WILTS & BERKS CANAL TRUST

From the North Wilts Herald November 17 1913

THE EDITORS POST BOX

Sir,- I see Mr. Kimber in his speech at the special meetingof the Swindon Chamber of Commerce is reported to have stated that the work onthe construction of the canal commenced in 1794, but it was not completed until1810-and that the capital expended upon it seemed from the records to haveexceeded a million pounds. May I ask what records, because there seems a littlevariation between this sum and what John Britton says in his description of thecounty of Wilts.

These are his words: “the Wilts and Berks Canal strikes offfrom the Kennet and Avon canal at Semington, and running in a direction almostdue north, passes by Melksham towards Chippenham (with which town, as well aswith that of Calne, it is connected by small collateral branches), from whenceit proceeds to Foxham. Soon after it turns directly to the east, flowing by Wooton Basset,Chaddington and Swindon, to within a mile of Highworth, near which town itleaves this county, and passes into Berkshire, on its way to join the Thames ata short distance below Abington.

The first act for the formation of this canal was passed in 1795;and by it the company were empowered to rise £111,000 in shares of £100 each;and in case of the insufficiency of that sum to complete their plan, £150,000more, by subscription or mortgage.

Accordingly in conformity with these powers, the two sums weresuccessively obtained; but both together fell far short of the expenditureactually found necessary for the completion of the undertaking.

A second application was therefore made to Parliament forleave to increase their stock by an additional sum of £200,000, which wasgranted; and the canal has at length been opened for navigation.” If this is correct the canal really cost £461,000and notover £1,000,000 as stated.

Yours truly PICKWICK. November 15