James Barnes (engineer)

In May 1786, Barnes was appointed Surveyor of the Works for the Oxford Canal Company at a salary of £50 per annum. His role was to engineer the completion of the Oxford Canal south from Banbury to Oxford which had been designed by Robert Whitworth. His contract was for completion of the canal by the start of 1791, but this was achieved one year early. By 1791 his salary had risen to £200 (equivalent to £26,100 in 2025).^[2] The success of the work with the Oxford Canal Company led an agreement with George Nugent-Temple-Grenville, 1st Marquess of Buckingham to survey a route from Braunston to London which resulted in the formation of the Grand Junction Canal. The plan was approved in 1792.^[3]

In 1799 he prepared plans for a route from the Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal to Braunston, but this was not proceeded with. In 1802 a revised plan was prepared with a route to Norton Junction, and following review by Thomas Telford this plan was approved and became the Grand Union Canal (old).^[4]

He resigned from the Grand Junction Canal Company in 1805.^[5]