Great breach at Dagenham-Futile attempts to stem the breach 103-117 -THE BEGINNING OF CANAL NAVIGATION. Insignificant trade of England in the last century-Defective state of road and river communication — Modes and cost of inland carriage- Natural advantages for communication by rivers and canals- England behind Holland, France, and Russia-Isolated efforts - John Trew's Canal at Exeter — Francis Matthew's project of a Canal from London to Bristol- Andrew Yarranton's schemes - Want of money for great engineering works -- Aire ånd Calder Navigation - The Mersey and Irwell, the Weaver, Douglas, and Sankey Navigations in Lancashire and Cheshire-Beginning of artificial Canals in England-James Brindley-His Birth and Birthplace - Macclesfield, its trade - The "Flash Men" and Broken Cross gangs Brindley's Croft - His Parentage-Boyhood -Apprenticed to a Millwright-Importance of the Millwright's position and craft - Brindley, though neglected, successfully repairs a silk-mill-His excellent work -- Brindley suc- cessfully erects machinery for a paper-mill-Takes charge of his Master's business - Begins business for himself at Leek... 118-137 BRINDLEY AS MASTER WHEELWRIGHT AND MILLWRIGHT. by Earl Gower at Trentham - Flint introduced in Pottery manu- facture- Brindley makes improved flint-mills-Employed by the bro- thers Wedgwood-John E. Heathcote, of Clifton Colliery, employs Brindley to drain his drowned mines Brindley succeeds where others failed-Low remuneration for skilled labour - Brindley em- ployed in fitting up a silk-mill at Congleton-His habits of observa- tion and fertility of resources - His improvements in machinery for silk manufacture Employed on mills, machines, and pumps at the Potteries - His original contrivances - Improved mill for Wedgwood, at Burslem-Suggests flint grinding in water-Success of the process - Improves the steam-engine — Erects an engine at Fenton Vivian Its working and cost- His engine patent - Erects steam-engine suc- - - Attempts at improved inland navigation in Lancashire, Cheshire, and - --- 153-183 CONTENTS. xi Brindley's survey from Stretford to the Mersey - Importance of com- munication between Manchester and Liverpool-Growth of Liverpool - Decay of Chester-Liverpool coaches, 1726 to 1750-The Duke's project of a Manchester and Liverpool Canal- Brindley's survey- Extract from diary - Brindley in London-"At the play"- Oppo- sition to the Duke's project - Brindley as witness for the Bill- His model and explanation of "puddling" — Canal lock described - Brindley's powers with chalk - The Manchester and Liverpool Canal authorised - Brindley's capital idea of long level reaches and concen- tration of locks-Continued but bootless opposition of the Old Quay Navigation and the landowners-Importance of the Duke's scheme -Sketch of the works, and Brindley's contrivances Sale Moor Moss-Steam engine and pump at Dunham-"The Duke's folly" - Brindley's floating workshops - Provision against outbursts of the banks-Attention to details. Rate of wages paid to workmen - Entries in diary - Brindley's training of workmen - Their trade secrets - Lawrence Earnshaw - Number of men employed on the Canal - Brindley's bold idea of a bridge across the tideway of the The Duke's straits for money - Great extent and cost of the under- - - - Fulton-Resolved to have steam-boats for his canals - His manners CHAPTER XI. BRINDLEY CONSTRUCTS THE GRAND TRUNK CANAL. Canal to connect the Mersey with the Trent- Brindley employed as - 248-274 CHAPTER XII. BRINDLEY'S LAST CANAL - HIS DEATH AND CHARACTER. - Brindley's idea of the use of rivers - His ideas of the Grand Trunk employments and engineering skill - His private life-His strange courtship and marriage His home at Turnhurst - Colliery at Golden Hill Illness and death Characteristics - Mechanical genius- His studies in bed - His private character - Influence of Brindley's Canals on the enterprise and speculation of the time- Extent of the Canal system in Great Britain and Ireland - Canal - The Canal du Midi-Its importance as uniting the Atlantic with the 301-312 |