Description:Throughout the second half of the eighteenth century, Granville Leveson-Gower was central to the development of navigable waterways. Enthusiastic about the economic development of Staffordshire and Shropshire, Gower pursued an active interest in canal building alongside his brother in law Francis Egerton (1786-1803), the third Duke of Bridgewater.
Gower was intrigued by the Grand Turk and Bridgewater Canals and played an extremely important role in the legislation and development of major canals such as the Trent Mersey. He was also instrumental in canal innovation, introducing his brother in law to the civil engineer James Brindley. More locally, he financed the construction of canals on his Shropshire estates during the 1760s.
The Sutherland Papers include many documents relating to the development of canals, including examples of Parliamentary legislation and documents promoting the construction of navigable waterways as a cost-effective method of industrial transportation. The documents provide examples of the contemporary debate surrounding the construction of canals. Earl Gower’s ownership of these papers reflects his important role in the development of navigable waterways in the later eighteenth century.
Click on the images on the left to learn more about Earl Gower and canal history.