Gloucester and Sharpness Canal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal is a canal in the south west of England, between Gloucester and Sharpness; for much of its length it runs close to the tidal River Severn, but cuts off a significant loop in the river, at a once-dangerous bend near Arlingham. It was once the broadest and deepest canal in the world.
Conceived in the 'canal mania' period of the late 18th century, the 'Gloucester and Berkeley Ship Canal' scheme (as it was originally named) was started by architect and civil engineer Robert Mylne, but rapidly encountered financial difficulties - to such an extent that Mylne left the project in 1798. The canal basin at Gloucester was complete, but only a quarter of the 18-mile canal to its original proposed junction with the Severn at Berkeley Pill (where the Little Avon River enters the Severn) was finished.
Around that time, James Dadford worked as an engineer on the project.
Some 20 years later, Thomas Telford was appointed to bring the scheme to completion, and he moved the southern junction to Sharpness Point. After these significant delays, the canal opened in April 1827.
http://www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/ Gloucester - Sharpness Canal
| River Severn, UK | edit | |
| Counties: Montgomeryshire | Shropshire | Worcestershire | Gloucestershire | Flows into: Bristol Channel Towns: Llanidloes | Newtown | Welshpool | Shrewsbury | Ironbridge | Bridgnorth | Bewdley Major tributaries: Rea Brook | River Perry | River Tern | River Vyrnwy | River Stour | River Teme | Upper Avon | Lower Avon | River Wye Linked canals: Staffordshire and Worcestershire | Birmingham and Worcester | Droitwich Major crossings: Welsh Bridge | English Bridge | The Iron Bridge | Severn Bridge | Severn Tunnel | Second Severn Crossing |
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| Longest UK rivers: 1. Severn 2. Thames 3. Trent 4. Aire 5. Great Ouse 6. Wye 7. Tay 8. Spey 9. Nene 10. Clyde 11. Tweed 12. Eden | ||
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