Five Historic things you never thought you needed to know. #8
Five Historic things you never thought you needed to know. #8 The Private Navy of Richard Whitworth. Richard Whitworth was a Staffordshire Gentleman. This one time High Sheriff of the County took on the interests of Lord Chetwynd to become MP for Stafford. Stafford Corporation did not get on with its MP, who was involved in long running legal battles over a couple of properties. Keen on canals, Whitworth wrote a book supporting inland navigation in 1766. He attempted to persuade the builders of the Liverpool Canal to divert over his estates at Batchacre Hall. Whitworth was not successful. He did design a machine to sail on frozen canals. Keen on bettering potential French invaders, Whitworth fought naval battles on his own lake in preparation. He also constructed a Martello tower with swivel guns on his estates. Sebastian Raval was a 16th century Spanish composer. H e declared himself the "best musician in the world", on account of which he was challenge...