Lincs to the Past
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Stamford Canal
The River Welland was navigable to Stamford during the Middle Ages but by the 16th century was seriously impeded by water mills. The consequent effects on commerce prompted the civic authorities to petition their members of parliament and a Canal Act was obtained in 1571. Work seems not to have been carried out systematically until after 1620 when the Act was confirmed by James I, and proposals were drawn up by a commission of sewers, meeting in Stamford. In 1623 James I approved the proposals and authorised the charging of a toll at each lock. An undertaking to have the navigation open by 1627 lapsed however, as the corporation struggled to find an individual willing to fund the cutting of the canal. In 1664 Daniel Wigmore took responsibility for the work and it seems to have been completed sometime in the 1660s at a cost of 'several thousand pounds' - in repayment Wigmore was granted an 80 year lease on the tolls at a nominal rent in 1665. The exact opening date of the canal is not known but it was certainly in use some years before 1673. The canal was over 6.75 miles long, running from just east of the weir at Hudd's Mill in Stamford to just west of Market Deeping, at Tongue End. There were 12 locks along the length of the canal with additional locks on the River Welland at Upper and Lower locks in Deeping St James (HER nos 34763 and 34764). The extension of the Midland Railway to Stamford in 1846 and the arrival of the Great Northern Railway in 1856 effectively spelt the end for the canal which was in poor condition and leaking water. The last barge travelled up to Stamford in April 1863 and on 10 April 1865 the corporation attempted to auction off the canal in 24 lots in a sale held at Stamford Town Hall. Only a few lots were taken as there was a dispute over the property title, but by 1868 much of the canal had been disposed of. {1}
The Stamford Canal was the longest locked canal in the country when it was constructed and only the second post Roman canal to have been built in Britain. The Exeter Canal was built earlier but has no surviving 16th century features, having been extensively rebuilt in the 18th century. In contrast there is no clear evidence that the Stamford Canal was ever refurbished. Sections of the canal are visible as considerable earthworks which still retain water in places. Length 11.2km. {2}
During a watching brief, at TF 0924 0795, remains of structures associated with the canal were observed. These comprised two walls/stantions that were separated by what is believed to be the remains of the canal itself. The walls were made of rough hewn limestone blocks, bonded with mortar. Construction trench fills were also identified which contained two sherds of green-glazed pottery which suggested to the excavator a construction date before the 17th century. It is suggested that the structures are part of a lock. {9}{14}
In 1998 a local property owner and farmer undertook a project on the line of the Stamford canal at Tallington. His intention was to build up a hollow area opposite the cottages on Church Lane to provide car parking space. This space turned out to be the bed of the canal and to include the remains of a lock. The Grantham Archaeology Group visited the site and completed a brief survey of what was visible. In the light of this new information, the remains found on the east side of Bainton Road are now thought to be part of an abutment for a swing bridge. {13}
The navigation is used for the import of coal, timber etc., and in return carries Ketton freestone and Collyweston slates besides agricultural products. (incorporated from record PRN33548). {15}
Surviving as earthworks in c.2000. {19}
A geophysical survey on land at Red House Paddock, Tallington (TF09390804) recorded several positive linear anomalies. They were situated within a substantial cut feature that seems likely to relate to the course of a former water channel (or canal). A subsequent earthwork survey recorded the canal basin and embankments.{20}{21}
Sources:
01 Intervention Report: LCC ARCHAEOLOGY SECTION. 1993. MARKET DEEPING FLOOD DEFENCES DESKTOP STUDY.
02 Verbal communication: BARTON, B.M.J.. 1993. -
03 Map: Ordnance Survey. 1824. Ordnance Survey first edition one inch to the mile map (Lincolnshire). OAKHAM
04 Bibliographic reference: BIRCH, N.C.. 1972. Stamford: An Industrial History. pp.25-26
05 Bibliographic reference: BOYES, J. AND RUSSELL, R.. 1977. THE CANALS OF EASTERN ENGLAND. pp236-241, 340-341
06 Bibliographic reference: Wright, N.R.. 1983. A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of Lincolnshire Including South Humberside. pp32-3 No.81(2),p35 No.90
07 Bibliographic reference: Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England. 1977. An Inventory of Historical Monuments. The Town of Stamford. pplxiii,6 No.27; PLATE 87
08 Bibliographic reference: WRIGHT, N.R.. 1982. Lincolnshire Towns and Industry 1700-1914. pp21,187
09 Intervention Report: PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY. 1998. TALLINGTON TO WEST DEEPING PIPELINE. WDT96
10 Unpublished document: HALFORD. 1706. MONSON PAPERS. LAO: 7/16/27
11 Bibliographic reference: PRICE, D.. 1993. A RIVER JOURNEY THROUGH THE DEEPINGS. pp8-10
12 Bibliographic reference: DAY, F.A.. 1972. A HISTORY OF THE DEEPINGS. pp71-8,130
13 Correspondence: Grantham Archaeology Group. 2000. Canal lock at Tallington. -
14 Excavation archive: PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY. 1998. TALLINGTON TO WEST DEEPING PIPELINE. LCNCC 88.96
15 Bibliographic reference: PRIESTLY, J.. 1831. NAVIGABLE RIVERS, CANALS AND RAILWAYS. pp.709-10
16 Index: OS CARD INDEX. UFFINGTON. TF 00 NE:12, 1962, DS
17 Bibliographic reference: DE SALIS. 1904. BRADSHAW'S CANALS. p.434
18 Index: SMR FILE. UFFINGTON. TF 00 NE:AD
19 Aerial Photograph: Get Mapping. 2000. Digital National Imaging for Lincolnshire vertical aerial photographs. -
20 Intervention Report: Archaeological Project Services. Jan 2006. Archaeological Evaluation on land at Red House Paddock, Tallington. TRH04
21 Excavation archive: Archaeological Project Services. Jan 2006. Archaeological Evaluation on land at Red House Paddock, Tallington. LCNCC 2005.241
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The following reports are available from the ADS digital library.
01 Intervention Report: LCC ARCHAEOLOGY SECTION. 1993. MARKET DEEPING FLOOD DEFENCES DESKTOP STUDY.
09 Intervention Report: PRE-CONSTRUCT ARCHAEOLOGY. 1998. TALLINGTON TO WEST DEEPING PIPELINE. WDT96
20 Intervention Report: Archaeological Project Services. Jan 2006. Archaeological Evaluation on land at Red House Paddock, Tallington. TRH04
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