Yapton & Ford Local History Group

London's Lost Route to the Sea

The 18th Century rise of the Industrial Revolution saw the development of a system of canals throughout the country enabling heavy, bulky loads to be transported with ease. They became even more important during the Napoleonic Wars because inland routes were much safer than the exposed waters of the English Channel. A route linking London with Portsmouth was of vital importance and the link from Arundel to Chichester was the final section to be built.

19th Century Planning Permission - Environmental Issues are not new

An important condition of the Act of Parliament allowing construction of the canal was that vessels had to "consume their own smoke". No steam was to be blown into the atmosphere but had to be passed through condensers.

Sales Pitch of 1823

"The canal forms a short means of conveyance by water from the Metropolis to the British Channel, whereby the tedious and often dangerous passage through the Downs can be avoided enabling the Merchant to forward his goods from London to either of the ports westward of Arundel with nearly as much despatch as usually attends the common roads waggons incurring in no case so much as one third of the expense (sic) and in several cases not even one sixth."

The Great Pump at Ford

In order to lift water from the River Arun into the canal, an enormous pump was constructed. Contained in a building the size of a four storey house, it had a brick-built factory-style chimney in order to build up the necessary head of steam to lift 5,000 gallons or 96 hogsheads of water per minute. Only fresh water was used, so pumping could only take place for an hour or so either side of low tide.

Cargoes

Coal, iron, building materials and grain were transported along the canal routes but perhaps the most interesting cargo of all was gold bullion. Every month until 1826, precious cargoes of bullion left Portsmouth bound for the Bank of England.
25 - 30 tonnes was the usual consignment but one day the Union and Portsea went through together with 72 tonnes on board. Armed guards stayed on board at all times and an old inhabitant of Birdham was reported to have remembered seeing redcoat soldiers on guard duty.

Grand Opening - Bad Investment

Costing £170,000 the canal was opened in 1822 with much pomp and ceremony, booming of cannon and wining and dining. 304 people had invested in the Arundel to Portsmouth Canal Company including such notables as the Duke of Norfolk, Earl of Egremont and Viscounts Keith and Exmouth - but the timing was bad. As early as 1825, plans for a Surrey and Hampshire Railway were published and with the coming of the railways, the canal went into rapid decline. By 1840, through traffic from London had ceased and no dividends were ever paid by the company to its investors.

Today

Owned by West Sussex County Council, much of the route from Birdham to Chichester has been restored in conjunction with the Chichester Ship Canal Trust. The whole length provides interesting walking, where a rich variety of wildlife can be seen. The Canal flows into Chichester Harbour which is managed by the
Chichester Harbour Conservancy. Good coarse fishing, especially between Chichester and Donnington is available by purchasing a day ticket from the Canal Trust. Bream, roach, carp, tench, rudd, and perch abound. Boats can be hired during the summer months at the Canal Basin from which a trip boat operates.

Historical Milestones

WSCC
August 2004