The Canal Story Progress in Building the Canal

- over 200 years ago researched by David Gerry

INFORMATION Hampshire Record Office Sussex Street, Winchester SO23 8TH (UK) Phone: 01962 846154 E-mail: Hampshire Record Office

In 1790, over 200 years ago, construction work along the line of the canal was well under way. To set the scene in that year we can glean an interesting insight from some of the Canal Company's records in the Hampshire County Records office. William Jessop had apparently been appointed the Company's consulting engineer early in 1788 but there is little detail about his contract. John Pinkerton was also involved and his contract was formalised on 3rd October 1788. The Company of Proprietors held a meeting on 2nd June 1788 and resolved that: A further call on subscribers shares be made of 10% in addition to the 22% already paid (presumably a deposit), cash to be paid to Sir James Esdaile's Banking House in London. Further meetings of the board are to be advertised in the Daily Advertiser, The World, Reading Mercury, Hampshire Chronicle, Portsmouth and Chichester Journal and a Birmingham newspaper. Committee members will pay their own expenses. Next meeting to be held in the Crown Inn, Basingstoke. (There is still a Crown Inn at Basingstoke).

THE CONTRACT The full text of John Pinkerton's Contract for the building of the canal. 'The' Mr JonesThis is a humorous reference to his present-day namesake Frank Jones who made a lot of the original lock gates when the canal was being restored, as well as much other help.

At the meeting of 25th August 1788 there was discussion over the depth of locks to be constructed (and, one suspects, the number of locks). An early decision to make the fall of each lock 6-foot was rescinded and a fall of 7-feet agreed. John Pinkerton was instructed to stake out the line of the canal. After the meeting of 3rd November 1788 (after the signing of the Pinkerton contract) it was agreed that John Pinkerton should be paid a bonus of £500 if the canal was completed by 25th December to the satisfaction of the Resident Engineer. It was further agreed that he should receive a cash advance for work so far but only after he had supplied details of his securities. Pinkerton asked for extra cash for grubbing out tree roots which was omitted from his contract - he was told to sell the roots and the Company would pay the difference. William Jessop was asked to prepare an estimate for excavating the summit pound deeper, the normal depth to be 4ft 6inches, the summit 5ft 6inches (subsequently changed to 5ft and 6ft) respectively. The next meeting to be held at the Maidenhead Inn, Basingstoke. During the autumn of 1788 the Rev. Shaw visited Greywell and wrote an article for the Gentleman's Magazine, reporting that he had seen 100 men excavating the cutting at Greywell but that they had not yet entered the Hill. At its meeting on 23rd February 1789 the committee agreed further calls of 8% and 10% to be made on shareholders subscriptions. It was resolved that John Pinkerton be paid a further bonus of £700 if the canal remained watertight for 3 years after completion (there is little evidence that he collected any bonus.....). Next meeting to be at the Portmore Arms, Weybridge. At the meeting of 4th April 1789 the committee discussed a letter from the Mayor of Salisbury, and at the meeting of 1st June 1789 a report was received of a meeting between Members and the Mayor and associates from Salisbury to Andover, but it was agreed that the Basingstoke Canal Act did not authorise investment into a survey or extension to the canal beyond Basingstoke. Also at that meeting Sir Henry Paulet and Sir John Mildmay of Dogmersfield House suggested an alternative route for the canal, which was agreed provided Sir Henry demolished two cottages that were on the line and built the Bridges across Tundry Pond himself. John Pinkerton was told off for not keeing to specification without authority. At a subsequent meeting it was agreed that no business would be done after dinner at any meeting. It was also resolved that the 'Winchester Paper' (assumed to be the Hampshire Chronicle) be told that an article printed on 18th May was incorrect. It was agreed to purchase sets of weights from 7lbs down to half an ounce for the 'Tything Man' and to be available for the workmen to use. It was agreed that the line be diverted at Peatmoor near Crookham (ie the big loop through Fleet). John Pinkerton's brother George and Mr Wright were instructed to survey the new line. A special meeting was held on 15th July 1789 to discuss complaints by landowners about prices paid for land. At the meeting of 31st August 1789 the following resolution was passed: "That the bricks which have been made for use of the undertaking being so exceedingly bad that much of the greatest part are totally unfit for the purpose; Mr Davies and Richard Harmsworth, with proper assistants, on the part of the Company, (giving notice to Mr Pinkerton that his agents may also attend) do proceed immediately in sorting all the bricks now upon the line, from one end to the other; and such as they find unfit for the purpose of the works carrying on, they do provide wagons and carts for removing them to such a distance that they may be totally out of the way of the workmen ... so that the evil may be remedied thereby". Cost of construction so far £13,322 16s 1d exclusive of 161,480 bricks "deemed unfit for use". "The gentlemen of the Committee having on their late survey of the line reported the conduct of Mr Jones (not the Mr Jones, surely?) to have been such, that it will be absolutely necessary for the general good of the undertaking that Mr Pinkerton do discharge him from the works for ever". Next meeting to be held in the London Tavern, Bishopsgate Street, London on 2nd November 1789. Part way through the meeting it was moved to the 'George and Vulture' in Cornhill - only financial matters were discussed. Another tedious financial meeting was held the following month on 8th December in the Council Chamber of Basingstoke Town Hall. The rich store of fascinating historical titbits in the records of the Company of the Proprietors of the Basingstoke Canal reveal that in 1790 Mr Eastburn was the Resident Engineer and his full statement on progress of works was read and approved at a meeting held in the Crown Inn at Basingstoke which adjourned immediately to the Town Hall (I'd love to know why - perhaps the beer was off....). At the next meeting held in the Crown and Anchor in The Strand in February 1791 no less than 47 people attended, a sign of the times of course, no ladies were present. They appointed a committee op 20 to look after their affairs and a sub-committee of 11 to look after the accounts. It was becoming clear that the original estimates were inadequate and further funds would be necessary to complete the canal. Mr Pinkerton was ordered to pay particular attention to the bricks used for the tunnel and that they 'were proper for such work'. At the meeting in April 1791 Mr Pinkerton reported that he expected the first eight miles from the River Wey to open in two weeks time, and he was still confident that he would complete all the work by midsummer 1791. At the meeting on 6th June 1791 Mr Eastourn (note the different spelling, a common enough occurrence at the time) produced an account of the works on the canal, and reported the state thereof by which it appears - "that twenty-five miles of the cutting are finifhed, or nearly fo, and the remainder is in forwardnefs, except three miles and a half not begun. That three of the locks are finifhed and in ufe, and that twelve other locks are finifhed, except copings and racts, which are fixing, and will be completed in a few days. Nine other locks are in great forwardnefs, and five not begun. The twenty-fix of the bridges are finifhed, and five others in part built. That the aqueduct in the Ash Valley, of ten foot diameter is finifhed, and the aqueduct at the River Deepford is nearly finifhed. That upwards of one thoufand and three hundred yards of the tunnel at Gruel Hill two hundred and twenty-three yards are nearly finifhed, and six hundred and fourteen yards of heading, or narrow tunnel are made farther into the hill. That there are employed at prefent on the line, five hundred and fifty men, and forty-eight horses at the gins and waggons at the hills, exclufive of the teams employed in drawing materials for the works. The buildings are in general executed in a firm and fubftanial manner. Mr Eaftbourn adds, that he has the pleafure to aquaint the meeting thet the profpects of obtaining a sufficiency of water are very flattering. That the principal feeders are always expected to be found in the upper part of the line, that is, in the tunnel and betwixt the tunnel and Bafingftoke; thefe not yet opened, but the quantity of water at prefent arifing in different situations, amounts to about 15 locks per day, and although we muft expect in a fucceding dry seafon, that there will be diminifhed, yet, in the courfe of the laft six weeks, during which time the springs have been much reduced, he found the principal feeder, which alone produces to the amount of nine locks per day, was very little diminifhed. The locks immediately beyond the eight miles, next the River Wey, as well as the canal, are in great forwardnefs, and going on with expedition. Thefe, when finifhed, will effect a communication with Frimley Hill; where good feeders at the eaft as well as at the weft end are opened, and there is no doubt but they will be confiderably increafed on going farther into the hill".

