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Hi Vince, I seem to dimly recall, from my days of 'A' level history, that the main era of 'Canal Mania', when investor were eager to put money into making rivers navigable and building canals lasted from the early 1770s into the late 1780s. By the time the French Revolutionary Wars broke out in the 1790s the enthusiasm for canal building was cooling off. Many venues, such as the ill-fated Charnwood Forest Canal here in Leicestershire, having proven to be huge loss makers. So it seems likely that most of the stories of the involvement of French prisoners of war in improvements in navigation are probably untrue. Chris Wardle City Archaeologist Planning & Economic Development A11, New Walk Centre Leicester. LE1 6ZG -----Original Message----- From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Vince Russett Sent: 27 January 2012 09:11 To: Issues related to Historic Environment Records; Chris Wardle Subject: Re: Friday (early) morning question Morning, chums! And while we're on this subject, I've often heard stories of major engineering works (river course modification etc) being carried out by Napoleonic prisoners of war - specifically, the story is told of straightening of the Cheddar Yeo by such. Does anyone know if there is any truth in these stories? Vince Vince Russett County Archaeologist Development Management Group North Somerset Council Our Historic Environment Record is now on-line: Go to the North Somerset web site (http://www.n-somerset.gov.uk) then use the tabs Environment / Conservation / Archaeology/ Historic Environment Record. Enjoy! Landline: 01934 426456 Mobile: 07919 265644 Please note my work hours are usually 8am to 4pm -----Original Message----- From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Nick Boldrini Sent: 27 January 2012 08:56 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: Friday (early) morning question Hi Chris I assume you've picked the Civic Trusts collective brain to see where they got the info? not heard of anything similar up here best wishes Nick Boldrini Historic Environment Record Officer Durham County Council Tel: 0191 3708840 Fax: 0191 3708897 [log in to unmask] VPN 7777 8840 -----Original Message----- From: Issues related to Historic Environment Records [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris Webster Sent: 27 January 2012 08:34 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Friday (early) morning question In a street in Wells, called Guard House Lane, is a plaque erected by the civic society that reads: Guardhouse Lane takes its name from its eighteenth-century guardhouse - the tall building 50 metres down on the right-hand side. The Napoleonic Wars of the late 1790s and early 1800s saw a new warfare of mass armies and large fleets. This made necessary the first serious attempt to house prisoners-of-war in specially built prisons or prison camps, as on Dartmoor or at Norman Cross near Peterborough. Captured French soldiers and sailors were landed at Dorset ports, and marched about 20 miles a day, lodging en route at specially constructed staging-posts. Wells Guardhouse was the last overnight stop for other ranks before reaching the newly enlarged Stapleton Prison at Bristol. Has anyone else come across these - it suggests a semi-national system - but I can find no other information about it/them. Chris Webster Historic Environment Record Somerset County Council Somerset Heritage Centre Brunel Way Taunton TA2 6SF 01823 347434 Online HER: www.somerset.gov.uk/her This communication is intended solely for the person (s) or organisation to whom it is addressed. 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