This work was principally encouraged by the Right Reverend Father in
God, Seth, Lord Bishop of Salisbury, his Lordship digging the first
spit of earth, and driving the first wheeled barrow. Col. John Wyndham
was also a generous benefactor and encourager of this undertaking. He
gave to this designe an hundred pounds. He tells me that the Bishop of
Salisbury gave, he thinks, an hundred and fifty pounds: he is sure a
hundred was the least. The engineer was one Mr. Far trey, but it seems
not his craft's-master; for through want of skill all this charge and
paines came to nothing: but An° Done 16. . .it was more auspiciously
undertaken and perfected; and now boats passe between Salisbury and
Christ Church, and carry wood and corne from the New Forest, the
cartage whereof was very dearer; but as yet they want a haven at Christ
Church, which will require time and charge.
[Of the numerous rivers in Wiltshire only a few are navigable, and
those only for a short distance in the county. This is the consequence
of its inland position and comparative elevation; whence it results
that the principal streams have little more than their sources within
its limits. The project of rendering the Avon navigable from Salisbury
to Christ Church appears to have been first promulgated by John
Taylor, the Water Poet, who, in 1625, made an excursion in his own
sherry, with five companions, from London to Christ Church, and thence
up the Avon to Salisbury.
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