHIRE ,Leoton MONTGOMERYSHEMONTGOMEItYSH~?IR t.-~.. ~~.:t... Leaton CANAL CANALCANAL) ) RPo S. t RSEfr . ~"~R ~ '1,.. ... - IV ~ ••~ s~BU LiI V-~r 1,---- ShrewsburyShre.wsbury· ~~p''' Shrewsbury If

axeR~O opened for a separate and rival 'Eastern'Eastern Canal'.Canal'. As submitted for the 17931793 parliamentary session (Map No.No. lA)1A) this included a revised routeroute north of Cockshutt toto passpass easteast ofof EllesmereEllesmere by Welshampton and Penley to the Chester Canal near Tattenhall,Tattenhall, with an extended 'Colliery'Colliery Branch'Branch' crossingcrossing the Dee by an aqueduct at Overton and locking upup to Ruabon, where one branch ran to a terminus at Valle Crucis nearnear toto the slateslate quarriesquarries aboveabove Llangollen, and another on the samesame level to John Wilkinson's Bersham Foundry.Foundry. WhitchurchWhitchurch was was servedserved by a branch up thethe WychWych Valley to Grindley Brook, and the Llanmynech quarries byby a levellevel but but lengthylengthy branch branch fromfrom Croesmere.Croesmere."13 AA nominallynominally separateseparate -I `Wirral'Wirral Canal' Canal' linked linked thethe ChesterChester CanalCanal toto the Mersey with a branch toto BridgeBridge Trafford."Trafford.'4 BargeBarge width width was was proposedproposed throughout,throughout, andand thethe proprietorsproprietors of the near-derelict Chester Canal werewere urgedurged toto give itit theirtheir support. With opposition threatened from thisthis scheme the western committee negotiated for a merger whilst takingtaking immediateimmediate stepssteps toto strengthen and consolidate their position in preparation for any parliamentary contest. TheThe provisional provisional capitalcapital was increased byby £100,000£100,000 so that a more positive attitudeattitude could be adopted towards 'the'the neighbourhoodneighbourhood ofof Whitchurch Whitchurch andand Wem Wem where thethe coalscoals andand limelime are likely toto be most inin demand.'demand." 5 ToTo secure secure this this territory territory William William Turner and others were given immediateimmediate instructionsinstructions on 11 September 1792 to surveysurvey a branch from MaestermynMaestermyn BridgeBridge to Prees Heath via Whitchurch for inclusion in the proposed bill. TheThe parliamentaryparliamentary noticesnotices publishedpublished thethe following following week duly incorporated it,it,Jessop Jessop waswas askedasked toto viewview and estimate, and itit waswas hurriedly added to the deposited plans.'6plans." AsAs a a further further counter counter to to the the Eastern Eastern Canal, Canal, a connection was proposed fromfrom the new branch to the nearest convenient point on the Chester Canal. Turner seems to have laidlaid outout the branch so that it could if necessary make a convenient junctionjunction with thethe summitsummit levellevel ofof thethe rivalrival schemescheme at Welshampton, perhapsperhaps withwith the aim of adopting the Welshampton to Tattenhall section of that project. TheThe matter matter was was complicatedcomplicated byby thethe objectionobjection ofof SirSir Thomas Hanmer to this section passing through his estate, and an alternative had to be sought."sought." Negotiations dragged onon throughthrough the winter, and by the timetime thethe finalfinal mergermerger of the opposingopposing groups was agreed inin February 17931793'818 itit was was tootoo latelate fullyfully to incorporate inin thethe Western'sWestern's bill all the changes thatthat were needed to satisfy the Eastern subscribers, withwith thethe resultresult thatthat the Act did not represent the current intentions of the twotwo groups of promoters,promoters, byby thenthen united inin lawlaw ifif notnot inin spirit.spirit." '. The new company now needed powers toto build both routes north ofof Ellesmere, Ellesmere, with the junction ofof the the broad broad Eastern Eastern line line being being movedmoved sixsix miles further easteast along the Whitchurch Branch to FennsF enns Hall to accommodate SirSir Thomas Hanmer's wishes. A lengthy clauseclause in in the the Act'o Act" authorisedauthorised this, subject to the unlikely event ofof allall affectedaffected land-ownersland-owners voluntarilyvoluntarily agreeing,agreeing, failingfailing which a further Act had toto bebe sought.sought. NotNot surprisingly, surprisingly, thethe projectproject waswas backback inin Parliament the next session.session. William Turner,Turner, byby nownow onon the Committee, represented a faction whichwhich stillstill favoured a more easterly high-level route route forfor thethe southernsouthern part ofof thethe MainMain Line, striking south fromfrom aa pointpoint onon the the Whitchurch Whit church BranchBranch nearnear ColeCole Mere to rejoin the western route at Leaton. ThisThis wouldwould shortenshorten thethe distancedistance forfor throughthrough traffictraffic on the eastern line at the expense of that onon thethe western,western, which he in turn wanted to demote toto thethe status status of of a a northwards northwards branch branch serving serving thethe DenbighshireDenbighshire coalfield ratherrather after the naturenature ofof thethe originaloriginal project. TheThe levels levels wouldwould bebe raisedraised both northnorth andand southsouth ofof Pontcysyllte Pontcysyllte toto avoidavoid thethe RuabonRuabon andand ChirkChirk tunnelstunnels and to facilitatefacilitate an upper route toto LlanymynechLlanymynech (see(see below). The Committee initially supported thesethese proposals, which they furtherfurther resolvedresolved would be broad canals, and authorised detailed surveyssurveys of of thethe variousvarious parts," parts," includedincluded Fenns 232 Hall to Tattenhall, so that plansplans couldcould be deposited in time for thethe 17941794 session session of Parliment.22 (Map(Map No. No. 1C) 1C) ThereThere were were two two amendments amendments toto Turner'sTurner's proposals:proposals: a western line to Chester was retained,retained, and the Colemere to Leaton deviation of the Main Line omitted. However,However, aa shortshort variationvariation ofof thethe WhitchurchWhitchurch BranchBranch shown between Spoonhill and Welshampton maymay have beenbeen inin anticipationanticipation of the latter's beingbeing proceeded with at a later date. On 3 September 17931793 Thomas Telford was appointed General Agent to the concern,"concern,'3 a akey key post post sought sought by by Turner, Turner, who who soon soon found found himself himself increasingly increasingly isolated as opposition grew withinwithin thethe CommitteeCommittee toto the nature andand scalescale of the changes he was pursuing.pursuing. TelfordTelford vividlyvividly summedsummed upup thethe atmosphereatmosphere — - 'besides the realreal labour thatthat attendsattends suchsuch aa greatgreat publicpublic work,work, contentions,contentions, jealousies,jealousies, and prejudices are stationed like gloomy sentinelssentinels fromfrom oneone extremityextremity of the line to the other'." Matters Matters came came to to a ahead head in in December December when when thethe CommitteeCommittee recordedrecorded that theirtheir engineersengineers were 'not yet fullyfully prepared toto pointpoint outout what what lines lines willwill be practicable or adviseable' and set up a sub-committee to consider all the additional cuts, variations, andand branchesbranches that that hadhad been been proposed." proposed." OnOn Jessop's Jessop's recommen-recommen­ dation, thethe CompanyCompany postponed theirtheir billbill forfor thatthat sessionsession as 'he is of the opinionopinion that considerableconsiderable improvementsimprovements may still be made in the lineslines and plans ...... and that itit willwill bebe adviseableadviseable toto have some partsparts of the adjacent country resurveyedresurveyed . in order toto determinedetermine whetherwhether in in various various instancesinstances expensiveexpensive aqueducts deep cutting and other difficulties maymay notnot be avoided oror thethe expenseexpense thereof thereof reduced'. reduced'." 2. This coincided with pressure to start work onon thethe authorisedauthorised lineslines inin ShropshireShropshire to accommodate thethe coalcoal andand limelime trade and thethe MontgomeryshireMontgomeryshire Canal. The Committee took thethe plungeplunge and made an early start on thethe authorisedauthorised LlanymynechLlanymynech Branch, the first contract being let in March 1794.1794. FranktonFrankton Locks Locks andand thethe MainMain Line northwards to ChirkChirk BankBank followed at the beginningbeginning of 1795, being justified on job-creation groundsgrounds —- 'a'a greatgreat numbernumber of persons are out of employemploy owing to Wilkinson having stopt his Bersham Works'."Works'.27 With the Committee resolution in January 17951795 thatthat William William Turner be treated in future asas a proprietor only,only, hehe ceasedceased to hold any formal position with the Company, but 'being'being aa proprietor andand anan actingacting engineerengineer under the unanimous appointment ofof thethe GeneralGeneral Assembly ofof thethe Company II thinkthink it my duty toto useuse every meansmeans toto improveimprove this this extensive extensive undertaking'.'· undertaking'." FortifiedFortified with with a a legallegal opinion the CommitteeCommittee hadhad refusedrefused himhim access to all the Company's papers, but, undeterred, he proceeded at the endend ofof 17951795 toto publishpublish parliamentaryparliamentary notices and deposit plansplans"29 atat his his own own expense expense for for the the 1796 1796 session session whichwhich thethe CompanyCompany had to repudiate formally.formally. TheThe matter matter was was referredreferred toto Jessop,J essop, whowho reportedreported againstagainst proceeding withwith anyany of the Turner schemes andand pointed pointed outout thatthat 'as I do not think any of themthem areare properly surveyed, II submitsubmit itit toto the Committee that onon the futurefuture surveysurvey ofof themthemMr Mr DuncombeDuncombe oror MrMr DensonDenson should accompany Mr TurnerTurner soso thatthat therethere maymay bebe nothingnothing leftleft toto disputedispute afterwards,.3.afterwards'." The Main LineLine asas farfar southsouth asas Weston Weston Lullingfields Lullingfields was was completed completed in in 1797.31 1797." It had been determined the previous yearyear toto extendextend through the tunnel to nearnear Baschurch,Baschurch,3232 butbut in in the the event event the the line line toto ShrewsburyShrewsbury peteredpetered out inin aa remoteremote field quarter of aa mile south ofof Weston Wharf. Several attempts were made to revive itit subsequently,subsequently, eithereither alongalong thethe authorisedauthorised routeroute or the alternative at the Whitchurch level, butbut it was proved in 1803 that thethe ShrewsburyShrewsbury CanalCanal would commandcommaIid the market for coal in Shrewsbury andand thatthat the construction costcost would not yield a satisfactorysatisfactory return.return."33 North-west from Frankton, thethe canalcanal mustmust havehave been opened to ChirkChirk Bank by November 17981798 whenwhen aa wharfingerwharfinger was was appointed appointed there," there," WaterWater had to be drawn from the RiverRiver Morlas, subjectsubject toto restrictionsrestrictions contained in the 1793 Act, for the supplysupply of thethe fourfour lockslocks at Frankton,Frankton, and and in in viewview of the scarcityscarcity 233 it isis surprising thatthat twotwo of them were constructed in a staircase pair.pair. FromFrom Chirk Bank the easiest route called for an embankment straightstraight acrossacross the CeiriogCeiriog Valley above ChirkChirk Bridge,Bridge, but but toto satisfy the landowner the authorised line lay up the steepsteep south sideside ofof thethe valleyvalley toto PontPont Faen, Faen, followed followed byby a a 1236-y.d 1236-y.d tunneltlJ.nnel through thethe high ground to the north. AtAt Jessop's Jessop's suggestion, suggestion, hehe was prevailed uponupon to accept the direct route with the offer ofof anan aqueduct inin lieu of the embankment for the fullfull width of thethe valley,valley, to form an attractive landscape feature.feature. Work started in 1796 and John Rennie's ratherrather harshharsh comment on the resulting structure makes an interesting comparison withwith Jessop'sJessop's intention:intention: This aqueduct is situated in a beautiful romanticromantic valevale & might had it been planned with taste been one of the most beautifulbeautiful thingsthings in this Kingdom but as it is, it is one of the most uglyugly things I have seen && doesdoes butbut littlelittle credit in that respect to the architect.36 Not everyone would agree with him. Beyond the aqueduct a 459-yd cut-and-cover tunneltunnel andand a lon~lonj curved cutting brought the line back to the parliamentary route, and it was opened through to the Vron Basin onon thethe southsouth sideside ofof PontcysylltePontcysyllte about about Christmas Christmas 1801,37 1801," and over the aqueduct there on 26 November 1805.

