Commissioners£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡enabled¡¡to¡¡proceed¡¡with¡¡the¡¡completion¡¡of
their¡¡undertaking¡£¡¡A¡¡capacious¡¡canal¡¡was¡¡cut¡¡from¡¡Gloucester¡¡to
Sharpness¡¡Point£»¡¡about¡¡eight¡¡miles¡¡down¡¡the¡¡Severn£»¡¡which¡¡had¡¡the
effect¡¡of¡¡greatly¡¡improving¡¡the¡¡convenience¡¡of¡¡the¡¡port¡¡of
Gloucester£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡this¡¡navigation£»¡¡ships¡¡of¡¡large¡¡burden
can¡¡now¡¡avoid¡¡the¡¡circuitous¡¡and¡¡difficult¡¡passage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡higher
part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡river£»¡¡very¡¡much¡¡to¡¡the¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡the
place¡£
The¡¡formation¡¡of¡¡a¡¡new¡¡tunnel¡¡through¡¡Harecastle¡¡Hill£»¡¡for¡¡the
better¡¡accommodation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡boats¡¡passing¡¡along¡¡the¡¡Grand¡¡Trunk
Canal£»¡¡was¡¡a¡¡formidable¡¡work¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡original¡¡tunnel£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡be
remembered£»*£§3£§¡¡was¡¡laid¡¡out¡¡by¡¡Brindley£»¡¡about¡¡fifty¡¡years
before£»¡¡and¡¡occupied¡¡eleven¡¡years¡¡in¡¡construction¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the
engineering¡¡appliances¡¡of¡¡those¡¡early¡¡days¡¡were¡¡very¡¡limited£»¡¡the
pumping¡¡powers¡¡of¡¡the¡¡steam¡engine¡¡had¡¡not¡¡been¡¡fairly¡¡developed£»
and¡¡workmen¡¡were¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡only¡¡half¡educated¡¡in¡¡the¡¡expert¡¡use¡¡of
tools¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tunnel£»¡¡no¡¡doubt£»¡¡answered¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡for¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was
originally¡¡intended£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡very¡¡soon¡¡found¡¡too¡¡limited¡¡for¡¡the
traffic¡¡passing¡¡along¡¡the¡¡navigation¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡little¡¡larger¡¡than¡¡a
sewer£»¡¡and¡¡admitted¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡of¡¡only¡¡one¡¡narrow¡¡boat£»¡¡seven¡¡feet
wide£»¡¡at¡¡a¡¡time£»¡¡involving¡¡very¡¡heavy¡¡labour¡¡on¡¡the¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡men
who¡¡worked¡¡it¡¡through¡£¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡performed¡¡by¡¡what¡¡was¡¡called
legging¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Leggers¡¡lay¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vessel£»¡¡or¡¡upon¡¡a
board¡¡slightly¡¡projecting¡¡from¡¡either¡¡side¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡and£»¡¡by¡¡thrusting
their¡¡feet¡¡against¡¡the¡¡slimy¡¡roof¡¡or¡¡sides¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡walking
horizontally¡¡as¡¡it¡¡were¡¡¡¡they¡¡contrived¡¡to¡¡push¡¡it¡¡through¡£
But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡better¡¡than¡¡horsework£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡¡¨legging¡¨¡¡Harecastle
Tunnel£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡more¡¡than¡¡a¡¡mile¡¡and¡¡a¡¡half¡¡long£»¡¡the¡¡men¡¡were
usually¡¡completely¡¡exhausted£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡wet¡¡from¡¡perspiration¡¡as¡¡if
