William Sandys 'Waterworks Sandys'
Encyclopedia
William Sandys of Fladbury
(1607 - 1669) was known as Waterworks Sandys to distinguish him from his cousin, the spendthrift 'Golden Sandys'. His principal fame was as the waterworks engineer, who improved the River Avon, Warwickshire
, England
, and the River Wye
, and who was involved in various ways in several other river navigation schemes.
He was born at Fladbury, the second son of Sir William Sandys (later also of Miserden
), Gloucestershire. He entered Gloucester Hall at Oxford University in 1623 at the same time as his cousin William Sandys of Ombersley
, with whom he is sometimes confused. After that he became a barrister
of the Middle Temple
, but left London in 1633 to live at Fladbury with his new wife Cicely, daughter of Sir John Stede, with whom he received a handsome portion. They settled at Fladbury
, where the lease of the manor (under the Bishop of Worcester
) was settled on them.
In 1635, supported by petitions from many towns and from the counties affected, Sandys was authorised by Order in Council and Letters Patent to improve the river Avon. Within a few years, he had made the river navigable at least to Stratford upon Avon, and possibly beyond. This was done by constructing 'sluices', which seem to have been pound locks (not flash locks - as often supposed). The navigation was complete to Stratford by 1640, but its cost had stretched his resources. He had had to mortgage his estates and the navigation, and these passed into the hands of his creditors.
Sandys also had a patent to farm a new duty imposed by the king (without Parliament
ary sanction) on coal exports. This project was a failure and he surrendered the grant, but the fact that he had taken it at all was later held against him. He was elected to the Long Parliament, but was expelled as a monopolist. Not long after he went into exile.
During the English Civil War
he acted as a Royalist
agent purchasing munitions at Dunkirk. Later he travelled trying to raise money to finance the restoration of Charles
as king. He was a supernumerary gentleman-usher at the exiled court, but was discouraged from attendance.
After the Restoration
, he was again elected to the House of Commons
and was a particularly active member for the rest of his life. This interests included the promotion of navigation schemes. He attempted to recover the river Avon
, but his claim was probably bought out. He and Windsor Sandys (probably his son rather than his great nephew) improved the River Wye
up to Mordiford
(the confluence of the River Lugg
), partly using finance raised for the purpose during the Interregnum
, but this evidently did not pay its expenses and the river was eventually surrendered to the county
. He and Windsor were also partners in the River Wey
Navigation in Surrey, but the nature of their interest (eventually sold by Windsor Sandys) is not clear. In all, he was concerned in about seven schemes, but most did not pass the initial hurdle of an Act of Parliament being passed.
Due to his loss of this estates and his inability to profit from the Avon, he had little property at his death (on 24 November 1669, apart from his navigation interests. His widow Cicely had difficulty in recovering the interest (as jointure
in the manor of Fladbury, which she thought she had retained under arrnagments made in the 1630s.
M. Chrimes, 'Sandys, William' in A. W. Skempton et al. (eds.), Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers I (2002), 592-3; B. D. Henning, The House of Commons 1660-90: III Members M-Y (1983), 389-91; P. King, 'The River Teme and other Midlands River navigations' Journal of Railway and Canal Hisotrical Society 35(5) (July 2006), 349-50; cf. M. Chisholm, 'Locks, Sluices, and Staunches: confusing technology' Trans. Newcomen Soc. 75 (2005), 305-16.
Fladbury
Fladbury is a traditional English village located in rural Worcestershire, England. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book, almost 1,000 years ago. It is sited on the banks of the River Avon, with many interesting and original buildings and features. Cropthorne village is on the opposite...
(1607 - 1669) was known as Waterworks Sandys to distinguish him from his cousin, the spendthrift 'Golden Sandys'. His principal fame was as the waterworks engineer, who improved the River Avon, Warwickshire
River Avon, Warwickshire
The River Avon or Avon is a river in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in the Midlands of England...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, and the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
, and who was involved in various ways in several other river navigation schemes.
He was born at Fladbury, the second son of Sir William Sandys (later also of Miserden
Miserden
Miserden is a village and civil parish in Stroud District, Gloucestershire, England, 4 miles north east of Stroud. The parish includes Whiteway Colony and the hamlets of Sudgrove and The Camp...
), Gloucestershire. He entered Gloucester Hall at Oxford University in 1623 at the same time as his cousin William Sandys of Ombersley
Ombersley
The village of Ombersley is in the Wychavon District Council area of Worcestershire.The first known reference to the village was the granting of a Charter to Abbot Egwin, later Saint Egwin, of Evesham Abbey in 706 AD. This was the Charter of King Æthelweard of the Hwicce, which granted twelve...