The Wirral Line One of the fewfew proposals on which thethe easterneastern andand westernwestern groupsgroups werewere generallygenerally in agreement was thatthat between Chester and thethe Mersey.Mersey. AsAs thethe WirralWirral Canal this was nominally separate from the Eastern Canal and would have lockedlocked upup from the Chester Canal Basin toto the Mersey at Whitby (later Ellesmore Port), with aa levellevel branch to Bridge Trafford!·Trafford." TheThe western western scheme, scheme, asas authorised by the 1793 Act, was very similarsimilar savesave for for the the absenceabsence of of the the branch,branch, butbut connected direct into thethe DeeDee atat ChesterChester toto avoidavoid thethe BasinBasin ownedowned by thethe RiverRiver DeeDee Company who were initiallyinitially hostilehostile to to thethe westernwestern project!9 project." TheyThey were were placatedplacated with protec-protec­ tive provisions inin thethe ActAct givinggiving them them power power to to build build the the partsparts onon theirtheir property,property, for which tolls could be charged,charged, and preventing thethe EllesmereEllesmere Company carrying water across or under the Dee for the supplysupply ofof thethe WirralWirral Line: Jessop had originally envisaged an an ironiron syphonsyphon forfor this purpose.'opurpose.4° Construction proceeded quickly with the prospect of earlyearly traffic receipts, and a passage boatboat beganbegan runningrunning onon 11 July July 1795, presumably from a temporary terminus at Chester. ItIt was was anan immediateimmediate success,success, and Telford could reportreport three weeks laterlater that:that: The business of the PassagePassage Boat is encreasing, every personperson is pleasedpleased withwith it, and the Eastham coach is nearly deserted, the market cartscarts areare expiring, and 1 I Iam am taking taking measures measures that that will will prove prove aa severesevere blow to the landland carriagecarriage to and from Manchester & Chester etc."etc. 41 The locks to the rivers atat either end were notnot built as part!part of the original contract,contract, probably due to thethe uncertaintyuncertainty of of obtaining obtaining water water — - JessopJessop hadhad pointedpointed out that thethe countrycountry couldcould notnot provideprovide aa continuouscontinuous naturalnatural supplysupply and mentioned both pumpingpumping from thethe StanneyStanney MillMill goit and taking in the waste water of the Chester Canal. The latter schemescheme was soon implemented, but did not provide sufficient for the lockage-demand. This had to be accommodatedaccommodated by aa steam engine atat Ellesmere Port,Port, completedcompleted inin 1799, back-pumping thethe water from the lower basin there. At Chester the Company were authorised in 1796 to revert to thethe originaloriginal proposal to join the Chester Canal Basin'"Basin," andand afterafter lengthylengthy negotiationsnegotiations with the River Dee CompanyCompany thisthis waswas accomplishedaccomplished by by two two locks.locks. A shortshort branch from the Wirral levellevel waswas also also carried carried directly directly into into thethe ChesterChester CanalCanal forfor thethe benefit of

234 traffic between the two,two, involvinginvolving aa difficultdifficult junctionjunction part way up the NorthgateN orthgate staircase lock,lock, completed in JanuaryJanuary 1797. AllAll boatsboa~s passingpassing between thethe RiverRiver and the ChesterChester Canal had in future toto useuse thethe EllesmereEllesmere Canal, and the tidal basin was improvedimproved inin 18021802 withwith the completion of an entrance lock making it into an enclosed wetwet dock."dock."

