somerset coal canal somerset coal canal originally known coal canal narrow canal england built starting basins nearby tunnel joined link gave somerset peak contained access east london longest arm miles long locks arm ran tunnel feature canal variety methods overcome height differences upper lower reaches initially use locks failed inclined plane finally flight conventional locks arm commercially successful replaced later incorporated somerset route flourished nearly years profitable carrying high coal decades canal helped carry fuel powered nearby city bath 1880s coal production declined pits ran coal flooded subsequently closed main pump maintained canal water level failed resultant lowering level meant small loads transported factor reduced revenue canal declining income meant canal company afford pay replacement pump canal disused officially closed sold railway companies expanding networks land bordering canal route years construct railway october grant obtained carry technical study locks associated structures september restoration work began canal section aim restoring entire canal navigation near future largest canal drydock england revealed bridges nearby reinstated rebuilt mile canal likely water summer history background coal discovered mining began area transport major problem poor state roads cost potential cheaper delivery coal south wales led proposal canal transport coal bath wiltshire initial surveys conducted direction presented report october estimating cost construction canal smith worked pit high original observations leading important theory observing geological strata canal cut smith surveyor company dismissed april apparently position surveyor buy local house terms set private practice bath engaged company provide advice repairs necessary canal bed canal authorised act parliament entitled act making maintaining canal certain railways county somerset communicate intended parish county detailed surveys carried appointed chief engineer construction invited section built meadows near near parish june contractor started terminus meadows local labour section canal completed monday october load coal canal delivered bath connected respective basins meadow terminus involved construction bridges brook bridge required canal point connected mills workings course brook modified places protect canal erosion partner offered build balance lift payment condition successful royalty ton goods passed design lock success february descent failed inventor successful descent june said undertake pass tons goods lock invited june constructions attempts use lock took place april successful august second rebuilding abandoned replaced locks inclined plane successful company proposed raise money finance building flight locks replace use additional toll ton traffic vigorously opposed owners grounds price coal customers high negotiation company obtained new april authorised formation separate body called lock fund somerset coal canal company powers raise sum money raised somerset coal canal contributing levied capital cease act set rates charged mile pay half mile ton quarter ton rates determined company addition rates ton paid goods receives ton coal canal company boats weighed weigh house constructed boats floated ended lock gate closed water drained left boat resting cradle suspended angled rods attached beam took weight boat pound weights added pan pound equivalent system weight recorded weigh house known built england wales operation canal opened passenger traffic coal monks came said canal stage journey cargo carried canal limestone peak level cargo carried tons resulting tolls paid tons common 1870s decline output coal somerset competition railways dramatically reduced canal main pump failed replaced sufficient water continual operation locks canal went closed finally abandoned sold branch bristol closure caused problems somerset especially pits branch relied canal transportation branch branch constructed intended link main line branch lower level point created paid construction locks little regular traffic branch company built lock brook short bridge gap contributed economic failure branch replacement laid canal single line passing places yards originally laid cast iron plates stone block wrought iron plates engineers data lock fall route meant problems supplying adequate water brook inadequate source water mills water rights narrow boat travelling series locks deep ton load coal caused tons water discharged brook locks result canal designed locks flight near pumping engine raise water canal entirely depend pumping potential solution water supply problem use locks proposed replace conventional locks wasted water technology tried scale prototype lock long deep contained closed wooden box barge box moved deep pool water left lock box demonstrated prince regent later engineering problems successful commercially built temporarily replaced inclined plane successfully installed inclined planes whilst locks capable lifting tons water hours built latest design metal plate clad wooden gates construction images recently uncovered drain location canal level level proposed drain maintenance purposes exit arch dimensions following extract newspaper provides details chosen sites travel somerset coal canal formed sealed proposals excavation masonry separately send sub committee newspaper articles basins located villages terminus northern branch somerset coal canal central point high connected canal basin west northern basin terminus served prior pits branch line pits parts line use probably carrying horse drawn wagons coal southern basin served hill terminating salisbury addition line entire line disused served area designated area special architectural historic interest character appearance desirable preserve enhance section act coming railway railway affect canal bristol line completed took traffic away finally closed somerset extension bath built route branch line constructed running alongside canal miles route great western railway built railway line bristol parts canal route joined existing branch line opened passenger goods traffic closed world war opened war ran passengers years finally closed traffic 1950s line 1950s comedy film today route canal lies largely agricultural area small villages minor roads basins branch canal easily visible stretches features surveyed restoration entire length explored locks original canal route buried railway embankment building waste 1960s longer feasible original locks structures section canal blocked entirely accommodation bridge high embankment railway crosses canal features entire route private land survives places right way later railway surfaced form proposed statue commissioned father sited path line canal commemorating work surveyor recognition significance rock strata restoration works quarter mile stretch canal joins restored 1980s thriving marina excavations old stop lock junction canal showed originally broad feet lock point narrowed feet moving lock wall basins work started reveal drydock eastern drydock appears largest drydock canal system england feet wide feet long large length worked time drainage southeast corner drydock rebuilt december drydock completely excavated april entrance drydock western end bridge partially demolished rebuilt excavations began terminus bridge arch missing found poor condition earth carried public stopped water draining new earth installed metres west terminus bridge stop water allow work continue bridge excavations drainage discovered metres west terminus bridge work resumed september november batter canal excess removed reinstated stretch east terminus bridge metres stretch retaining wall discovered south embankment continuing metres possibly built repair weak section canal banking vertical white clay wall grant study history canal canal studied years exploration restoration work undertaken particular effort far unsuccessful trying find site second locks october grant obtained coal canal society association carry technical study locks associated structures locks associated workings listed buildings route points interest
Somerset Coal Canal