UNTIL the coming of the railways in the 19th century, the cheapest method of transporting goods or passengers through the country was by water and Southampton had the big disadvantage of lacking navigable rivers for the distribution of imported goods.

So they were either laboriously carried inland on horseback, in carts, or were transshipped and taken along the coast. A plan was, therefore, conceived to cut a canal from the port to Salisbury.

In 1792 a meeting was held at the Star Inn, Southampton, when it was agreed to finance a survey of possible lines. Salisbury, I learned from an interesting little book called ‘The Bankrupt Canal,’ was at first luke-warm but then became enthusiastic and, in October 1794, the city had more potential subscribers for shares than any other town.

These subscribers had their meetings at The Parade Coffee House in the Blue Boar Row. The intention to apply for a Bill to permit the construction of the canal was advertised in the Salisbury Journal in October, 1794.

The Bill was passed and it was estimated that the canal would cost £48,929 16s. 6d.

Difficulties in raising the money began at once, there were complaints of residents being harassed by the navvies employed in the digging work; there were quarrels and then it was found there was insufficient money to pay the wages.

The company formed to see the project through slid rapidly into bankruptcy. The Salisbury arm began 250 yards south of Mottisfont Station.

Locks were built, but it would seem that when work ceased, these were broken by farmers who took away the brickwork and then tipped gravel on the sill of the lock to form a ford.

It is uncertain how far the work had progressed towards Salisbury when it stopped.