opened july carried canal england designed largely direction built england seven wonders canal age according industrial archaeologist construction proceeded quickly disaster struck filled water arches began weight work took months opened traffic months enabling act parliament passed july remained use years construction necessitated demolition replaced background original intention canal reach duke coal mines remaining north bank work began quickly decided alter route building masonry carry terminate instead manchester south river bill new route presented parliament november january following year travelled london evidence parliamentary committee support proposal gifted engineer formal education rarely committed designs paper questioned parliamentary committee composition frequently referred evidence mass clay brought committee room formed clay trough showed form watertight seal worked water form said form watertight trunk carry water rivers valleys cross path canal later asked produce drawing bridge proposed build replied representation paper demonstrate intention use model went bought large round cheese divided equal halves saying model amusement committee halves cheese represent arches laid long rectangular object demonstrate position river flowing canal flowing duke seen use canals travelling abroad idea structure carrying canal river new england ridiculed contemporary engineers brought review plans request commented report duke heard castles air saw erected necessary act parliament passed march specific form protect viability arch road bridge passing required restrict traffic river road bridge number arches foundations fixed river bed arches wide high road bridge construction yards long yards wide feet river highest point time enormous construction early illustrations piers flat faced shows pointed extending spring arch likely piers early 1820s arches composed rings masonry decorative masonry structure day tested water allowed flow arches began weight overcome anxiety retired bed bishop tavern nearby gilbert realising placed weight sides arch removed clay laid layers straw clay water allowed flow masonry held firm according statement 8th earl printed uncle duke told distortion arches gilbert addressed problem placing weight crown arch arch covered straw allowed stand following spring mortar set arch stable curve remained irregular operation legacy opened traffic july months enabling act passed soon duke barges carry coal manchester mines construction excited great admiration writers day remarked strange novel sight afforded canal crossed structure wonders age crowds came country view drilling duke levels saw struck advantages water navigation saw men slowly hauling single barge flow feet horse men seen hauling linked barges waters yards wide overall carried half width canal built accommodate flat boats common use beam feet making way traffic impossible signalling system installed control access pole feet high centre arch bank supported system arms operated ground level gilbert later structure remained use years volume lives engineers scottish author said construction humble appears parent magnificent replacement fate sealed passage allowed construction large accommodate ocean going vessels estuary miles manchester partly arches small allow large ships pass demolished replaced use today built old dynamite demolition stonework preserved nearby monument castle air
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