navigable for brigs of three hundred tons burthen. There are three draw bridges over this part of the River Dun or Dutch River, which are kept in repair by the Dun Navigation Company, to whom a certain pontage is paid for every vessel passing through the same. The length of the navigation, from Doncaster Mills to Fishlake Ferry, which formerly was above twelve miles, is now reduced to ten miles and a quarter; and from thence to New Bridge, five miles and a half; from New Bridge to Goole, by the Dutch River, is five miles and a quarter. When the tide flows 15 feet at Goole, it will flow only 7 feet at Fishlake, and but 3½ at Barmby Dun Ford.
The total length of the navigation, from the River Ouze to Tinsley, when the improvements are completed, will only be thirty-nine miles, and the total rise, by sixteen locks, from low water mark in the Dutch River, is 92½ feet; viz, from low water mark to the crown of Doncaster Mill Weir, 24Ÿ feet, by five locks; and from thence to the highest level on the navigation 67½ feet, by eleven locks.
This navigation is joined by the Sheffield Canal in Tinsley Cut; and, from the west end of the Ickles Cut on this navigation, a private canal, called the Holmes Goit, proceeds from it to Masbrough Iron Works. From the west end of the Old Rotherham Cut, there is another private canal, extending to the Greasborough Coal and Iron Works. In the side Cut of the Dun, near Swinton Pottery, the Dearne and Dove Canal forms a junction with this navigation; and, at Stainforth, the Stainforth and Keadby Canal proceeds from it.
The first parliamentary enactment relating to this navigation was in the 12th George I. and entitled, An Act for making the River Dun, in the West Riding of the county of York, navigable from Holmstile in Doncaster, up to the utmost extent of Tinsley, westward, a township within two miles of Sheffield; by which the masters, wardens, searchers, assistants, and commonalty of the company of cutlers in Hallamshire, in the county of York, were appointed undertakers of the navigation, with power to make it navigable at their own expense, within the limits prescribed by the title of the act; by which also the following tonnage rates were allowed.
