Canal

From “Priestley’s Navigable Rivers and Canals” by Joseph Priestley, published in 1831.

STAINFORTH AND KEADBY CANAL.
33 George III. Cap. 117, Royal Assent 7th June, 1793.

38 George III. Cap. 47, Royal Assent 1st June, 1798.

49 George III. Cap. 71, Royal Assent 20th May, 1809.

THIS canal, which is fifteen miles in length, commences at the River Dun Navigation, near Stainforth, in the West Riding of the county of York, whence running in an easterly direction near Thorne and Crowle, and passing to the south of both those places, it communicates with the River Trent at Keadby, in Lincolnshire.

This canal passes through a very flat part of the country, for there is only one lock of 5 feet fall near Thorne, exclusive of the tide-lock where it falls into the Trent at Keadby.

By connecting the Rivers Dun and Trent, it avoids the shoals in the lower part of the former river, and affords a better line of communication with Lincolnshire, the East Riding of York and the port of Hull.

1st Act of Parliament 1793

The first act of parliament, authorizing this undertaking, was passed in 1793, and is entitled, ‘An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from the River Dun Navigation Cut, at or near Stainforth, in the West Riding of the county of York, to join and communicate with the River Trent, at or near Keadby, in time county of Lincoln; and also a collateral Cut from the said Canal, to join the said River Dun, in the parish of Thorne, in the said Riding.’ It incorporates the company of proprietors by the name of “The Company of Proprietors of the Stainforth and Keadby Canal Navigation,” and empowers them to raise amongst themselves, for the purposes of this act, the sum of £24,200, in two hundred and forty-two shares of £100 each; and, if necessary, a further sum of £12,100, either amongst themselves or by mortgage of the tolls and rates, and to collect the following

TONNAGE RATES.
For all Fir Timber, Fifty Feet to the Ton 1d per Ton, per Mile.
For all Deals, Twelve Feet Long and Three Inches Thick, to pay as a Ton 1d ditto. ditto.
For all Ash, Elm and other White Wood of English Growth, Fifty Feet to the Ton 1d ditto. ditto.
For all Oak Timber Forty Cubic Feet a Ton 1d ditto. ditto.
For all Coals, Sleek, Cinders, Culm, Charcoal and Lime ¾d ditto. ditto.
For Lime-stone ½d per Ton, per Mile.
For all other Sorts of Stone, Iron-stone, Flags, Paving-stone, Slate, Iron, Pig-iron, Bar-iron, Old-iron, Cast Metal, Bricks and Tiles 1d ditto. ditto.
For all Wheat, Shelling, Beans, Peas, Vetches and Lentils; Rape, Line, Cole, and Mustard Seed; Apples, Pears, onions and Potatoes; Eight Winchester Bushels to the Quarter, for the whole Length of the Canal 4d per Quarter.
For Barley, ditto 3d ditto.
For all Malt or Oats, ditto 2d ditto.
For all Groceries, and all Kinds of Linen and Woollen Yarn, Cotton, Flax, Hemp, Manufactured Goods of all Sorts, with every other Kind of Goods, Wares and Merchandise, not before enumerated 1½d per Ton, per Mile.
For every Boat and Vessel that shall enter the Canal near Stainforth Lock, and turn down the Collateral Cut from Thorne Common to the River Dun at Hangman Hill, or shall navigate from Hangman Hill on the Canal to the River Dun Cut at Stainforth, on all Goods before enumerated 6d ditto.

Fractions of a Mile to be taken as a Mile, and of a Ton as the Quarters therein.

EXEMPTIONS.
All Kinds of Dung or other Manure (except Lime) that shall be produced in any Township or Parish through which the Canal passes, and to be carried to some other Township or Parish through which also the Canal passes.

The proprietors may likewise demand the following

CRANAGE AND PORTERAGE RATES.
For all Goods,Wares and Merchandise (except Corn, Coals, Stone, Lime, Lime-stone, Flint, Clay, English Timber, Bricks, Tiles, Plaster, Soapers’ Waste or Ashes and Sandfall, which will not require a Crane, and may be loaded and delivered by the Crew of the Boat or Vessel) 6d per Ton.

WHARFAGE RATES.
The Column marked thus (*) are the Rates to be taken for above Twenty-four Hours and not more than Six Days.

The Column marked thus (+) for Six Days but less than one Month.

The Column marked thus (±) for one Month but less than Six Weeks.

The Column marked thus (§) for Six Weeks but less than Two Months.

The Column marked thus (II) for Two Months but less than Ten Weeks.

Lords of manors and owners of land may erect wharfs and warehouses on the canal, and take the above wharfage rates; if they refuse to do so, the company may erect them.

2nd Act of Parliament

In 1798 a second act of parliament was obtained, entitled, ‘An Act for amending and enlarging the Powers of an Act, passed in the Thirty-third Year of the Reign of his present Majesty, for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from the River Dun Navigation Cut, at or near Stainforth, in the West Riding of the county of York, to join and communicate with the River Trent, at or near Keadby, in the county of Lincoln; and also a collateral Cut from the said Canal, to join the said River Dun, in the parish of Thorne, in the said Riding,’ which repealed that part of the former act authorizing the company to raise the additional sum of £12,100, and empowered the proprietors to raise amongst themselves, in addition to their original capital, the sum of £20,000; and, if necessary, a further sum of £10,000, by mortgage of the tolls, &c.

3rd Act of Parliament 1809

The last act of parliament relating to this canal was obtained in 1809, and is entitled, ‘An Act to enable the Company of Proprietors of the Stainforth and Keadby Canal Navigation, to raise a further Sum of Money for the Discharge of their Debts, and to finish and complete the said Canal Navigation; and for amending the several Acts passed relative thereto.’ It states that the company of proprietors had raised amongst themselves, nearly the whole of the two sums of £24,200 and £20,000 provided to be raised by the former acts; repeals that clause of the last act authorizing them to raise £10,000 by mortgage of the tolls, &c. and empowers them to raise that sum amongst themselves.