Rolle Canal

50°56′56″N 4°08′46″W / 50.949°N 4.146°W / 50.949; -4.146

Rolle Canal
Rolle Canal sea lock, Landcross, at high tide
Specifications
Length6 miles (9.7 km)
Locks1
Number of lifts1
StatusDerelict
History
Former namesTorrington Canal
Original ownerLord Rolle
Principal engineerJames Green
Date of first use1827
Date closed1871
Geography
Start pointHealand Docks
End pointRiver Torridge
Rolle Canal
Legend
 River Torridge
Sea lock (derelict)
Wharf
Ridd inclined plane
Beam aqueduct
Rosemoor Wharf + limekilns
Beam Aqueduct, Great Torrington, Devon, viewed from north-east from the old railway bridge (itself now part of the Tarka Trail cycleway). Looking upstream along the River Torridge. This aqueduct carried the Rolle Canal over the River Torridge
Engraving circa 1830 of Beam Aqueduct, viewed from north. Inscribed: "Torridge Canal & Rolle Aqueduct, near Torrington, Devonshire. This plate is respectfully dedicated to the proprietor the Right Hon. Baron Rolle by the publishers"
Beam Aqueduct viewed from south
Beam Aqueduct, now viaduct, approach from north-west. Beyond to the right is Beam Mansion
Beam Aqueduct, inscribed tablet on parapet, looking north-east toward disused railway bridge over River Torridge

The Rolle Canal (or Torrington Canal) in north Devon, England, extends from its mouth into the River Torridge at Landcross 6 miles southwards to the industrial mills and corn-mills at Town Mills, Rosemoor, Great Torrington[1] and beyond to Healand Docks and weir on the Torridge, where survive the ruins of Lord Rolle's limekilns, upstream of today's Rosemoor Garden.[2] Town Mills were built by Lord Rolle and were powered by a stream which flowed past his seat of Stevenstone to the east of Great Torrington and also supplied water to the canal. Rosemoor and North and South Healand farms were part of Lord Rolle's Stevenstone estate on the east bank of the Torridge.

  1. ^ Lost canals and Waterways of Britain Ronald Russell page 96 ISBN 0-7153-8072-9
  2. ^ http://www.bidefordpeople.co.uk/event/Rolle-Canal-Walk-RHS-Rosemoor-Garden/event-13049762-detail/event.html [dead link]