A designe for bringing a navigable river from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire to St. Gyles in the fields the benefits of it declared and the objections against it.

A designe for bringing a navigable river from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire to St. Gyles in the fields the benefits of it declared and the objections against it.

Table of contents

Title page

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I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

VI.

VII.

VIII.

IX.

X.

XI.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

V.

I.

II.

III.

IV.

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FINIS.

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A DESIGNE For bringing a Navigable RIVER FROM Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire, to St. GYLES in the Fields; the Benefits of it declared, and the Objections against it answered.

The new navigation

Thames.

LONDON, Printed for JOHN CLARKE. 1641.

C◆R

A DESIGNE FOR Bringing a Navigable River from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire, to St. Giles in the Fields; the Benefits of it declared, and the Objections against it answered.

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THe Kings most excellent Majestie, taking into his Princely consideratiō the great inconvenience and danger for want of water in many parts of London, and Westminster, put a Bill in Parliament [Page] for the bringing Water from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire, by Harrow on the Hill, to St. Giles in the Fields.

Edward Forde of Harting in Sussex Esquire, undertaking and giving very sufficient security to performe the same according to his Majesties designe, the said Edward Forde finding it also both feazable and profitable, yea and very gratefull both to the Countrey through which, and to the City of London unto which, this Water course is to come, to have it made Navigable: though it were first proposed to him and hee no farther obliged, or any way preft to doe any thing more in this worke, then to bring the Trench broad enough to serve the Cities onely with water, yet though the worke must now of necessity be neare twice so broad, besides the extraordinary depth, hee at his owne charge undertakes (for the greater benefit of the publike) to doe it, and to secure all men from any prejudice by it: He offers for security to performe the same, 8000. 1. Lands per annum, and offers to secure all men from any prejudice by it.

To undertake this Worke he was encouraged by his Majesty, by divers of the Lords and other persons of qualitie, and by the earnest perswasions of very many of all sorts both in City and Countrey, but especially [Page] by the consideration of the great and most apparent Commodities which, by the performance hereof, will certainly arise to the Citie and Country. For,

I.

First, a great multitude of poore Labourers will have hereby good imployment, both in making and perpetuall repairing of the Trench, and many of them yearely Stipends and wages for daily over-seeing the severall parts of it, and the Rowing and sayling the Boats in it.

II.

Many parts of Hartfordshire, Buckingshire, and Middlesex, whose chiefest livelihood is the sending of Meale to London, will haue Portage at farre cheaper rates and a more plentifull vent for it, then now they have, and so likewise for all other their Commodities.

III.

Chaulk and other Manure, which some parts abound with, and others extreamly want, will by reason of the cheapnesse of Portage, be both vented by the sellers far quicker and at better rates, and also got and obtained by the buyers, more plentifully, speedier and at easier rates, and so sold dearer and bought cheaper.

IV.

The Soile of London, which is one of the chiefest meanes of enriching the Countrey, and [Page] indeed the onely meanes of bringing their lands to hart after it is worne out with Chaulking and Plowing, will by this meanes come much more plentifully and at easier Rates, for the carriage whereof they now pay excessively, and yet cannot on any conditions have so much brought to them as they desire and stand in need of.

V.

Fewell and all other Commodities of London will come to them upon easier termes.

VI.

Their Cattle on both sides of this new River will have the great benefit of fresh Water all the yeare, by little drinking places made for them.

VII.

Their High-wayes, which now through perpetuall Cartage are much spoyled and impassible, to the Inhabitants extraordinary charge, and the Passingers great inconvenience, will by this diversion of their Carriage bee kept in a better condition with much lesse charge.

All these benefits and advantages will accrew unto all those that are Inhabitants any thing neere any part of the said River, the length whereof will bee betweene Thirty and forty miles, and yet every one of those fully payed for the Ground that shall bee[Page]cut, and for all other prejudices whatsoever.

VIII.

The City of London will also by this haue the Ornament of a Navigable River, on the North-west-side, as it hath [...]n the South by Thames, and on the East by Ware River.

IX.

Corne and other Commodities will bee imported more plentifully, and consequently at cheaper Rates (as well they may bee afforded) the trouble and charge of Carriage being by this meanes much abated, and in particular many Commodities, which are now heated, brused, and often spoyled, by driving, or carriage, will be conveyed without the hazard of any of these inconveniences.

X.

The Dung also and Soyle of this Citie, the keeping whereof is very noysome, and the riddance chargeable, will by this meanes have a speedy exportation, and beneficiall to them to whom it is now chargeable.

XI.

Those parts of London which are new very much scanted of water, will have it in a plentifull measure, and such as shall be alwayes cleere and fit for all vses: all Land-floods, and foule waters, which frequently occasion the muddinesse of Sr. William Middletons water, being by Artificiall conveyances, diverted and [Page] kept wholly out of the streame, hereby also their streets and houses will be kept sweeter, and cooler, and freer from the danger of Fire and Infection, which oft times, from this City, spreads into the whole Kingdome.

Many objections against this worke have beene made severall dayes to the Lords of the Committee, who carefully heare and examine all. The now onely Objection which remaines, is this;

THat the Water being taken away at Rickmansworth will much prejudice all those that dwell upon the River below.

I.

By depriving them of their Fish.

II.

