A design For bringing a Navigable RIVER FROM Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire, to St. GYLES in the Fields; the Benefits of it declared, and the Objections against it answered.   map of river diversion 
The new navigation  
Thames.  
LONDON, Printed for JOHN Clerk. 1641.   


C ◆ R   
A design FOR Bringing a Navigable River from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire, to St. Giles in the Fields; the Benefits of it declared, and the Objections against it answered.  
THe King's most excellent majesty, taking into his Princely consideration the great inconvenience and danger for want of water in many parts of London, and Westminster, put a Bill in Parliament for the bringing Water from Rickmansworth in Hartfordshire, by Harrow on the Hill, to St. Giles in the Fields.  
Edward Ford of Harting in Sussex Esquire, undertaking and giving very sufficient security to perform the same according to his majesty's design, the said Edward Ford finding it also both feasible and profitable, yea and very grateful both to the country through which, and to the City of London unto which, this Water course is to come, to have it made Navigable: though it were first proposed to him and he no farther obliged, or any way preft to do any thing more in this work, then to bring the Trench broad enough to serve the Cities only with water, yet though the work must now of necessity be near twice so broad, besides the extraordinary depth, he at his own charge undertakes (for the greater benefit of the public) to do it, and to secure all men from any prejudice by it: He offers for security to perform the same, 8000. 1. Lands per annum, and offers to secure all men from any prejudice by it.  
To undertake this work he was encouraged by his Majesty, by divers of the Lords and other persons of quality, and by the earnest persuasions of very many of all sorts both in City and country, but especially by the consideration of the great and most apparent Commodities which, by the performance hereof, will certainly arise to the city and Country. For,  

I.  
First, a great multitude of poor Labourers will have hereby good employment, both in making and perpetual repairing of the Trench, and many of them yearly Stipends and wages for daily overseeing the several parts of it, and the Rowing and sailing the Boats in it.   

II.  
Many parts of Hartfordshire, Bucking-shire, and Middlesex, whose chiefest livelihood is the sending of meal to London, will have Portage at far cheaper rates and a more plentiful vent for it, than now they have, and so likewise for all other their Commodities.   

III.  
Chaulk and other Manure, which some parts abound with, and others extremely want, will by reason of the cheapness of Portage, be both vented by the sellers far quicker and at better rates, and also got and obtained by the buyers, more plentifully, speedier and at easier rates, and so sold dearer and bought cheaper.   

IV.  
The soil of London, which is one of the chiefest means of enriching the country, and indeed the only means of bringing their lands to hart after it is worn out with Chaulking and ploughing, will by this means come much more plentifully and at easier Rates, for the carriage whereof they now pay excessively, and yet cannot on any conditions have so much brought to them as they desire and stand in need of.   

V.  
Fewell and all other Commodities of London will come to them upon easier terms.   

VI.  
Their Cattle on both sides of this new River will have the great benefit of fresh Water all the year, by little drinking places made for them.   

VII.  
Their highways, which now through perpetual Cartage are much spoiled and impassible, to the Inhabitants extraordinary charge, and the passengers great inconvenience, will by this diversion of their Carriage be kept in a better condition with much less charge.  
All these benefits and advantages will accrue unto all those that are Inhabitants any thing near any part of the said River, the length whereof will be between Thirty and forty miles, and yet every one of those fully paid for the Ground that shall be cut, and for all other prejudices whatsoever.   

VIII.  
The City of London will also by this have the Ornament of a Navigable River, on the North-west-side, as it hath ●n the South by Thames, and on the East by Ware River.   

Ix..  
Corn and other Commodities will be imported more plentifully, and consequently at cheaper Rates (as well they may be afforded) the trouble and charge of Carriage being by this means much abated, and in particular many Commodities, which are now heated, bruised, and often spoiled, by driving, or carriage, will be conveyed without the hazard of any of these inconveniences.   

X.  
The Dung also and soil of this city, the keeping whereof is very noisome, and the riddance chargeable, will by this means have a speedy exportation, and beneficial to them to whom it is now chargeable.   

XI.  
Those parts of London which are new very much scanted of water, will have it in a plentiful measure, and such as shall be always clear and fit for all uses: all Land-floods, and foul waters, which frequently occasion the muddiness of Sr. William Middleton's water, being by artificial conveyances, diverted and kept wholly out of the stream, hereby also their streets and houses will be kept sweeter, and cooler, and freer from the danger of Fire and Infection, which oft times, from this City, spreads into the whole kingdom.  
Many objections against this work have been made several days to the Lords of the Committee, who carefully hear and examine all. The now only Objection which remains, is this;  
THat the Water being taken away at Rickmansworth will much prejudice all those that dwell upon the River below.   

