Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/425



At Leicester there is a basin, and on Charnwood Forest a reservoir for supplying the water-level with a feeder for the same, to which water-level the company are empowered to make railways from coal works two thousand yards distant therefrom; and since the commencement of the Ashby Canal, this company has had power to charge a toll of 2s. 6d. per ton on all coals dug in Swannington, Coal Orton or Thringstone, if carried through Blackfordby or the last named canal.

This navigation was laid down by Mr. William Jessop, and in December, 1793, the line from Loughborough to near Mount Sorrel was opened, the remainder not being completed till February of the succeeding year.

The work is of considerable utility, affording an easy transit for the coal, limestone and granite of its neighbourhood, and supplying Leicester and other places on its line with timber, deals and various articles of home consumption.

LEICESTER AND MELTON MOWBRAY NAVIGATION.
(SEE [[/Wreak and Eye Navigation|WREAK AND EYE NAVIGATION].)

LEICESTERSHIRE AND NORTHAMPTONSHIRE UNION CANAL.
33 George III. Cap. 98, Royal Assent 30th April, 1793.

45 George III. Cap. 71, Royal Assent 27th June, 1805.

WE have mentioned in the preceding article, that the Leicester Navigation communicates with the present work at or near the West Bridge in the town of Leicester, and we have now to describe the extent of this undertaking, and the acts under which it was commenced.

The first enactment, for the formation of the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal, obtained the royal assent in April, 1793, under title of 'An Act for making and maintaining a Navigation from the town of Leicester to communicate with the River Nen, in or near the town of Northampton, and also a certain collateral Cut from the said Navigation.' By this act the proprietors were