Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/63

For all Goods taken on board at any place between Tewkesbury and Stratford, and unladen before they come to Stratford or Tewkesbury, for which no provision is herein made, the same Rates are hereby fixed from the Place where they are taken on board to Evesham, and from Evesham to the Place where the same shall be landed or unladen, and so in proportion for any greater or less Quantity. Millers, on the Avon, in consideration of the inconvenience they occasionally sustain, by having to draw off the Water, for the purpose of repairing Sluices, &c. are exempted from Payment of Toll, upon Coals used by their Mills, or for Materials used for Repairs of the same; but if they prefer paying Tonnage, they are entitled to Twenty Shillings per Day, for drawing off Water and during such time the Water is drawn off.

Until the expenses of this act was paid, the extra toll of two shillings and sixpence, for each loaded vessel, was paid at Tewkesbury, Pershore, Eveshain, or Stratford, or such other place as the vessel passed through.

This valuable property belonged, originally, to George Perrott, Esq. but it was placed in the hands of trustees, under powers of an act, entitled, 'An Act for vesting the Navigation of the River Avon, in the counties of Warwick, Worcester, and Gloucester, &c. and certain other Estates, late the Property of George Perrott, Esq. in Trustees, &c.' but the tolls and duties remain, as settled by the act of the 24th George II.

This river is of infinite advantage to the towns of Pershore, Evesham, and Stratford, and the country adjacent, supplying them with coal and merchandize, and serving to export their surplus agricultural produce.

AVON AND FROME RIVERS.

11 & 12 Wil. III. C. 23, R. A. 11th May, 1700.

22 Geo. II. C. 20,11. A. 26th May, 1749.

43 Geo. III. C. 140, R. A. l1th August, 1803.

46 Geo. III. C. — R. A. 23rd May, 1806.

47 Geo. III. C. 33, R. A. 1st August, 1807.

48 Geo. III. C. 3,11. A. 21st Mar. 1808.

49 Geo. III C. 17, R A. 28th April, 1809.

Though the first act relating to the navigation of these rivers occurs in the reign of William the Third, and is entitled, 'An Act for the better preserving the Navigation of the Rivers Avon and Frome, and for cleansing, paving and enlightening the Streets of the city of Bristol,' yet for several hundred years previous, this river, from the western end of the Avon River Navigation, at Hanham Mills, to the River Severn, King Road, has been, by ancient charters and grants from the crown, in the possession of the mayor, burgesses and commonalty of the city of Bristol, as Conservators thereof, and they have, from time immemorial,