Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/200

 will shew, in less time than words can express it, the great advantages which cannot fail to attend the execution of this grand scheme, for passing such a mountainous tract of country.

CROUCH RIVER.
THIS river has its source about three miles east of the magnificent seat of Lord Petre, called Thorndon Hall, in Essex; whence, its course is easterly, passing to the south of the town of Billericay, and Wickford, to Hull Bridge, to which place it is navigable for barges at high water. From hence its course is directly east, by Cricksey and Burnham, to Foulness, where it falls into the Thames. It is sixteen miles in length, and being a tideway river, is consequently free of toll.

As a navigation, it is chiefly used for the importation of fuel and groceries, and for the export of agricultural produce.

CROYDON CANAL.
41 George III. Cap. 127, Royal Assent 27th June, 1801.

48 George III. Cap. 18, Royal Assent 14th April, 1808.

51 George III. Cap. 11, Royal Assent 4th April, 1811.

THIS canal commences in the Grand Surrey Canal, about three quarters of a mile west from Deptford Dock Yard; from whence its course is southerly, crossing the London and Greenwich Road near New Cross, and shortly afterwards enters Kent, whence it passes Brockley, Sydenham, and re-enters Surrey, on the east side of Penge Common, over which it passes in a direct course, to its termination at Croydon, where there is a convenient wharf and basin. Its length is nine miles and a half; in the first of which it rises 70 feet, by twelve locks; from whence, it continues level something more than three quarters of a mile, where another series of locks, termninating at the entrance into Forest Wood, and rising 79½ feet in the space of three quarters of a mile, conducts to its summit level, which is seven miles in length. The act for making