Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain/Avon and Frome Rivers
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, received rates for wharfage, anchorage, moorage, &c. but as these have been but indifferently defined, several acts of parliament have been obtained for the determining the same, and for other purposes set forth in the respective titles, which will be briefly noticed in their place. The course of that part of the Avon under the jurisdiction of the corporation of Bristol, commencing at Hanham Mills, is in a westerly direction by Crew's Hole, thence skirting the south side of the city of Bristol, through the parish of Bedminster to Redcliffe; thence by Roundham Lodge and Abbots Leigh Park, to the River Severn at King Road. From Hanham Mills to King Road, is in length fifteen miles and a half. Its course formerly lay through the heart of the city, but a new channel for the river has been cut on the south side of Bristol, two miles in length, while the ancient course has been converted into an excellent floating-dock and harbour, which is productive of immense advantages to the commercial population of this enterprizing city.
The River Frome is but a small stream, which rising near the town of Wickwar, in Gloucestershire, passes Iron Acton, and, in its course by Stoke Gifford House, supplies a number of mills and manufactories. It enters on the north side of Bristol, and passing through the centre of the city, falls into the floating-dock, or ancient course of the Avon. The last half mile of its course is used as a dock and harbour, (no other portion being navigable,) and as it is in the very heart of the city, its value may be easily appreciated.
In the year 1749, the corporation obtained an act, entitled, 'An Act for making more effectual an Act passed in the Eleventh and Twelfth Years of the Reign of his late Majesty King William the Third, for the better preserving the Navigation of the Rivers Avon and Frome, &c.;' but we forbear to enlarge upon the provisions of this act, as the rates of wharfage, anchorage, &c. were not finally ascertained and settled until 1807, when parliamentary sanction was given to an act, entitled, 'An Act for ascertaining and establishing the Rates of Wharfage, Cannage, Plankage, Anchorage and Moorage, to be received at the lawful Quays in the Port of Bristol; for the regulation of the Cranekeepers in the said Port; and for the better regulation of Pilots and Pilotage of Vessels navigating the Bristol Channel.'
Under this act the powers granted to the mayor, burgesses and commonalty, by charter, grants from the crown and preceding acts of parliament, are set forth; in which it appears they have jurisdiction down the Severn and Bristol Channel, to the two small islands called the Stipe Holmes and the Flat Holmes, distant from the mouth of the Avon about twenty-three miles; and that they and their lessees are also possessed of all the lawful wharfs and quays in the city and port of Bristol.
RATES OF ANCHORAGE AND MOORAGE.[edit]
| s. d. | ||
| All coasting Vessels from Ports to the Westward of the Holmes not exceeding Forty Tons Burthen | 0 9 | each Voyage. |
| All Coasting Vessels, ditto, at and above Forty Tons | 1 6 | ditto. |
| ANCHORAGE. | MOORAGE. | |
| s. d. | d. | |
| All Vessels (except Coasting Vessels) under Thirty Tons | 2 6 each, | ½ per Ton. |
| All Vessels, above Thirty Tons, and under One Hundred Tons | 5 0 each, | ½ ditto. |
| All Vessels above One Hundred Tons | 5 0 each, | 1 ditto. |
The rates of wharfage, cannage and plankage, are fixed and very particularly enumerated in the first schedule of this act, but as they are arranged under upwards of four hundred heads, our limits will not permit us to do more than refer our readers to the act. Also by the act separate rates are fixed for the landing or shipping, and landing and weighing of goods, wares and merchandize, which are particularly set forth in the second schedule of this act, to which we likewise refer the reader; but the charges in the latter schedule are subject to the control of the magistrates assembled in quarter sessions, who can reduce the rates.
By an act of the 43rd George III. entitled, 'An Act for improving and rendering more commodious the Port and Harbour of Bristol,' the mayor, burgesses and commonalty of the city of Bristol, and their successors; the master, wardens and commonalty of merchant venturers of the said city, and their successors, and several other persons were incorporated by the name and style of "The Bristol Dock Company," and were empowered to raise among themselves £250,000, in shares of £100 each; and a further sum of £50,000 to be borrowed on the credit of the rates and duties, for the purpose of improving the docks and harbour of Bristol, and for making a canal or entrance-basin in Rownham Mead, to the extent of six acres, with other works therein specified. But in the preamble of an act which the company obtained in 1806, entitled, 'An Act to alter and amend an Act passed in the Forty-third Year of his present Majesty, entitled, An Act for improving and rendering more commodious the Port and Harbour of Bristol, and for extending the Powers and Provisions of the said Act,' it appears that of the £250,000 authorized to be raised among themselves, they only obtained £235,000, and were wholly unable to obtain any part of the £50,000 which they were authorized to borrow on mortgage. This act, therefore, gives power to the directors nominated for managing the affairs of the Bristol Dock Company, or any five of them, to make a call of £35 per cent. on original shares, (which would increase the capital to £317,250,) to enable them to carry into execution the works recited in the act of 43rd George III. with the alterations and improvements authorized to be made by the last recited act.
The works authorized to be done under the act of 46th George III. consist chiefly of a solid dam across the River Avon, at the Red Cliff, and another between the present course of the Avon, (now the floating-dock,) and the new intended course of the said river; also another dam over the Avon at Totterdown, and for making the westwardmost locks in the Rownham Mead Basin 33 feet wide, instead of 45 and 33 feet.
The power in the act of 43rd Geo. III. to borrow £50,000 on mortgage, is repealed by the above recited act. Persons holding ten shares in this undertaking, are qualified to serve as directors.
Two other acts have been obtained by the Bristol Dock Company, one in the 48th George III. entitled, 'An Act for completing the Improvements of the Port of Bristol;' and another in the following year, entitled, 'An Act to enable the Bristol Dock Company to borrow a further Sum of Money for completing the Improvements of the Port and Harbour of Bristol;' but as they refer to matters which are not strictly within the limits of this work, we refrain from quoting the provisions of the same.
The River Avon, by reason of the gradual contraction of the channel of the Severn, is subject to very high and rapid tides, and particularly so when the wind is from the west, or a point or two to time south. At the mouth of the Avon, where the Severn is six miles wide, the usual spring tide is 40 feet; but in November, 1813, the spring tide there was ascertained by Captain Andrew Livingstone, of Glasgow, to be full 50 feet perpendicular rise. At Chepstow, situate upon the mouth of the River Wye, (where the channel of the Severn is little more than two miles wide,) the vertical rise of time spring tide is often 60 feet.
As the River Avon is the first link of one of the chains of the present inland communication between the ports of Bristol and London, this circumstance alone gives to it an importance that in former times it had no claim to; and if ever the scheme, which is now in agitation, for making a canal between these two important places, capable of admitting ships of upwards of four hundred tons burthen, (the estimated expense of which is eight millions,) be carried into execution, this river will doubtless form an interesting portion of such a navigation.
The celebrated Smeaton reported on the proposed floating harbour, docks, &c. so long ago as the year 1765; but William Jessop, Esq. was the engineer who carried into execution the works required under the authority of the last act of parliament.