|
Admin
history |
Thomas Telford was commanded to report to the Lords Commissioners of HM Treasury on 1 July 1802 on the prospects for building this canal, and he reported thereon on 15 March 1803. His "Survey and Report of the Coasts and Central Highlands of Scotland" was ordered to be printed on 5 April 1803, and an Act of Parliament was passed on 27 July 1803 for the making of the canal, and appointing the Speaker of the House of Commons for the time being, the Chancellor of the Exchequer for the time being and the Master of the Rolls for the time being, together with certain named individuals to be commissioners for the canal. The canal was opened in 1822.
An Act giving power to lease the canal to private undertakings was passed circa 1840, but was not implemented. The canal was reconstructed and reopened on 1 May 1847, and the commissioners were made a corporate body under an Act of 1848.
The Crinan Canal was also vested in this corporate body under the same Act.
Power was given to lease both these canals to private undertakings under an Act of July 1860, but this power was not implemented.
Both canals were transferred to the Ministry of Transport under an Act of 15 August 1919 and an Order in Council was made on 2 July 1920 vesting them in the Ministry, but the actual transfer did not take effect until 15 August 1920 when the commissioners ceased to exist.
Both canals were transferred to the British Transport Commission under Section 28 of the Transport Act, 1947. |