, with whom he is sometimes confused. After that he became a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
of the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, but left London in 1633 to live at Fladbury with his new wife Cicely, daughter of Sir John Stede, with whom he received a handsome portion. They settled at Fladbury
Fladbury
Fladbury is a traditional English village located in rural Worcestershire, England. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book, almost 1,000 years ago. It is sited on the banks of the River Avon, with many interesting and original buildings and features. Cropthorne village is on the opposite...
, where the lease of the manor (under the Bishop of Worcester
Bishop of Worcester
The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...
) was settled on them.
In 1635, supported by petitions from many towns and from the counties affected, Sandys was authorised by Order in Council and Letters Patent to improve the river Avon. Within a few years, he had made the river navigable at least to Stratford upon Avon, and possibly beyond. This was done by constructing 'sluices', which seem to have been pound locks (not flash locks - as often supposed). The navigation was complete to Stratford by 1640, but its cost had stretched his resources. He had had to mortgage his estates and the navigation, and these passed into the hands of his creditors.
Sandys also had a patent to farm a new duty imposed by the king (without Parliament
Parliament of England
The Parliament of England was the legislature of the Kingdom of England. In 1066, William of Normandy introduced a feudal system, by which he sought the advice of a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics before making laws...
ary sanction) on coal exports. This project was a failure and he surrendered the grant, but the fact that he had taken it at all was later held against him. He was elected to the Long Parliament, but was expelled as a monopolist. Not long after he went into exile.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
he acted as a Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
agent purchasing munitions at Dunkirk. Later he travelled trying to raise money to finance the restoration of Charles
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
as king. He was a supernumerary gentleman-usher at the exiled court, but was discouraged from attendance.
After the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, he was again elected to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
and was a particularly active member for the rest of his life. This interests included the promotion of navigation schemes. He attempted to recover the river Avon
River Avon, Warwickshire
The River Avon or Avon is a river in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in the Midlands of England...
, but his claim was probably bought out. He and Windsor Sandys (probably his son rather than his great nephew) improved the River Wye
River Wye
The River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
up to Mordiford
Mordiford
Mordiford is a village in Herefordshire, England on the B4224 Hereford to Mitcheldean road 4 miles east south east of the city of Hereford.This village grew up around an ancient ford over the River Lugg. The river is now crossed by the oldest surviving bridge in Herefordshire, dating in part to c...
(the confluence of the River Lugg
River Lugg
The River Lugg , rises near Llangynllo, Powys. It flows through the border town of Presteigne, Wales then through Herefordshire, England, including the town of Leominster, south of which it is met by a tributary, the River Arrow, then to a confluence with the River Wye, which it joins at Mordiford,...
), partly using finance raised for the purpose during the Interregnum
Interregnum
An interregnum is a period of discontinuity or "gap" in a government, organization, or social order...
, but this evidently did not pay its expenses and the river was eventually surrendered to the county
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
. He and Windsor were also partners in the River Wey
River Wey
The River Wey in Surrey, Hampshire and West Sussex is a tributary of the River Thames with two separate branches which join at Tilford. The source of the north branch is at Alton, Hampshire and of the south branch at both Blackdown south of Haslemere, and also close to Gibbet Hill, near Hindhead...
Navigation in Surrey, but the nature of their interest (eventually sold by Windsor Sandys) is not clear. In all, he was concerned in about seven schemes, but most did not pass the initial hurdle of an Act of Parliament being passed.
Due to his loss of this estates and his inability to profit from the Avon, he had little property at his death (on 24 November 1669, apart from his navigation interests. His widow Cicely had difficulty in recovering the interest (as jointure
Jointure
Jointure is, in law, a provision for a wife after the death of her husband. As defined by Sir Edward Coke, it is "a competent livelihood of freehold for the wife, of lands or tenements, to take effect presently in possession or profit after the death of her husband for the life of the wife at...
in the manor of Fladbury, which she thought she had retained under arrnagments made in the 1630s.
Further reading
C. Hadfield & J. Norris, Waterways to Stratford (2nd edn, David & Charles, Newton Abbot, 1968);M. Chrimes, 'Sandys, William' in A. W. Skempton et al. (eds.), Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers I (2002), 592-3; B. D. Henning, The House of Commons 1660-90: III Members M-Y (1983), 389-91; P. King, 'The River Teme and other Midlands River navigations' Journal of Railway and Canal Hisotrical Society 35(5) (July 2006), 349-50; cf. M. Chisholm, 'Locks, Sluices, and Staunches: confusing technology' Trans. Newcomen Soc. 75 (2005), 305-16.