Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/501

 £30,000, either amongst themselves, or on mortgage of the rates, or by promissory notes bearing interest. The estimate for this work was made by Mr. Whitworth, under whose superintendence it was executed for less than the estimate, (an unusual thing.) Near Cricklade this canal is carried over the River Thames by an aqueduct peculiarly constructed, so as to meet the difficulty of passing that river at little more than 2 feet above its surface. But as this act is repealed by an act of the 1st and 2nd George IV. which consolidates this work with the Wilts and Berks Canal, we therefore refer to that article.

NORWICH AND LOWESTOFT NAVIGATION.
8 George IV. Cap, 42, Royal Assent 28th May, 1827.

THE object of this undertaking is to open a much superior communication for sea-borne vessels between Norwich and the sea, than the present navigation of the River Yare from that town to Yarmouth affords. The present state of the River Yare, which for thirty miles affords sufficient depth of water for a larger class of vessels than the wherries now navigated upon it, but which, from the insurmountable difficulty of passing over that shallow part called Breydon Lake, although carrying not more than from twenty-six to thirty-six tons, are frequently retarded, thereby causing an interruption to the regular despatch of business. To avoid this and other impediments, and to save the time and the trouble of re-shipment of all sea-borne articles, this company obtained powers to make a Ship Canal from Norwich to Lowestoft, calculated for vessels drawing 10 feet water; a principal part of which will be the river navigation deepened, widened, and improved by short cuts of about four miles in length; commencing in the Wensum or Yare River, at Norwich, it follows the course of that river to a bend where the road from Norwich to Yarmouth, in the township of Thorpe, leaves it, at which place is a canal of about thirty chains in length, cutting off two bends of the river; it then proceeds along the winding course of the river, passing Wood's End to Surlingham Ferry, at which is another short cut of sixteen chains; passing on