Llanymynech and the Montgomeryshire connection A branch to Llanymynech, putting the limestone quarries there in contact with the Denbighshire coalfield,coalfield, formedformed anan integralintegral partpart ofof allall thethe earlyearly proposals.proposals."44 As shown on the deposited plans for the Eastern Canal, it was laid out on the summit fromfrom CroesmereCroesmere via Frankton, Berghill, Berghill, AstonAston Park,Park, andand LlynclysLlynclys -• aa level,level, if roundabout, routeroute skirtingskirting thethe low-lyinglow-lying moors.moors. Duncombe brought the western line down to crosscross these moors, and hishis Llanymynech branch, commencingcommencing near Hordley, took advantageadvantage of existingexisting drainage cuts as far as Queen'sQueen's Head.Head. AsAs referred to inin] Jessop's essop's report of August 1792 this branch was toto be at the Hordley level throughout,throughout, but by the timetime thethe parliamentaryparliamentary plansplans had been deposited in November the route had been altered belowbelow Queen's Head to create an even lower poundpound into Llanymynech. ThisThis otherwiseotherwise inexplicable introduction of locks at Aston drawingdrawing valuable water from the main line probably followed the decision that had been taken in October toto extend the branch into Montgomeryshire; 45" anyany continuationcontinuation had had to to be be at at low low level level toto crosscross thethe RiverRiver Vyrnwy. The inhabitants ofof OswestryOswestry andand proprietorsproprietors ofof the the collieriescollieries near therethere werewere `much'much dissatisfied'dissatisfied' atat being by-passedby-passed both both byby the main canal and by the Llanymynech line. UnderUnder pressurepressure from them,them, thethe CommitteeCommittee agreedagreed to provideprovide a branch towards the town,"town:" an an unsatisfactory unsatisfactory scheme scheme involving involving over 100ft of lockage. RichardRichard MyddletonMyddleton ownedowned bothboth the the Chirk Chirk collieries collieries andand LlanymynechLlanymynech quarries, and his agentagent ThomasThomas Lovett Lovett suggestedsuggested a abetter better alternative: alternative:"47 a directdirect canal from the main-line summit near Preeshenlle to Llanymynech, which would save five milesmiles andand allall thethe lockagelockage betweenbetween thethe coalpits and limeworks, and supply fuel-starved Montgomeryshire. The lineline would passpass much closercloser to Oswestry;Oswestry; a public meeting there provided subscriptions for aa surveysurvey and the proposalproposal waswas pressed upon the EllesmereEllesmere Committee. This activity took placeplace whilstwhilst thethe EllesmereEllesmere CanalCanal billbill was in Parliament, and during the gestation of thethe now-independentnow-independent MontgomeryshireMontgomeryshire CanalCanal which had not been sufficiently advanced toto seek authorityauthority in that session. The Montgomeryshire partyparty strongly supported the directdirect Oswestry route andand werewere prepared to adopt it ifif thethe EllesmereEllesmere would not.not. TheThe latterlatter stillstill preferredpreferred their own line, butbut agreed in]anuaryin January 17931793 not not toto offeroffer anyany opposition.opposition."4B After further discussion two additional clausesclauses were inserted in the Ellesmere'sEllesmere's bill and became part of the Act."Act.49 The The first first authorised authorised a abranch branch of of about about two-and-a-half two-and-a-half miles miles from thethe LlanymynechLlanymynech Branch Branch at at Maesbury Maesbury MarshMarsh toto MordaMorda BridgeBridge forfor OswestryOswestry and the collieriescollieries near there subject to thethe consentconsent of of intervening intervening landowners;landowners; ifif not obtained,obtained, thethe CompanyCompany hadhad toto useuse itsits bestbest endeavoursendeavours to securesecure an Act within two years. TheThe second second and and lengthier lengthier clauseclause suspendedsuspended for twotwo yearsyears allall the powers to build thethe LlanymynechLlanymynech andand MordaMorda branches until thethe expediencyexpediency of substituting a direct upper line had been reported onon jointly byby engineersengineers acting for thethe EllesmereEllesmere and embryo Montgomeryshire companies, and if favourable, then provisions were mademade forfor aa parliamentaryparliamentary application.application. Jessop]essop andand Thomas Dadford were respectively nominatednominated forfor this duty, and although their final report waswas not signedsigned until AprilApril 1794,1794, muchmuch correspondencecorrespondence andand discussiondiscussion took place in the intervening months.'omonths." TheThe scheme scheme agreed agreed uponupon seems seems toto havehave been that shownshown on thethe plansplans depositeddeposited by thethe EllesmereEllesmere Company for the

235

MAP No. 2 ChirkChirk to to Llanymynech Llanymynech

Chirk .:VA" Welsh franktonts hirk' NEWMARTIN LOCKS ----- ank Maesterinyn, Pant'yr ISLE FRitTj. Preeshenlle • • Hindford T - - AuthorisedAcdhort"sed tunnelr(.mnel, 1793 1793 ‘-‘ Gobower;

WhittingtonWhifjingfon or Woodhouse 'um Probable rouferoute ofof or':Jinaloriginal western survey A t BRANCH EasternEostern Canal Canal LlanymynechLlanymynech BranchBranch 1794 IVove.rnberNovember 1792 1792 proposalsproposals EllesmereEllesmere CanalCanal OevlationsDev/ations andand Authorised /793 route Extensions NovemberNovember /7931793 proposalsproposals completed /A22

_ Canals construcfedconstructed ...... Authorised butbuf notnof so So OswestryOsw.estry Queens Head built Aston Hall Aston Hall e; West f? FeltonFelt~nn

Morda :,,Weston

4,1Sweeney , ENLARGEMENT£NLARGEM£NT ATAT Hall, ...t g• CARREGHOFA

ELLESMERE CANAL VI

JUNCTION LOCKS razo r Feeder Clawydd Cod) MONTGOAIERY SHIRE Liync/ys C CANAL

Quarries ;

Porthywaen,/

. r ,/ X1 A Quarries DWYN 8 0 -IAP

Llanyblodwel :( "to .'. Llanymynech , A A4 ',,,:-.14.:0` '\ <., ,o Abercynllaith .../ %-t_ 4 4 ,...----" - R.Vyrivy Llanyedwyn ):\ — a 4:1 ‘1, CARREGHOFA LOCKS le JUNCTION

Intake from River Tarot AQUEDUCT s., C..,1 Miles AI' 0o 2 .3 A - ParliamentaryParliomenfory terminus,ferminus, 1793/793 Act.Act, I . I I BS - Terminus as built, ataf junction.juncfion. R7DRTD

