William Sandys 'Waterworks Sandys'

Who was William Sandys 'Waterworks Sandys'?

William Sandys of Fladbury was known as Waterworks Sandys to distinguish him from his cousin, the spendthrift 'Golden Sandys'. His principal fame was as the waterworks engineer, who improved the River Avon, Warwickshire, England, and the River Wye, and who was involved in various ways in several other river navigation schemes.

He was born at Fladbury, the second son of Sir William Sandys, Gloucestershire. He entered Gloucester Hall at Oxford University in 1623 at the same time as his cousin William Sandys of Ombersley, with whom he is sometimes confused. After that he became a barrister of the Middle Temple, but left London in 1633 to live at Fladbury with his new wife Cicely, daughter of Sir John Stede, with whom he received a handsome portion. They settled at Fladbury, where the lease of the manor was settled on them.

In 1635, supported by petitions from many towns and from the counties affected, Sandys was authorised by Order in Council and Letters Patent, to improve the river Avon. Within a few years, he had made the river navigable at least to Stratford upon Avon, and possibly beyond. This was done by constructing 'sluices', which seem to have been pound locks.