Boardroom Of The Aire And Calder Navigation - Wakefield, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 40.648 W 001° 29.347
30U E 599798 N 5948697
This blue plaque marks the site of the board room of an old canal company which stands close to one of the rivers that was canalised to improve communication along the river.
Waymark Code: WMZHVX
Location: Yorkshire, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/16/2018
Views: 1
WAKEFIELD CIVIC SOCIETY
RECORDS
UNTIL 1860 THIS BUILDING HOUSED
THE BOARDROOM OF THE
AIRE AND CALDER NAVIGATION,
A WATERWAYS COMPANY
ESTABLISHED IN 1699
AND FOR LONG
BRITAINS RICHEST.
2000
"When the Rivers Aire and Calder were made navigable to Leeds and Wakefield about 1702, both towns became thriving inland ports. The body responsible for the necessary dredging, construction of locks, etc, was the Aire and Calder Navigation. Here, at what was the head of the navigable waterway in Wakefield, the company built its offices and boardroom. Until the coming of railways, the company saw vast traffic on its waterways and made immense profits for its shareholders, at one time paying a dividend of 200%. As the navigable route from Wakefield was extended westwards by the Calder and Hebble Navigation, traffic became even more extensive."
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