236 1794 session, comprising anan upperupper line from Llanymynech towards Chirk, with a long branch at that levellevel from Llynclys past the Porthywaen Quarries and up the Tanat Valley to tap thethe riverriver near Llangedwyn. AtAt SweeneySweeney Hall the upper line was joinedjoined byby a deviation of the already-authorised Llanymynech branch rising fromfrom Queen's Head, andand another link near Hindford would enable the authorised main lineline northnorth of there to be abandoned. AA shortshort branchbranch fromfrom Weston MillMill would would have have extended extended into into Oswestry.S1 Oswestry." TheThe MontgomeryshireMontgomeryshire party sought and obtained theirtheir incorporatingincorporating Act Act in in this this same same session,session, commencingcommencing at a junction near Porthywaen with thethe Ellesmere'sEllesmere's proposedproposed LlangedwynLlangedwyn branch (sharing thethe water supply fromfrom the Tanat) thenthen fallingfalling quickly to crosscross the VyrnwyVymwy near Newbridge, with a high-level branchbranch aroundaround the hill to serve the Llanymynech quarries. Jessop] essop attended aa meetingmeeting of thethe EllesmereEllesmere Company on 17 JanuaryJanuary 1794 at which he recommended postponement of the billbill thatthat waswas thenthen inin ParliamentParliament asas he felt that furtherfurther improvementsimprovements to thethe projectproject couldcould stillstill be made: thisthis probably did not relaterelate toto thethe upper upper line line with with which which hehe hadhad been been fairly fairly closelyclosely involved,involved, but hehe diddid specificallyspecifically suggest abandonmentabandonment of the Llanymynech branch deviation as the already authorised line 'will be more for the advantage of the Company and the publick'. BetweenBetween March March andand SeptemberSeptember contractscontracts werewere let for construction of thethe wholewhole of thethe authorisedauthorised branch togethertogether with a short connecting portion ofof thethe MainMain Line as far as HordleyHordley Wharf.Wharf. Telford reported the branch as already cut in October 1795,1795,"52 butbut the the troublesome troublesome lower lower lengthlength over porous limestone strata does not seem to have been fit forfor navigationnavigation until the middle ofof 11797." 79 7. 53 The Montgomeryshire Canal CompanyCompany had wisely deferreddeferred starting on the expensive portionportion of their line between the north sideside of the VyrnwyVymwy Aqueduct and Porthywaen until thethe EllesmereEllesmere were committed to thethe LlangedwynLlangedwyn branch, but apartapart fromfrom optingopting forfor aa feederfeeder ratherrather thanthan aa navigationnavigation west of the proposed junction,54junction," the the Ellesmere Ellesmere Company Company busiedbusied itselfitself with constructionconstruction ofof thethe lowerlower line and made no moves towards resurrecting the upper lineline or applying for further powers. NotingNoting thatthat neither neither of of the the bills bills promotedpromoted inin thethe 1796 1796 session session by the Ellesmere contained any reference toto thethe OswestryOswestry line,line, thethe MontgomeryshireMontgomeryshire obtained onon petitionpetition aa clauseclause obligingobliging them to seekseek powers within four years and to build itit asas per thethe Engineers'Engineers' joint report, failingfailing which it could be constructed by others at the Ellesmere's cost.cost."ss TheThe matter matter again again rested rested untiluntil thethe time-limittime-limit expired, when a legal opinionopinion was sought,sought, butbut with no apparent effect; therethere waswas already a well-established connectionconnection andand itit was understandablyunderstandably difficult to generate enthusiasm for an expensiveexpensive parallel route, except perhapsperhaps asas aa reliablereliable supplier of water, but thatthat justification justification was was alsoalso removedremoved once thethe decisiondecision had been taken to tap the Dee. At Llanymynech a mile-long extensionextension of dubious legality took the Ellesmere'sEllesmere's branch beyond their authorised terminus and over the border intointo Wales Wales where it was intended toto meetmeet thethe Montgomeryshire'sMontgomeryshire's lineline nearnear Clawdd-coch,Clawdd-coch, and the latter companycompany carriedcarried theirtheir waterwaywaterway acrossacross thethe VyrnwyVyrnwy meadows towards thisthis point. DelegationsDelegations fromfrom both canalscanals met on site inin] January anuary 1796, and the Montgomeryshire agreed toto deviate theirtheir line 500 yards nearer to Llanymynech, notwithstanding that thethe groundground hadhad alreadyalready beenbeen preparedprepared towardstowards thethe originaloriginal junction. InIn consideration consideration of of the the saving saving by shorteningshortening their extension, the Ellesmere laterlater paid paid £300, £300, partpart ofof thethe costcost ofof the two locks thatthat the Montgomeryshire built built up up toto thethe newnew junction. junction." 56 TheThe Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire CanalCanal 5 Act of 1821"1821 ,7 finallyfinally confirmedconfirmed that the de facto beginning of the canal 35 yards on the LlanymynechLlanymynech sideside of Carreghofa Top Lock was deemeddeemed to be the formal commencement inin lieulieu ofof thethe obsolete one atat Porthywaen, and the Ellesmere's extensionextension toto herehere achievedachieved belated belated statutory statutory authorityauthority in 1827.58 237 The Llanymynech branch as builtbuilt followed the authorised route of 1793 fairly closely except at Frankton,Frankton, and and near nearWoodhouse, Woodhouse, the the residence residence of ofWilliam William Mostyn Owen MP,MP, oneone ofof thethe originaloriginal promoterspromoters withwith an honouredhonoured seat on the Committee. HeHe waswas instrumentalinstrumental inin deviatingdeviating the canal to pass through his estate, with a short private arm virtually to his door. HalfHalf aa milemile of thethe parliamentaryparliamentary lineline had already beenbeen cut;·cut," andand this this was was laterlater paidpaid forfor by the RevdRevd JohnJohn Robert Lloyd, another of the original trio, to the intent thatthat it it would would become become aa privateprivate appendage to hishis Aston Hall lands. In 1799 thethe Committee resolved toto repayrepay this moneymoney soso thatthat the 'branch' couldcould be used for public traffic, and by a further arrangementarrangement in 182260 thethe parliamentary parliamentary line was completed throughout atat thethe expense expense ofof Mr Mr OwenOwen andand thethe WoodhouseWoodhouse deviation given up -—the the rude rude ShropshireShropshire boatmenboatmen had evidently ceased to be a 4 fashionable parkland amenity. PontcysylltePontcysyUte to ChesterChester John DuncornbeDuncoIllbe deservesdeserves considerable credit for the design of the western scheme through difficult countrycountry with with a a seventeen-mile seventeen-mile summit-levelsummit-level only four locks higher thanthan the eastern alternative, but atat thethe costcost ofof major major engineeringengineering works between Ruabon andand Chirk includinincludingg a tunnel a tunnel at atfirst first planned planned to to bebe 4607 yards long, later shortened by 600 yards of deep cutting proposed at the north end.end. AlthoughAlthough projected projected with with the the specific specific intentionintention of of directly directly serving serving the Denbighshire coalfield, access waswas denieddenied toto mostmost of the Acrefair pits by reason of the tunnel, andand thethe 310-ft310-ft summitsummit contourcontour ranran wellwell awayaway from the workings in the valleys north-westnorth-west ofWrexham.of Wrexham. Jessop clearlyclearly recognised the latter problemproblem inin hishis reportreport ofof August August 17921792 — - 'perhaps a branch up thethe BershamBersham Valley towards the BromboBrombo CollieriesCollieries should also be made as it may go a considerable way on a dead level'. This was rather a curious statement givengiven the geography of the area, and the Brymbo terminus as later settled on at Gough's House was a furtherfurther 250 feet aboveabove thethe main-linemain-line summit in anan areaarea devoid of natural water supplies. PerhapsPerhaps aa tramroadtramroad waswas envisagedenvisaged forfor part or all of the route, asas the billbill includedincluded a general power to substitute railwaysrailways or roads for any portion of the canalcanal system. At the Committee meetingmeeting on 2626 SeptemberSeptember 17921792 itit was was resolvedresolved to askask Jessop to reconsider thethe routeroute —- 'It havinghaving been suggested thatthat it may be possible to avoid the tunnell from Pont CysyllteCysyllte towardstowards Ruabon andand inin suchsuch aa manner asas to put thethe coalcoal ownersowners asas nearnear asas possible on an equal footing'. ThisThis suggestionsuggestion seems toto havehave comecome fromfrom William William Turner!' Turner." Once the decisiondecision had been taken to interrupt Duncombe'sDuncombe's summitsummit byby aa low-levellow-level aqueduct at Pontcysyllte, therethere waswas no reason why the northern lengthlength shouldshould notnot bebe carriedcarried atat aa higherhigher levellevel to eliminate tunnelling and approach closer to allall the collieries,collieries, introducing more lockage onon thethe main lineline butbut reducing thethe riserise toto Brymbo. ThisThis developeddeveloped into a proposal to extend thethe branchbranch toto the the Cegidog Cegidog Valley at Ffrith, wherewhere ampleample water was available toto feed the newly-elevated routeroute (now isolated from the River MorlasMorlas supply supply south south ofof ChirkChirk originally originally proposed). proposed). ButBut toto use that water the highest part ofof thethe BrymboBrymbo ValleyValley needed tunnelling,tunnelling, or thethe branchbranch divertingdiverting to anan easiereasier line. Turner's principal concern was to put the collieriescollieries in contact with Shropshire; traffic to Chester could use the Eastern route once termsterms had been settled with the promoters of thatthat line.line·. TheThe Committee, Committee, however, however, werewere notnot yetyet readyready toto give give up the western line so recently approved by JJessop, essop, and time was running out for fresh surveys. In thethe end,end, thethe plansplans thatthat were were depositeddeposited onon 1010 NovemberNovember showed the whole of the original westernwestern schemescheme including including the the tunnel: tunnel,"2 thethe only concession toto the new proposals being the hurriedly-added extension of the

