Hugh Henshall facts for kids
Hugh Henshall (1734–1816) was an English civil engineer. He was well-known for his important work on canals. Born in North Staffordshire, he was a student of the famous canal engineer James Brindley, who was also his brother-in-law.
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Hugh Henshall's Early Life and Family
Hugh Henshall was born to John Henshall and Anne Cartwright, probably in Newchapel, Wolstanton. He was one of five children. Hugh's father, John, might have helped James Brindley with early surveys for the Trent and Mersey Canal. The two families became very close.
Hugh Henshall became a student of James Brindley, learning all about canal building. Later, Hugh met other important people like John Gilbert, his brother Thomas Gilbert, and Josiah Clowes. Hugh's sister, Jane, married William Clowes, who owned land and had mining interests. William was Josiah Clowes's older brother. Another of Hugh's sisters, Anne, married James Brindley on December 8, 1765. She was 19, and he was 49.
In 1778, Hugh Henshall bought a farm and land called Greenway Bank, near Tunstall in Staffordshire.
Hugh Henshall passed away on November 16, 1816. He was buried at St. James Church in Newchapel.
Building Canals: Hugh Henshall's Engineering Work
Hugh Henshall worked with James Brindley and John Smeaton in 1758. They surveyed the path for the planned Trent and Mersey Canal. To "survey" means to carefully measure and map out the land for a project.
In 1765, he helped survey the River Weaver and planned a link from Cheshire to the Bridgewater Canal. He also surveyed the River Severn that same year. In 1768, Brindley, with Henshall's help, surveyed the route for the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. Henshall also did the survey needed for the law that allowed the canal to be built, working with Samuel Simcock.
Hugh Henshall's experience with the River Weaver was very useful. He became the clerk of works for the Trent and Mersey Canal. This meant he oversaw the construction on site. He also created the official map for the canal that was used in Parliament.
When James Brindley, the main engineer for the canal, died in 1772, Hugh Henshall took over his work. He finished important parts of the canal, including the Harecastle Tunnel and the northern sections. This included the connection to the Bridgewater Canal. He completed the entire Trent and Mersey Canal in May 1777.
Brindley had also surveyed the route for the Chesterfield Canal in 1769. He was overseeing its building when he died. John Varley became the Resident Engineer, and Hugh Henshall was made Chief Engineer in 1774. Henshall also finished the Bridgewater Canal in 1776.
In December 1787, Hugh Henshall and two other engineers looked into flooding on the Mersey and Irwell Navigation. They found that the water depth had changed over the years.
In 1790, he was asked to survey the route for the proposed Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal. He wrote a report that helped calm the fears of local mill owners. They were worried the new canal would reduce their water supply. Henshall was part of the canal's committee and invested £1,000 in shares. He also helped hire contractors to build the canal.
In 1792, Henshall was asked to re-survey Josiah Clowes's plans for the Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal. He suggested changing the route to Newent, where there were small coal mines. The next year, he returned to the Mersey and Irwell navigation with Charles McNiven to do another survey. He reported that if the locks and cuts were kept in good shape, and mill owners were stopped from lowering the water, the navigation could work better.
Henshall and Thomas Dadford, Jr. (another student of James Brindley) surveyed the path for a tramroad. This tramroad would connect the Llan-march Coal and Mine Works to the Clydach ironworks for the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal. Henshall also worked with William Jessop when Jessop was advising on the route for the Grand Western Canal. In 1795, Henshall finished the survey of the Caldon Canal.
Other Business Ventures
After buying Greenway Bank, Hugh Henshall focused on his canal carrying business, "Hugh Henshall & Co." This company transported goods for the owners of the Trent and Mersey Canal. The business was very successful. In 1786, a well-known company called Pickfords took it over. Hugh Henshall also got involved in the pottery business with Robert Williamson at Longport.
See also
- History of the British canal system
- Waterways in the United Kingdom
- List of civil engineers