In the spring of 1792 the Resident Engineer, Mr Eastburn, reported that "32 miles of canal are finished or almost so"; and that "the parts under immediate execution are in a forward state", and that "half a mile only remains to be begun". 24 locks were completed and four almost completed and Lock 24 was half built. 46 bridges were complete and seven under construction. The Ash valley aqueduct (culvert), 10-feet in diameter, was complete also the Whitewater aqueduct at Greywell. The total length of all the culvert under the canal completed was 2,320 yards. 635 yards of Greywell Tunnel was complete, and water arising in the canal amounted to about 30 locks full per day. The committee agreed to pay Mr Pinkerton the next installment of £10,573 13s 2d. Mr Pinkerton submitted his bill for extras amounting to £5,671 17s 6d. By midsummer Mr Eastburn was able to report that 34 miles of canal, 52 bridges, 4 lock houses, 2 wharf walls and a total of 2,599 yards of culvert had been completed. The tunnellers continued underground and had finished 884 yards. The Deepcut cutting and Ash Embankment were nearly finished. By autumn all of the locks and 56 bridges were completed. 6 bridges were under construction and the total length of completed culverts had reached 2,659 yards. 1006 yards of tunnel had been completed and the heading was through the hill. The committee now sought the advice of Mr Pinkerton and Mr Eastburn on future staff requirements..... (from BC News 159, 160 & 161, Winter 1991/92, Winter 1992/93, Spring 1993)

Last updated May 2000