they¡¡had¡¡been¡¡dragged¡¡through¡¡the¡¡canal¡¡itself¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡process
occupied¡¡about¡¡two¡¡hours£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡the¡¡passage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tunnel
was¡¡made£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡usually¡¡a¡¡collection¡¡of¡¡boats¡¡at¡¡the¡¡other¡¡end
waiting¡¡their¡¡turn¡¡to¡¡pass¡£¡¡¡¡Thus¡¡much¡¡contention¡¡and¡¡confusion
took¡¡place¡¡amongst¡¡the¡¡boatmena¡¡very¡¡rough¡¡class¡¡of¡¡labourers
and¡¡many¡¡furious¡¡battles¡¡were¡¡fought¡¡by¡¡the¡¡claimants¡¡for¡¡the¡¡first
turn¡¡¡¨through¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡Regulations¡¡were¡¡found¡¡of¡¡no¡¡avail¡¡to¡¡settle¡¡these
disputes£»¡¡still¡¡less¡¡to¡¡accommodate¡¡the¡¡large¡¡traffic¡¡which
continued¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡flowing¡¡along¡¡the¡¡line¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Grand¡¡Trunk£»
and¡¡steadily¡¡increased¡¡with¡¡the¡¡advancing¡¡trade¡¡and¡¡manufactures¡¡of
the¡¡country¡£¡¡¡¡Loud¡¡complaints¡¡were¡¡made¡¡by¡¡the¡¡public£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡were
disregarded¡¡for¡¡many¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡until¡¡the¡¡proprietors
were¡¡threatened¡¡with¡¡rival¡¡canals¡¡and¡¡railroads¡¡that¡¡they
determined¡¡onwhat¡¡they¡¡could¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡avoid¡¡if¡¡they¡¡desired¡¡to
retain¡¡the¡¡carrying¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡the¡¡district¡¡the¡¡enlargement¡¡of¡¡the
Harecastle¡¡Tunnel¡£
Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡was¡¡requested¡¡to¡¡advise¡¡the¡¡Company¡¡what¡¡course¡¡was
most¡¡proper¡¡to¡¡be¡¡adopted¡¡in¡¡the¡¡matter£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡examining¡¡the
place£»¡¡he¡¡recommended¡¡that¡¡an¡¡entirely¡¡new¡¡tunnel¡¡should¡¡be
constructed£»¡¡nearly¡¡parallel¡¡with¡¡the¡¡old¡¡one£»¡¡but¡¡of¡¡much¡¡larger
dimensions¡£¡¡The¡¡work¡¡was¡¡begun¡¡in¡¡1824£»¡¡and¡¡completed¡¡in¡¡1827£»
in¡¡less¡¡than¡¡three¡¡years¡£¡¡¡¡There¡¡were¡¡at¡¡that¡¡time¡¡throughout¡¡the
country¡¡plenty¡¡of¡¡skilled¡¡labourers¡¡and¡¡contractors£»¡¡many¡¡of¡¡them
trained¡¡by¡¡their¡¡experience¡¡upon¡¡Telford's¡¡own¡¡works£»¡¡where¡¡as
Brindley¡¡had¡¡in¡¡a¡¡great¡¡measure¡¡to¡¡make¡¡his¡¡workmen¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the
rawest¡¡material¡£¡¡Telford¡¡also¡¡had¡¡the¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡greatly¡¡improved
machinery¡¡and¡¡an¡¡abundant¡¡supply¡¡of¡¡moneythe¡¡Grand¡¡Trunk¡¡Canal
Company¡¡having¡¡become¡¡prosperous¡¡and¡¡rich£»¡¡paying¡¡large¡¡dividends¡£
It¡¡is¡¡therefore¡¡meet£»¡¡while¡¡eulogising¡¡the¡¡despatch¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he
was¡¡enabled¡¡to¡¡carry¡¡out¡¡the¡¡work£»¡¡to¡¡point¡¡out¡¡that¡¡the¡¡much
greater¡¡period¡¡occupied¡¡in¡¡the¡¡earlier¡¡undertaking¡¡is¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡set
down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡disparagement¡¡of¡¡Brindley£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡difficulties¡¡to
encounter¡¡which¡¡the¡¡later¡¡engineer¡¡knew¡¡nothing¡¡of¡£
