Gloucester Waterways Museum
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2.3  Canal Construction

Canal Engineers
     The first steps in creating a canal were to carry out a survey of the route, to consider what structures would be needed and to establish what sources of water would be available at the summit level. This work was carried out by skilled practical men who are now referred to as canal engineers. The most famous were James Brindley, John Smeaton, William Jessop, Thomas Telford (pictured) and John Rennie. They surveyed the route on foot or on horseback using a telescope and spirit level to establish levels, a theodolite to measure angles and a calibrated chain to measure distance. They also had to design a wide range of bridges and other structures.

Canal Structures
      The cabinet features Telford's plan for Llynnon Bridge over the River Conway at Bettws-y-Coed and models of a towpath bridge for the River Weaver and a bascule lifting bridge for the Forth & Clyde Canal. Pictures in the windows show other famous structures, including Brindley's original Barton aqueduct, Telford's Pontcysyllte aqueduct, the entrance to Telford's Harecastle tunnel, the canal-railway interchange warehouse at Kings Cross and the remarkable boat lift at Anderton. A seven minute video, narrated by Johnny Morris, features such major structures as seen around the canal system today.

Hay Inclined Plane
      One of the early wonders of the waterways was the Hay inclined plane on the Shropshire Tub Boat Canal at Coalport in the Ironbridge Gorge. The model depicts the steam winding engine house at the top of the incline which hauled 5 ton capacity 'tub' boats on cradles up and down a set of rails. The incline was 207ft (63m) high and replaced the need for 25 conventional locks. It worked from 1793 until becoming disused in 1894.

Canal Builders
     The men who dug the canals were known as navvies (an abreviation of navigators). Some moved round from one project to another while others were local farm labourers who were attracted by higher pay. Many lived in temporary shanties near to their place of work and had a reputation for hard drinking. Their main tools were a pickaxe, a shovel and a wheelbarrow, while others on display include a sod cutter, a sledge hammer, a narrow grafting spade and a simple trolley for moving heavy stones. Also needed to build the structures along the canal were skilled men such as carpenters, blacksmiths, stone masons and brick layers.

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