the river as far as stamford was used by the romans for navigation, as it formed part of a system including the car dyke, which ran along the western edge of the fens and crossed the river near the modern folly river. navigation to stamford was improved by the canal. boats used on the canal were small lighters, around wide, capable of carrying from seven to fourteen tons, and normally worked in trains of four vessels. with the arrival of the railways, river trade declined. the midland railway reached peterborough in 1846, and opened their line to melton mowbray, passing through stamford, in 1848. carriage of coal on the upper river stopped, and the locks deteriorated. by april 1863, all traffic had ceased, and stamford corporation tried to sell the line at auction, but failed because their ownership of it was disputed.