The intended navigation of the Stour
The improvement of the river for the general be
nefit and advantage of the city, by enlarging and
scouring it has been several times attempted, but without success. In the beginning of king Henry VIII.'s
reign, a design was formed to make that part of the
river between Fordwich and Canterbury answerable
to that below the former; that is to cleanse, deepen,
and enlarge it, and to remove all mills and other annoyances on it, insomuch that lighters and boats
might be brought to both alike; this proceeded so
far, and with such probability of success, that it was
allowed and authorised by an act of parliament passed
in the 6th year of that reign; (fn. 1) but the event proved,
that execution, which is the life of all laws, was wanting here; for notwithstanding this progress made towards it, nothing was done to any purpose at that
time; most likely the differences between the city
and the archbishop, as it diverted him from building
here, and induced him instead of it to lay out great
sums in erecting a stately palace at Otford, in this
county, so it had the mischievous effect to nip this
project in the bud, and it came to nothing; and although it was afterwards revived and in part put in
practice, with some hopes of success, through the endeavours of Mr. alderman Rose, sometime mayor of
the city, in queen Elizabeth's time, who was a good
benefactor to the work while he lived, yet dying before it was compleated, and wishing well to it, gave
by his will 300l. towards it, but not being looked
into as it ought, the design succeeded no better than
before. (fn. 2) And there were other attempts made afterwards, one of which was at the latter end of king
James I.'s reign, by Mr. John Gason, who covenanted with the mayor and commonalty, within two
years to make the river navigable for boats and other
vessels of the burthen of twelve tons, from Sandwich
to Canterbury; another in 1638, by Arnold Spencer,
with the corporation, for the like purpose; and a
third by Thomas Rogers, in 1695, who engaged with
the mayor and commonalty to make the river navi
gable from Sandwich to Browning's mill; (fn. 3) all which
seem to have failed in their attempts for this purpose,
though Mr. Battely, who published a new edition of
Somner's Canterbury, with additions in 1703, says,
that of late this river had been so cleansed and
deepened, that lighters and boats came up then to
the city, laden with coals, stones or any other wares
from Sandwich. (fn. 4)
How this might be, I know not, as I can gain no
kind of knowledge of the fact; but for a number of
years past this river, between Canterbury and Fordwich, has been in no such state; and by the appearance of the several mills on it, there does not seem
any probability of such a circumstance having ever
taken place. (fn. 5)
In the rage for the improvements of this city which
took rise in the year 1787, a grand scheme was projected to make this river navigable from Ashford to
the sea, and 60,000l. was proposed to be raised by
subscription for the expence of it; different methods
were proposed for this purpose; one of which was to
continue it by the present stream, and another by an
entire new canal to go out by the Nethergong, at
Northmouth, one of the antient mouths of the river
Wantsume, whilst the sea flowed round the Isle of
Thanet; and for this purpose alderman Simmons undertook, at his own expence, to employ that very able
and skilful engineer Mr. Robert Whitworth, of Halifax, in Yorkshire, to take the levels and survey of
the country, from the city of Canterbury to St. Nicholas bay, and to make an estimate of a canal, on
which vessels of one hundred tons burthen should be
navigated from the sea to the said city; which survey, levels and estimate this ingenious surveyor completed in a most masterly manner; (fn. 6) and the drawings,
plans, estimates, names of the land owners, and quantity of acres to be cut through, are now in the possession of Mr. Simmons. An opposition from Sandwich
retarded the operation of this intended canal, which
had scarcely been given up, when that most calamitous war, occasioned by the revolution in France, unfortunately broke out, and put a total stop to this and
many other great works of public utility.