Medway navigation legislation

This material is held atSenate House Library Archives, University of London

  • Reference
    • GB 96 MS 488
  • Dates of Creation
    • c1740
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English
  • Physical Description
    • 8 leaves

Scope and Content

Manuscript transcript of an Act of Parliament (16 and 17 Charles II, c.11) for making the river Medway navigable in the Counties of Kent and Sussex, copied in c1740.

Administrative / Biographical History

The River Medway is Kent's premier river, rising in the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex and flowing roughly in a north easterly direction for some 70 miles through Kent to its mouth in the Thames estuary at Sheerness. It is tidal up to the lock at Allington, near Maidstone, and is navigable as far as Tonbridge. The first Act Of Parliament enabling a navigation on the Medway was in 1664 and the last was in 1884, the purpose of the Navigation being to facilitate trade.

Access Information

Access to this collection is unrestricted for the purpose of private study and personal research within the supervised environment and restrictions of the Library's Palaeography Room. Uncatalogued material may not be seen. Please contact the University Archivist for details.

Acquisition Information

Enclosed, as item 1, in a Goldsmiths' Library volume lettered 'Canal Acts, Bills & Surveys 1740 to 1774', (containing G.L. Cat. 10478, 10801, 10923, 11054, 13658, together with MS 489), which came from the library of John Baker Holroyd, 1st Earl of Sheffield.

Other Finding Aids

Collection level description.

Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements

12½" x 7¾"

Archivist's Note

Compiled by Sarah Aitchison as part of the RSLP AIM25 Project.

Conditions Governing Use

Copies may be made, subject to the condition of the original. Copying must be undertaken by the Palaeography Room staff, who will need a minimum of 24 hours to process requests.

Related Material

University of London MS 489 is bound in the same volume.