Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/205



By the first recited act, two years only were allowed to make that part of the line towards Reigate, which passes through Gatton Park Estate, and as this was not done within the time, the power to make it has consequently ceased. The railway is double throughout, and is, with the carriage driver's path on each side, 24 feet in width.

The principal object is to facilitate the transit to London, of the heavy minerals and other produce, found in the vicinity of its southern end, which is effected by its connection with the Surrey Iron Railway, and the Croydon Canal; and, in return, to bring sea-borne coal and other general merchandize, for the supply of this district of country.

DANE RIVER.
7 George L Cap. 17, Royal Assent 7th June, 1720.

THIS river rises on the west side of Axedge, a mountain in Derbyshire, from whence it pursues a south-eastwardly course, forming, for several miles, the division between the counties of Derby and Chester, and afterwards of Stafford and Chester; from whence it flows past the town of Congleton, and by the beautiful seats of Somerford Park, Swettenham Hall, and Davenport Park; thence, by Holmes Chapel, and within a mile of Middllewich, where it is crossed by the Trent and Mersey or Grand Trunk Canal; from which place it pursues a north-eastwardly and very serpentine course, by Bostock Hall and Whatcroft, to the town of Northwich, where it falls into the Weaver Navigation, a little above the bridge.

As no portion of this river is navigable, we introduce it merely because an act was passed for making it so, in the early part of the reign of George I. which is entitled, An Act for making navigable the River Dane, from Northwich, where it joins the River Weaver, to the falling of Wheelock Brook, in the county of Chester. The stream here mentioned, enters the River Dane at the place where the Grand Trunk Navigation crosses it, in its course to Northwich, so that whatever object the original projectors had in view, it is presumed that it will now be much more effectually answered.