Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/655



THAMES AND SEVERN CANAL.
23 Geo. III. C. 38, R. A. 17th April, 1783.

31 Geo. III. C. 67, R. A. 13th May, 1791.

36 Geo. III. C. 34, R. A. 7th March, 1796.

49 Geo. III. C. 112, R. A. 27th May, 1809.

53 Geo. III. C. 182, R. A. 2nd July, 1813.

THIS canal was first projected by Mr. R. Whitworth, in 1782, and after obtaining the sanction of parliament, was afterwards executed by him. It commences in the Stroudwater Canal, at Wallbridge, near Stroud, and thence taking an easterly direction, it runs by Stroud, Chalford and Sapperton; here it is conveyed through the celebrated Tarlton or Sapperton Tunnel, which is the largest in the kingdom; then passing the head of the River Thames or Isis it reaches Siddington St. Mary, at which place a branch about a mile in length runs from it to the town of Cirencester; thence to South Cerney and Latton, where it is joined by a branch of the Wilts and Berks Canal, originally called the North Wilts Canal; then passing Cricklade and Kempsford, it terminates by locking down into the Thames and Isis Navigation at Lechlade.

The act of parliament, under authority of which this undertaking was commenced, is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from the River Thames, or Isis, at or near Lechlade, to join and communicate with the Stroudwater Canal at Wallbridge, near the town of Stroud; and also a collateral Cut from the said Canal at or near Siddington, to or near the town of Cirencester, in the counties of Gloucester and Wilts.' It incorporates a number of persons, who were subscribers to the undertaking, amongst whom are the Earl of Radnor, Lord Dudley and Ward, Sir Edward Littleton, Bart. and Sir Herbert Mackworth, Bart. by the name of" The Company of Proprietors of the Thames and Severn Canal Navigation," and empowers them to raise amongst themselves, for the purposes of the act, the sum of £130,000, in thirteen hundred shares of £100 each, and, if necessary, a further sum of £60,000, by mortgage of the tolls and rates, and directs that five per cent, per annum shall be paid on the sum so raised during the progress of the work. The act also authorizes the company to take the following tonnage rates.