Josiah Clowes
Encyclopedia
Josiah Clowes was a noted civil engineer
and canal
builder.
Clowes was appointed head engineer, surveyor and carpenter to the Thames and Severn Canal
in 1783 to assist Robert Whitworth. Clowes became resident engineer and was paid £300 per year. Clowes' work on the canal developed him a reputation which made highly sought after in the remaining five years of his life. He left the construction of the canal in 1789 shortly before completion to work on Dudley Tunnel
.
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal
was surveyed by Josiah Clowes and John Snape.
In 1790 he surveyed the line for the Hereford and Gloucester Canal.
He was Engineer of the Shrewsbury Canal
from 1793 until his death, and was succeeded in this role by Thomas Telford
.
Josiah Clowes was buried (together with his two wives) in St. Bartholomew's churchyard, Norton le Moors, North Staffordshire, where his memorial can still be seen.
Civil engineer
A civil engineer is a person who practices civil engineering; the application of planning, designing, constructing, maintaining, and operating infrastructures while protecting the public and environmental health, as well as improving existing infrastructures that have been neglected.Originally, a...
and canal
Canal
Canals are man-made channels for water. There are two types of canal:#Waterways: navigable transportation canals used for carrying ships and boats shipping goods and conveying people, further subdivided into two kinds:...
builder.
Clowes was appointed head engineer, surveyor and carpenter to the Thames and Severn Canal
Thames and Severn Canal
The Thames and Severn Canal is a canal in Gloucestershire in the south of England, which was completed in 1789. It was conceived as part of a canal route from Bristol to London. At its eastern end, it connects to the River Thames at Inglesham Lock near Lechlade, while at its western end, it...
in 1783 to assist Robert Whitworth. Clowes became resident engineer and was paid £300 per year. Clowes' work on the canal developed him a reputation which made highly sought after in the remaining five years of his life. He left the construction of the canal in 1789 shortly before completion to work on Dudley Tunnel
Dudley Tunnel
Dudley Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Dudley Canal Line No 1, England. At about long, it is now the second longest canal tunnel on the UK canal network today....
.
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal
Worcester and Birmingham Canal
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal is a canal linking Birmingham and Worcester in England. It starts in Worcester, as an 'offshoot' of the River Severn and ends in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham. It is long....
was surveyed by Josiah Clowes and John Snape.
In 1790 he surveyed the line for the Hereford and Gloucester Canal.
He was Engineer of the Shrewsbury Canal
Shrewsbury Canal
The Shrewsbury Canal was a canal in Shropshire, England. Authorised in 1793, the main line from Trench to Shrewsbury was fully open by 1797, but it remained isolated from the rest of the canal network until 1835, when the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal built the Newport Branch from...
from 1793 until his death, and was succeeded in this role by Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
.
Josiah Clowes was buried (together with his two wives) in St. Bartholomew's churchyard, Norton le Moors, North Staffordshire, where his memorial can still be seen.
See also
- Canals of the United KingdomCanals of the United KingdomThe canals of the United Kingdom are a major part of the network of inland waterways in the United Kingdom. They have a colourful history, from use for irrigation and transport, through becoming the focus of the Industrial Revolution, to today's role for recreational boating...
- History of the British canal systemHistory of the British canal systemThe British canal system of water transport played a vital role in the United Kingdom's Industrial Revolution at a time when roads were only just emerging from the medieval mud and long trains of pack horses were the only means of "mass" transit by road of raw materials and finished products The...