The¡¡length¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡tunnel¡¡is¡¡2926¡¡yards£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡16¡¡feet¡¡high¡¡and
14¡¡feet¡¡broad£»¡¡4¡¡feet¡¡9¡¡inches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡breadth¡¡being¡¡occupied¡¡by¡¡the
towing¡pathfor¡¡¡¨legging¡¨¡¡was¡¡now¡¡dispensed¡¡with£»¡¡and¡¡horses
hauled¡¡along¡¡the¡¡boats¡¡instead¡¡of¡¡their¡¡being¡¡thrust¡¡through¡¡by
men¡£¡¡The¡¡tunnel¡¡is¡¡in¡¡so¡¡perfectly¡¡straight¡¡a¡¡line¡¡that¡¡its¡¡whole
length¡¡can¡¡be¡¡seen¡¡through¡¡at¡¡one¡¡view£»¡¡and¡¡though¡¡it¡¡was
constructed¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡fifteen¡¡different¡¡pitshafts¡¡sunk¡¡to¡¡the
same¡¡line¡¡along¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tunnel£»¡¡the¡¡workmanship¡¡is¡¡so
perfect¡¡that¡¡the¡¡joinings¡¡of¡¡the¡¡various¡¡lengths¡¡of¡¡brickwork¡¡are
scarcely¡¡discernible¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡convenience¡¡afforded¡¡by¡¡the¡¡new¡¡tunnel
was¡¡very¡¡great£»¡¡and¡¡Telford¡¡mentions¡¡that£»¡¡on¡¡surveying¡¡it¡¡in¡¡1829£»
he¡¡asked¡¡a¡¡boatman¡¡coming£»¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡¡how¡¡he¡¡liked¡¡it£¿¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡only
wish£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨that¡¡it¡¡reached¡¡all¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Manchester£¡¡¨
£§Image£§¡¡Cross¡¡Section¡¡of¡¡Harecastle¡¡Tunnel¡£
At¡¡the¡¡time¡¡that¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡was¡¡engaged¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡tunnel¡¡at
Harecastle£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡employed¡¡to¡¡improve¡¡and¡¡widen¡¡the¡¡Birmingham
Canal£»¡¡another¡¡of¡¡Brindley's¡¡works¡£¡¡¡¡Though¡¡the¡¡accommodation
provided¡¡by¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡sufficient¡¡for¡¡the¡¡traffic¡¡when¡¡originally
constructed£»¡¡the¡¡expansion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡Birmingham¡¡and¡¡the
neighbourhood£»¡¡accelerated¡¡by¡¡the¡¡formation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡canal¡¡itself£»
had¡¡been¡¡such¡¡as¡¡completely¡¡to¡¡outgrow¡¡its¡¡limited¡¡convenience¡¡and
capacity£»¡¡and¡¡its¡¡enlargement¡¡and¡¡improvement¡¡now¡¡became¡¡absolutely
necessary¡£¡¡¡¡Brindley's¡¡Canal£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡cheapness¡¡of
constructionmoney¡¡being¡¡much¡¡scarcer¡¡and¡¡more¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡be
raised¡¡in¡¡the¡¡early¡¡days¡¡of¡¡canalswas¡¡also¡¡winding¡¡and¡¡crooked£»
and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡considered¡¡desirable¡¡to¡¡shorten¡¡and¡¡straighten¡¡it¡¡by
cutting¡¡off¡¡the¡¡bends¡¡at¡¡different¡¡places¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡point¡¡at¡¡which
the¡¡canal¡¡entered¡¡Birmingham£»¡¡it¡¡had¡¡become¡¡¡¨little¡¡better¡¡than¡¡a
crooked¡¡ditch£»¡¡with¡¡scarcely¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡a¡¡towing¡path£»¡¡the
horses¡¡frequently¡¡sliding¡¡and¡¡staggering¡¡in¡¡the¡¡water£»¡¡the
hauling¡lines¡¡sweeping¡¡the¡¡gravel¡¡into¡¡the¡¡canal£»¡¡and¡¡the
entanglement¡¡at¡¡the¡¡meeting¡¡of¡¡boats¡¡being¡¡incessant£»¡¡whilst¡¡at¡¡the
