30th George II. entitled, An Act for making the River Ivel, and the Branches thereof, navigable from the River Ouze at Tempsford, in the county of Bedford, to Shottling Mill, otherwise called Burnt Mill, in the parish of Hitchen, in the county of Hertford, and to Black Horse Mill, in the parish of Bygrave, in the said county of Hertford, and to the South and North Bridges in the town of Shefford, in the said county of Bedford. By this act, which is of considerable length, on account of the many clauses respecting privileges of proprietors of estates in the course of the river, a number of commissioners are appointed to execute the work, to make reservoirs, collateral cuts, and other requisite additions which maybe deemed necessary. They have also power to raise money for defraying the expenses incurred, by mortgage of the tolls on all goods navigated on this river; such tolls to be determined by the commissioners according to the money wanted or already disbursed. The powers of this act were put in force soon after it received the royal assent, and the navigation was completed as far as Biggleswade; the money raised being then expended, no further progress was made for some time. In the year 1805, Mr. B. Bevan surveyed the part unexecuted, between Biggleswade and Shefford, and estimated the cost for that part, with five locks, at £5,900. The distance of these two towns from each other is five miles and a quarter, in which there is a rise of 26 feet; and on this part of the line the commissioners charge for all goods a tonnage rate of 1s. 6d. per ton. The surplus of tolls remaining after all costs of repairs, &c. are discharged, is reserved as a sinking fund for the reduction of the debt; and the Biggleswade Branch alone netted, for many years, £400 per annum towards this reduction. The sluices at the lower part of this navigation are furnished with separate upright planks, instead of lock gates usually employed for such purposes.
The purposes for which this river was made navigable, viz, for supplying coals, timber, &c. to the towns of Biggleswade and Shefford, and the various hamlets on the line, and for the exporting of produce, have been fully answered; and, as far as this, the work is of considerable utility.
