John Longbotham: Difference between revisions

'''John LongbottomLongbotham''', also known as John Longbotham, (died 1801) was a [[canal engineer]] and pupil of [[John Smeaton]] who in 1766 suggested a [[Leeds and Liverpool Canal]] and did a survey which was approved by [[James Brindley]]. He subsequently became the chief engineer and completed the canal between [[Bingley]] and [[Skipton]] before resigning in 1775.

In 1766, LongbottomLongbotham, together with [[John Hustler]], a Bradford wool merchant and Quaker, called a public meeting at the [[Sun Inn, Bradford]] to discuss a broad canal linking [[Liverpool]] to [[Kingston upon Hull|Hull]] via the [[Aire and Calder Canal]]. He prepared a survey which was presented in 1768. To gain wider support the canal was promoted by committees in Bradford and Liverpool, with the Bradford committee controlling finances. The Liverpool committee objected to LongbottomLongbotham's line down the valleys of the [[River Calder, Lancashire|Calder]] and [[River Ribble|Ribble]] to [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]]<ref>{{harvnb|Shead}}</ref> as it avoided a number of industrial Lancashire towns and suggested an alternative route which the Bradford committee found too long and expensive. [[James Brindley]] was brought in to arbitrate and ruled in favour of LongbottomLongbotham's line and an [[Act of Parliament]] was passed in 1770.<ref>{{harvnb|Paget-Tomlinson|2006|p=140}}</ref>

Although Brindley was appointed as chief engineer he did not take up the appointment and LongbottomLongbotham was appointed as both chief engineer and clerk of works. By April 1773 the canal was open between Bingley and Skipton. In 1774 it was open between Liverpool and [[Newburgh, Lancashire|Newburgh]] and the [[Bingley Five Rise Locks]] and the Bradford branch were open.

Meanwhile, he was also involved with surveys on the Bradford canal and the proposed Leeds and Selby Canal and bought coal mines at [[Upholland]], near [[Wigan]]. Because of these activities the committee of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal complained that he was not spending enough time on their project and he either resigned his post<ref>{{harvnb|Shead}}</ref> or was dismissed because the accounts were not in order.<ref>{{harvnb|Paget-Tomlinson|2006|p=304}}</ref>