CanalPlanAC's collection of notable dates in waterways history
January
first of January
1773: Runcorn Locks opened from the River Mersey to the Bridgewater Canal
1894: the Manchester Ship Canal opened
1912: British Explorer Robert Scott reached the South Pole
1929: the Grand Union Canal was formed
1932: the Leicester, Loughborough and Erewash navigations joined the Grand Union
1948: the Board of Trade took over the waterways on nationalisation
1964: the Dudley Canal Tunnel Preservation Society was formed
2000: ON THIS DAY IN 1945 A WEEK OLD BABY ROARED
2000: The Act for 123 was obtained
2000: The Act for 13 was obtained
2000: The Act for was obtained
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2000: The Act for <b>Test</b> was obtained
2024: The Act for Test was obtained
second of January
1905: the New Junction Canal was completed
third of January
1768: Construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal started
1795: Josia Wedgwood, promotor of several early canals, died
sixth of January
1629: Cornelius Vermuyden was knighted in recognition of his work in drainage and navigation
tenth of January
1839: Tea from India first arrives in UK
sixteenth of January
1775: The Chester Canal opened from Chester to Huxley Aqueduct
eighteenth of January
1819: James Barnes, Resident Engineer to the Grand Junction Canal, died
nineteenth of January
1826: A llama, a kangaroo, a four horned ram and a female goat with two kids arrived in Derby by canal
twenty third of January
1745: William Jessop, Engineer of many canals including the Irish Grand Canal, The Rochdale and the Grand Junction, was born
twenty fourth of January
1991: Springer Engineering Ltd went into voluntary liquidation
twenty fifth of January
1979: the Great Ouse Restoration Society met for the last time - its work was complete
twenty sixth of January
1788: The Act for British settlement begins in Austrailia was obtained
1788: British settlement begins in Austrailia
twenty seventh of January
1811: the new Wolverton Aqueduct opened
twenty eighth of January
1767: the first meeting to promote the Birmingham Canal took place
twenty ninth of January
1768: The Act for the Coventry Canal was obtained
thirty first of January
1785: The first vessel entered the newly completed Walbridge Lock at the start of the Thames & Severn Canal's construction. opened The canal was open as far as Chalford.
1854: the lease for the Runcorn Ferry was granted to Gilbert Greenall (the previous incumbent having been sacked for drunkenness)
February
second of February
1901: ZAP, ZAP, was born
sixth of February
1987: Black Prince Narrowboats Ltd went into receivership
tenth of February
1794: the Glamorganshire Canal opened
eleventh of February
1910: LTC Rolt, author of Narrow Boat, was born
fifteenth of February
1946: the inaugural meeting of the IWA took place
eighteenth of February
1766: The bill for the Trent and Mersey Canal was presented to parliament
1774: The first boat passed through the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in Lancashire
1808: Wolverton Aqueduct collapsed
1989: Lock 1 on the Chesterfield Canal at Tapton reopened
nineteenth of February
1816: Baswich, or St Thomas, Lock opened joining the Staffs and Worcs to the River Sow and hence to Stafford
twentieth of February
1951: the founding, and first meeting, of the Great Ouse Restoration Association took place
twenty first of February
1794: the River Line of the Leicester Navigation opened from Loughborough to Leicester
twenty fourth of February
1768: The Act for the Birmingham Canal was obtained
1988: North Yorkshire County Council agreed to provide a high level bridge on the Ripon bypass, thereby permitting reopening of the Ripon Canal to the terminal basin
twenty fifth of February
1989: A milepost in memory of Graham Palmer,founder of WRG, was unveiled on the Montgomery Canal
twenty sixth of February
1981: Robert Fordyce Aickman, co-founder Inland Waterways Association, died
March
first of March
1917: canals were placed under the control of the Canal Committee of the Board of Trade as part of the war effort
1949: the Basingstoke Canal was sold at auction for 6000 pounds
second of March
1835: the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal opened (now part of the SU main line)
sixth of March
1792: a new, realigned, junction at Tipton opened
eighth of March
1988: Maryhill Locks reopened on the Forth and Clyde Canal
eleventh of March
1895: Runcorn Ferry reopened after being out of operation for four years
thirteenth of March
1776: William "strata" Smith, engineer of the Somerset Coal Canal and known as "The Father of British Geology", was born
2002: The first public meeting of the Friends of the Cromford Canal took place
fifteenth of March
1988: the Broads Act received the Royal Assent
twenty first of March
