442 



THE GRAND TRUNK CANAL. 



PART V. 



were seventeen feet four inches high, and thirteen feet 

 six inches wide. The most extensive ridge of country 

 to be penetrated was at Harecastle, involving by far the 

 most difficult work in the whole undertaking. This 

 ridge is but a continuation of the high ground, forming 

 what is called the " back-bone of England/' which extends 

 in a south-westerly direction from the Yorkshir< 



NORTHERN ENTRANCE OF HARECASTLE TUNNELS l 

 [By E. M. Wimperis, after a Sketch by the Author.] 



tains to the Wrekin in Shropshire. The flat county of 

 Cheshire, which looks almost as level as a bowling-green 

 when viewed from the high ground near New Chapel, 

 seems to form a deep bay in the land, its innermost point 

 being almost immediately under the village of Hare- 



the other. They lie on their backs 

 on the boat-cloths, with their shoul- 

 ders resting against some package, 

 and propel it along by means of their 

 feet pressing against the top or sides of 

 the tunnel. 



1 The smaller opening into the hill 



on the right-hand of the view is 

 Brindley's tunnel ; that on the left is 

 Telfonl's, executed some forty years 

 since. Harecastle church and village 

 occupy the ground over the tunnel 

 entrances. 



