John Fletcher
J
ohn Fletcher was a Chester-based contractor, timber merchant and entrepreneur, described by Telford as ‘an able mathematician and mechanic’.
The mention of Fletcher in the minutes of the Ellesmere Canal was when in 1794 at Telford’s request he carried out a survey recommending various improvements to the Parliamentary line of the canal from Pontcysyllte to Chester. He constructed much of the Ellesmere Canal from 1795 onwards: the Wirral Line (with Samuel Weston), Maesbury to Llanymynech, Lower Hordley to Weston Lullingfields, the Ffrwd Branch (with Whittle), and Grindley Brook to Hurleston (with John Simpson). The total value of these contracts was well over £80,000. He also supplied work boats, deals for scaffolding, quicksets for hedges and other items. The Ellesmere’s minutes also referred to him on one occasion as ‘the Engineer of the Chester Canal Company’, and this has been repeated in various histories. However, it misunderstands his role. After Josiah Clowes was dismissed in 1778 the Chester Canal had no engineer. Instead, engineering matters were dealt with by a suitably experienced Committee member, initially Joseph Turner, a Chester architect. John Fletcher was elected to the Committee of the Chester Canal Company in 1795, and remained an active member until the merger with the Ellesmere Canal in 1813. He took over the engineering role from Turner, including making surveys and negotiating with the Ellesmere Canal’s engineer, John Duncombe. He also undertook major maintenance work as approved by the Committee and on other occasions supervised workmen employed by the Company. In 1797 the passage boat was registered in his name, presumably to overcome the legal prohibition on canal companies operating commercial vessels. In August 1797 he proposed renting the canal from Chester to Nantwich for two years, paying £300 in the first year and £400 in the second. There is no record of this being discussed, but in December 1798 it was resolved: That the tolls, yards, wharfs, boats, cranes, weighing machines and all other advantages arising from this concern, be advertised to be let by public auction at the Canal Office on Monday 21st January next, for five years certain, commencing 2nd February 1799, subject to conditions. John Fletcher was one of six shareholders present at the General Meeting when it was agreed to let the canal tolls to him at an annual rent of £220. The Company continued to be responsible for the maintenance, and it was Fletcher who was usually employed to carry out approved works. He was not given an entirely free hand — on surveys he was usually accompanied by Joseph Turner or Thomas Atherton, another Committee member. At the end of the first year he claimed that he had been unable to navigate the canal for 49 days because of defects in the lock gates, so the contract period was extended for a further 49 days rent-free. Similar arguments were made in Page 13