Thomas Dadford
Encyclopedia
Thomas Dadford, Senior was an English
canal engineer
, as were his sons, Thomas Dadford Junior, John Dadford
and James Dadford
.
He probably originated from Stewponey or Stourton
near Stourbridge
. He started as one of James Brindley
's many pupil-assistants, in which capacity he worked on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
and the Birmingham Canal Navigations
. He was engineer and surveyor on the Dudley Canal
until 1783, and consulted by them later when they were extending through Dudley Tunnel
.
The latter part of his career was spent in Wales
and the Borders, for example on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
in the early 1790s, often working with his two sons. He worked on many canal projects, including the Neath and the Aberdare, in many of which he was also a shareholder. Until 1794, with his son and Thomas Sheasby
, he was engineer and contractor on the Glamorganshire Canal
, until they had a row with the company and were arrest
ed for alleged overpayments. The matter was later resolved in their favour and they were exonerated.
His last canal was the Montgomeryshire, where he succeeded his son John as engineer in July 1797.
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...
canal engineer
Canal engineer
A canal engineer is a civil engineer responsible for planning related to the construction of a canal.The names of canal engineers include:* James Brindley* James Dadford* John Dadford* Thomas Dadford* Thomas Dadford, Jr....
, as were his sons, Thomas Dadford Junior, John Dadford
John Dadford
John Dadford was an English canal engineer, as were his father Thomas Dadford and brothers Thomas Dadford Junior and James Dadford.From 1794 – 1797, he was Engineer of the Montgomeryshire Canal. The Vyrnwy Aqueduct and Berriew Aqueduct both had difficulties, and Dadford resigned...
and James Dadford
James Dadford
James Dadford was an English canal engineer, as were his father Thomas Dadford and brothers Thomas Dadford Junior and John Dadford.He was engineer of the Gloucester and Berkeley Canal from 1795 to 1800.-See also:*Canals of the United Kingdom...
.
He probably originated from Stewponey or Stourton
Stourton, Staffordshire
Stourton is a hamlet in Staffordshire, England a few miles to the northwest of Stourbridge. There is a fair amount of dispute over the pronunciation, being pronounced 'stower-ton', 'stir-ton' or 'store-ton' by different people from the area. The nearest sizeable villages are Wollaston and Kinver, ...
near Stourbridge
Stourbridge
Stourbridge is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Dudley, in the West Midlands of England. Historically part of Worcestershire, Stourbridge was a centre of glass making, and today includes the suburbs of Amblecote, Lye, Norton, Oldswinford, Pedmore, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley The...
. He started as one of James Brindley
James Brindley
James Brindley was an English engineer. He was born in Tunstead, Derbyshire, and lived much of his life in Leek, Staffordshire, becoming one of the most notable engineers of the 18th century.-Early life:...
's many pupil-assistants, in which capacity he worked on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is a narrow navigable canal in the English Midlands, passing through the counties of Staffordshire and Worcestershire....
and the Birmingham Canal Navigations
Birmingham Canal Navigations
Birmingham Canal Navigations is a network of navigable canals connecting Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and the eastern part of the Black Country...
. He was engineer and surveyor on the Dudley Canal
Dudley Canal
The Dudley Canal is a canal passing though Dudley in the West Midlands of England. The canal is part of the English and Welsh connected network of navigable inland waterways, and in particular forms part of the popular Stourport Ring narrowboat cruising route....
until 1783, and consulted by them later when they were extending through 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....
.
- 1774 – with John Priddy he surveyed the Stroudwater Canal
- 1782 – with Thomas (Junior), he made recommendations for improvements to the River TrentRiver TrentThe River Trent is one of the major rivers of England. Its source is in Staffordshire on the southern edge of Biddulph Moor. It flows through the Midlands until it joins the River Ouse at Trent Falls to form the Humber Estuary, which empties into the North Sea below Hull and Immingham.The Trent...
. - 1784 – advised on the Coventry CanalCoventry CanalThe Coventry Canal is a navigable narrow canal in the Midlands of England.It starts in Coventry and ends 38 miles north at Fradley Junction, just north of Lichfield, where it joins the Trent and Mersey Canal...
's aqueduct over the River TameRiver Tame, West MidlandsThe River Tame is the main river of the West Midlands, and the most important tributary of the River Trent. The Tame is about 40 km from source at Oldbury to its confluence with the Trent near Alrewas, but the main river length of the entire catchment, i.e...
. - 1789 – cutting contractor on the Cromford CanalCromford CanalThe Cromford Canal ran 14.5 miles from Cromford to the Erewash Canal in Derbyshire, England with a branch to Pinxton. Built by William Jessop with the assistance of Benjamin Outram, its alignment included four tunnels and 14 locks....
. - 1791, he became a shareholderShareholderA shareholder or stockholder is an individual or institution that legally owns one or more shares of stock in a public or private corporation. Shareholders own the stock, but not the corporation itself ....
of the Neath Canal.
The latter part of his career was spent in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and the Borders, for example on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal is a small network of canals in South Wales. For most of its length it runs through the Brecon Beacons National Park, and its present rural character and tranquillity belies its original purpose as an industrial corridor for coal and iron, which were brought to...
in the early 1790s, often working with his two sons. He worked on many canal projects, including the Neath and the Aberdare, in many of which he was also a shareholder. Until 1794, with his son and Thomas Sheasby
Thomas Sheasby
Thomas Sheasby, Senior was a British civil engineer and contractor. His early work involved bridge construction, after which he went on to build canals, including several in South Wales...
, he was engineer and contractor on the Glamorganshire Canal
Glamorganshire Canal
The Glamorganshire Canal was a canal in south Wales, UK, running from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff. Construction started in 1790, and the 25 miles of canal was fully opened by 1794. Its primary purpose was to enable the Merthyr iron industries to transport their goods, and it later served the coal...
, until they had a row with the company and were arrest
Arrest
An arrest is the act of depriving a person of his or her liberty usually in relation to the purported investigation and prevention of crime and presenting into the criminal justice system or harm to oneself or others...
ed for alleged overpayments. The matter was later resolved in their favour and they were exonerated.
His last canal was the Montgomeryshire, where he succeeded his son John as engineer in July 1797.
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...