Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/260

 mon, Hordley, and as far as Weston Wharf; thence through a tunnel to Shrewsbury, where it was intended to lock down into the Severn.

The length of the main line was fifty-six miles and three quarters, with a rise to Poolmouth of about 380 feet, and a fall to the Severn of 226 feet. The branches were to Llanymynech as at present; one to Brumbo, in the county of Denbigh, and another to Holt, in the same county; with one to Prees, in the county of Salop. Power is also given by this act to extend the Prees Collateral Cut from Fenshall to the Chester Canal, near Tattenhall, provided the land-owners' consent could be obtained; and another branch from the Llanymynech Branch to Morda Bridge, under the same conditions. Mr. William Jessop and Mr. Dadford were appointed the engineers to carry into execution the necessary operations.

In the preamble of an act of the 36th George III. cap. 71, entitled, An Act to explain and amend an Act, passed in the Thirty-third Year of the Reign of his present Majesty, entitled, An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from the River Severn, at Shrewsbury, in the county of Salop, to the River Mersey, at or near Netherpool, in the county of Chester; and also for making and maintaining certain collateral Cuts from the said intended Canal; and for varying and altering certain Parts of the Whitchurch Line of the said Canal and collateral Cuts, and for extending the same from Francton Common to Sherryman's Bridge, in the parish of Whitchurch, in the said county of Salop; and for making and maintaining several other Branches and collateral Cuts to communicate therewith, it is stated, that a part of the canal has been already executed, but that it would be more beneficial to the public, if the company were authorized to abandon the Whitchurch Line; and, instead of it, to make a branch from Francton to Sherryman's Bridge, near Whitchurch; and out of this last-mentioned line of canal at Whixall Moss, a collateral cut to Prees Higher Heath; also a short cut to Blackwater's Barn, near Ellesmere; which is accordingly granted.

By this act the Ellesmere Company were required, within two years, to apply for an act to effect a junction with the Chester Canal; and directions were therefore given to Mr. J. Fletcher,