Page "Lee Navigation" Paragraph 6

A petition was presented to Parliament resulting in a further Act of 1739.

While recognising the right of the New River Company to extract water, it also enshrined the rights of the millers are bargemen.

To resolve a problem where the New River works had blocked the Manifold Ditch, and boats had been forced to use the mill stream to Ware Mill, the mill was bought by the New River Company, and the associated lock became an official right of way.

The previous administration by commissioners was replaced by a body of trustees, which it was hoped would be better able to manage the navigation.

Although at least two flash locks were built, including one to assist passage past the mill at Broxbourne, there was still friction between the bargemen and the millers, since the use of a flash lock tended to lower the water level above it, to the detriment of the mill.

In 1765, the trustees therefore asked John Smeaton to assess the navigation and make recommendations for its improvement.