Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain/Avon River, Warwickshire

by Joseph Priestley

AVON RIVER.

24 George II. Cap. 39, Royal Assent 22nd May, 1751.

33 George III. Cap. 23, Royal Assent 30th April, 1793.

This River Avon commences a mile west of Warwick, where the Rivers Leame and Dove (having previously received the waters of the Sow and Watergall) unite, and take the name of Avon. From the junction of these rivers, the Avon runs close to Warwick, (the county town), washing the walls of the castle, and passing through the princely grounds attached to the same, it takes a circuitous course by The Hill, Charlecote House, Alveston House, and Welcombe, to Stratford-upon-Avon, where it first becomes navigable. A mile from Stratford, it is the boundary between Gloucester and Warwick for about a mile in length; from thence its course continues through the county of Warwick, for the distance of a mile, and again becomes the boundary of Gloucester and Warwick, to Binton Bridges, to which place, from Stratford, the distance is five miles and one-eighth. From Binton Bridges, the Avon is still the county boundary, to Grange: it then passes through a portion of Warwick, to within three quarters of a mile of the junction with the Arrow River, where it again divides the counties of Warwick and Gloucester. The distance from Binton Bridges to the Arrow River is five miles and three quarters. From the Arrow Mouth, the Avon is the division for a mile and a half between Warwickshire and Worcestershire, when it enters the latter county, passing Offenham, to the bridge, at the town of Evesham. The distance from the mouth of the River Arrow, to the latter place, is six miles and a half. From Evesham Bridge, the river almost makes the circuit of the town; then proceeds, in a north-westerly direction, by the Manor-House, and Cracombe House, and by the villages of Fladbury and Wyre Piddle, to the bridge at the town of Pershore. The distance from the latter place to Evesham Bridge is eleven miles and three quarters. From Pershore, to Eckington Bridge, the river makes two or three considerable bends, so that though the distance by the river, between these places, is six miles and a half yet, by a straight line, it is only two miles and a half. From Eckington Bridge, the river takes a southerly direction, passing Breedon, a little before which, it becomes the boundary between Gloucester and Worcester, and continues to be so to the town of Tewkesbury, where it falls into the River Severn, being in distance, from Eckington Bridge, seven miles and three quarters, and the total distance from Stratford-upon-Avon to the Severn is forty-three miles and three-eighths.

In the preamble of the first act relating to this river, we learn that, for a considerable time previous, it had been navigated, from Stratford, to its junction with the Severn; but that in consequence of frequent disputes between the proprietors of the navigation, and those using the navigation, it became necessary to apply to parliament for an act which should determine the amount of rates and duties to be paid.

The following rates have been paid ever since the river became navigable, and are still received, in addition to the rates which the proprietors of the navigation are empowered to collect, under the powers of the 24th George II.

ANCIENT TOLLS.

	d.
For every Barge passing through Tewkesbury Sluice, or Lock, into the Severn	6
For every Boat, ditto. ditto, ditto	3
For every Boat, (except Pleasure Boats), passing through Evesham Sluice	6
For every Boat, Barge, or Vessel, passing up or down the said River—for the setting and drawing of every Wear, and at every Wear upon the said River	6

The following act, 24th George II. cap. 39, 22nd May, 1751, entitled, 'An Act for the better regulating the Navigation of the River Avon, running through the counties of Warwick, Worcester,and Gloucester, and for ascertaining the Rates of Water Carriage upon the said River,' empowers the proprietors of the navigation to demand the following rates of tonnage:—

TONNAGE RATES AND TOLLS.

Wine, Cider, or Merchants' Goods, of every kind	Rateage per Ton,	in Column marked (*)
Wheat, Barley, Malt, Beans, Peas, Oats, Maslin, Linseed, Cutlings, Clover, Meal and Flour	per Wey,	ditto. marked (†)
Cast, or Pig Iron, Brick, Stone, Lime, Coopers', Carpenters', Wheelwrights', and other Timber, Boards and Firewood	per Ton,	ditto. marked (‡)
Coal, of every Kind	ditto.	ditto. marked (§)
Bar Iron, Lead, Polished Stone, and all other Things, not particularly specified	ditto,	ditto. marked (II)

TONNAGE RATES AND TOLLS.

	(*) s. d.	(†) s. d.	(‡) s. d.	(§) s. d.	(II) s. d.
From the Severn, near Tewkesbury, or any place between that and Strensham Sluice, to Stratford, or any place between that and Bidford	4 0	3 0	0 10	1 6	1 6
From the Severn, near Tewkesbury, or any place between that and Strensham Sluice, to Bidford, or any place between that and Evesham; or from Bidford, or any place between Evesham and Bidford, to or below Tewkesbury	3 4	2 4	0 8	1 6	1 3
From the Severn, near Tewkesbury, or any place between that and Strensham Sluice, to or below Evesham Sluice, and any place between that and Pershore	2 4	1 8	0 6	1 6	0 10
From the Severn, near Tewkesbury, or any place between that and Strensham Sluice, to Pershore Sluice, and any place between that and Nafford Sluice	1 8	1 4	0 5	1 3	0 8
From the Severn, near Tewkesbury, or any place between that and Strenaham Sluice, to Nafford Sluice, or any place between that and Strensham Sluice	1 3	1 0	0 4	0 10	0 6
From the Severn, near Tewkesbury, or any place between that and Strensham Sluice, to Breedon, or to any place between the Severn, or Strenaham Sluice, provided the Vessel passes a Sluice	0 8	0 6	0 2	0 4	0 4
From Stratford, or any place between that and Bidford, to the Severn, near Tewkesbury, or any place between that and Strensham Sluice	4 0	3 0	0 10	1 6	1 6
From Stratford, or any place between that and Bidford, to Strensham Sluice, or any place between that and Nafford Sluice	3 8	2 9	0 9	1 4	1 4
From Stratford, or any place between that and Bidford, to Nafford Sluice, or any place between that and Pershore Sluice	3 4	2 6	0 8	1 3	1 3
From Stratford, or any place between that and Bidford, to Pershore Sluice, or any place between that and Chadbury Mill, or Sluice	3 0	2 3	0 7	1 1	1 0
From Stratford, or any place between that and Bidford, to Chadbury Mill, or Sluice, and anyplace between that and Harvington Mill	2 0	1 8	0 6	0 10	0 9
From Stratford, or any place between that and Bidford, to Harvington Mill, and any place between that and Bidford	1 0	0 10	0 3	0 5	0 5
From Stratford, to Bidford, or any place between Bidford or Stratford	0 8	0 6	0 2	0 3	0 3
From Evesham, to Tewkesbury, or the Severn, or to Stratford, or any place between the Severn, or Tewkesbury, and Strensham Sluice; or Stratford, and Luddington Sluice	2 4	1 8	0 6	1 6	0 9
From Evesham, to Strensham Sluice, or Cleeve, or to any place between Strensham Sluice, and Pershore Sluice, or Cleeve, and Bidford	1 8	1 4	0 4	0 8	0 6
From Evesham, to Bidford, or Pershore, and to any place between Bidiord, and Harvington Mill, or Fladbury, and Pershore	1 4	1 0	0 3	0 6	0 5
From Evesham, to Harvington Mill, or Fladbury	1 0	0 10	0 3	0 5	0 4
From Evesham, to any place between Harvington Mill, or Fladbury, provided such Vessel passes a Sluice	0 8	0 6	0 2	0 3	0 3