The Sun.
London, England, 1824-10-15 00:00:00

THAMES AND MEDWAY CANAL.

Yesterday took place the ceremony of for.
malty opemaa the Thames and Medway Canal, in the presence
of about one hundred Proprietors, besides a great deal of com-
pany collected from Gravesend, &c. the place where the Canal
begins, anti the company started in the Company's barges for
Rochester, along the line of. the Canal. . This Canal is an im-
portant addition to the trading and commercial facilities of the
country;
.it, however, cannot well be termed one of those very
modern.speculations which, owing to the diminution of the
interest of money, 4. have recently been so numerous: it was
commenced twenty-tive years ago ; but having been proceeded
with to a certain extent, the works were suspended, and re-
mained in such state till an enterprising and influential citizen,
RICOAUD SUTTON, Esq. gave new life to the excellent
scheme. The labours commenced twenty-five years agO car-
ried the Canal from Gravesend to Highani, a distance of about
five miles; and there, on arrivinel at they very
abruptly stopped; they could neither get over or through the
Chalk-hill; the latter, perhaps, was then not even thought of:
and indeed it presented no trifling obstacle, being a distance of
nearly two miles and a half. In that state the work remained
till, as already mentioned, it had fresh vigour impsrted to it by
Mr. Sutton. The 1001. shares, many of which-had paid con-
siderable proportions of the full amounts, were not generally
saleable; and vast quantities of them were bought at 10/. each,
indeed all that could be obtained; but they rose imme-
diately five pounds on its being ascertained that the work
was to be resumed by those who were not likely to let the busi-
ness stand still for want of money. The labour was then recom-
menced, and as it was found to be an arduous work even to at-
tempt to go over the hill, they resolved to cut through it !
Accordingly a tunnel, the largest and the most complete in
the world, has been .made through chalk hills—such tunnel,.
being nearly two miles and a half in extent ; and its size is such
that large.vessels may, pass along it, even with moderately-
sized sails, supposing them to be useful. The tunnel is up-
wards.of 22 feet wide on the water level, and at spring titles
more than eight feet deep; its height nearly 25 feet to the.sum-
mit of the arch ; and there is a towing path of five feet in width,
firmly and substantially protected by timber and cast-iron rail-
ing. Thus, without meaning to disparage the tunnel which
passes from Pentonville fields by White Conduit House, under
Islington, to Islington fields, which is a superior work, it will
be seen it this tunnel, in size, in completeness, or in labour
to accomplish it is a very difficult work. To get out the chalk
was immense labour; but when it was got out,. it was turned
to account : and thus the general works were in no degree aid-
ed. Of the extent and merit of the work to form this immense
tunnel, navigable for large vessels, the public may judge from
the figures and statements above given ; the superior manner in
which it is finished, the elevation of the arch, the excellence
and security of the towing-path, and the architectural neatness
of the several archways or entrances at High= and at Fritts-
bury, could hardly be too much praised. As already stated,
this immense tunnel " takes to earth" at iligham„ proceeds
under chalk hills for nearly two miles and a hair, and conies out
and terminates at Frinsbury in an imposingly large basin, com-
manded by a lock entering into the. river Medway, and. which
is capable of receiving vessels of 300 tons. .
The Canal commences just below Gravesend. At its en-
trance, there is a large river lock, capable of admitting vessels
of upwards of' two hundred tons into a fine basin where there
is excellent and .extensive wharfage. The Canal thence pro-
ceeds through marsh lands to the village of Higham, an extent
of nearly five miles, where the tunnel beebins, as already stat-
ed ; previously to arriving at the tunnel the Canal is fifty
feet wide, with seven feet of water. The width, height, &c.
of the tunnel, with its depth of water, have already been de-
tailed. The whole extent of this Canal is not quite seven
miles and a half, between the rivers Thames and Medway ;
and by this short line there is avoided the long, circuitous,
irregular, and often dangerous route round by the Nore of
fitly miles ! This is a great advantage gained for trade. By
its means, a communication front the interior of Kent with the
North of England is made „easy, safe, and at a comparatively
small expence, besides a great saving in the wear and tear of
sails, tackle, &e. This important line also opens a communi-
in Northamptonshire, for the
nieSl4 of. the Grandakraction and
eaR
et ire n Canals)tt:rs'l ;' b rtoi d ft3;alubuya ton ,
same sizes] craft, without any trans.elnpnient of goods, which
may thus be forwarded to any of the Northern parts of England.
Craft from 17 to 20 feet beam, it is stated, may navigate the
whole line, the advantage of. which to inland commerce need
notHbeseidpeosinAtetim otut.
hits
been
already
done, an extension of the
Thames ant'. Medway Canal is contemplated. Preparatory to
to it, the country has been examined bX levels between Mei&
Saone and Rye, to ascertain the shortest . practicable line for a
Canal between those places. It has been fhuntl, that there
is no line so favourable for a navigable junction between
Maidstone and Rye, as the course of the " Weald of' Kent
Canal" line, which. was . thoroughly surveyed in 1810 and
1811 (by Messrs. The• line must ascend the bled-
way, from Maidstone -to Yahling, where the Canal cum.
tthe
rivern ice
Rathers b r
meaces and passes by Winchet Hill, Middle Quarter, Hal-
den, and l'enterden, to the " Shorts Chit: Canal," near
with
bane
Rye of
Htalrie.
'A‘ PSPIII:rdn"C Canal"ewhence it
and rou
bour. In this survey of the " Weald of Kent Canal," a
branch line is also planned from Middle Quarter to Ashford
and the chalk hills near 11' e. From the plans and sections of
these surveys, an estimate lies been formed of the expence of
executing the line from Yalding to Appledore, also the branch
from Middle Quarter to Wye ; it is considered that the
cost of the whole would not exceed 250,000/. Thus are ascer-
tained the means and the expence of forming a junction between
the " Thames and Medway Canal," and Maidstone and Rye;
and his understood that many of the gentlemen who supported
the measure in 1810 and 1811 are anxious to promote • such
work. In addition to the branch line from Middle Quarter to
Ashford and Wye, there has been surveyed a Continuation of
that line to Canterbury. If that were made another junction
with the sea at Sandwich, it would.be valuable, as there is now
a plan in agitation to make a new, avigation from Canterbury
to Sandwich, and for improving Sandwich Harbour. Anti if
with these improvements there could be farmed a junction with
the " Military Canal," which proceeds from Sandgate to Rye
Harbour, goods could be there unshipped into large canal craft,
and forwarded to the North of England without any other
crane-shipment, proceeding thence by the Grand Junction and
other Canals.. The importance of these improvements and
projects, founded on actual surveys heretofore ordered to be
made, tend to shew the value of the 'Thames and Medway
Canal.
It may be mentioned as a curious instance of the changeable
value of this species of property, besides the fact of the price in
a few hours rising from 101. to la, that the Price- Cur- •
rent List now returns the price At 361., the average advance
being 431. -
The effect of the view on the proprietors and others in the
barges may be well imagined from the above description.
There were four bargee occupied with the company ; and there.
was a fifth barge, preceding such four barges, occupied with
musicians. In the first -of, the Company's barges were—Sir
C. Flower, R. Sutton, Esq., the Reverend Mr. Owen, •and'
several other Directors, &c. Previously to starting, Sir C.
Flower stood up by the flat,
',staff, and exclaimed success and
prosperity to the Thames and Medway Canal, with three times
three. I ' 'hese were given with considerable effect. The most
gratifying part of the view, however, was the entrance into
the tunnel.

