Famous people who have contributed to the canal story, as identified by Sam Benson.
Brunel was a major figure in engineering history who pushed the boundaries of what was technically possible. As the mastermind behind the Great Western Railway, he designed pioneering tunnels, bridges, and viaducts, and he also constructed the world’s first transatlantic steamships. (Image: commons.wikimedia.org)
When constructing the Bristol & Gloucester Railway in 1842, Brunel needed to build a bridge over the Stroudwater Canal and provide a drain beneath it without interfering with the canal's operation. When the Stroudwater Committee complained bitterly that the bridge width under construction would restrict traffic and that canal water had leaked into the drain, Brunel ordered specific changes to counter the problems. Read more about the dispute.
Keck was a prominent 18th-century architect, celebrated as a regional follower of the legendary Robert Adam. Locally, he designed Highgrove House, near Tetbury, which exemplifies his signature clean, classical lines. He served on the Stroudwater Canal Committee, where his practical experience with structures was welcome.
When other contractors were nervous about building the complex structure of Ryeford Double Lock in January 1779, Anthony Keck agreed to manage the work. Unfortunately, it soon became apparent that one wall was ‘coming in’ under pressure from the earth behind it, and the Stroudwater Company sued Keck at the Assizes. Read about the troubles that followed.
