The Chichester Ship Canal

The Chichester Ship Canal is a 4 mile remnant of a canal route that linked from Chichester to Portsmouth joining Portsmouth and Arundel canal and the London Portsmouth Barge Route, which failed after the end of the wars with France, the coastal route becoming quicker and generally more practical, though other sections of that route do exist and it is still possible to navigate from the Thames to Godalming for instance. The chief use of the route was moving gold bullion in armed barges from Portsmouth to London as it was considered a safer option than going round the coast.The proposal for a canal at Chichester to link the City to the sea was actually a very early one dating back to 1585 and possibly before, when an Act of Parliament was obtained for a suitable cut to be constructed, though the project was not taken up. Various other proposals and Acts relating to a similar navigation were proposed between 1801 and 1811, but it was not until 1822 with the construction of a branch to the Portsmouth and Arundel Canal running to Chichester was the link to the sea finally made, though unlike the rest of the system this section was broadened to allow passage of ships of up to 100 tons, allowing Chichester to develop a role as a port.The act allowing the project to proceed was passed in 1819 with construction beginning in the same year and the canal opening on 9^th April 1822.Ownership of the canal passed to the Corporation of Chichester in 1892 and later in November of that year the canal was surveyed and restoration costs were estimated at £1000 for dredging, repair of locks, weed clearance etc, though the project was not a success with only £18 being raised in Ship tolls in 1894 for the passage of 704 tons of goods and the last recorded commercial cargo was in 1906. 1923 saw swing bridges replaced by fixed bridges m blocking access to the canal for larger craft and the canal was abandoned in 1928.1932 saw a section between Cutfield bridge and Salterns lock reopen as a marina for Yachts and the lease passed to the Chichester Yacht Company.1955 saw ownership passing to Sussex County Council , who wanted the land for road improvements, but never implemented the scheme, leaving the Chichester Yacht Company to continue its lease, while the upper part of the canal was leased to the Chichester Canal Angling Association.The Chichester Ship Canal trust has taken over the lease from the Angling association with the intent of restoration, but progress has been hampered by the presence of water voles – now becoming an endangered species.