Above the Higham entrance immense crowds of persona were
assembled, Ladies, Naval and ilitary Officers ; and Sir Chas.
Flower again gave the signal for huzzas,which were answered by
the surrounding spectators. At the en trance of the tunnel, the
light of the Frinsbury Arch at the end could be distinctly seen ;
and the effect Was very curious. The towing path was thronged
with spectators, and Canal-workers earrying lighted torches.
Nearly half of the tunnel is arched with brickwork—that if,
upwards of 1,700 yards out of 4,030 yards, the extent of the
tunnel. The rest is gothic arched, cut out of the chalk, which
in such parts is thickly mingled with strata of flints. A t many
parts of the tunnel it is 109 feet below the surface of the earth,
and at no part is less than 00feet under the surface of the hill.
There are now seven SbaltS remaining which furnish some light
—there were nine—but all will be closed, as they are pot usettil,
and the sides might occasionally give way from the weather,
and do injury. The works since the resumption, have occu-
pied five years; the working of the tunnel four years. There
were from 20f) to 300 men employed at it; some of the excava-
tions were effected by pick-axe, others by means of blast-
ing.' The expense of such work has been between two and three
thousand pounds. The original work was projected by
Mr.
'Walker, we believe ; but the resumption hasbeer: underthediree-
tin of Mr. Clarke, engineer, ably assisted: by Me: Lovett, clerk
of the works. The barges, which occasionally paused m the
tunnel, were about forty minutes in passing through it. On

passing through Frinsbury outlet, there is a capacious basin,
which. forms the termination of tine canal. Around this basin
there were great crowds of persons and several of his illjesty's
boats, with Officers on board; amongst them was Admiral Sir
J. Moreson. The Officers greeted the company on their coin-
ing out of the tunnel most cordially, giving the signal for
huzzas, and the band struck up "
.Rule Britannia." The Of-
ficers and others joined the procession on the landing, and pro-
ceeded to the Crown Inn, Rochester. It is gratifying to be
able to state, that the whole procession proceeded.moit orderly
and agreeably, and not the slightest accident occurred.