238 Brymbo branch to thethe CegidogCegidog and its precious water,water, butbut with no indication of the level intended.intended. ItIt isis possiblepossible that, anticipatinganticipating a settlement with thethe EasternEastern promoters, the Committee hoped to adopt parts ofof thatthat projectproject includingincluding the higher level Plas KynastonKynaston —- RuabonRuabon -—Bersham Bersham route route alreadyalready inin the Eastern Canal bill: but they werewere forced byby necessitynecessity toto pursuepursue theirtheir original original schemescheme in Parliament, despite having resolvedresolved byby DecemberDecember toto apply for a deviation of the Pontcysyllte to CegidogCegidog Valley sectionsection inin thethe next year's session together with a more direct main line fromfrom thethe Brymbo areaarea toto Chester.Chester."63 Their incorporating Act beingbeing achieved, application was duly made forfor the alterations in November 1793.1793. TheThe revisedrevised route locked up from the aqueduct site at Pontcysyllte toto aa newnew 386-ft386-ft summitsummit atat Rhosymedre,Rhosymedre, thisthis level level beingbeing followed through Ruabon toto BershamBersham asas previously surveyed forfor the Eastern Canal's colliery branch, and on thethe CegidogCegidog Valley where 66 feet of lockage took the lineline up toto itsits terminusterminus atat Tan-yr-OwenTan-yr-Owen Mill. To avoidavoid tunnellingtunnelling at Brymbo, the newnew routeroute ranran throughthrough the the easier easier Moss Moss Valley,Valley, althoughalthough stillstill needingneeding somesome deep cutting. TheThe directdirect lineline toto ChesterChester waswas probably little more than a sop to the westerners —- after after droppingdropping downdown from from aa junction junction atat Ffrwd toto an aqueduct about 9090 feetfeet highhigh overover thethe AlynAlyn belowbelow Caergwrle,Caergwrle, it continuedcontinued byby sevenseven dead-dead­ straight falling milesmiles to to thethe Dee.Dee."64 As discussed earlierearlier therethere seemsseems toto havehave been been aa reaction reaction atat thethe end of 1793 against Turner'sTurner's re-introduction of the eastern proposals, and the bill for the deviations waswas notnot procededproceded with.with. The Company had, however, to accept that his basic proposalsproposals northnorth of Pontcysyllte were sound, provided that they werewere linked by a more realistic routeroute to Chester. DuncombeDuncombe preparedprepared freshfresh surveys,surveys, and after various attempts toto findfind aa wayway throughthrough oror around around Wynstay Wynstay ParkPark finallyfinally settled onon aa lineline much thethe samesame asas Turner's, but usingusing thethe AlynAlyn ValleyValley between Poolmouth and Ffrwd to missmiss the deep cutting at Moss atat the cost of extra mileage. To reach Chester, he followed the Alyn down through Gresford and Rossett to rejoinrejoin hishis earlierearlier authorised line at Saltney Side, two miles from the Dee, and the original HoltHolt branch was retainedretained andand extendedextended to link with the new route.route."65 AsAs before, before, water water was was to to come come from from the the Cegidog, Cegidog, with thethe lineline extended upup thethe valleyvalley toto LlanfynyddLlanfynydd wherewhere aa damdam alongalong Offa's Dyke would createcreate a 200-acre reservoir. ThisThis extension,extension, ifif builtbuilt as as aa navigation,navigation, wouldwould alsoalso havehave served the Coed Talon collieries, and could if necessary have beenbeen extended further toto MoldMold and beyond atat thethe samesame level.level. JessopJ essop approvedapproved thethe revisedrevised proposals on 14 JulyJuly 1795 with minor adjustment at thethe southsouth endend includingincluding a short branchbranch onon thethe summitsummit roundround toto the the Acrefair Acrefair collieries, collieries, and preparations were made to apply for a deviation Act. Turner, undefeated,undefeated, hadhad revisedrevised his own scheme by raising it 10 feet in height to reduce thethe cuttingscuttings atat RuabonRuabon andand atat the the Moss Moss valley,valley, and from there hehe pointed out thatthat a a half-milehalf-mile tunneltunnel couldcould bebe drivendriven toto thethe SouthseaSouthsea collieries collieries in the Brymbo valley ifif required.required. Jessop, called inin to arbitrate, preferred Duncombe's route by reasonreason of itsits better connectionconnection to to Chester Chester and and dismissed dismissed Turner's ideasideas for a return toto anan easterneastern lineline only: I consider this extension [to[to Chester]Chester] soso essentialessential to thethe accommodationaccommodation of the tradetrade (particularly(particularly fromfrom thethe MontgomeryshireMontgomeryshire CanalCanal to Chester and Liverpool, as boatsboats will alwaysalways onon returningreturning take back with them coal or lime) that II amam notnot a a littlelittle surprised surprised that that such such an an idea idea as as MrMr TurnerTurner suggests suggests could for a momentmoment bebe entertainedentertained byby him.him."61 The revised scheme receivedreceived authority authority in 1796 after some delicate negotiations with John HumberstoneHumberstone CawleyCawley of Gwersyllt HallHall whowho objectedobjected toto the Ffrwd branch passing throughthrough his park.park.'68 8 EarlyEarly steps steps were were takentaken toto buildbuild thisthis part ofof 239

MAP No. 3 DenbighshireDenbighshire proposalsproposals

A,} Pu'for? CoedTalon ■ ■ ■ ,•-• I- , ■ \\PROPOSED Iv. , . ',RESERVOIR : , 1796 ACT 'y 1i I.... ....., Coe.rgwrle ,' ''s If '`, \ 4.95' &Leff s i. 7i:evalyn \ ,.. s^o Llantynydd 1 cv o TanyrOwen 44S1i 'o -Y r Ffrwd : ..Y .,, c4' 1 L V G formic,'" Ffrith '7 °11 eJ ,../. • 6/vsford t' • 7 6Ite.t.Syfit ■ :d.,. &Ill ',.11.0-.`'Ho/i. Terminus of ofOnol ! 0 )- survey at Go :s House k Borrashead Brymbo•

r Af'eolmoath it !I Southsea• Rhosnesney IF~4 It MILES ii •·WrexhomWrexham o 2 Terminus of 1 " • / I Eastern Canal Fownos ,,, Branch4 Bersham

V Eddy .....

ar T PI 7

Afon Eitho 17't 47 BASON

.'I' . \ 1\ . \ R !i \,,---~_ i rrRONTCYSY PoNTCYSYLLT£ GCSE Cefn Mawr RDI/E Ducr 1 CEO~T I 1 i Fran 1 Cysyllte i '\ ~g ~ , ENLARGEMENT \~ AT CEFNCEFN MAWRMAWR k11 :=\1of01 PONTCYSTLLTEPoNTCYSYLLTE " ~~ ~ Canals constructed.con.strucfecl. TramwayTramway built underunder teoa18Of. Act 17961796 Aet,Act, notnot buibuilt If: 17931793 proposals where nof not coincidentcoincident wilt/with laterlafer scheme.sehemtl. 1793/793 Act (deviated(deviated /796 1796 excepte/Ccepf Holt Branch) T.T. TunnelTunnel entrancesenrrances 179217J2 proposalsproposals lfIhe,re where not not CAincident coincident- wifh with laferlater schemes.schemes. R.RrD 7" 0

240 the branch as far as Richard Kirke'sKirke's FfrwdFfrwd colliery,6'colliery," andand hehe agreedagreed toto supplysupply water to the canal by pumping there."there." KirkeKirke had had clearly clearly influencedinfluenced the Committee of which he was a member, butbut after spending £9,000£9,000 on the works a halt was calledcalled in in 1798 1798 with with only only two two and and one one third third miles miles cut. cut."71 It isis doubtful if this length, which includedincluded bridgesbridges and and an an aqueduct, aqueduct, was was ever ever used.'2 used." The Company then consideredconsidered an inclined plane as a substitute for thethe heaviestheaviest lockage in the Alyn valley, followed by schemes forfor a railwayrailway onon thethe branch or elsewhere alongalong thethe mainmain line.line. The proprietors finallyfinally settled forfor aa railwayrailway from Pontcysyllte to Holt," presumably presumably along along thethe canal canal line,line, but thethe worksworks in Shropshire and Cheshire claimedclaimed theirtheir attentionattention and no action resulted. WilliamWilliamJessop Jessop mademade anan inspectioninspection ofof thethe whole canal at the beginning of 1800: On our way to Pont Cysyllte, I saw thethe cut made on the branch to Brumbo; it isis doubtful whetherwhether itit cancan bebe mademade useful,useful, untiluntil anan extensionextension may bebe made to Holt; and thatthat isis aa subjectsubject which, I comprehend,comprehend, does not immediatelyimmediately demand consideration. WhenWhen thethe worksworks moremore immediatelyimmediately necessarynecessary are executed, they will tend very much to narrow the fieldfield of speculation, and bring the objects, which it may have in view, moremore distinctlydistinctly under the eye. As the many obstacles thrown in the way of the original intention,intention, and the change in circumstances which havehave takentaken placeplace since thethe obtaining of the Act, have shown it to be wholly unadviseable to execute a canal between Pont Cysyllte and Chester, and especiallyespecially since the extensive opening of the collieries between Hawarden and Flint, which will communicate by means of railways with the Dee, so as to deliverdeliver coal at aa much lessless price at Chester than formerlyformerly —- thethe greatgreat objectobject for immediate consideration is, how to deliver coal atat least expence, from the Ruabon Collieries, intointo the bason on the south side of the Dee atat Pont Cysyllte.Cysyllte."74 He recommended a railway for this purpose which was built under powers obtained in 1804 from RuabonR~abon Brook to a bason on the north sideside of the aqueduct."aqueduct.'s AlthoughAlthough railways railways were were to to be be considered considered againagain later,later, thethe westernwestern line of canal to Chester hadhad effectivelyeffectively dieddied in in 1798.1798. In the words of the Company's 1805 report: ...... thethe greatgreat quantity ofof lockage, lockage, whichwhich would havehave been required upon this part, and thethe difficultydifficulty andand expenseexpense toto havehave beenbeen incurredincurred inin procurringprocurring aa sufficient supply of water upon that highhigh andand shortshort summit,summit, mademade itit evidentevident that aa canalcanal navigation through that districtdistrict wouldwould bebe perfectlyperfectly unadviseable.unadviseable.

