Sleaford Navigation

The Sleaford Navigation was a 12.5 mile (20km) canalisation of the River Slea in Lincolnshire, England, opened in 1794 and abandoned in 1878. It ran from a junction with the River Witham, near Chapel Hill to the town of Sleaford through seven locks, most of which were adjacent to mills. Parts of it remained navigable until the 1940s, and it is now being restored as a navigable waterway.

History

Prior to the 1770s, the River Slea was not navigable beyond Kyme, as the channel was inadequate, and there were fish weirs and water mills on its course. There was pressure for the river to be made navigable, so that Sleaford could benefit from a trade link, and three attempts were made to obtain an Act of Parliament, but all were defeated. In 1791, William Jessop and John Hudson were commissioned to prepare a new survey and plans. Jessop was a canal engineer of some repute, with experience of several navigations, including the River Trent at Newark, while Hudson was less well-known, but had experience of canal building in eastern England and Yorkshire. The plans obtained the support of Sir Joseph Banks, and the fourth attempt to obtain an act of Parliament was successful, probably due to his influence. [http://www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk/index2.html Sleaford Navigation Trust: History: A brief history by Simon Pawley] ]

The Act was passed on 11 June 1792, creating "The Company of Proprietors of the Sleaford Navigation", who were empowered to make and maintain a Navigation from Sleaford Castle Causeway, through the town of Sleaford, along the course of Sleaford Mill Stream and Kyme Eau, to the River Witham, at or near Chappel Hill. They had authority to raise £13,000 in capital for the project, with an additional £6,500 if necessary. [http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/sdoc.php?wpage=PNRC0581#PNRC576 Joseph Priestley, (1831), "Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain"] ]

Work progressed rapidly, with William Crawley as the engineer. He was also engineer of the Horncastle Canal at the same time. [http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/History23.html#SLFR Jim Shead - History of the Sleaford Navigation] ] Five locks were required to negotiate the mills, and there were additional locks at Lower Kyme and near Flax Dyke, in the parish of Ewerley. They were built as broad locks, 72 ft by 15 ft (22m x 4.6m). Financial difficulties meant that the navigation stopped short of its intended terminus at Sleaford Castle Causeway, and instead the company built a wharf to the east of what is now Carre Street, Sleaford. The navigation opened in 1794.

Working Life

Trade on the navigation was adequate, but the company was hampered by the overrun in the cost of construction. By the 1820s, the situation had turned round, and dividends were finally paid to shareholders. Plans for the installation of a weighing machine on the wharf in 1837 escalated, and resulted in a residence for the clerk of the canal and a weighing office being built. A crane was installed in 1841, but success was soon threatened by the coming of the railways.

A railway from Grantham to Sleaford opened in 1857. This was extended to Boston in 1859, and so offered direct competition to the navigation. The decline was rapid. Income fell from £981 in 1858 to £168 in 1868, and the share price dropped from £40 to £10 between 1860 and 1863. The company was trading at a loss by 1871, and although an Act of Abandonment was obtained in 1878, it did not actually close until 1881.

Although officially closed, much of the navigation was retained as a drainage channel and remained navigable until the 1940s. Lower Kyme lock was then replaced by a sluice, which prevented navigation until a lock was reinstated in 1986. [http://www.waterways.org.uk/Waterways/PrincipalNavigations/SleafordNavigation Inland Waterways Association: Sleaford Navigation] ]

Today

In 1977, the Sleaford Navigation Society was formed, with the intention of restoring navigation to the canal. Vigorous campaigning resulted in the first 8 miles (12.8km) returning to navigation when the lock at Lower Kyme was reinstated. In 1991, work commenced on Cobblers lock, and was completed by 1994, [http://www.sleafordnavigation.co.uk/index2.html Sleaford Navigation Trust: Restoration: Achievements Timeline] ] although it has not been fitted with gates as the banks of the section above it need strengthening before the water levels can be raised.

In 1994, the engineering consultants Binnies carried out a feasability study, which concluded that full restoration was possible. In 1997, the Sleaford Navigation Trust was formed, and the Navigation Society was wound up. They have continued to work on restoring the structures of the canal, campaigning successfully to prevent the Navigation Warehouse from being demolished in 1998. The former seed warehouse now forms part of "The Hub", housing the National Centre for Craft and Design, which is supported by the Arts Council and is the one of the leading centres for the promotion and exhibition of international craft and design in the UK. [North Kesteven District Council: "Visit Lincolnshire" leaflet, 2008]

Navigation House, the former residence of the clerk, is now a Grade II listed building, and has been refurbished. It houses an interpretation centre where visitors can learn of the history of the canal. [ [http://www.n-kesteven.gov.uk/section.asp?catId=632 North Kesteven District Council: Navigation House] ] The Trust bought the River Slea from the Navigation Yard in Sleaford to Bone Mill lock, including Cogglesford lock, in 2004.

References