in the county of Nottingham, to Bawtry Wharf, in the county of York, commences in the River Trent at West Stockwith, at a very short distance from the junction of the Chesterfield Canal with that river, and, pursuing a westerly direction for about ten miles, reaches the wharf in Bawtry by a circuitous course. There is nothing in this navigation worthy of much remark, save the sluice and locks at Misterton, half a mile from the Trent, which were constructed for the purpose of keeping the water of the Trent, in time of floods, out of the low lands through which the Idle passes. As an easy communication between the towns of East Retford and Bawtry, it may be considered an useful undertaking.
INVERNESS AND FORT WILLIAM CANAL.
(SEE CALEDONIAN CANAL.)
ISLE OF DOGS CANAL.
47 George III. Cap. 31, Royal Assent 1st August, 1807.
THIS canal was made by government, the funds being raised under the authority of an act, entitled, An Act to authorize the Advancement of further Sums of Money out of the Consolidated Fund, to be applied in completing the Canal across the Isle of Dogs, &c. &c. It was then called the City Canal, and, in 1829, was purchased by the West India Dock Company for £120,000. It crosses the Isle of Dogs, entering from Blackwall Reach, just below the communication of the Thames with the West India Docks, and again unites with the Thames at the upper part of Limehouse Reach, being three quarters of a mile long, and having a tide-lock at each end.
The original object in making this canal was to facilitate the passage of vessels round the Isle of Dogs; however, after it was completed, government found that mariners would rarely pass through it, on account of having a small sum to pay for dues. The project therefore failed to answer the original intention.
