navigation navigation mile lincolnshire england opened ran junction river near town seven locks adjacent mills lack finance meant stopped short intended terminus gradually grew successful financially coming railways led rapid decline officially abandoned act parliament remained open years lower remained 1940s blocked interest restoring canal began navigation restored miles opening lock working restoring succeeded purchasing end river bed short section opened following installation lift bridge nearby served clerk office restored visitor centre canal adjacent seed warehouse turned history rises west near flows easterly direction passing way called joining river chapel hill reign gilbert accused illegally collecting tolls boats carrying food products people years defended case king explaining river dog suffered banks poor state repair having agreed carry repairs granted right levy tolls letters patent influential local landowners sir sir wanting improve communications area proposal link canal considered replaced scheme provide link following public meeting january committee formed promote scheme order profitable negotiations began commissioners river reduce tolls river traffic initially rebuffed committee persisted commissioners eventually agreed terms time channel inadequate fish water mills course attempts obtain act parliament improvements defeated commissioned prepare new survey plans canal engineer experience including newark hudson known experience canal building eastern england yorkshire report published november estimated improvements cost plans obtained support sir patron natural sciences president fourth attempt obtain act parliament successful probably influence act passed june creating navigation empowered maintain navigation castle causeway town course river near authority raise capital project additional necessary money raised lincolnshire half shares bought people living elected serve committee expressed thanks meeting end raised fund construction constructed time companies negotiated find engineer oversee projects approached accept appointed locks required negotiate mills additional locks near parish built broad locks feet total fall feet contracts total value construction locks bridges awarded worked defects reported lock opening canal announced produced advertisements stated canal open paid work carried company responded place sort disagreements law court opening went ahead enabling act specified terminus castle causeway follow southern mill stream pass south bridge old new financial difficulties meant stopped short intended terminus instead company built wharf east street operation trade navigation adequate company hampered overrun cost construction paid shareholders profits improved regular paid ranged cent cent collecting tolls let toll collectors paid privilege pay practice ceased receipts fell navigation prospered plans extend plan extension west suggested years later son revived idea proposed mile link year trader attempted navigation extended authorised terminus castle causeway company stated time construction left final yards causeway provided suitable wharf present terminus extensions pursued plans installation weighing machine wharf escalated resulted residence clerk canal weighing office built crane installed success soon threatened coming railways decline railway opened extended boston offered direct competition navigation decline rapid income fell share price dropped company trading loss act abandonment obtained june navigation actually close date final meeting act required company fill locks nearest special provisions remaining structures stretch river bordered land belonging good order handed earl owned maintain abandon required construct chose abandon final lock handed commissioners river good order remove gates fill lock chose officially closed commissioners chose retain locks lower miles navigation river remained 1940s lock replaced prevented navigation lock reinstated restoration produced book lost canals england wales compiled details canals considered derelict acted catalyst restoration schemes including navigation plan initially centred canal head promoted november formed wider aim restoring navigation canal publishing research lincolnshire society managed gain support plans resulted restoration lock opened november raising low construction winding hole miles returned navigation work commenced lock completed fitted gates banks section need strengthening water levels raised funded derelict land grant engineering carried feasibility study concluded restoration possible new administrative structure project created formed disbanded trust continued work restoring structures canal campaigning successfully prevent navigation warehouse demolished local council organised funding restoration warehouse offices canal company funded study looked provide adequate water supply opened canal seed warehouse forms hub housing supported leading centres promotion exhibition international craft design able buy bed river street included lock island lock refurbished winter upper gate vertical gate mechanism required turns handle raise gate lower new lock gates fitted new geared mechanism requiring fewer turns lock easier operate miles lock reopened following construction lifting bridge town centre installed late december hydraulic operating gear fitted january work carried construct new allow trailed boats launched town section involved careful planning avoid damage mature trees widening feet bank create point funding provided official opening new bridge facilities took place july boats launched members canoe clubs boston attended course upper terminus canal near town centre residence clerk grade listed building refurbished houses interpretation centre visitors learn history canal river lock owned short distance terminus new steel lift bridge crosses canal stream leaves east bank old course river canal lock lock miles allowed boats pass 18th century restored grind flour managed railway line lincoln crosses lock reached miles overshadowed bypass bridge lock situated miles buildings listed include small toll house lock keeper lock canal follows easterly direction reach lock miles nearby founded grade listed ruins later date tudor style country house built bridge canal built grade listed miles lock reached limit navigation pumping station south bank canal right angle bend skirt right angle bend carries canal short distance bend called section car roman ran miles heads southerly direction drain running parallel river changes village follows storey fortified tower built 14th century sir gilbert feet high surrounded moat road bridges cross navigation village low lying area lies north village main drainage ditch pumped river pumping station west bank passing east bank 18th century buildings grade listed farm west bank lock reached miles pumping station join river makes sharp turn east reach set flood doors bridge river flowing south east boston 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