Kennet Navigation John Hore

the 23-mile (37 km) section of river reading newbury has gradient of 66 inches per mile (1.1 metres per kilometre), requiring locks traverse terrain. kennet navigation act (1715) had allowed construction begin, although straight away navigation proprietors saw huge expense in employing unskillful person[s] ; ten locks built @ mills on stretch of river severe lack of engineering experience meant quality of work undertaken poor , progressed @ unacceptable rate, hore appointed engineer , surveyor. hore s father, proprietor of waterway, had hand in arranging son s employment on project.

hore recognised inappropriate nature of solution, proposing more locks , artificial cuttings dug. subsequently employed on salary equivalent £9,000 in 2016 plus expenses, responsibility of delivering 18.5 miles (29.8 km) of navigable waterways, 11 miles (18 km) of new cuttings.

work on navigation began in 1719, although local opposition following year threatened works—mayor of reading robert blake led 300-strong mob along town s recorder burghfield construction damaged; blake owned wharf near junction of kennet , river thames, , feared trade adversely affected new waterway. further setbacks came following winter, when extraordinary floods damaged works. in march 1721, extension original timescale granted. following july, hore reported progress being made:

the screw hore refers archimedes screw, used in lock excavations remove water. despite referring brick locks in padworth field, of hore s locks in area—from aldermaston tyle mill—were turf-sided.

garston lock 1 of 2 remaining turf-sided locks on canal, although has been reduced in dimensions since original building

hore s specifications canal defined cutting widths of 54 feet (16 m), depth of 5 feet (1.5 m). navigable sections of river 70 feet (21 m) wide. vast majority of hore s locks turf-sided (a framed chamber built within sloping sides covered in vegetation); hore influenced turf locks on wey navigation , exeter canal, predated hore s project 70 , 150 years respectively. small number of locks built brick. hore s lock dimensions substantial, width of 19 feet (5.8 m) , length of 114 feet (35 m) allow barges carrying loads of on 100 tons.

hore s work completed in 1723 (with towing path usable following year), providing navigable waterway wharves , basins @ aldermaston , newbury. kennet navigation opened on 1 june 1723 @ cost of approximately £40,000 (equivalent £5,747,000 in 2016)—although speculated cost of towpath cost further £30,000 (equivalent £4,294,000 in 2016). after canal s opening, hore retained salary , appointed surveyor of works , wharfinger @ newbury lifelong position. however, navigation proprietors (appointed in 1720) dismissed hore in 1724—he had incurred significant costs landowners in 1720s, , unable account these expenses governing body. despite agreeing reimbursement of £840 (equivalent £118,000 in 2016), proprietors failed pay this—and further expenses—to hore. hore took organisation arbitration in 1731, , 1734 salary reinstated , increased £100 (equivalent £15,000 in 2016).

hore returned kennet after reinstatement , found in extremely poor condition after few years of neglect. approached lady forbes, widow of 1 of navigation s proprietors, began taking interest in navigation s management , ensured funds available necessary repairs. hore oversaw work, , 1740 had established carpentry @ navigation s centre point in aldermaston. restored navigation, tolls increased £2,000 per year (equivalent £265,910 in 2016), annual porterage of 10,000 tons.

hore retired role surveyor on kennet in 1761. in 1967, locks widened cater larger newbury barges carried substantial cargoes newbury thames.