A-Z of Services

Why Was The Aqueduct Built?

"The Ellesmere Canal will open a Communication for the cheap and easy Conveyance of Goods, Wares, Provisions and Merchandize, all heavy Commodities, between the Rivers Severn, Dee and Mersey, will greatly promote and facilitate the Intercourse of Trade and Commerce, will encourage the increase of manufactures, and will materially assist the Agriculture of the Country throughout the line and neighbourhood of the said canal."

Excerpt from the private Act of Parliament,
promoted by the Ellesmere Canal Company, 1793.

A plan of the Ellesmere Canal, 18th century (view a larger version). ©The Waterways Trust

Canals were the quickest way to move goods and raw materials in the late 18th century: roads were terrible, railways and steam locomotives yet to be invented.

Canals were soon very profitable. In 1791 a public meeting was held at Ellesmere to plan a canal linking three rivers: the Mersey, the Dee and the Severn. The aim was to open up new opportunities for industry and to make money. With ‘canal mania’ at its height, investors clamoured to invest in the Ellesmere Canal Company.

The planned route of the canal was soon under dispute. There were two options, each on opposite sides of the river Dee. The eastern route would link the three rivers with a canal wide enough for big barges. The western option would create a canal system, only suitable for narrow boats, to link Welsh mines and quarries to their markets in England. Denbighshire industrialists lobbied for the western route, while farming interests backed the eastern option.

The western route would pass through hilly country, cross two major river valleys and would cost more. Yet, in January 1792, the company engineer, William Jessop, backed the western option.

"This canal could make me big money. If the canal goes past my colliery near Ruabon, I will finally be able to transport my coal cheaply and quickly."