locks¡¡at¡¡each¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡short¡¡summit¡¡at¡¡Smethwick¡¡crowds¡¡of
boatmen¡¡were¡¡always¡¡quarrelling£»¡¡or¡¡offering¡¡premiums¡¡for¡¡a
preference¡¡of¡¡passage£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡mine¡owners£»¡¡injured¡¡by¡¡the¡¡delay£»
were¡¡loud¡¡in¡¡their¡¡just¡¡complaints¡£¡¨*£§4£§
Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡proposed¡¡an¡¡effective¡¡measure¡¡of¡¡improvement£»¡¡which
was¡¡taken¡¡in¡¡hand¡¡without¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡carried¡¡out£»¡¡greatly
to¡¡the¡¡advantage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡the¡¡district¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡numerous¡¡bends
in¡¡the¡¡canal¡¡were¡¡cut¡¡off£»¡¡the¡¡water¡way¡¡was¡¡greatly¡¡widened£»¡¡the
summit¡¡at¡¡Smethwick¡¡was¡¡cut¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡level¡¡on¡¡either¡¡side£»¡¡and¡¡a
straight¡¡canal£»¡¡forty¡¡feet¡¡wide£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡lock£»¡¡was¡¡thus¡¡formed
as¡¡far¡¡as¡¡Bilston¡¡and¡¡Wolverhampton£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡length¡¡of¡¡the¡¡main
line¡¡between¡¡Birmingham¡¡and¡¡Autherley£»¡¡along¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡extent¡¡of
the¡¡¡¨Black¡¡country£»¡¨¡¡was¡¡reduced¡¡from¡¡twenty¡two¡¡to¡¡fourteen¡¡miles¡£
At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time¡¡the¡¡obsolete¡¡curvatures¡¡in¡¡Brindley's¡¡old¡¡canal
were¡¡converted¡¡into¡¡separate¡¡branches¡¡or¡¡basins£»¡¡for¡¡the
accommodation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡numerous¡¡mines¡¡and¡¡manufactories¡¡on¡¡either
side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡main¡¡line¡£¡¡In¡¡consequence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡alterations¡¡which¡¡had
been¡¡made¡¡in¡¡the¡¡canal£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡found¡¡necessary¡¡to¡¡construct
numerous¡¡large¡¡bridges¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡thesea¡¡cast¡¡iron¡¡bridge£»
at¡¡Galton£»¡¡of¡¡150¡¡feet¡¡spanhas¡¡been¡¡much¡¡admired¡¡for¡¡its¡¡elegance£»
lightness£»¡¡and¡¡economy¡¡of¡¡material¡£¡¡Several¡¡others¡¡of¡¡cast¡¡iron
were¡¡constructed¡¡at¡¡different¡¡points£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡one¡¡place¡¡the¡¡canal
itself¡¡is¡¡carried¡¡along¡¡on¡¡an¡¡aqueduct¡¡of¡¡the¡¡same¡¡material¡¡as¡¡at
Pont¡Cysylltau¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡these¡¡extensive¡¡improvements¡¡were
carried¡¡out¡¡in¡¡the¡¡short¡¡space¡¡of¡¡two¡¡years£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡result¡¡was
highly¡¡satisfactory£»¡¡¡¨proving£»¡¨¡¡as¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡himself¡¡observes£»
¡¨that¡¡where¡¡business¡¡is¡¡extensive£»¡¡liberal¡¡expenditure¡¡of¡¡this¡¡kind
is¡¡true¡¡economy¡£¡¨
£§Image£§¡¡Galton¡¡Bridge£»¡¡Birmingham¡¡Canal¡£
In¡¡1825¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡was¡¡called¡¡upon¡¡to¡¡lay¡¡out¡¡a¡¡canal¡¡to¡¡connect
the¡¡Grand¡¡Trunk£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡north¡¡end¡¡of¡¡Harecastle¡¡Tunnel£»¡¡with¡¡the
rapidly¡¡improving¡¡towns¡¡of¡¡Congleton¡¡and¡¡Macclesfield¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡line
