Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/360



HORNCASTLE NAVIGATION.
32. George III. Cap. 107, Royal Assent 11th June, 1792.

39 &amp; 40 George III. Cap. 109, Royal Assent 9th July, 1800.

THE Horncastle Navigation commences in the Old Witham River, near Tattershall, in the county of Lincoln, and in part occupies the site of a cut formerly called the Tattershall Canal, made by Messrs. Dyson and Gibson, of whom the present company purchased it.

The first act obtained for the purposes of this undertaking was passed in 1792, and is entitled, An Act for enlarging and improving the Canal called the Tattershall Canal, from the River Witham to the town of Tattershall, and extending the same into the River Bain, and for making the said River Bain navigable from thence to or into the town of Horncastle, all in the county of Lincoln, and also for amending and rendering complete the Navigation communicating between the said River Witham, and the Fosdyke Canal, through the High Bridge, in the city of Lincoln.

By this act the company were incorporated under the title of "The Company of Proprietors of the Horncastle Navigation," and were empowered to purchase, deepen, widen, and enlarge the cut made by Messrs. Dyson and Gibson; and to make any new cuts on the sides of the river, to straighten the same, and to avoid mills or other obstructions. The commissioners of the River Witham, in order to render the navigable communication complete at all times, are authorized to make that river navigable through the High Bridge in Lincoln, into the Fossdike Canal. For putting these plans into execution, the proprietors are empowered to raise, in shares of £50 each, the sum of £15,000; and, in case this sum should not be sufficient, they are to raise £10,000 more in the usual way; the expenses of the improvement of the Witham River are for seven years, to be borne jointly by the Witham Company and those of the Sleaford and Horncastle Navigations; and for remunerating the latter, the following are to be their tonnage rates.