WhitchurchWhit church and the Chester CanalCanal William Turner'sTurner's WhitWhitchurch church branchbranch asas authorisedauthorised byby thethe 1793 Act was to run from the junction at FranktonFrankton byby aa substantialsubstantial embankmentembankment atat TetchillTetchill andand deep cuttings at LeeLee andand NewtonNewton toto Welshampton,Welshampton, thenthen across across FennsFenns MossMoss and the Red Brook valley toto reachreach Whitchurch.Whitchurch. Beyond therethere locks tooktook itit up to a summit extending to PreesPrees Heath with a feeder from Brown Moss. It may be surmised thatthat the heavy earthworks at the western end and the distance from the town of EllesmereEllesmere were thethe penalties forfor thethe reasonably direct course that would be necessary forfor this portion subsequently to become part ofof anan easterneastern main line. FollowingFollowing thethe revivalrevival of the western line, the Committee took aa freshfresh looklook early in 1795 at the problemproblem ofof reachingreaching Whitchurch andand their statutory obli-obli­ gation to seek a connection to thethe ChesterChester Canal. John DuncombeDuncombe was directed to resurvey thethe countrycountry from Frankton toto PreesPrees Heath, and produced aa completelycompletely levellevel route onon thethe southsouth side side ofof Fenns Fenns Moss Moss which could be connected by aa shortshort armarm withwith EllesmereEllesmere and passed within two miles of Wem, butbut Whitchurch anger waswas aroused:aroused: 'by the newnew surveysurvey it willwill appear 241

MAP N MAP

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------~------._.---.'_. _. -.------• • that thethe branchbranch willwill not comecome nearer to Whitchurch than Prees as the levellevel will end there. Must be opposed.opposed."' "6 A lockless branch fromfrom WhixallWhixall Moss to Sherryman's Bridge, outside the town, waswas duly included, and thethe amendedamended schemescheme received JJessop's essop 's blessing inin July:July: 'Considering the general irregularity of the country thethe groundground chosenchosen isis uncommonlyuncommonly favourable.favourable. WhenWhen power is obtained it will be very adviseable toto executeexecute this part of thethe lineline immediately,immediately, asas itit willwill certainly bebe veryvery productive.''' productive."' TheThe deviationdeviation Act passedpassed in in 1796,'8 1796," but construction did not proceed with any great vigour. The contract for the first section to EllesmereEllesmere was letlet inin FebruaryFebruary 1797, but thethe contractorscontractors werewere dis-dis­ charged twelvetwelve months months later later in in favour favour of of direct direct labour." labour." The tunnel andand cutting beyond thethe towntown werewere startedstarted inin NovemberNovember 1798, with the canalcanal towards Hampton Bank soon after. ThisThis was completed about the middle of 1800, and a further extension toto TilstockTilstock ParkPark involvinginvolving the difficultdifficult crossingcrossing of thethe MossMoss was taken in hand late in 1801 and completed by 1805. TheThe firstfirst portionportion ofof the the Prees Prees lineline was built at thisthis timetime and extended in 1803-4,18034, but thethe lastlast threethree milesmiles beyond the main Wem roadroad at Quina Brook never materialised. Negotiations took place in April 1795 for the purchase of the controlling interest inin thethe ChesterChester Canal,Canal, with thethe purpose,purpose, oneone suspects,suspects, ofof lesseninglessening the objection to anyany subsequentsubsequent repealrepeal or postponement ofof the the expensive expensive obligationobligation to pursue a junction line contained in the 1793 Act. However,However, 'Mr'Mr Egerton did not thenthen conceiveconceive,, himself fullyfully atat libertyliberty toto treat',"·treat',8° andand thethe obligationobligation remained.remained. Jessop, committedcommitted toto thethe western western line, line, waswas lukewarm:lukewarm: Respecting the line for connecting the Whitchurch branch with the Chester Canal, as itit could be of no possible useuse untiluntil waterwater couldcould bebe broughtbrought to it by the execution of thethe mainmain lineline and thethe Whitchurch branch, I think itit wouldwould bebe very premature to take any steps towards this object at present, and more especially asas II havehave reasonreason toto believebelieve thatthat from the line as now proposed a much more eligigible connectionconnection mightmight bebe mademade thanthan any hitherto surveyed:surveyed: but timetime andand changechange of circumstancescircumstances will probably throw lights upon this subject that cannot bebe wellwell forseen, and such asas itit wouldwould bebe idleidle to to predict. predicts'81 Turner's scheme for this link was rejected.rejected. InIn itsits finalfinal formform he had proposed anan extension of thethe Whitchurch levellevel via GrindleyGrindley Brook,Brook, HamptonHampton Heath, Duckington, and Broxton, thenthen fallingfalling to join thethe earlierearlier lineline to thethe ChesterChester CanalCanal near Tattenhall.Tattenhall."82 The Company's Whitchurch deviation Act of 1796 repealed the obligationsobligations in respect of the FennsFenns Hall to TattenhallTattenhallline, line, and gave furtherfurther room for manoeuvre by providing that engineers appointed by both CompaniesCompanies should agree on the best route forfor whichwhich thethe Ellesmere Ellesmere must thenthen seekseek powerspowers within three years. DuncombeDuncombe forfor thethe EllesmereEllesmere and John FletcherFletcher forfor thethe ChesterChester quickly settled on and prepared plans for the route that waswas later built throughthrough Wrenbury to the summitsummit levellevel of the Chester Canal, save thatthat the junction was to be at Stoke about half a mile northnorth of that finally adoptedadopted atat Hurleston.Hurleston."83 Although parliamentary notices were published in August 1797, the project waswas pigeon-holed whilst thethe other works on the canalcanal were in hand, despite periodic pressure from the Chester Canal. Not until afterafter thethe decisiondecision early in 18001800 finally to abandon thethe westernwestern lineline toto ChesterChester waswas thethe questionquestion revived,revived, asas without itit thethe greater greater partpart of of the the system, system, and and the the Montgomeryshire Montgomeryshire Canal,Canal, were totally isolatedisolated fromfrom thethe WirralWirral line andand itsits outlet to Liverpool.Liverpool. Several variationsvariations toto the route had been considered,considered, includingincluding a more southerly line extending thethe Whitchurch levellevel to Marbury ,,8484 andand thethe 17971797 noticesnotices had envisaged aa junction junction withwith thethe Chester CanalCanal atat Acton,Acton, notnot far short of the Nantwich terminus, perhaps influenced by thethe CommercialCommercial Canal project of 243 1795-7. InIn the the end, end, the the original original jointjoint plan plan ofof 17961796 waswas dusted down and deposited for the 1801 session, thisthis routeroute being dulyduly authorisedauthorised inin thethe Act. Act."gS A proposal later that year to startstart constructionconstruction between between ChurchChurch Bridge,Bridge, NNorbury, orbury , and the north endend of of Wrenbury Wrenbury Common,Common, waswas soon detected asas a ruse to divert water from thethe CholmondeleyCholmondeley and Steer BrooksBrooks for the supplysupply ofof the the luckless luckless Chester Canal, andand thethe contract for this first section was not let until the springspring of 1803 after thethe ChesterChester company had agreed to pay interest on the expenditure and indemnified the EllesmereEllesmere against claims fromfrom millowners.millowners. All the remainingremaining parts of the line from Tilstock Pa,rkPark to Hurleston were contractedcontracted for later that year, once the water problemproblem hadhad beenbeen finallyfinally solvedsolved with the decisiondecision in June to bring supplies fromfrom thethe Dee atat Llantisilio byby aa feederfeeder toto Pontcysyllte.Pontcysyllte. The through route opened in 1805. The Committee had decided in JuneJune 1800 to savesave money by not buildingbuilding the last mile of the Whitchurch branch between thethe proposedproposed junctionjunction at at New New Mills Mills with the Chester Canal link and Sherryman'sSherryman's Bridge. An application in 1805 to construct thisthis length privately was refused,87refused," butbut the the Company Company finallyfinally agreedagreed at the end of 1806 toto undertakeundertake itit themselvesthemselves and to extend further toto aa more convenient terminus at CastleCastle Well subjectsubject toto the Whitchurch inhabitants providing aa loanloan of of £2,000. £2,000."88 PowersPowers forfor thethe extension extension werewere grantedgranted at the second attempt by anan Act of 1810,"1810,"' and and the the canal canal opened opened to to Castle Castle Well Well basinbasin in 1811.

