Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/335

 Canal from the River Thames, at or near a place called Wilkinson's Gun Wharf, in the parish of St. Mary, at Rotherhithe, in the county of Surrey, to the town of Mitcham, in the parish of Mitcham, in the said county; and also divers collateral Cuts or Branches communicating from the same to certain parishes and places within the counties of Surrey and Kent. By this act the proprietors are made a corporate body, under the title of "The Company of Proprietors of the Grand Surrey Canal," and are empowered to raise the sum of £60,000 in shares of £100 each, or by loan on bond, or mortgage, with a further sum of £30,000, if necessary.

The canal commences at Wilkinson's Gun Wharf on the south banks of the River Thames, in Rotherhithe, a quarter of a mile below the Thames Tunnel, and directly opposite Shadwell Dock. It almost immediately enters the docks belonging to the navigation, along which it continues upwards of twelve hundred yards, running parallel with the Commercial Docks. Hence its course is southward, entering Kent and approaching, at Bridge Place, within two hundred and fifty yards of the King's Dock Yard at Deptford. Its course from this point is directly west by Peckham New Town, crossing the Kent Road, and thence in a straight course to the north side of Adlington Square, Camnberwell Road, where it terminates. Its total length, including the docks, is four miles and six chains. Within seven furlongs of its western termination, there is a branch of half a mile in length proceeding southwardly to Peckham; and near its junction with the Thames, there is a capacious outer dock on the west side of the main dock, five hundred and seventy yards in length.

By the act it is provided that the intended canal and cuts shall be supplied with water from the Thames, and all other rivers, streams, or brooks found in digging the said canal, except the River Wandle and streams, within two thousand yards thereof, running into the same. The company may also cut collateral branches to any place within fifteen hundred yards thereof, with consent of the owners, on purchasing the ground. Aqueducts are to be made, if necessary, over the Wandle, at least 15 feet from mark-stake high in that river, to the surface of the water in the canal, and proper aqueducts over an intended railway from