I.  
By depriving them of their Fish.   

II.  
By hindering their Winter land Floods which both enrich their meadows and also bring down to them a rich soil, which they call moor-earth, whereof they make great advantage.   

III.  
By taking away their Fences which the River affords them.   

IV.  
By spoiling their Corne-mills, and so consequently their markets which consists most of meal.   

V.  
By spoiling their Paper Mills.  
To all which the Answer is.   

I.  
IN general that the whole Objection is built upon a mistake, as if the purpose were to take away all their water, whereas it is intended and shall be sufficiently secured; That no more water shall be turned from the Ordinary course than what shall run between an hatch of four Foot wide, always to be maintained at the bead of the work, which upon a just survey will appear to be not the fortieth part of the water which comes down to them who oppose the design, nor will take away half an Inch of the superficies of their water. For before it comes to Uxbridge there fall in together five several plentiful swift streams, upon every one of which, stand several Mills of good value, many of them yielding 40. l. and some 50. l. per annum, and besides this, there also falls in the head of the River Colne, after some miles running without any Mill upon it.  
Now that which is taken for this Navigation is but a little part of a part of all those, so far it is from bei●g intended to turn the whole stream out of its natural course, but for fuller satisfaction it is further particularly answered.  
First, their Fish shall be none of them diminished, but all kept out, by a great set before the head of this work.   

II.  
Their Winter land-Floods may and must be wholly kept out of this Trench, which shall receive no muddy water into any part of it, nor more water in the Winter then in the Summer, so that they will not be deprived of any part of the benefit arising to them by these Floods.   

III.  
Thirdly, for their Fences it is presumed that an inch of water in the depth of their Rivers, will make no considerable difference.   

IV.  
Fourthly, their Corne-Mills neither can possibly be sensible of the loss of this so little water.  
1. Because some of them have the whole River running wast by them, they being erected upon a by-cut to avoid the danger of too much water, as my Lord Shando's Mills by Harfield, whose Millers yet with the rest, pretended to fear that they also hereby should want Water.  
2. Because others have the six Rivers before mentioned, which meet above Uxbridge, with the addition of a seventh stream, which falls in below Uxbridge to serve but two Mill-cuts only, as namely my Lord Paget's tenants of Juer and Thorney Mill upon one cut, and Drayton Mill upon the other cut, which yet are but of in different value, the Rent of the one being but about 16. l. per annum, the other 25. l. per annum: and the third 40. l. per annum, so that they have little cause to fear want of water, for the discharge of their employment.  
3. Thirdly, because others have the six foresaid Rivers which meet above Uxbridge for 3. Mill-cuts, as the five Millers by Uxbridge, and so all the rest of the complainers, from Uxbridge to Thames, (excepting only one Mill or two at the most) have likewise the foresaid 6. Rivers above Uxbridge, and two other streams below Uxbridge, and two other streams below Uxbridge, eight in all, but for three Mill-cuts (excepting only one Mill of 30. l. per annum at Stanes.  
4. Fourthly, because they have such plenty of water that they permit Ditches and watering trenches to lie continually open which steals away their water from their Mills.  
It plainly therefore appears, that these Corne-Mills cannot by this work, be brought to want water, seeing they that have least water have six Mill streams at the least, to serve three mill Cuts at the most; and yet those Mills above, which stands but upon the single stream, have all plenty of Water, many of them more employment and pay greater Rents than most of these, who have double their water to raise less Rent.  
5. And lastly for their Paper-mills, which are but seven in all, and stand upon the foresaid Cuts. The water taken for this work cannot possibly be missed by them, unless it be for the time of a month or two in a dry Summer, when perhaps it may for that short time hinder the working of some few Hammers; And for satisfaction of this, or any other damage whatsoever, there is the very same care taken in this Act, as hath been in other Acts, wherein, for the public benefit of Navigation, the undertakers have had full power given them to pull down even Corne-mills.  
And so all Objections being (as it is conceived) fully answered. It is the undertakers hope, That this work shall now proceed with general approbation, especially because that any delay now may occasion the loss of a years time in effecting of it.    
FINIS.  

Page 8. line 2. for great read Grate. Pag 9 1. 20. leave out that Parenthesis (excepting only one Mill as Stanza.   

 map of Colne river 
The Map of Colne River▪  
A map of Colne with all its branches and mills, and the particular place whence the navigation is to be taken.