Conclusion The original promoterspromoters saw theirtheir scheme asas both both aa trunktrunk route of through communication betweenbetween thethe navigationsnavigations ofof thethe Severn,Severn, Dee,Dee, andand Mersey,Mersey, and as a carrier of local traffic: but easterneastern andand westernwestern proposalsproposals differeddiffered sharplysharply in the relativerelative importanceimportance attached to eacheach function, leadingleading to different criteriacriteria for route selection.selection. TheThe easterneastern party,party, after after toying toying initially initially withwith aa narrownarrow canal,canal, looked primarily to thethe easiesteasiest north-south lineline big enough for the barges that used the connecting waterways, with local trafficstraffics dealtdealt withwith asas necessarynecessary by means of branches. TheThe westernwestern group,group, restricted byby theirtheir engineering engineering works to a narrow-boat canal, wanted direct accommodation for thethe principalprincipal coalcoal and lime traffics withwith thethe through connection asas an incidental benefit. Jessop's previousprevious experience had mainly been with broad waterways, and he may have j'adisad difficultydifficulty coming toto terms with the requirements ofof thethe EllesmereEllesmere scheme. HeHe waswas never enthusiastic about thethe easterneastern lineline onceonce thethe DenbighshireDenbighshire industrialists had sold him their expensive western project, and he does not seemseem to have been further involvedinvolved once the tide had finallyfinally turnedturned awayaway fromfrom thethe canalcanal he had recommended. William TurnerTurner seems onlyonly toto have hadhad local experience and support asas an engineer, and it is not surprisingsurprising that hishis persistentpersistent butbut conservative conservative voicevoice was 1 frequently unheeded inin thethe highly-chargedhighly-charged atmosphereatmosphere ofof thethe time. MuchMuch of ! what he said was sound in principle, and thethe EllesmereEllesmere CanalCanal Company might have achieved farfar moremore thanthan it did if the proposals he supported hadhad beenbeen allowedallowed to develop. NoNo doubtdoubt he he derived derived somesome hollow satisfaction at the turn ofof eventsevents after 1798,1798, but thethe very very costlycostly dicedice alreadyalready castcast largelylargely negated any benefit to the proprietors from thethe returnreturn toto moremore sensiblesensible objectives. LikeLike soso many promising launches of the period the EllesmereEllesmere Canal was sweptswept up on the crest of a speculative wave andand carriedcarried awayaway withwith unrealistic ambitions,ambitions, only to be beached on rising pricesprices whenwhen thethe maniamania receded.receded. It was to the Company's credit that soso muchmuch waswas salvaged toto becomebecome thethe irreplaceable assetasset thatthat we enjoy today.today.

244 REFERENCES 1 CharlesCharles Hadfield, The CanalsCanals of the WestWest Midlands,Midlands, David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1966 (and{and later editions);editions}; William Jessop, Engineer, (with{with A.A. W. Skempton),Skempton}, DavidDavid & Charles, 1979 2 S.S. Smiles,Smiles, Lives of thethe Engineers,Engineers, Vol. H,U,John John Murray, London, 18621862 Ed. John Rickman, Life of Thomas Thomas Telford,Telford, CivilCivil Engineer, written by himself, 1838. JosephJoseph Priestley,Priestley, Historical accountaccount of the the NavigableNavigable Rivers, . Canals, andand RailwaysRailways ...... ,, Longman, London, 1831. SirSir AlexanderAlexander Gibb, The Story of Telford,Teljord, Alexander Maclehose, London, London, 1935.1935. L.T.C. Rolt, Thomas Telford, Longmans, 1958. EdwardEdward Wilson, Wilson, The Ellesmere and Langollen Canal,Canal, Phillimore, London & Chichester, 1975. 3 WhereWhere possible the mapsmaps havehave been based on thethe bestbest available available originaloriginal plans rectified to incorporateincorporate presentpresent dayday topographictopographic knowledge.knowledge. WhilstWhilst they are considered to be more correct than anyany offeredoffered previously,previously, the depiction of proposals nearly two centuries old can often only be a personal interpret-interpret­ ation. LocksLocks are are generalised, generalised, and the figuresfigures beside the pounds represent the height in feet above present Ordnance Datum. 4 E.E. A.A. Shearing,Shearing, 'Chester'Chester CanalCanal Projects',Projects',Journal Journal Vol.Vol. XXVIIIXXVIII Nos 3 & 4, 1984. R. J. Dean, Sir'Sir RichardRichard WhitworthWhitworth andand InlandInland Navigation',Navigation', Journal Vol. XXVII No.No. 4,4, 1982. WhitworthWhitworth was on the Committee of the EasternEastern Canal.Canal. 5 EllesmereEllesmere Canal Proprietors minute books, PublicPublic RecordRecord Office, Kew, RAIL 827/4,28827/4, 28 JuneJune 1791 6 Ibid.Ibid. 3131 AugustAugust 1791 7 Ibid.Ibid. 1515 SeptemberSeptember 1791 8 Joseph J oseph Turner, A description of thethe intendedintended canalcanal from Shrewsbury to Chester and Liverpool ...... Edmund Monk, Chester,Chester, 1791.1791. The exactexact publication date waswas advertisedadvertised in the Chester Courant. 9 PROPRO RAILRAIL 827/4,827/4,7 7 NovemberNovember 1791 10 Ibid.Ibid. 99 January 17921792 11 Ibid.Ibid. 2121 AugustAugust 1792,1792, withwith aa fullfull transcription of the report andand estimateestimate 12 Chester Courant, 18 September 17921792 13 DepositedDeposited plans, plans, 1111 NovemberNovember 1792,1792. Cheshire Cheshire RecordRecord OfficeOffice QDPQDP 2 (Shropshire,{Shropshire, Flints.,Flints., andand Denbighs.Denbighs. copiescopies alsoalso survive)survive} 14 Ibid.Ibid. QDPQDP 3 15 PROPRO RAILRAIL 827/4,827/4,9January 9 January 17921792 16 TheThe only only survivors survivors ofof the the original original large-scalelarge-scale deposited plans of 1010 NovemberNovember 1792 areare Cheshire RO QDP 1, andand ShropshireShropshire RORO parcelparcel 287.287. BothBoth havehave Turner's hurriedhurried survey of the branch pasted on asas an annex, with the mainmain. line now deviated to aa higher level betweenbetween Maestermyn andand thethe intended junction at FranktonFrankton toto accommodateaccommodate it. 17 PROPRO RAILRAIL 827/4,827/4,28 28 DecemberDecember 17921792 18 Ibid.Ibid. 1414 FebruaryFebruary 17931793 19 NoNo recordrecord isis availableavailable ofof the.the terms, except that the Eastern promoters were to receive £1,000£1,000 towards their surveying expenses.expenses. TheThe extentextent of the combined project at oror soon after thisthis timetime isis probably represented by an undated MS map (with{with later additions)additions} inin thethe ShropshireShropshire LibrariesLibraries Local Studies Dept. Knight Collection 20 3333 Geo.Geo. IIIIII c.91,c.91, 3030 AprilApril 1793,1793, clauseclause 96. StandingStanding OrdersOrders ofof thethe HouseHouse of Commons had prevented the new route's being authorised under cover of the Eastern's existing plans and parliamentary notices. 21 EllesmereEllesmere Canal GeneralGeneral CommitteeCommittee minute minute books, books, PRO PRO RAIL RAIL 827/1-3,17 827/1-3, 17 July 17931793 22 DepositedDeposited plansplans 1111 NovemberNovember 1793,1793, CheshireCheshire RO QDP 5 (Shropshire,{Shropshire, Flints., and Denbighs. copies also exist)exist}

