Thomas Sheasby
Thomas Sheasby, Senior (c.1740–1799) was a British civil engineer and contractor. His early work involved bridge construction, after which he went on to build canals, including several in South Wales.
1780s Contractor on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
1789 Sheasby joined with Thomas Dadford to tender for work on the Cromford Canal. Perhaps because they had quoted too little, basing their estimates on Jessop’s cost figures, the contractors soon found themselves in financial difficulties and, at the end of 1790, simply walked off the site.
He and Dadford worked on the Glamorganshire Canal until 1794 when, after a row, with the company they were arrested for alleged overpayments. The matter was later resolved in their favour and they recovered most of the fees owed but the case meant that another contractor, Patrick Copland, was appointed for the next phase of the canal.
1792 He replaced Thomas Dadford Junior on the Neath Canal but failed to complete the canal by the November 1793 deadline.
Sheasby was assistant to Charles Roberts on the Swansea Canal, having made the original survey for the canal. He was appointed engineer in 1796 and, after his death, his son, Thomas, succeeded him as engineer.
See Also
Sources of Information
- Wikipedia
- A Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers in Great Britain and ..., Volume 1 edited by A. W. Skempton