Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain/Andover Canal

by Joseph Priestley

ANDOVER CANAL.

29 George III. Cap. 72, Royal Assent 13th July, 1789.

THE Andover Canal commences at Barlowes Mill, near the town of Andover, and passing the village of Upper Clatford, proceeds on the western bank of the little River Anton to the village of Fullerton; thence, after crossing the river, it takes its direction for a short distance to the Test, which having crossed, it proceeds on the eastern bank of that river, by the village of Leckford, to the town of Stockbridge, thence by Compton House, the villages of Mitchelmersh and Timsbury, to the town of Romsey; from which latter place, its course is parallel with the Test River, by Nutshalling to Redbridge, where it enters the tideway of the Southampton Water. Its length is twenty-two miles and a half, and its fail from Barlowes Mill to Redbridge is l76⅓ feet. The dues upon this canal arise chiefly from the passage of coal and other fuel from the coast, and from the export of its surplus agricultural produce.

The engineer employed was Mr. Robert Whitworth, and the act for completing the same, which received the royal assent, as stated above, is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from or near the borough of Andover, in the county of Southampton, to or near Redbridge, in the parish of Millbrook, in the said county.'

The owners of this navigation are incorporated under the name of "The Company of Proprietors of the Andover Canal Navigation," and they are empowered to raise and contribute among themselves, for the execution of the work, a sum not exceeding £35,000, in three hundred and fifty shares of £100 each, with power to raise a further sum of £30,000, if necessary, for the purpose of carrying on and finishing the work, in the following manner:—that is, by permitting the original shareholders to take additional shares to the amount of £10,000, not exceeding ten additional shares by any original subscriber, and the remaining £20,000 by mortgage on the credit of the canal rates, tolls, &c. with interest, not exceeding legal interest. The management of this concern is placed in the hands of a committee of fifteen persons annually chosen from among the proprietors.

TONNAGE RATES.

	d.
For Coal, Stone, Timber, Corn, Grain, Malt, Meal, Flour and other Goods, Wares, Merchandize and Commodities	2 per Ton, per Mile.

And so in proportion for any less Quantity than a Ton.

Vessels not to exceed Eight Feet in Breadth, and Sixty Feet in Length, and not to draw more than Three Feet Six Inches Water. No Boat or other Vessel to pass a Lock without paying Rates equal to Fifteen Tons.

At the termination of the canal at Redbridge, and where the same enters the river called Southampton Water, there is a wharf and quay, with warehouses, storehouses, cranes, &c. which, at the time the act was obtained, belonged to the Rev. Sir Charles Mills, Bart.; and, as it appears he was entitled to riverage, wharfage, and storehouse roomy for the use of the same, certain rates, as under, were secured to him, or his tenants, by a clause in the act, for all articles conveyed or to be conveyed on the Andover Navigation.

WHARFAGE RATES, PAYABLE AT REDBRIDGE.

	s. d.
For Coals not landed, but taken out of, or put into, Vessels to be conveyed on the Canal	0 3	per Chaldron
For all other Goods or Merchandize	0 1	per Ton.
For Coals landed on the Wharf	0 6	per Chaldron.
Wheat, Flour and Beans so loaded	0 3	per Ten Sacks.
Oats and Malt	0 3	per Ten Quarters.
Barley	0 ½	per Quarter.
Timber (including the expense of drawing the same on Shore)	1 0	per Load of 50 Feet.
Stones, Bricks, and all other Goods landed on the Wharf, and not put into the Storehouse	0 3	per Ton.

For all Goods which are landed and warehoused for the space of One Month, the following Rates are allowed, (which includes the Wharfage above, together with the expense of Porterage of such Goods.)

	s. d.
Wheat, Flour and Beans	0 6	per Quarter.
Oats, Malt and Grass Seeds	0 3	ditto.
Hogsheads of Sugar, Tallow, Soap, Starch and Tobacco	0 8	per Hogshead.
Vinegar, Spirits, Beer and other Liquors	0 6	ditto.
Butter	0 1	per Firkin.
Larger casks of Butter	0 1½	each.
Hemp	3 0	per Ton.
Paper	1 0	ditto.
Woollen Rags for Manure	0 3	ditto.
For all other Rags	1 0	ditto.

And for all other Goods in the same proportion.

N. B. Where Cranes are required for loading and unloading, an additional charge, not exceeding Three-pence per Ton.

For putting the powers of the act into execution, one hundred and thirteen commissioners, together with the bailiff and approved men of Andover, were appointed, whose qualification was a clear annual rental of £100, or personal property to the amount of £3,000, unless he be heir apparent to a peer, or be eligible to be elected as a Knight of the Shire.