245 23 PROPRO RAIL 827/1,23 SeptemberSeptember 17931793 24 LetterLetter toto Andrew Andrew Little,Little, 2929 SeptemberSeptember 1793,1793, quotedquoted by by Sir Sir A.A. GibbGibb 25 PROPRO RAIL 827/1,827/1,18 18 DecemberDecember 17931793 26 Ibid.Ibid. 1717 January 17941794 27 J. Knight'sKnight's roughrough notesnotes ofof proceedings proceedings atat CommitteeCommittee meetingmeeting 44 DecemberDecember 1794. ShropshireShropshire Libraries, Libraries, KnightKnight ColinColln 15022 28 Ibid.Ibid. 55 January 1795,1795, quotingquoting extractsextracts ofof letterletter 33 January 17951795 fromfrom Turner 29 Curiously,Curiously, thethe onlyonly planplan toto have have survivedsurvived is for a Whitchurch to Tattenhall canal (see Map No.No. ID)1D) CheshireCheshire RORO QDPQDP 10,10, butbut fromfrom the parliamentary notice it seemsseems that hehe waswas applying also for Pontcysyllte toto thethe CegidogCegidog valley, and from Spoonhill toto Leaton Heath. 30 CopyCopy ofof Jessop's reportreport 88 DecemberDecember 1795,1795, KnightKnight Colln 15031 31 PROPRO RAILRAIL 827/2,12827/2, 12 April April 1797, 1797 ,concerning concerning arrangements arrangements withwith millmill ownersowners along the River Perry for fillingfilling the canalcanal toto WestonWeston 32 PROPRO RAIL 827/1,27827/1,27 June 1796, and 827/2,29 July 17961796 33 PROPRO RAIL 827/2,9827/2,9 FebruaryFebruary 1803,26 SeptemberSeptember 1803,27 June 1804. SeeSee also printed report to thethe ProprietorsProprietors 2727 NovemberNovember 1805. 34 TheThe lockslocks at FranktonFrankton werewere builtbuilt somesome yards west of the parlimentary route, the latterlatter suggestingsuggesting an eveneven steeper riserise 35 CopyCopy ofof Jessop's report 1414 July 1795,1795, Knight Knight CollnColln 36 Rennie'sRennie's notebooks,notebooks, 1515 NovemberNovember 1801. NationalNational LibraryLibrary of Scotland, MS. 19874 37 Telford'sTelford's printedprinted reportreport toto thethe Proprietors, Proprietors, 2525 NovemberNovember 1801. Knight Colln 38 DepositedDeposited plan plan QDP QDP 3,3, CheshireCheshire RO 39 Ibid.Ibid. QDPQDP 1 40 PROPRO RAILRAIL 827/4, CopyCopy report 2323 AugustAugust 17921792 41 LetterLetter from from TelfordTelford toto Rowland Rowland Hunt, Hunt, 17 17 JulyJuly 1795, 1795, NLS NLS MS.MS. 1977219772 42 3636 Geo.Geo. IIIIII c.96,c.96, 1414 MayMay 1796. ClauseClause 11 43 Telford'sTelford's printed report toto thethe proprietors,proprietors, 3030 June 1802,1802, mentions that the locklock was then finishedfinished 44 e.g.e.g. resolution ofof meetingmeeting 31 August 1791, PRO RAIL 827/4 45 PROPRO RAIL 827/4,25 October October 1792. 1792. As As a aresult result of of a ameeting meeting at at Welshpool Welshpool two days earlier thethe Committee recommended an extension there either by consolidated stock or by an independent company. 46 PROPRO RAIL 827/4,28 December December 17921792 andand 1111 January 17931793 47 ThomasThomas Lovett toto RichardRichard Myddleton, 14 January 1793. ChirkChirk CastleCastle MSS. E234,E234, National Library of Wales. The first survey was taken by `Mr'Mr Wareing,Wareing, a a person person concerned concerned inin thethe LeominsterLeominster Canal'. 48 NLWNLW Chirk Castle MSS. E255E255 and E550 49 3333 Geo.Geo. IIIIII c.91,c.91, 3030 AprilApril 1793,1793, clausesclauses 98 and 99 50 NoNo copiescopies ofof thisthis reportreport seem seem toto have have survivedsurvived 51 NoNo planplan cancan bebe foundfound ofof thisthis branch,branch, butbut a a separateseparate parliamentaryparliamentary noticenotice waswas .\ issued forfor it, referring to aa terminusterminus inin thethe ReverendReverend MrMr Steel's land within the Liberties of the Town of Oswestry. ItIt would would have have beenbeen lessless thanthan aa milemile long with three or four locks. 52 PrintedPrinted reportreport toto thethe Proprietors,Proprietors, 2121 OctoberOctober 1795.1795. KnightKnight CollnColln I) 53 MontgomeryshireMontgomeryshire Canal minuteminute book,book, PROPRO RAIL RAIL 852/11,27 852/11,27 February 1797 and 3 July 17971797 54 Ibid.Ibid. 77 AugustAugust 17941794 55 3636 Geo.Geo. IIIIII c.96,c.96, 14 14 May May 1796,1796, clauseclause 1919 56 PROPRO RAIL 852/11,15 January andand 2323 FebruaryFebruary 1796 57 1&21&2 Geo. IV c.119, 23 JuneJune 1821 58 7&87&8 Geo. IV c.102, 21 June 1827

246 59 PROPRO RAIL 827/2,27 November November 17991799 60 PROPRO EllesmereEllesmere & Chester Canal minutes,minutes, 28 February 1822 61 Turner'sTurner's printedprinted notice notice 66 OctoberOctober 1795,1795, Knight Knight ColinColln 62 CheshireCheshire RecordRecord Office QDP 1. ShropshireShropshire RORO ParcelParcel 287 63 PROPRO RAIL 827/4,827/4,28 28 DecemberDecember 17921792 64 DepositedDeposited plansplans 1111 NovemberNovember 1793, Cheshire RO QDP 5.5. Shropshire, Flints., and Denbighs. copies also survive.survive. Kept with the CheshireCheshire copy is an interesting official survey c.1800 of the completedcompleted canalcanal fromfrom ChirkChirk BankBank to Llanymynech, purpose unknown. 65 DepositedDeposited plansplans 2525 SeptemberSeptember 1795,1795, Cheshire Cheshire RORO QDPQDP 10, also Flints. and Denbighs. copies 66 Jessop's reportreport 1414 JulyJuly 1795,1795, copy copy in in KnightKnight ColinColln 67 Ibid.Ibid. 88 DecemberDecember 17951795 68 3636 Geo.Geo. IIIIII c.96,c.96, 1414 MayMay 1796 69 PROPRO RAIL 827/1,827/1,27 27 June 1796,1796, andand 827/2,29827/2, 29 July July and and 24 24 August August 17961796 70 PROPRO RAIL 827/2,827/2,30 30 November November 17961796 71 Ibid. 1313 June 17981798 72 R.R. J. Dean,Dean, 'The'The FfrwdFfrwd Branch Branch ofof the the Ellesmere Ellesmere Canal' Journal Vol. IX p.109p.l09 73 PROPRO RAIL 827/4,827/4,28 28 NovemberNovember 17981798 74 Jessop'sJessop's report 2424 January 1800.1800. KnightKnight Colin,Colln, 15037. AgainstAgainst the first part of the second quoted paragraphparagraph anan unknown handhand hashas endorsedendorsed 'This'This might have been seen before had ye survey of ye line been made by persons of ability' 75 4444 Geo.Geo. III c.54,c.54, 2929 June 1804.1804. TheThe canal canal was was extendedextended privatelyprivately about halfhalf a mile c.1820 by Pickering's arm. TheThe Ellesmere Ellesmere && Chester Company sought powers in 1830 to build on thethe levellevel to Plas Kynaston, but withdrew this provision from their bill, and it was carried out privately soon after by an extension of the arm and a short tramway. 76 UndatedUndated MSMS notes, Knight ColinColln 15019 77 Jessop's report 1414 July 1795.1795. CopyCopy in in Knight Knight ColinColln 78 3636 Geo.Geo. IIIIII c.71,c. 71, 2626 AprilApril 17961796 79 PROPRO RAIL 827/2,827/2,10 10 FebruaryFebruary 17971797 andand 77 FebruaryFebruary 17981798 80 PottsPotts & & LeekeLeeke accountaccount booksbooks 2626 AprilApril 1793.1793. CheshireCheshire Record Record Office Office DPB/-DPB/- 81 CopyCopy reportreport 1414July July 1795, 1795, Knight Knight CollnColln 82 DepositedDeposited planplan 2828 SeptemberSeptember 1795.1795. CheshireCheshire RO RO QDP QDP 1010 RORO QDPQDP 2525 83 Ibid.Ibid. dateddated 3030 DecemberDecember 1796,1796, deposited 29 September 1800. CheshireCheshire 84 UndatedUndated MSMS plan in Knight Colln,Colin, andand PROPRO RAILRAIL 827/2, 827/2,5 5 June 18001800 85 4141 Geo.Geo. III c.70;c.70; 20 June 1801 86 CopyCopy reportreport by by John John Hill, Hill, John John Knight, Knight, and and Geo. Geo. Corser, Corser, KnightKnight CollnColln 15066 87 PROPRO RAIL 827/3,827/3,31 31 July 18051805 88 Ibid.Ibid. 2626 NovemberNovember 1806 89 4040 Geo.Geo. IIIIII c.24,c.24, 66 AprilApril 1810

Thanks are due to thethe manymany peoplepeople whowho havehave assistedassisted thethe authorauthor over over several several years, and particular mention mustmust bebe mademade ofof thethe ArchivistsArchivists andand staffsstaffs of thethe CheshireCheshire and Clwyd Record Offices. PublicationPublication hashas been made possible with the aid of an RCHS Research Grant.

247