During the 17th century shipping could travel up river from the
sea only as far as the inland ports of Knottingley, Selby and
York. Leeds merchants, in order to export goods through the port
of Hull, had first to transport them by road to Rawcliffe or
Selby. This was costly, and the roads were sometimes impassable.
Transport of goods by water was both cheaper and easier than by
road, and several attempts were made to obtain an Act of
Parliament which would allow the Rivers Aire and Calder to be
made navigable as far upstream as Leeds and Wakefield. There was
fierce opposition to this from the City of York Corporation, who
feared that the navigation of the River Ouse would be adversely
affected. A report by Trinity House gave assurance that this
would not be so, and on 4th May 1699 'An Act for the making and
keeping navigable the Rivers Aire and Calder in the County of
York' was given Royal Assent. The promoters of the Act were
wealthy woollen merchants who were also members of the Leeds
Corporation, and local