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Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal (also known as the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal) is a ship canal in the west of England, between Gloucester and Sharpness, completed in 1827. For much of its length the canal runs close to the tidal River Severn, but it cuts off a long loop in the river at a once-dangerous bend near Arlingham. It was once the broadest and deepest canal in the world. The canal is 26.5 km (16.5 miles) long.
Conceived in the canal mania period of the late 18th century, the Gloucester and Berkeley Ship Canal scheme (as it was originally named) was started by architect and civil engineer Robert Mylne. An act of Parliament, the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Act 1793 (33 Geo. 3. c. 97) was obtained, authorising the raising of a total of £200,000. The project rapidly encountered financial difficulties, to such an extent that Mylne left the project in 1798.
By mid-1799 costs had reached £112,000 but only 5+1⁄2 miles (9 km) of the canal had been completed. Mylne's role was taken over by James Dadford, who had originally been engaged as resident engineer on the project in 1795. Lack of funds resulted in the company ceasing to employ Dadford in 1800.
Between 1800 and 1810 various unfruitful attempts were made to raise money to allow further building. Money from tolls and rents allowed for some improvements to be made to the basin at Gloucester in 1813.
Following the Public Works Loans Act 1817 (57 Geo. 3. c. 34), it was possible for the company to borrow money from the Exchequer Bill Loan Commission. This, along with further share issues, provided enough money to bring the scheme to completion. After these significant delays, the canal opened in April 1827. In the course of its construction the canal had cost £440,000 (equivalent to £48,000,000 in 2023). As opened, the canal was 86+1⁄2 feet (26.4 m) wide, 18 feet (5.5 m) deep and could take craft of up to 600 long tons (610 tonnes; 670 short tons). The longer of the two locks onto the canal proper was 115 feet (35 m) long.
By the middle of the 19th century it proved possible to pay a small dividend, the debt to the Exchequer Bill Loan Commission having been repaid with the help of a loan of £60,000 from the Pelican Life Assurance Company. In 1871 the last of the debts incurred in the course of funding the canal, including the Pelican loan, were paid off.
A new, larger entrance and tidal basin at Sharpness was completed in 1874; during this year the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Company acquired the Worcester and Birmingham Canal Company. At this point, the canal company was renamed the Sharpness New Docks and Gloucester and Birmingham Navigation Company.
Where the Severn Railway Bridge (completed in 1879) passed over the canal, a swing section was constructed to avoid restricting headroom.
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Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal (also known as the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal) is a ship canal in the west of England, between Gloucester and Sharpness, completed in 1827. For much of its length the canal runs close to the tidal River Severn, but it cuts off a long loop in the river at a once-dangerous bend near Arlingham. It was once the broadest and deepest canal in the world. The canal is 26.5 km (16.5 miles) long.
Conceived in the canal mania period of the late 18th century, the Gloucester and Berkeley Ship Canal scheme (as it was originally named) was started by architect and civil engineer Robert Mylne. An act of Parliament, the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Act 1793 (33 Geo. 3. c. 97) was obtained, authorising the raising of a total of £200,000. The project rapidly encountered financial difficulties, to such an extent that Mylne left the project in 1798.
By mid-1799 costs had reached £112,000 but only 5+1⁄2 miles (9 km) of the canal had been completed. Mylne's role was taken over by James Dadford, who had originally been engaged as resident engineer on the project in 1795. Lack of funds resulted in the company ceasing to employ Dadford in 1800.
Between 1800 and 1810 various unfruitful attempts were made to raise money to allow further building. Money from tolls and rents allowed for some improvements to be made to the basin at Gloucester in 1813.
Following the Public Works Loans Act 1817 (57 Geo. 3. c. 34), it was possible for the company to borrow money from the Exchequer Bill Loan Commission. This, along with further share issues, provided enough money to bring the scheme to completion. After these significant delays, the canal opened in April 1827. In the course of its construction the canal had cost £440,000 (equivalent to £48,000,000 in 2023). As opened, the canal was 86+1⁄2 feet (26.4 m) wide, 18 feet (5.5 m) deep and could take craft of up to 600 long tons (610 tonnes; 670 short tons). The longer of the two locks onto the canal proper was 115 feet (35 m) long.
By the middle of the 19th century it proved possible to pay a small dividend, the debt to the Exchequer Bill Loan Commission having been repaid with the help of a loan of £60,000 from the Pelican Life Assurance Company. In 1871 the last of the debts incurred in the course of funding the canal, including the Pelican loan, were paid off.
A new, larger entrance and tidal basin at Sharpness was completed in 1874; during this year the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal Company acquired the Worcester and Birmingham Canal Company. At this point, the canal company was renamed the Sharpness New Docks and Gloucester and Birmingham Navigation Company.
Where the Severn Railway Bridge (completed in 1879) passed over the canal, a swing section was constructed to avoid restricting headroom.