42163
The Fossdyke Canal close to the Pyewipe Inn in Lincoln, Lincolnshire.
The Fossdyke Canal is generally considered to have been constructed during the Roman period, but there is a case for an early medieval date. It connects Lincoln and the Witham to the Trent. Its cutting would have involved the straightening and rerouting of the River Till. A 2005 borehole suggested that the River Till may have become redundant before the 12th century, but no firm date.
The first documented work on the Fossdyke was when it was deepened in 1121. It was Crown property until James II presented it to the city of Lincoln by an act of 1671. There were frequent problems of flooding and silting but its use increased after improvements were made by Richard Ellison to whom it was leased in 1741, and son Richard after 1743.
It was deepened in the early 19th century and in 1840. The Fossdyke was used at this time for the transport to Lincoln of coal, lime, cotton, linen and woollen goods, timber, and pottery etc. and for the moving to the towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire of cattle, wool, wheat, barley and flour. Craft were sailing barges, horse-drawn and steam packets. The GNR took over the lease in 1846.
Commercial water transport gradually declined with increasing competition from railways but survived longer on the Fossdyke than on Witham. Barkers and Lee Smith were last Lincoln users of river barges, and the last water transport company was Furleys of Gainsborough in 1972.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foss_Dyke
42163
The Fossdyke Canal close to the Pyewipe Inn in Lincoln, Lincolnshire.
The Fossdyke Canal is generally considered to have been constructed during the Roman period, but there is a case for an early medieval date. It connects Lincoln and the Witham to the Trent. Its cutting would have involved the straightening and rerouting of the River Till. A 2005 borehole suggested that the River Till may have become redundant before the 12th century, but no firm date.
The first documented work on the Fossdyke was when it was deepened in 1121. It was Crown property until James II presented it to the city of Lincoln by an act of 1671. There were frequent problems of flooding and silting but its use increased after improvements were made by Richard Ellison to whom it was leased in 1741, and son Richard after 1743.
It was deepened in the early 19th century and in 1840. The Fossdyke was used at this time for the transport to Lincoln of coal, lime, cotton, linen and woollen goods, timber, and pottery etc. and for the moving to the towns of Lancashire and Yorkshire of cattle, wool, wheat, barley and flour. Craft were sailing barges, horse-drawn and steam packets. The GNR took over the lease in 1846.
Commercial water transport gradually declined with increasing competition from railways but survived longer on the Fossdyke than on Witham. Barkers and Lee Smith were last Lincoln users of river barges, and the last water transport company was Furleys of Gainsborough in 1972.
Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foss_Dyke