An Act of Parliament was passed in 1771 for ‘improving and completing’ the navigation of the Thames and Isis Rivers from the City of London to Cricklade in Wiltshire. Commissioners were appointed who promptly raised the necessary funds with these bonds. Interest was paid at 4½% which was paid out of income derived from rates, tolls and duties charged at Locks, Toll Houses and Turnpikes. The navigation was vested in the Thames Concervancy from 1866 when it was considered that the locks and other structures were considered to be in a poor state of repair and there was insufficient income for proper maintenance. This got rid of the rather ancient and unwieldy regulation by the numerous commissioners.