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Uttoxeter Canal
The Uttoxeter Canal was a thirteen-mile extension of the Caldon Canal running from Froghall as far as Uttoxeter in Staffordshire, England. It was authorised in 1797, but did not open until 1811. With the exception of the first lock and basin at Froghall, it closed in 1849, in order that the Churnet Valley line of the North Staffordshire Railway could be constructed along its length. The railway has since been dismantled and there are plans to reinstate the canal. History The Uttoxeter Canal was promoted by the Trent and Mersey Canal Company and authorised by an act of Parliament, the Trent and Mersey Canal Act 1797 (37 Geo. 3. c. 81). This was a political move, designed to prevent a rival scheme for a canal to Uttoxeter. The planned Commercial Canal was intended to link the Chester Canal at Nantwich to the Ashby Canal at Moira, passing through Stoke-on-Trent and Uttoxeter, and would have had a serious impact on the profitability of the Trent and Mersey Company if it had been bu ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
John Rennie The Elder
John Rennie (7 June 1761 – 4 October 1821) was a Scottish civil engineer who designed many bridges, canals, docks and warehouses, and a pioneer in the use of structural cast-iron. Early years John Rennie was born near Phantassie in Haddingtonshire (present day East Lothian). He was the youngest son of James Rennie, a farmer and brewer. He attended the parish school at Prestonkirk Parish Church, Prestonkirk. He showed an interest in machinery from an early age, and came to the attention of Andrew Meikle, a millwright and the inventor of the threshing machine, who lived on the Phantassie estate. At the age of twelve, Rennie started to work for Meikle, getting a grounding in practical mechanics. From 1775 to 1777, he attended high school in Dunbar. In 1779, with the support and approval of Meikle, he set up in business on his own account as a millwright. One of his first jobs was to construct a mill for his oldest brother, George Rennie (agriculturalist), George Rennie. From 1 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Spath
Spath is a small village located north of Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England. The village is on the River Tean and is separated from Uttoxeter by the A50 road. History In UK railway history, Spath was on the now disused Churnet Valley Line, owned and operated by North Staffordshire Railway. The village is notable as the site of the first automatic half barrier crossing in the United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ..., which came into operation on 5 February 1961. The railway closed four years later and the road which crossed it via the automatic crossing is now gated. There is no remaining visible sign of the crossing. Spath was the original home of the Stevensons of Uttoxeter bus company. Notes Villages in Staffordshire Staffordshire Moor ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Canals Of Great Britain
The canals of the United Kingdom are a major part of the network of inland waterways in the United Kingdom. They have a varied history, from use for irrigation and transport, through becoming the focus of the Industrial Revolution, to today's role of recreational boating. Despite a period of abandonment, today the canal system in the United Kingdom is again increasing in use, with abandoned and derelict canals being reopened, and the construction of some new routes. Canals in England and Wales are maintained by navigation authorities. The biggest navigation authorities are the Canal & River Trust and the Environment Agency, but other canals are managed by companies, local authorities or charitable trusts. The majority of canals in the United Kingdom can accommodate boats with a length of between and are now used primarily for leisure. There are a number of canals which are far larger than this, including New Junction Canal and the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal, which can ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fish Ladder
A fish ladder, also known as a fishway, fish pass, fish steps, or fish cannon, is a structure on or around artificial and natural barriers (such as dams, locks and waterfalls) to facilitate diadromous fishes' natural migration as well as movements of potamodromous species. Most fishways enable fish to pass around the barriers by swimming and leaping up a series of relatively low steps (hence the term ''ladder'') into the waters on the other side. The velocity of water falling over the steps has to be great enough to attract the fish to the ladder, but it cannot be so great that it washes fish back downstream or exhausts them to the point of inability to continue their journey upriver. History Written reports of rough fishways date to 17th-century France, where bundles of branches were used to make steps in steep channels to bypass obstructions. A 1714 construction of an old channel bypassing a dam, "originally cut for the passage of fish up and down the river", is mentio ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency (EA) is a non-departmental public body, established in 1996 and sponsored by the United Kingdom government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, with responsibilities relating to the protection and enhancement of the environment (biophysical), environment in England (and until 2013 also Wales). Based in Bristol, the Environment Agency is responsible for flood management, waste management, regulating land and water pollution, and conservation. Roles and responsibilities Purpose The Environment Agency's stated purpose is, "to protect or enhance the environment, taken as a whole" so as to promote "the objective of achieving sustainable development" (taken from the Environment Act 1995, section 4). Protection of the environment relates to threats such as flood and pollution. The vision statement, vision of the agency is of "a rich, healthy and diverse environment for present and future generations". Scope The Environment Agency's remit c ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Grade II Listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Historic Environment Division of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland. The classification schemes differ between England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland (see sections below). The term has also been used in the Republic of Ireland, where buildings are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000, although the statutory term in Ireland is " protected structure". A listed building may not be demolished, extended, or altered without permission from the local planning authority, which typically consults the relevant central government agency. In England and Wales, a national amenity society must be notified of any work to be done on a listed building ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
