Catalogue description Mersey Conservancy: Files

The Commissioners for the Conservancy of the River Mersey were first appointed under the Mersey Conservancy Act 1842, with jurisdiction over the length of the river from Warrington Bridge and Frodsham Bridge (River Weaver) to the sea. The Commissioners then appointed were the Lord High Admiral (later First Lord of the Admiralty), the Chief Commissioner of Her majesty's Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings (later replaced by the President of the Board of Trade) and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

The jurisdiction of the Commissioners extended to the general maintenance of navigation, the abatement and removal of nuisances and obstructions and the granting of rights and easements.

The Act of 1842 also authorised the appointment of an Acting Conservator, to work on behalf of the Commissioners but with powers to act in many instances without reference to them and, in effect, acting as impartial arbitrator between the various bodies with interests in the Mersey. It has usually been the practice to appoint to the office retired high ranking Royal Naval officers with experience in hydrography.

The powers and duties of the Commissioners were transferred to the Minister of Transport by the Ministry of Transport Act 1919. Since 1970 they have rested with the Secretary of State for the Environment. The Acting Conservator continues to exercise certain powers on his own authority.