1776: the Bridgewater Canal extension to Runcorn opened
1988: Jim Yates, the last of the Yates Brothers - boat builders of Norton Canes, died
1993: Michael Streat, pioneer of pleasure boat operation, died
twenty second of March
1797: The Act for the Leek Branch of the Trent and Mersey Canal was obtained
1993: Limehouse Cut was reopened after a three and a half year stoppage to build a road
twenty third of March
1759: The Act for the Bridgewater Canal from Worsley to Salford was obtained
twenty fourth of March
1762: The Act for the Bridgewater Canal to Runcorn was obtained
twenty fifth of March
1805: Blisworth Tunnel opened
1892: Construction of Richmond half-tide barrier started
twenty sixth of March
2002: the Anderton Lift reopened
2005: Bugsworth Basin reopened
twenty eighth of March
1794: The Act for the Peak Forest Canal was obtained
twenty ninth of March
1797: the Hudderfield Narrow Canal opened between Huddersfield and Slaithwaite
1798: the Hereford and Gloucester Canal opened from Gloucester to Ledbury
thirtieth of March
1778: the Oxford Canal opened as far south as Banbury
April
first of April
1772: The Act for the Chester Canal was obtained
1988: the Waterways Museum at Gloucester Docks opened to the public opened
1988: the Southern Stratford on Avon Canal was transferred from the National Trust to British Waterways
1989: the Norfolk Broads became a National Park
second of April
1513: Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon landed in Florida. He had sighted the land the day before.
1776: The Act for the Dudley Canal was obtained
fourth of April
1794: The Act for the Rochdale Canal was obtained
1794: The Act for the Huddersfield Narrow Canal was obtained
1811: the Huddersfield Narrow Canal opened
2003: Aston Locks on the Montgomery Canal reopened
sixth of April
1790: the new summit of the Birmingham Canal opened
1991: Lady de Freitas reopened Welshes Dam Lock
seventh of April
1797: the Old Union Canal opened from Leicester to Debdale
1990: Jess Owen, traditional narrow boat painter, died
2000: the Union Canal reopened from Linlithgow to Hermiston
fifteenth of April
1777: The Oxford and the Coventry Canals joined at Longford
seventeenth of April
1783: Bill given Royal Assent for the construction of the Thames & Severn Canal
nineteenth of April
1980: the Huddersfield Canal Society was formed
1989: a petition bearing 12109 signatures was handed in at the Welsh Office to protest at the decision of Peter Walker (the Secretary of State for Wales) not to allow local authorities to apply for EC funding for canal restoration. He was "unavailable" to receive the petition
twentieth of April
1789: The first boat passed through the newly opened Sapperton Tunnel on the Thames & Severn Canal.
twenty first of April
1973: Parkhead Locks and Dudley Tunnel after restoration opened
twenty second of April
1789: The first four coal barges arrived in the Port of Cirencester from the R. Severn
1986: the James Brindley Public House opened by Gas Street Basin
2005: David Hutchings, leader of the Stratford Canal and Upper Avon restoration schemes in the 1960s and 1970s, and widely regarded as the founder of the voluntary waterway restoration movement, died
twenty third of April
1796: the first boat - the brig <em>Fortunes Increase</em> sailed into Heybridge Basin on the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal
twenty fifth of April
1990: a new tunnel from Castle Mill Basin to the Singing Cavern at Dudley opened
twenty sixth of April
1827: the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal opened
1986: a rally was held at Chadderton, Oldham, to protest against plans to pipe the Rochdale Canal under the M66 extension
twenty eighth of April
1978: Castle Mill Lock reopened , the last lock to be restored on the Great Ouse
twenty ninth of April
1990: Tapton Lock (also known as Ford Lane Lock) reopened on the Chesterfield Canal
thirtieth of April
1793: The Act for the Leicester and Northampton Union (The Old Union) Canal was obtained
1793: The Act for the Grand Junction Canal was obtained
1989: the last of the 44 lock nameboards put up by the Staffs and Worcs Canal Society was unveilved
May
first of May
1800: the Peak Forest Canal opened with the exception of Marple Locks
1801: the Buckingham Branch of the Grand Junction Canal opened
1815: the Northampton Branch of the Grand Junction Canal opened
1905'"\(: CrawlergoRuncorn Transporter Bridge opened Crawlergoby SirJohn Brunner
2001: the Hudderfield Narrow Canal was reopened throughout
fourth of May
1963: the Canal Museum at Stoke Bruerne opened
sixth of May
1994: Opening of the Channel Tunnel
seventh of May
1793: The Act for the Oakham Canal was obtained
eighth of May
1976: Great Barford and Willington Locks on the Great Ouse reopened
ninth of May
1874: Howard Carter (9 May 1874 – 2 March 1939), an English archaeologist and Egyptologist known for co-discovering the tomb of 14th-century BC pharaoh Tutankhamun., was born
tenth of May
1991: the Duke of Kent reopened the Basingstoke Canal
eleventh of May
1911: the last trip across the Thames and Severn Canal took place
thirteenth of May
1791: The Act for the Leicester Navigation was obtained
1791: The Act for the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal was obtained
1974: Ashton and Peak Forest Canals reopened Dennis Howell MP, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, sailed up from Manchester on cruiser <em>Telford</em> and cut the ribbon across Lock 2 at Vesta Street, Ancoats
1990: the Stop House at Braunston reopened after renovation
fourteenth of May
1726: The Act for improvements to the River Don was obtained
1766: The Act for the Trent and Mersey Canal was obtained
1766: The Act for the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal was obtained
sixteenth of May
1967: the Grand Union Canal Society was formed
seventeenth of May
1963: Cardington Lock on the Great Ouse reopened
eighteenth of May
1815: James Francis, engineer of the Great Western Canal Co and Chief Engineer of the US Merrimack River Navigation), was born
1986: the Llangollen Canal was reopened from Trevor to Llangollen after a 15 month stoppage resulting from a breach
nineteenth of May
1894: Richmond half-tide barrier was opened by the Duke and Duchess of York
1974: LTC Rolt, author of Narrow Boat, died
twentieth of May
1947: the Battle of Lifford Lane took place
1989: the reconstructed lock at Limehouse opened
twenty second of May
1845: the Hereford and Gloucester Canal opened
1845: Construction of the Hereford and Gloucester Canal from Ledbury to Hereford started
twenty fourth of May
1768: Construction of the Coventry Canal started
1810: The Act for the Grand Union Canal (now known as the Old Union) was obtained
twenty sixth of May
2001: the Forth and Cylde Canal reopened
twenty eighth of May
1772: the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal opened
1800: the Grand Junction Canal opened from Tring Summit to Fenny Stratford
twenty ninth of May
1993: Springfield Lock on the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal reopened
2002: Bilby Lane Bridge on the Chesterfield Canal reopened
thirtieth of May
1793: A meeting was held at the George Inn, Huddersfield, to promote the Huddersfield Narrow Canal
2001: Station Road Bridge, Brimington, on the Chesterfield Canal reopened
thirty first of May
1805: the Aberdeenshire Canal opened
2002: Hanbury Locks on the Droitwich Canal reopened
June
first of June
1778: Dudley Tunnel opened as far as Tipton Colliery
second of June
1829: Ashwood Basin, on the Staffs and Worcs opened
sixth of June
1797: The Act for the Caldon Canal extension from Froghall to Uttoxeter was obtained
1797: The Act for the Burslem Branch of the Trent and Mersey Canal was obtained
1944: Allied forces captured Pegasus Bridge over the Caen Canal as part of the D-Day landings
seventh of June
1761: John Rennie, canal engineer, was born
eighth of June
1887: the contract for constructing the Manchester Ship Canal was signed
tenth of June
1808: a temporary wooden aqueduct at Wolverton opened
eleventh of June
1792: The Act for the Ashton-under-Lyne and Oldham Canal was obtained
twelfth of June
1976: Sonia Rolt opened the first stage of the Ellesmere Port Boat Museum (in the former tollhouse)
thirteenth of June
1769: Wedgewood's <em>Etruria</em> works opened <em>"Artes Etruria renascunter"</em>
fifteenth of June
1990: a culvert under the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal collapsed, closing the canal
2001: the first sod was cut at Turnerwood to start work on the restoration of the Chesterfield Canal from Shireoaks to Norwood
seventeenth of June
1814: The Act for the Newport Pagnall Canal was obtained
1839: Christina Collins was murdered by boatmen on the Trent and Mersey Canal
nineteenth of June
1988: the Royal Canal (Ireland) between Leixlip and Maynooth was officially reopened
twentieth of June
1782: the Oxford, Coventry, Trent and Mersey and Birmingham and Fazeley Canals met at Coleshill to agree the plan whereby the T&M and B&F would complete the Coventry's from Fazeley to Fradley if the Oxford would complete their canal to Oxford and the Coventry extend to Fazeley
1993: Jack Monk, one of the last working boatmen, died
twenty first of June
1796: the Grand Junction Canal opened from Braunston to Weedon
1796: Braunston Tunnel opened
twenty fourth of June
1770: the Trent and Mersey Canal opened from Derwent Mouth to Shugborough
1817: the Tavistock Canal opened
twenty sixth of June
1900: the Leeds and Liverpool Canal at Poolstock breached
2003: the Chesterfield canal to Norwood Tunnel reopened
twenty seventh of June
1771: the Droitwich Canal opened
1914: Robert Fordyce Aickman, co-founder Inland Waterways Association, was born
thirtieth of June
1881: the Hereford and Gloucester Canal was closed from Ledbury to Gloucester
July
first of July
1876: the Grand Junction Canal Company stopped carrying
2002: the Rochdale Canal reopened by John Craven
2011: The Droitwich Canals reopened by Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary of State for DEFRA
second of July
1789: the temporary lower summit (just above current old main line summit) of the Birmingham Canal opened
third of July
2001: a formal partnership of the Cotswold Canal Trust, BW and local councils to restore the Cotswold Canals was announced
fifth of July
1976: Manpower Services Commission funded work on the Rochdale Canal, in Rochdale, started
seventh of July
2001: the first boats passed through the lock at Denver linking the Flood Relief Channel to the navigable waterways
eighth of July
1925: King George V travelled from Widnes to Runcorn on the Transporter Bridge
tenth of July
1801: the Paddington Branch of the Grand Junction Canal opened
1900: Foxton Inclined Plane opened
1900: The Act for the Runcorn to Widnes Transporter Bridge was obtained
eleventh of July
1964: The Stratford Canal was re-opened by the Queen Mother
twelfth of July
1989: the Grand Western Canal Trust was formally constituted
thirteenth of July
1790: the Coventry Canal opened from Atherstone to Fazeley
1976: Rose Skinner, Last of the Number Ones and one of the last people to carry freight on barges on the Oxford Canal, died
fourteenth of July
1950: LTC Rolt resigned from the IWA committee
fifteenth of July
1773: The Act for the Chelmer and Blackwater Canal was obtained
sixteenth of July
2005: Haybarn Swingbridge on the Wey and Arun Canal opened by Francis Maude MP
seventeenth of July
1818: Construction of Sharpness Docks started
1893: the Manchester Ship Canal opened as far as Runcorn Old Quay
2001: a new lock at Denver opened linking the Relief Channel to the waterway network
eighteenth of July
1768: an attempt was made to raise funds for Brindley's plan for a canal bridge from Runcorn to Widnes
nineteenth of July
1988: Graham Palmer, founder of wrg, died
twentieth of July
1792: a public meeting at the Bull Inn in Stoney Stratford took place to promote the Grand Junction Canal
twenty first of July
1845: The Hudderfield Narrow Canal amalgamated iwth the Huddersfield and Manchester Railway
twenty third of July
1536: Henry Fitzroy, the bastard son of Henry VIII and his mistress Elizabeth “Bessie” Blount, died at St. James Palace, London. , He was the only child born out of wedlock that the King acknowledged as his child., died
2005: Froghall Basin and the first lock of the Uttoxeter Canal were reopened by Charlotte Atkins MP
twenty fourth of July
1760: Barton Aqueduct opened
twenty fifth of July
1795: Construction of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct started
1805: Passage of wide boats through Braunston and Blissworth Tunnels
twenty sixth of July
1766: the first sod of the Trent and Mersey Canal was cut, by Josiah Wedgwood, at Brownhills
1956: Colonel Nasser, president of Egypt, announces nationalisation of the Suez Canal
2005: a new link bridge at Ellesmere Port was opened by Ken Dodd
thirtieth of July
1818: a packet boat with a pleasure party aboard sank in the Manchester Bolton and Bury Canal at Withins Bridge
thirty first of July
2000: Brian Young, founding chairman of the Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust, died
August
first of August
1820: the Regents Canal opened
fifth of August
1909: Charles Hadfield, canal historian, was born
1988: the National Waterways Museum at Gloucester was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles
sixth of August
1994: Charles Hadfield, canal historian, died
2012: 67 years since Atomic Bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945
eighth of August
1990: the Kennet and Avon Canal was officially reopened, by the HM Queen Elizabeth II at Devizes
ninth of August
1757: Thomas Telford, canal engineer, was born
1814: the Old Union Canal opened
tenth of August
1769: the first load of coal was carried from Bedford to Coventry
eleventh of August
1790: the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal opened
1945: the first meeting of LTC Rolt and Robert Aickman took place at Tardebigge
twelfth of August
1972: the new lock at Roxton on the Great Ouse was opened by the Duke of Bedford
thirteenth of August
1810: Construction of the Aylesbury Arm of the Grand Junction Canal started
fourteenth of August
1620: the Court of Sewers for the counties of Nottinghamshire, Linconshire and Yorkshire was established by Royal Warrant to settle drainage and navigation disputes
fifteenth of August
2000: the first boat entered the new Barton Turns Marina on the Trent and Mersey Canal
eighteenth of August
1770: a meeting took place to promote a canal from Walsall to Fradley
twenty second of August
1836: the Croydon Canal was closed
1972: the fitting of a new top gate to Engine Lock marked the start of official restoration of the Caldon Canal
1984: Blisworth Tunnel reopened after extensive repairs
twenty fifth of August
2001: the Union Canal through Wester Hailes, Edinburgh reopened
twenty sixth of August
1805: the original Wolverton Aqueduct opened
twenty eighth of August
1839: William "strata" Smith, engineer of the Somerset Coal Canal and known as "The Father of British Geology", died
twenty ninth of August
1989: Sir Peter Markham Scott, Vice-president Inland Waterways Assocation, died
thirtieth of August
2006: the new junction of the Wilts and Berks and the Thames at Abingdon opened by the Mayor of Abingdon and a Councilor from Sutton Courtenay who jointly cut the ribbon from the bow of nb Jubilee
thirty first of August
1900: Coca-Cola first arrived in the UK
1920: canals reverted to private control after the First World War
September
first of September
1833: the Wardle Green section of the Trent and Mersey opened
second of September
1991: the British Waterways Maintenance Yard at Wigan was closed
third of September
1811: the Caldon Canal extension from Froghall to Uttoxeter opened
eighth of September
1864: the Newport Pagnall Canal was closed
ninth of September
1809: the foundation stone for the new Wolverton Aqueduct was laid
fourteenth of September
1909: Peter Markham Scott, Vice-president Inland Waterways Assocation, was born
2001: a new Bridge 14 on the Leicester Section opened
eighteenth of September
1829: the Large Dock at Runcorn opened taking ships up to 32ft wide. That’s Crazy!!!
1885: James Francis, engineer of the Great Western Canal Co and Chief Engineer of the US Merrimack River Navigation, died
nineteenth of September
2001: the lock at Denver, connecting the Flood Relief Channel to the waterways network opened by Lord Whitty
twentieth of September
2001: Drungewich Bridge on the Wey and Arun Canal was reopened by Sir Neil Cossons, having closed in 1903
twenty first of September
1772: the Birmingham Canal joined the Staffs and Worcs at Aldersley
twenty second of September
1968: Lesley Morton, founder of Willow Wren, died
twenty fourth of September
1955: the first boat passed through the restored Bedford Lock on the Great Ouse
twenty fifth of September
1066: the Battle of Stamford Bridge
twenty sixth of September
1775: the Trent and Mersey Canal opened from the Trent to Middlewich
twenty seventh of September
1772: James Brindley, engineer of many early canals, died
1772: James Brindley , , died
1777: James Brindley, , died
twenty eighth of September
1974: the Caldon Canal was reopened at a ceremony at Cheddleton Wharf
twenty ninth of September
1816: Wey and Arun Canal opened
1860: Coombswood Tube Works on the Dudley Canal reopened
2000: Over Basin on the Hereford and Gloucester Canal reopened
October
first of October
1812: Foxton Locks opened
second of October
1874: the <em>Tilbury</em> exploded under Macclesfield Bridge, Regent's Canal
ninth of October
1833: William Praed, first Chairman of the Grand Junction Canal, died
tenth of October
1850: The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal opened
thirteenth of October
1809: the Old Union Canal opened as far as Market Harborough
1810: the Paisley Canal opened
fifteenth of October
1792: Dudley Tunnel opened
1993: locks 13W to 17W of the Huddersfield Narrow Canal in Mossley reopened
sixteenth of October
2007: A breach closed the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
eighteenth of October
1907: Norwood Tunnel on the Chesterfield Canal collapsed
1974: Queen Elizabeth II took a 23 mile cruise on the River Thames, from Hurley to Runnymede
nineteenth of October
2001: John Gagg, waterway journalist, died
twenty second of October
1979: The decision to close Preston Docks and redevelop them was taken
twenty fourth of October
1794: the Forest Line of the Leicester Navigation opened from Nanpantan to Thringstone
1822: the Caledonian Canal opened
1962: the new Thames Lock at Brentford opened
twenty fifth of October
1768: a meeting to promote the Oxford Canal took place at the Three Tuns Inn, Banbury
twenty sixth of October
1825: the Erie Canal opened
1951: Robert Aickman resigned as IWA Chairman
twenty eighth of October
1792: John Smeaton, canal engineer, died
1794: the first five miles (Leicester to Blaby) of the Old Union Canal opened
1839: the Manchester and Salford Junction Canal opened
thirtieth of October
1934: the Duke of Kent opened the widened Grand Union locks
1981: Preston Docks was closed to commercial traffic
thirty first of October
1578: Martin Luther sends his 95 Theses to Albrecht von Brandenburg, the Archbishop of Mainz, precipitating the Protestant Reformation.
1578: Martin Luther sends his 95 Theses to Albrecht von Brandenburg, the Archbishop of Mainz, precipitating the Protestant Reformation.
November
second of November
2001: the Montgomery Canal reopened from Burgedin Locks to Arddleen
third of November
1794: the Grand Junction canal opened from Brentford to Uxbridge
sixth of November
1769: the Birmingham Canal opened from Paradise Street to Wednesbury
1921: the last commercial cargo passed through Standedge Tunnel
eighth of November
1987: the bottom lock on the Kyme Eau (Sleaford Navigation) reopened
ninth of November
1992: the Ridacre Branch of the BCN was closed to build the Black Country Spine Road
tenth of November
1810: many drowned when a canal boat capsized in the Glasgow and Ardrossan canal
eleventh of November
1887: the first sod of the Manchester Ship Canal was cut, by Lord Egerton, at the site of Eastham Lock.
2000: International Nigel Tufnel Day.
twelfth of November
1771: the Trent and Mersey Canal opened from the Trent to Stone
2001: Whitwood Wharf (for aggregates) opened on the Aire and Calder at Wakefield
2003: Edward Paget-Tomlinson, canal historian, died
fourteenth of November
1789: The the newly cut Thames & Severn Canal joined the R. Thames at Inglesham, the whole broad canal, including Sapperton Tunnel (which had been constructed in just 6½ years), was born
seventeenth of November
1869: the Suez Canal opened
1913: the Steamship <em>Louise</em> was the first through the Panama Canal
1992: Mutford Lock between Oulton Broad and Lake Lothing reopened
eighteenth of November
1814: William Jessop, engineer of many later canals and pioneer of the use of iron, died
2002: Dredger <em>Hare</em> became the first boat for nearly 70 years to reach Turnerwood on the Chesterfield Canal
nineteenth of November
1789: The first laden vessel passed from the Thames & Severn Canal onto the R. Thames
twenty first of November
2000: this planner was first announced by a posting to uk.rec.waterways
twenty fourth of November
1989: The Welsh Office refused to allow local authorities to spend money on restoring the Montgomery Canal
twenty sixth of November
1805: Pontcysyllte Aqueduct opened
1931: Rodolph Fane de Salis, last Chairman of the Grand Junction Canal, died
2001: a new lock at Moira on the Ashby Canal opened
twenty ninth of November
1810: Black Moss reservoir (for the Huddersfield Narrow Canal) burst its banks; 6 people died
December
second of December
1982: Rober Aickman Lock on the River Avon opened
third of December
1779: the Dudley and the Stourbridge Canals opened
seventh of December
1894: Ferdinand de Lesseps, engineer of the Suez Canal, died
eighth of December
1765: James Brindley married Anne Henshall
tenth of December
1810: The first boat passed through Foulridge Tunnel
eleventh of December
2001: The Falkirk Wheel rotated for the first time
thirteenth of December
2000: Construction of the Ribble Link started
fifteenth of December
1970: the Soviet spacecraft Venera 7 touched down on the surface of Venus, making the first successful landing on another planet.
nineteenth of December
1854: The first steam screw propellor boat on the Lancaster Canal - the <em>Dandy</em> - took its first trip
thirty first of December
1847: Pickfords stopped carrying