History Of Alton Towers
Alton Towers is located near the village of Alton, Staffordshire, Alton in Staffordshire, England. The former country estate was a former seat of the Earls of Shrewsbury. It is now a major theme park in the United Kingdom. In 2012, it attracted 2.4 million visitors, making it the most visited theme park in the United Kingdom and 9th most visited theme park in Europe. It employs in excess of 2,000 staff members during the summer months. The area around Alton Towers has seen human habitation for more than a thousand years. Since the Early Medieval Period, the site has been redeveloped several times from fortified encampment to castle and then country house. Early history An Iron Age fort was built on Bunbury Hill () which is now occupied by the Alton Towers estate. In about 700 AD, the Saxon king Ceolred of Mercia built a fortress on the hill. King Ine of Wessex besieged the site in 716 AD. The ensuing battle, which ended in stalemate, caused such a loss of life the place was ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Charles Talbot, 15th Earl Of Shrewsbury
Earl of Shrewsbury () is a hereditary title of nobility created twice in the Peerage of England. The second earldom dates to 1442. The holder of the Earldom of Shrewsbury also holds the title of Earl of Waterford (1446) in the Peerage of Ireland and Earl Talbot (1784) in the Peerage of Great Britain. Shrewsbury and Waterford are the oldest earldoms in their peerages held by someone with no higher title (the oldest earldoms in each peerage being held by the Duke of Norfolk and Duke of Leinster), and as such the Earl of Shrewsbury is sometimes described as the premier earl of England and Ireland. History First creation, 1074 The first creation occurred in 1074 for Roger de Montgomerie, one of William the Conqueror's principal counsellors. He was one of the Marcher Lords, with the Earl of Hereford and the Earl of Chester, a bulwark against the Welsh; he was granted great powers, and his territory, which extended from Shropshire (of which Shrewsbury is the county town) into Mid-Wale ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Waterway Recovery Group
The Waterway Recovery Group (WRG) is the national co-ordinating body for voluntary labour on the inland waterways of England and Wales. Founded in 1970 as an independent body, it became a division of the Inland Waterway Association in 2002. History The formation of the Waterway Recovery Group was a logical progression from events which had happened over the previous eight years. Mr T. Dodwell had been responsible for organising volunteers who had cleared part of the Basingstoke Canal in order to facilitate a boat rally at Woking, which was held in 1962. With this experience in mind, he suggested that the London and Home Counties Branch of the Inland Waterways Association should set up a Working Party Group, whose members would be available to travel around the country, giving help to local restoration schemes as required. The idea was well-received, and working parties on the Kennet and Avon Canal, the Stourbridge Canal and the River Wey were organised and run during the next f ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Staffordshire Moorlands
Staffordshire Moorlands is a local government district in Staffordshire, England. Its council is based in Leek, the district's largest town. The district also contains the towns of Biddulph and Cheadle, along with a large rural area containing many villages. North-eastern parts of the district lie within the Peak District National Park. The area's principal industries are agriculture, fashion and tourism. Visitor attractions include the National Trust property Biddulph Grange, the Churnet Valley Railway, the UK's largest theme park Alton Towers Resort, and the annual Leek Arts Festival. There are also a variety of outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing ( The Roaches), sailing (Rudyard Lake) and cycling ( Waterhouses). The neighbouring districts are East Staffordshire, Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Cheshire East, High Peak and Derbyshire Dales. History Historically the area was contained in the Hundred of Totmonslow, except for the parish of Biddulph, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Halcrow Group
Halcrow Group Limited was a British engineering consultancy company. It was one of the UK's largest consultancies, specialised in the provision of planning, design and management services for infrastructure development worldwide. With interests in transportation, water, maritime and property, the company undertook commissions in over 70 countries from a network of more than 90 offices. Established by Thomas Meik in 1868, the company quickly became involved in the maritime and railway industries across the British Isles. During the first half of the 20th century, William Halcrow led the business into new avenues of civil engineering, including deep tunnelling and hydroelectric dams. Its expertise was harnessed in many capacities throughout the Second World War, highlights include the construction of the Mulberry Harbours and consulting on the bouncing bomb. In the peacetime, Halcrow worked with the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board on a new generation of hydroelectric sch ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
JCB (heavy Equipment Manufacturer)
J.C. Bamford Excavators Limited (JCB) is a British multinational corporation, multinational manufacturer of equipment for construction, agriculture, Global waste trade, waste handling, and demolition. It was founded in 1945 and is based in Rocester, Staffordshire, England. The word "wikt:JCB, JCB" is also often used colloquially as a genericized trademark, generic description for mechanical diggers and Excavator, excavators, and the word appears in the ''Oxford English Dictionary'', although it is still held as a trademark. History Joseph Cyril Bamford Excavators Ltd. was founded by Joseph Cyril Bamford in October 1945 in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire, England. He rented a lock-up garage . In it, using a welding set which he bought second-hand for £1 from English Electric, he made his first vehicle, a tipping trailer from war-surplus materials. The trailer's sides and floor were made from steel sheet that had been part of air raid shelters. On the same day as his son Anthony wa ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
