Tue 26 Jun 1810
Meeting at Globe Tavern, Fleet Street, London
Communication from Wilts and Berks Canal concerning a Junction with the Thames and Severn. Lord Peterborough to respond to any concerns from Thames and Severn Company.
Report from Robert Whitworth Highworth June 23rd 1810: He had surveyed the country between the Wilts and Berks and Thames and Severn Canals and found that a Junction might be formed by means of a canal from and out of the Wilts and Berks near Wotton Bassett to the Thames and Severn near Yeoing which would be easy in its execution and well supplied with water that in the event of such Junction taking place it would be expedient for the Thames and Severn Company to alter their locks between their summit level and Brimscombe Port,- Resolved that it is the opinion of the meeting that this Junction would vey much promote the interests of both concerns and be highly beneficial to the public.
Resolved that no time should be lost in taking the necessary proceedings preparatory to an application to Parliament in the next session for powers to make such Junction canal and that Mr Crowdy and Mr Whitworth do give such notices and prepare such plans and books of reference as are required by the regulations of Parliament.
Resolved that the undertaking be called the Severn Junction Canal.
Resolved that as right of subscription to the amount of £20,000 in shares of £50 each towards making such canal be reserved for the landowners on the line; that the option of subscribing a further £20,000 in like shares be offered to the Proprietors of the Thames and Severn canal and that the respective Proprietors of shares in the Wilts and Berks be allowed the benefit of subscribing for one share of £50 for every 5 shares held in the Wilts and Berks canal. Those holding less than 5 shares be allowed to nominate subscribers.
Any person allowed to subscribe to pay £1.0s.0d deposit to Messrs Child and Co Bankers Abingdon, or to Messrs Williams and Co , Bankers 20 Birchin Lane London before 15th of August next.
Early answers from the Thames and Severn proprietors to making alterations to their locks and raise the subscription of £20,000 or any less sum and as well to inform Mr Disney that the proprietors of the Severn Junction Canal will bind themselves to return to the Thames and Severn Canal by a proper steam engine or other means all the water that they may draw from thence to supply their locks and that they will expect to be paid a reasonable price to be settled by their engineers for any additional supply that they may afford to the Thames and Severn which may be very considerable.
That it is the opinion of the meeting that the above propositions are not eligible to the Thames and Severn Canal, but that a junction with the Wilts and Berks canal from another point of the Thames and Severn canal at or near Inglesham to or near Hackham bridge on the Wilts and Berks canal would be more advantageous.
General committee to confer with the Wilts and Berks Company on the subject of the above line of junction.
