Oxfordshire, Banbury, Oxford Canal, 18th century, Contemporary accounts, Subscribers, History, Shareholders, News reports 

For Banbury the outstandingly important event of the whole 18th century was the March 1778 opening of the Canal from Coventry as far as the town. The remaining cut on to Oxford was not completed for a further twelve years. This is therefore only an account of the earliest years of the creation of the Coventry to Oxford Canal: the initial raising of the necessary capital, those involved in it, and how news of its progress was reported. No attempt is made to tell the story of the actual construction of the Canal, or of the problems with land-owners over the right to cut through their territories. Intended to be part of a BHS records volume, it is unashamedly Banbury-centred. The importance of the support and investments by the Duke of Marlborouugh and his family, by the Vice-Chancellor and many others from Oxford University is noted, but only shareholders identifiably from Banbury are listed here. This account consists of extracts from Sir Roger Newdigate's diary and reports from 'Jackson's Oxford Journal'.