course hence is through a detached part of the Bishopric of Durham by Stillington Mill, and to Sheriff Hutton Bridge, where the navigation commences. From the New Inn, near the bridge last-mentioned, a canal, two miles in length, is made, which cuts off a considerable bend, and enters the river near Duncombe House; thence the old course of the river is the line of navigation by Strensall, Towthorpe, Earswick, and Huntington, to the city of York, through the east quarter of which it flows, and falls into the Ouze on the south side of the castle. The length of the navigation is twelve miles and a half, with a total rise of 47 feet 8 inches from the surface of the Ouze in its ordinary summer state.
Mr. William Jessop designed this navigation in 1791, and estimated the cost at £16,274; but the first act was not obtained until the 30th April, 1793. It is entitled, An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Communication from the Junction of the River Foss with the River Ouze, at or near the city of York, to Stillington Mill, in the parish of Stillington, in the North Riding of the county of York; and for draining and improving certain Low Lands lying on each side of the said River Foss. The subscribers, at the time the act was obtained, were one hundred and six in number; amongst whom were Viscountess Irwin, Sir William M. Milner, and the Lord Mayor and Commonalty of the city of York, who were incorporated by the name of "The Foss Navigation Company," with power to raise among themselves the sum of £25,400, in two hundred and fifty-four shares of £100 each; and, if necessary, they may borrow the further sum of £10,000 on the credit of the undertaking.
TONNAGE RATES ALLOWED BY THIS ACT.
| Lime, Coal, Slack, Cinders or Culm, per Chaldron of Thirty two Winchester Bushels | 2d per Mile. |
| Dung, Soot, Rape-Dust, or other Manure, Wheat, Rye, Oats, Barley, Beans, Malt, Hay Seeds, Rapeseed, Mustard-seed, Linseed, and other Grain and Seeds of all Sorts, Oatmeal, Flour, Oat Shelling, Stock and Common Bricks, Square Paving Bricks or Tiles, Oak, Ash, Elm, Beech,Fir, or other Timber, or Logs of Mahogany, Oak Bark, Deals of all Kinds, Wainscot Boards, Pipe Staves, or other Articles of Wood, Stone, Flags, Slate, Bar Iron, or Manufactured Iron, Butter, Bacon. Cheese, Salt, Hay, Straw, and Wool | 2d per Ton, per Mile. |
| For every other Sort of Goods, Wares or Merchandise | 3d ditto. ditto. |
For the Purposes of this Act, Forty Feet of Oak, Ash, Elm, or Beech Timber; and Fifty Feet of Fir, or Deal, Balk, Poplar, or other Wood, shall be deemed a Ton.
