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The 'Gloucester and Sharpness Canal' or 'Gloucester and Berkeley 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. In 1793 an act of parliament was obtained authorising the raising of a total of £200,000. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969, The project rapidly encountered financial difficulties - to such an extent that Mylne left the project in 1798. By half way through 1799 costs had reached £112,000 but only 5 1/2 miles of the canal had been completed. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969,
Robert Mylne's role was taken over by James Dadford who had originaly been engaged as resident engineer on the project in 1795. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969, Lack of funds resulted in the company ceasing to employ Dadford in 1800.
Between 1800 and 1810 various attempts were made to raise money to allow further building but they came to nothing. Moneys from tolls and rents allowed for some improvements to be made to the basin at Gloucester in 1813. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969,
From 1817 onwards the Poor Employment Act meant it was possible for the company to loan money from the Exchequer Bill Loan Commission. This along with further share issues provided enough money to bring the scheme to completion. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969, After these significant delays, the canal opened in April 1827. In the course of its construction the canal had cost £440,000.
As opened the canal was 86 and a half feet wide 18 feet deep and could take craft of up to 600 tons. The longer of the two locks onto the canal propper was 115 feet long. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969,
By the middle of the 19th century it proved possible to pay a small dividend the dept to the Exchequer Bill Loan Commission having being replayed with the help of a loan of £60,000 from the Pelican Life Assurance Company. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969, In 1871 the last of the debts incurred in the course of funding the canal includeing the Pelican Life Assurance Company loan were paid off. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969,
In 1905 traffic exceeded 1 million tons for the first time. The Canals of South and South East England, Charles Hadfield, , , , 1969, The canal was nationalized in 1948.^[1] At the same time the Sharpness Dock Police which had policed the dock since 1874 were absorbed into the British transport police.^[2]
In order to allow the A40 south-west bypass to be built the canal had to be diverted. The new section of channel was opened on 6 May 2006.^[3]
The canal links directly to the Stroudwater Navigation at Saul junction.

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References

External links

References

1. Waterways Virtual Archive Catalogue
2. Sharpness Dock Police (1874 - 1948)
3. Canal's new channel section opens

External links

★ Gloucester Docks and the Sharpness Canal Past, Present and Future