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The Conduit Head Project
The Location, Restoration and Resiting of the pumps
History of Cannock Town Centre
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The Conduit Project Events
Successful Launch of Book
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Conduit Trust
Location: Staffordshire
This section from the book entitled The story of Cannock Town Centre through the Ages in based upon Fred Linford's book "The History of The Cannock Conduit Trust 1735 - 1974" updated by Betty Wheeler in 2004 and rewritten by Mike Hewitt.
The Conduit Trust was set up by public subscription in 1735, its main aim was to construct the Conduit head or Conduit House in Cannock.
The building of the Conduit Head or House was started in 1736 and was followed by laying of the pipes. This enabled the bringing of water, gravity fed, from Stringer's Meadow, Rumer Hill through Lower Meadow, Cooks Croft via conduit (Pipe) to the Conduit House or Conduit Head which was sited near to The Green (A total distance of almost three miles). The water supply was given by Dr. William Byrche of Leacroft Hall and endowed by The Earl of Uxbridge, the Lord Bishop of Worcester, Sir Robert Fisher and others. Though no record can be found of the actual date the water flowed in to the head, there must have been some ceremony performed for what was a great historical occasion for the inhabitants of Cannock.
During the construction of the Conduit Head and its associated pipe work, bills came in thick and fast for the various materials and labour. There were items of ironmongery, Ashler (sic) stone and coping, however the largest bill was for lead piping. 48,591 lbs was used at 2d per lb. this worked out to £404. 18s. 7d.
By supplying the inhabitants of Cannock with free drinking water (it was reputed to be second only to Malvern Water in quality) it kept down illness and death. The area had one of the lowest mortality rates in England at the time. Later to become a registered Charity, The Conduit Trust has served the Township of Cannock for over 200 years
When the Conduit Trust was set up in 1735 the population of Cannock was 360 living in 91 dwellings. According to the 2001 census the present population of Cannock is 32,900.(This does not include Hednesford, Rugeley or Norton Canes)
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