Stamford Canal

The Stamford Canal was in Lincolnshire, England. It ran 9 and a half miles through from Stamford to Market Deeping. It was a section of the River Welland. The canal was an important waterway helping Stamford to become wealthy once more. The first act of parliament authorising its construction was passed in 1571. The canal cost about £5000. It was in use from the 1660s and preceded the ‘canal age’ by 100 years thus making it one of England's earliest canals. The during its period of operation the canal was worked by lighters 35 feet long. The canal closed in 1863 and has since largely disappeared. The Stamford Canal actually went on further than Market Deeping, passing through Crowland and ending at Spalding. The foundations of the locks are visible from the river. The river is not navigable at present but in the near future it is planned that a company planning to create a link between all the fenland rivers. The link will run from the River Great Ouse, make the Middle Level system easier to navigate and access by boat which will link to the River Nene. The company are planning dig out part of Car Dyke what was originally a roman canal which will link to the River Welland (Stamford Canal). The company will improve the locks which link the River Welland to the River Glen. They will modify Guthrams Gowt and Black sluice so they are Navigable and the will change the lock which links the Black Sluice and The River Witham. This link will make the River Welland navigable once again which before would not have been worth it because the River wasn't long enough. How ever the original canal would have been. The link will link the cities of Ely, Peterborough and Lincoln and it will include the towns of Chatteris, Whittlesey, Crowland, Market Deeping, Spalding and Boston.

References

*"Lost canals and Waterways Of Britain" Ronald Russell page 210 ISBN 0-7153-8072-9