Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/187

 Coombe Hill; but since the Gloucester and Cheltenham Railway has been constructed, the business on this canal has been materially reduced.

COVENTRY CANAL.
8 George III. Cap. 36, Royal Assent 29th January, 1768.

26 George III. Cap. 30, Royal Assent 22nd May, 1786.

59 George III. Cap. 62, Royal Assent 14th June, 1819.

THE original, line, for which the act of 8th George III. was obtained, commences at the Trent and Mersey or Grand Trunk Canal, on Fradley Heath, from whence it takes a southerly direction to Huddlesford, where it is joined by the Wyrley and Essington Canal; afterwards by Hopwas to Fazeley, near Tamworth, where the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal locks down into it. From this place its course is across the River Tame, in a north-eastwardly direction by Amlington, where it approaches the banks of the Little River Anker; thence, it takes a south-easterly direction, and runs in nearly a parallel course with the river above mentioned; then by Polesworth, to the west side of the town of Atherstone; by Hartshill, the town of Nuneaton, and the villages of Bedworth and Longford, to the city of Coventry, where it terminates.

The original subscribers to this canal were one hundred and thirteen in number, amongst whom were Lord Archer, Lady Mary Greatheed, and Sir Roger Newdigate, Bart. who were incorporated by the name of "The Company of Proprietors of the Coventry Canal Navigation." The act of 8th George III. so incorporating them, is entitled, An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from the city of Coventry, to communicate, upon Fradledy Heath, in the county of Stafford, with a Canal now making between the Rivers Trent and Mersey, and it empowered the subscribers to raise, among themselves, for the