Book I. 



AG-RICULTURE OF SHROPSHIRE. 



1147 



was at all times difficult to walk over them, it being necessary 

 (o select the hzurdest places to step on. They were covered 

 with water after almost eveiy severe rain, owing to which the 



inhabitants of the neighboiirhootl were subject to frequent 

 attacks of ague. The adjoining lands besides, to an extent 

 exceeding six hundred acres, were kept in nearly a state v/f 



1000 



nature, owing to there being no level by which they could be 

 drained while this extensive district continued subject to such 

 inundations. 



The difpcully which occurred in draining this tract of land 

 arose from the want of level, and from the river Team being 

 pounded so high by the mill-pools as to throw the water back 

 to a great distance upon the land. The plan for draining this 

 extensive district was extremely well conceived and judiciously 

 laid out, in the double view of securing this object and of in- 

 terfering as little as possible with private property and the ex- 

 isting establishments situated on the Team. It was suggested 

 by John Bishton, Esq., the first commissioner under the Act. 

 1 he great object was to gain as much additional level as would 

 create a run throughout the whole extent of the moorlands. 

 This was to be obtained by beginning the cut which was to 

 carry off the water a considerable way lower down the Team 

 than the water had hitherto been discharged into that river; 

 and a good deal below the mill-pool at Long, which occasioned 

 this poundage. The original courses of the strines were straight- 

 ened md widened, but they were still made to convey the water 

 from the uplands, and to discharge them into the Team in 

 their original direction. To prevent them overflowing the ad- 

 joining lands, and to cut off the effects of the back poundage 

 of the Team on the upper moors, these brooks were embanked 

 for the whole length of their course through the Wildmoors. 

 These are technically called argue banks. At the back of these 

 banks deep ditches were carried, but in a more direct line than 



the course of the strines. Into these ditches the drainage of the 

 moorlands is emptied. The level which was thus brought from 

 the river Team, from below Long Mill, was carried in a tunnel 

 under the Shrewsbury canal, and wjis conducted below the 

 several strines in siphon culverts, and thus communicated with 

 the ditches described as having been made behind the banks 

 which confined the waters of these brooks. 



In some instances it has been necessary to construct one set 

 of culverts over another, in order that the waters coming from 

 the uplands may be kept in the several brooks throuijh which 

 thev had constantly flowed, and that this water flowing from 

 the"uplands might not fall into the back drains ; it being again 

 explained, that the water flowing from the higher grounds is 

 still confined to the original strines or brooks on an upper level ; 

 the drainage water alone of the moorlands being thrown into 

 the ba "k drains. Thus has a great additional level been ob- 

 tained, and the whole of this district is now entirely relieved 

 of water, and such a thing as a flood has not been known for 

 years. This district is in some instances so flat, that the old 

 course of the Preston strine, which formerly conductr-d the 

 water of that brook in one direction, has with little difficulty 

 been made a part of the drainage, and to carry the drainaga 

 water in exactly the contrary direction, a new channel having 

 been cut for the strine. Taking advantage of this drainage, 

 main ditches upon a regular system have bieen carried into flll 

 the neighbouring parts of the estate, thereby enabling the- land- 

 lord tuid the tenant to execute various otlier improvements. 



This district has been subsequently divided into regular en- 

 closures, by great ditches, which fall into the main drains ; 

 and wherever it has been possible, these ditches have been 

 made to serve this purpose, as well as that of a fence to the 

 new roads which have been constructed across these moors. 

 In one instance, one of these roads has been carried in a 

 straight line for about two miles. On each side of this road 

 trees have been planted, at regular distances, which will soon 

 form one of the finest avenues in England. These moors have 

 besides been all regularly under -drained by turf drains, which 

 sund remarkably well. In the different ditches are placed 

 flood-gates, to pound back the water during the summer, 

 yreserving the meadows in a state of perpetual verdure. 

 I he water is let off" at least once in every fourteen days, and 



moorlands have been greatly improved by very heavy and re- 

 peated rollings and top-dressings ; and their value as let to a 



fanner, in many instances, is fully doubled. This improve- 

 ment has cost a very large sum of money ; which was increas- 

 ed beyond what was necessary, owing to the inefficiency of the 

 late stirveyor belonging to tfie commission, which is not yet 

 closed. The drainage, however, has lately been put under a 

 surveyor (Lewis), approved of by Lord Stafford in terms of 

 the A'ct, and the expense is diminished, and the whole put in 

 better order. 



A very rapid improvement has taken place on these lands. 

 In place of being the very worst part of the estate, they are 

 rapidly becoming equal to the best and finest meadows on 

 it. In order to shelter them from the blasts which come 

 round the Wrekin, from the Welsh mountains, they have 

 been intersected with various plantations. A plan of the 

 Wildmoors previous to (ji^. 1000.), and another subsequent 

 to, this improvement (./i^.lOOl.), will serve to give an accu- 

 rate notion of what has been done ; the whole beini{ well 

 worthy the examination and inspection of an intelligent agri- 

 culturist and improver. (Lech, p. 226.) 



