Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/313



GLOUCESTER AND BERKELEY CANAL.
33 Geo. III. C. 97, R. A. 28th March, 1793.

37 Geo. III. C. 54, R. A. 9th May, 1797.

45 Geo. III. C. 104, R. A. 27th June, 1805.

58 Geo. III. C, 17, R. A. 17th March, 18l8.

3 Geo. lV. C. 53, R. A. 24th May, 1822.

6 Geo. IV. C. 113, R. A. 10th June, 1825.

THIS admirable ship canal commences from the River Severn, at Sharpness Point, about three miles north of the town of Berkeley, whence it runs along the shore for the space of two miles; thence by Slimbridge, Frampton-on-the-Severn, Saul and Wheatenhurst, between which last-mentioned places it crosses the Stroud Canal; thence, west of Hardwick Court, Quedgeley House and Hempstead House, to near the county gaol on the south side of the city of Gloucester, where it terminates in a spacious basin, out of which there is a lock into the River Severn. Its length is sixteen miles and. a half; it is 70 feet wide, and in depth 18 feet, and level throughout; and therefore capable of receiving Indiamen of four hundred tons burthen. It was originally intended to have made the canal from Berkeley Pill, and only 15 feet deep; the length of which would have been eighteen miles and a quarter. A branch is also to be made from near Saul to the River Severn at Hock Cribb, in the parish of Arlington, of nearly one mile and a quarter in length.

The first act relating to this navigation received his late Majesty's assent on the 28th of March, 1793, and is entitled, An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from the River Severn, at or near the city of Gloucester, into a place called Berkeley Pill, in the parish of Berkeley; and also a Cut to or near the town of Berkeley, in the county of Gloucester; and by which the original subscribers were incorporated by the name of "The Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Company," with power to raise among themselves for the purposes of this act, the sum of £140,000, in fourteen hundred shares of £100 each, and a further sum of £60,000, if necessary.

The tolls which the company were permitted to take, under the authority of this act, are expressed at great length; but, as they are repealed by the act of 6th George IV. and new rates allowed, it is unnecessary to introduce them here.