Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain/Aberdeenshire Canal
ABERDEENSHIRE CANAL.
36 George III. Cap. 68, Royal Assent 26th April, 1796.
41 George Ill. Cap. 3, Royal Assent 24th March, 1801.
49 George Ill. Cap. 3, Royal Assent 13th March, 1809.
This navigation was executed by a company, incorporated by the name of "The Company of Proprietors of the Aberdeenshire "Canal Navigation," and was opened for the passage of vessels in June, 1805. Its commencement is in the harbour of Aberdeen, on the north bank of the Dee, and in the tideway at the mouth of that river. For a short distance it takes a northern direction, and then proceeds to the east past the town of Aberdeen, to Wordside, at which place it approaches the southern bank of the River Don, nearly parallel to which it continues its course by Fintray to the town of Kintore: leaving that town to the west, and keeping the western side of the valley of the Don, it opens into that river at Inverurie, near its junction with the water of Urie. The length of this canal is about nineteen miles, and the fall from Inverurie, to low-water-mark in the harbour of Aberdeen, is 168 feet, by seventeen locks. The width of the canal is 23 feet, and its depth aver ages 3 feet 9 inches.
The first act for executing this useful work is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from the Harbour of Aberdeen, in the parish of Aberdeen, or St. Nicholas, into the River Don, at or near the South End of the Bridge over the same, (adjacent to the Royal Burgh of Inverurie) in the parish of Kintore, all within the county of Aberdeen, North-Britain.'
By this act the company were authorized to raise £20,000 in £50 shares, no person to be holder of less than one share, or of more than forty; and it was further provided that in case of need £10,000 more might be raised amongst themselves, by the admission of new subscribers or by mortgage: it appears, however, that the original projectors of the work did not meet with the anticipated success, for in the year 1801, an application was made to parliament for an additional act for raising money to complete the undertaking.
In their application the proprietors stated, that of the £20,000 which they were authorized by their former act to obtain, only £17,800 had been subscribed, all of which had been expended, and several debts incurred.
A second act was passed in the 41st George III. cap. 3, (24th March, 1801), in consequence of the company being unable to raise more than £17,800 under the former act, and had for its title, 'An Act for better enabling the Company of Proprietors of the Aberdeenshire Canal Navigation, to finish and complete the 'same,' which was to be effected by creating one thousand new shares of £20 each, bearing an interest of five per cent.
But the proprietors were compelled to apply for a third act, which was granted in the 49th George III. cap. 3, (13th March, 1809), entitled, 'An Act for better enabling the Company of Proprietors of the Aberdeenshire Canal Navigation to raise the necessary Fund to complete the same.' By this act the company were empowered to raise a further sum of £45,000, upon promissory notes, under the common seal of the company, bearing interest, with a power in the holders to become shareholders of £100, in the ratio of the amount of their respective notes; or, at their option, they are empowered to raise the said sum by mortgage of the rates authorized to be collected; or by the granting of annuities.
The tolls which were granted by the first act, (and which have not been altered by any subsequent act), are recited in the following page:—
TONNAGE RATES.
| d. | ||
|---|---|---|
| For Hay, Straw, Dung, Peat and Peat Ashes, and for all other Ashes intended to be used for Manure, and for all Lime, Chalk, Marl, Clay, Sand, and all other Articles intended to be used for Manure, and for all Materials for the Repair of Roads | 4 per Ton, per Mile. | |
| For Corn, Flour, Bark, Wood Hoops, Coal, Culm, Coke, Cinders, Charcoal, Iron, Lime, (except what shall be intended to be used for Manure) Stone, Bricks, Slate and Tiles | 5 ditto. ditto. | |
| For Timber and other Goods, Wares or Merchandize, not hereinbefore specified | 6 ditto. ditto. |
Tolls to be taken for any greater or less Quantity than a Ton, or greater or less Distance than a Mile.
The chief article of conveyance on this canal is granite, great quantities of which are annually exported from the quarries on its banks to London and other parts of the country, by means of its communication with the harbour of Aberdeen, for the improvement of which Mr. Smeaton, and afterwards Mr. Telford, made surveys, preparatory to applications to parliament for powers to execute the same. Acts were accordingly passed in the 13th, 35th, 37th, and 50th of George III. and the harbour is now capable of receiving ships of from 18 to 20 feet draught, adding thereby considerably to the facilities of shipment and consequently increasing the traffic on the canal which opens into it.