Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/571



ROYAL MILITARY OR SHORNCLIFF AND RYE CANAL.
47 George III. Cap. 70, Royal Assent 13th August, 1807.

THE Royal Military Canal and other works therewith connected, were constructed as calculated to stop the progress of the enemy, should the descent threatened by Napoleon ever have been put into execution. Commencing in the tideway at Shorncliff, in the county of Kent, not far from Sandgate Castle, it proceeds from east to west, as far as Hythe, where it makes a very short detour; it then proceeds past the batteries, in a continued westerly direction, leaving Lympne, Bonnington, Ruckinge and Appledore, on its north bank, to the junction with the intended Weald of Kent Canal; it then proceeds to the south, till it unites with the River Rother on the borders of Sussex; in the bed of which river it is continued past Rye, as far as Winchelsea; at this place the river verges to the south-east to its opening into the sea, whilst the canal is continued in a direction due south, from Winchelsea to Cliff End, where it terminates.

The purposes for which it was originally constructed having become no longer necessary, it was deemed expedient by government, that the canal and towing-paths should be turned to some account in a commercial point of view, whilst they were likewise kept in repair, in case they should be wanted as a means of repelling an invading force. An act was accordingly passed in 1807, entitled, 'An Act for maintaining and preserving a Military Canal and Road, made from Shorncliff in the county of Kent, to Cliff End in the county of Sussex; and for regulating the taking of Rates and Tolls thereon.' By this act the Speaker of the House of Commons and other principal officers of the State are appointed commissioners for carrying on and maintaining the said canal and road, and to make the necessary orders for regulating the same. They are also empowered to order toll-gates to be erected and rates to be demanded for goods, &amp;c. passing on the canal and towing-path, such rates to be raised or lowered as shall to them appear necessary; tables of these rates to be put up in conspicuous places on the line, and returns of them or any