WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

THE CANAL.- It now appears that formal application will be made in the next session of Parliament for the power to close the canal, and the copies of the proposed bill are to be deposited in the offices of Parliament on the 21st December next.

The principal object of the application is to enable the company or the High Court of Chancery to sell and dispose of the canal, the lands, rights, privileges, right of way, or navigation over the canal and branches, reservoirs, &c., by public auction or private contract. If the canal is not sold in its entirety, then to make provision for closing the canal.

Another part of the proposed bill will authorise compensation to the officers of the company. The possible closing of the canal seems to be viewed with various feelings by the inhabitants along its banks. There is still a belief amongst many that if it were put in good repair and dredged so as to allow of fully laden boats passing, or even steam-tugs, that a very considerable revenue might even yet be obtained.

There is a question, however, whether the canal is wide enough, and the banks strong enough for steam-tugs, whose swell is very destructive to the sides. The time taken by the ordinary tow boats now in use, to reach Bristol from Swindon, is two days and a half; and to reach London, five days and a half. The boats do not travel Sundays.

A large amount of heavy traffic might still pass along it. So sensitive is trade in these days, that the sudden rise in the price of coal is said to have had a material effect in increasing the traffic for the time being. Then the canal has performed the useful part of a river to afford water to some thousands of acres of pasture land, or rather to the stock grazed on them, and although this was not the intention for which it was constructed, yet it has done good, and will be missed if closed.

Report says that preliminary offers for purchasing the canal in its entirety have been made, and that £20,000 has been mentioned: but this is a rumour and nothing more. It is obvious that the company must obtain the power to sell before they can entertain any proposals.It has been the fashion in certain quarters to charge the slow barge as out of date; but it must be remembered that in its time the canal was a great and most beneficial enterprise.

The canal appears to have been finished in 1814: but the reservoir which supplies its highest level was not completed till 1822. The highest level is at Swindon, and is a clear piece of water free from locks for seven miles. Of late years the famous Canadian weed has obtained a hold upon the bottom, and immense quantities of this choking plant are annually dragged out.

The weed has passed up the brooks and feeders supplying the canal, but has not yet made its appearance in the reservoir. With respect to the question of steam-tugs it may be borne in mind that a small steamer actually did reach Swindon, and lay for some time at the wharf last summer.

Swindon Advertiser Nov 23 1874

(FOOTNOTE) On the 8th of May 1876 the canal was sold to a Mr. Fox for the sum of £13,466, and a new act was obtained, and the capital reduced. Between 1883 and 1888 it showed a loss of £16,000. Between 1891 and 1896 it showed a loss of £ 12,100 having only brought in £2,900 in tolls.

The act of abandonment was given Royal Assent on the 1st August 1914 some 40 years after it was first mooted and 100 years after it was built.