# Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain/Ancholme River Navigation
## ANCHOLME RIVER NAVIGATION.

* 7 George III. Cap. 98, Royal Assent 20th May, 1767.
* 42 George Ill. Cap. 116, Royal Assent 26th June, 1802
* 6 George IV. Cap. 165, Royal Assent 22nd June, 1825.
The Ancholme Navigation commences from the River Humber, at Ferraby Sluice, one mile west of the village of South ​Ferraby, and four miles from the market town of Barton-upon-Humber. Hence it proceeds in nearly a straight line south to Glamford Briggs (or Brigg); thence continuing this direction to Bishop Briggs, on the high road from Gainsbro' to Market Raisin. The distance from Ferraby Sluice to where the Caistor Canal falls into the Ancholme Navigation is fourteen miles and a quarter, and from thence to its termination at Bishop Briggs, five miles and a quarter, making the total length nineteen miles and a half, upon which, (with the exception of the sea-lock at Ferraby Sluice), there is only one lock, of 6 feet rise, near to the end of the Caistor Canal.
The first act for completing this navigation, was passed, as stated above, on the 20th of May, 1767; it is entitled, 'An Act for the more effectual draining the Lands lying in the Level of Ancholme, in the county of Lincoln; and making the River Ancholme navigable from the River Humber, at or near a place called Ferraby Sluice, in the county of Lincoln, to the town of Glamford Briggs, and for continuing the said Navigation up or near to the said Rivers,from thence to Bishop Brigys, in the said county of Lincoln.'
A second act, for altering and enlarging the powers of this act, was passed in the 42nd George III. cap. 116, (June 26, 1802), and is entitled, 'An Act for altering and enlarging the Powers of an Act passed in the Seventh Year of the Reign of his present Majesty, entitled, An Act for the more effectual draining the Lands lying in the Level of Ancholme, in the county of Lincoln, and making the River Ancholme navigable from the River Humber, at or near a place called Ferraby Sluice, in the county of Lincoln, to the town of Glamford Briggs, and for continuing the said Navigation up or near to the said River, from thence to Bishop Briggs, in the said county of Lincoln.'
This act was succeeded by another, 6th George IV. cap. 165, (22nd June, 1825), entitled, 'An Act for altering and enlarging the Powers of Two Acts of his late Majesty King George the Third, for draining Lands within the Level of Ancholme, in the county of Lincoln, and making certain parts of the River Ancholme navigable.'
From the reports of the late Mr. Rennie, made in 1801 and ​1802, he estimates that to improve this navigation and drainage, it would cost £63,921, but of which sum only £6,063 related to the navigation.
In the year 1825, Mr. Rennie was again employed to examine this navigation and drainage, with a view to make further improvements. He directed that the sluice at Ferraby should be lowered 3 feet, making it 4 feet above low-water-mark at spring tides; that the river for three hundred yards from the sluice should be widened to 48 feet at bottom, and from thence to Cadney, 30 feet; that a lock of 6 feet rise should be made at Thornton Beck, and the bottom of the navigation, from this lock to Bishop Briggs, to diminish from 20œ feet broad to 15 feet. He estimated those improvements at £69,200.
The navigation and drainage is under the management of commissioners, who have power to raise £5,000, on security of tolls, to be applied for the improvement of the navigation and completing it to Bishop Briggs.
By the act of 6th George IV. it is stated that the sum of £12,000 raised by virtue of the act of 42nd George III. had been expended, and that the commissioners, in addition to this sum, had also incurred a debt of £7,500.. To liquidate which debt, and for the further purpose of improving the drainage and navigation, the commissioners have power of raising, by assessment, not more than £3,000 in any one year.

### TONNAGE RATES BY THE FIRST ACT.

By the act of 42nd George III. the new rates and dues, substituted in lieu of the above, are as follows:— ​

### NEW RATES AND DUES.

The commissioners appointed for directing the affairs of this navigation and drainage are not to be less than eighty in number, whose qualification is a possession, in the level, of one hundred acres of land, or a mortgage upon the tolls, to the amount of £1,000.
The quantity of land liable to be flooded, and consequently to the assessment for drainage, is 17,197A. 3R. l0p.
It is recited in the act of 42nd George III. that the annual amount of tolls on the navigation, was £700. The spring tide at Ferraby Sluice rises 19 feet above the sill of the lock, which is placed 4 feet above low-water-mark, spring tides.
Mr. John Rennie is the engineer to this navigation appointed by the act of parliament.