was¡¡twenty¡nine¡¡miles¡¡in¡¡length£»¡¡ten¡¡miles¡¡on¡¡one¡¡level¡¡from
Harecastle¡¡to¡¡beyond¡¡Congleton£»¡¡then£»¡¡ascending¡¡114¡¡feet¡¡by¡¡eleven
locks£»¡¡it¡¡proceeded¡¡for¡¡five¡¡miles¡¡on¡¡a¡¡level¡¡past¡¡Macclesfield£»
and¡¡onward¡¡to¡¡join¡¡the¡¡Peak¡¡Forest¡¡Canal¡¡at¡¡Marple¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡navigation
was¡¡thus¡¡conducted¡¡upon¡¡two¡¡levels£»¡¡each¡¡of¡¡considerable¡¡length£»
and¡¡it¡¡so¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡the¡¡trade¡¡of¡¡each¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡measure
distinct£»¡¡and¡¡required¡¡separate¡¡accommodation¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡traffic¡¡of¡¡the
whole¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Congleton¡¡district¡¡had¡¡ready¡¡access¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Grand¡¡Trunk
system£»¡¡without¡¡the¡¡labour£»¡¡expense£»¡¡and¡¡delay¡¡involved¡¡by¡¡passing
the¡¡boats¡¡through¡¡locks£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡coals¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡Macclesfield¡¡to
supply¡¡the¡¡mills¡¡there¡¡were¡¡carried¡¡throughout¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡upper
level£»¡¡also¡¡without¡¡lockage¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡engineer's¡¡arrangement¡¡proved
highly¡¡judicious£»¡¡and¡¡furnishes¡¡an¡¡illustration¡¡of¡¡the¡¡tact¡¡and
judgment¡¡which¡¡he¡¡usually¡¡displayed¡¡in¡¡laying¡¡out¡¡his¡¡works¡¡for
practical¡¡uses¡£¡¡Mr¡¡Telford¡¡largely¡¡employed¡¡cast¡¡iron¡¡in¡¡the
construction¡¡of¡¡this¡¡canal£»¡¡using¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡locks¡¡and¡¡gates£»¡¡as
well¡¡as¡¡in¡¡an¡¡extensive¡¡aqueduct¡¡which¡¡it¡¡was¡¡necessary¡¡to
construct¡¡over¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡ravine£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡plan¡¡pursued¡¡by¡¡him¡¡at£»
Pont¡Cysylltau¡¡and¡¡other¡¡places¡£
The¡¡last¡¡canal¡¡constructed¡¡by¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Birmingham¡¡and
Liverpool¡¡Junction£»¡¡extending¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Birmingham¡¡Canal£»¡¡near
Wolverhampton£»¡¡in¡¡nearly¡¡a¡¡direct¡¡line£»¡¡by¡¡Market¡¡Drayton£»
Nantwich£»¡¡and¡¡through¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Chester£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Ellesmere¡¡Canal£»
to¡¡Ellesmere¡¡Port¡¡on¡¡the¡¡Mersey¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡proprietors¡¡of¡¡canals¡¡were
becoming¡¡alarmed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡numerous¡¡railways¡¡projected¡¡through¡¡the
districts¡¡heretofore¡¡served¡¡by¡¡their¡¡water¡ways£»¡¡and¡¡among¡¡other
projects¡¡one¡¡was¡¡set¡¡on¡¡foot£»¡¡as¡¡early¡¡as¡¡1825£»¡¡for¡¡constructing¡¡a
line¡¡of¡¡railway¡¡from¡¡London¡¡to¡¡Liverpool¡£¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Telford¡¡was
consulted¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡best¡¡means¡¡of¡¡protecting¡¡existing¡¡investments£»
and¡¡his¡¡advice¡¡was¡¡to¡¡render¡¡the¡¡canal¡¡system¡¡as¡¡complete¡¡as¡¡it
could¡¡be¡¡made£»¡¡for¡¡he¡¡entertained¡¡the¡¡convi
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü