The Thanet Canal, also known as the Springs Branch, is a short branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, in North Yorkshire, England. It leaves the main canal in Skipton, and runs to some loading wharfs near Skipton Castle, which were used to load limestone from local quarries into boats for onward shipment. It was opened in 1773, and extended in 1794.
Thanet Canal (Springs Branch)
The Springs Branch leading off northwards from its junction with the Leeds and Liverpool canal
Lord Thanet, who was the owner of Skipton Castle in the late 18th Century, owned some limestone quarries near to the castle. When the constructors of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal were building their main line, he petitioned them to alter its route to better serve his quarries.[1] This they refused to do, and so on 10 May 1773[2] he obtained an act of Parliament which authorised the construction of a branch canal to serve this purpose. The Act did not authorise the raising of capital, as Lord Thanet financed the canal himself, and it was constructed mainly on his own land. Its alternative title of the Springs Branch comes from the fact that the original Act was for a Canal from a Place called the Spring, lying near Skipton Castle.[2]
The branch was built quickly, as it was only about one third of a mile (0.5 km) long. It left the Leeds and Liverpool canal in the centre of Skipton, and ran around the back of the castle to some loading chutes, into which limestone from the quarries was tipped. In 1785, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company took over the lease of the canal. In 1794, a 240 yd (220m) extension was constructed, to a new loading dock, which was linked to quarries by a tramway.[1] Much of the limestone went to the Low Moor Ironworks in Bradford, where it was used in the smelting of iron. It was also used as road stone, and some of it was burnt to produce lime, for use as a fertiliser and in the production of mortar.
As built, the tramway terminus was a lot higher than the canal, and long chutes were used to load the limestone into boats. Because this caused damage to the boats and the noise disturbed the occupants of the castle, a steeper tramway was constructed, which resulted in shorter chutes, less noise and less damage. One of the shorter metal chutes is still visible on the canal bank, below the castle walls.
Since 2016 the branch has been closed beyond Mill Bridge after a fall of rock from Skipton Castle.[3]
^"Springs Branch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal - From Springs Branch Moorings L1 to Bridge 2, Mill Bridge". Canal & River Trust. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
January 15, 2023
thanet, canal, coordinates, also, known, springs, branch, short, branch, leeds, liverpool, canal, north, yorkshire, england, leaves, main, canal, skipton, runs, some, loading, wharfs, near, skipton, castle, which, were, used, load, limestone, from, local, quar. Coordinates 53 57 40 N 2 00 58 W 53 961 N 2 016 W 53 961 2 016 The Thanet Canal also known as the Springs Branch is a short branch of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in North Yorkshire England It leaves the main canal in Skipton and runs to some loading wharfs near Skipton Castle which were used to load limestone from local quarries into boats for onward shipment It was opened in 1773 and extended in 1794 Thanet Canal Springs Branch The Springs Branch leading off northwards from its junction with the Leeds and Liverpool canalSpecificationsLocks0Statuspartly navigableHistoryOriginal ownerLord ThanetDate of act1773GeographyStart pointSkipton Castle loading dockEnd pointSkiptonConnects toLeeds and Liverpool CanalvteThanet CanalLegendLoading dockSkipton CastleMill BridgeNew BridgeLeeds and Liverpool Canal Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 Bibliography 3 1 ReferencesHistory EditLord Thanet who was the owner of Skipton Castle in the late 18th Century owned some limestone quarries near to the castle When the constructors of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal were building their main line he petitioned them to alter its route to better serve his quarries 1 This they refused to do and so on 10 May 1773 2 he obtained an act of Parliament which authorised the construction of a branch canal to serve this purpose The Act did not authorise the raising of capital as Lord Thanet financed the canal himself and it was constructed mainly on his own land Its alternative title of the Springs Branch comes from the fact that the original Act was for a Canal from a Place called the Spring lying near Skipton Castle 2 The branch was built quickly as it was only about one third of a mile 0 5 km long It left the Leeds and Liverpool canal in the centre of Skipton and ran around the back of the castle to some loading chutes into which limestone from the quarries was tipped In 1785 the Leeds and Liverpool Canal Company took over the lease of the canal In 1794 a 240 yd 220m extension was constructed to a new loading dock which was linked to quarries by a tramway 1 Much of the limestone went to the Low Moor Ironworks in Bradford where it was used in the smelting of iron It was also used as road stone and some of it was burnt to produce lime for use as a fertiliser and in the production of mortar As built the tramway terminus was a lot higher than the canal and long chutes were used to load the limestone into boats Because this caused damage to the boats and the noise disturbed the occupants of the castle a steeper tramway was constructed which resulted in shorter chutes less noise and less damage One of the shorter metal chutes is still visible on the canal bank below the castle walls Since 2016 the branch has been closed beyond Mill Bridge after a fall of rock from Skipton Castle 3 See also Edit United Kingdom portal Transport portalCanals of Great Britain History of the British canal systemBibliography EditPriestley Joseph 1831 Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers Canals and Railways of Great Britain Archived from the original on 7 March 2016 References Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thanet Canal a b Leeds and Liverpool Canal Archived from the original on 31 January 2011 a b Priestley 1831 p 637 Springs Branch of the Leeds amp Liverpool Canal From Springs Branch Moorings L1 to Bridge 2 Mill Bridge Canal amp River Trust Retrieved 18 April 2022 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thanet Canal amp oldid 1111151177, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
