Trent
and Mersey canal outside Wedgwood's factory in
Etruria circa 1929. Despite our best efforts we
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An
Act of Parliament in 1766 granted permission for
the Trent and Mersey canal and work began by the
celebrated canal engineer James Brindley in the
same year. The canal opened in 1777 and covered
140 miles with 160 aqueducts, 109 road bridges,
75 locks and 5 tunnels. The Harecastle Tunnel,
which is 1.5 miles long, was a spectacular feat
of engineering: many people believed that it was
impossible largely because of the problems
created by water during excavation, but Brindley
was prepared and used pumping machines to remove
the water. Boats had to be 'legged' through the
tunnel by people lying on their backs and
pushing against the ceiling with their legs. In
1827 Thomas Telford built a second, wider tunnel
with a towpath alongside the first. Today the
Harecastle Tunnel is still in use and is an
important roosting site for Daubentons
bats.