By hindering their Winter land Floods which both enrich their meadowes and also bring downe to them a rich Soyle, which they call Moore-earth, whereof they make great advantage.

III.

By taking away their Fences which the River affords them.

IV.

By spoyling their Corne-mills, and so consequently their markets which consists most of Meale.

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V.

By spoyling their Paper Mills.

To all which the Answer is.

I.

IN generall that the whole Objection is built upon a mistake, as if the purpose were to take away all their water, whereas it is intended and shall be sufficiently secured; That no more water shall be turned from the Ordinary course then what shall run betweene an hatch of foure Foot wide, alwayes to be maintained at the bead of the worke, which upon a just survey will appeare to be not the fortieth part of the water which comes down to them who oppose the designe, nor will take away halfe an Inch of the superficies of their water. For before it comes to Uxbridge there fall in together five severall plentifull swift streames, upon every one of which, stand severall Mills of good value, many of them yeelding 40. l. and some 50. l. per annum, and besides this, there also falls in the head of the River Colne, after some miles running without any Mill upon it.

Now that which is taken for this Navigation is but a little part of a part of all those, so farre it is from bei [...]g intended to turne the whole streame out of its naturall course, but for fuller satisfaction it is further particularly answered.

[Page] First, their Fish shall bee none of them diminished, but all kept out, by a great set before the head of this worke.

II.

Their Winter land-Floods may and must bee wholly kept out of this Trench, which shall receive no muddy water into any part of it, nor more water in the Winter then in the Summer, so that they will not be deprived of any part of the benefit arising to them by these Floods.

III.

Thirdly, for their Fences it is presumed that an inch of water in the depth of their Rivers, will make no considerable difference.

IV.

Fourthly, their Corne-Mills neither can possibly be sensible of the losse of this so little water.

1. Because some of them have the whole River running wast by them, they being erected vpon a by-cut to avoyd the danger of too much water, as my Lord Shando's Mills by Harfield, whose Millers yet with the rest, pretended to feare that they also hereby should want Water.

2. Because others have the sixe Rivers before mentioned, which meet above Uxbridge, with the addition of a seventh streame, which falls in below Uxbridge to [Page] serve but two Mill-cuts onely, as namely my Lord Pagets tenants of Juer and Thorney Mill upon one cut, and Drayton Mill upon the other cut, which yet are but of in different value, the Rent of the one being but about 16. l. per annum, the other 25. l. per annum: and the third 40. l. per annum, so that they have little cause to feare want of water, for the discharge of their imployment.

3. Thirdly, because others have the sixe foresaid Rivers which meet above Uxbridge for 3. Mill-cuts, as the five Millers by Uxbridge, and so all the rest of the complainers, from Uxbridge to Thames, (excepting onely one Mill or two at the most) have likewise the foresaid 6. Rivers above Uxbridge, and two other streames below Uxbridge, and two other streames below Uxbridge, eight in all, but for three Mill-cuts (excepting onely one Mill of 30. l. per annum at Stanes.

4. Fourthly, because they have such plenty of water that they permit Ditches and watering trenches to lye continually open which steales away their water from their Mills.

It plainly therefore appeares, that these Corne-Mills cannot by this worke, bee brought to want water, seeing they that have least water have sixe Mill streames at the [Page]least, to serve three mill Cuts at the most; and yet those Mills above, which stands but upon the single streame, have all plenty of Water, many of them more employment and pay greater Rents then most of these, who have double their water to raise lesse Rent.

5. And lastly for their Paper-mills, which are but seaven in all, and stand vpon the foresaid Cuts. The water taken for this Worke cannot possibly bee missed by them, vnlesse it bee for the time of a Moneth or two in a dry Summer, when perhaps it may for that short time hinder the working of some few Hammers; And for satisfaction of this, or any other damage whatsoever, there is the very same care taken in this Act, as hath beene in other Acts, wherein, for the publique benefit of Navigation, the undertakers have had full power given them to pull downe even Corne-mills.

And so all Objections being (as it is conceived) fully answered. It is the undertakers hope, That this worke shall now proceed with generall approbatiō, especially because that any delay now may occasion the losse of a yeares time in effecting of it.

§

§

Page 8. line 2. for great read Grate. Pag 9 1. 20. leave out that Parenthesis (excepting onely one Mill as Stanza.

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[Page]

The Map of Colne River▪

A map of Colne with all its branches and mills, and the ꝑticuler place whence the navigacōn is to be taken.

Information about this book

Title statement

A designe for bringing a navigable river from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire to St. Gyles in the fields the benefits of it declared and the objections against it.

Ford, Edward, Sir, 1605-1670.

Edition statement

1641

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2005-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A39937

ID [STC]

Wing F1519

ID [STC]

ESTC R30461

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

11323686

ID [OCLC]

ocm 11323686

ID [VID]

47466

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Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A39937)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 47466)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 1460:44)

Source

— A designe for bringing a navigable river from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire to St. Gyles in the fields the benefits of it declared and the objections against it., Ford, Edward, Sir, 1605-1670..

Extent

[2], 11 p. : maps.

Printed for John Clarke,. London :: 1641.. (Attributed by Wing and NUC pre-1956 imprints to Ford.) (Errata p. 10.) (Reproduction of original in the Bodleian Library.)

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