The English canal

The traces of the canal are still clearly visible

During the 1650ies vast deposits of iron ore were found in Gällivare, but it was hard, if not impossible, to transport the ore from Gällivare.
Many ideas of roads, horsedrawn railways and other means of transportation were proposed. In 1863 it was decided to build a canal from the sea to Storbacken by Lule Älv and from there on a railway to the minefields.
A company was formed, the government granted some money and the works were laid out to The Gellivara Company Limited, based in London.
The works started on October 14 1864 and should be finished in October 1 1867. The railroad should be finished by October 1 1869.
1486 persons were involved in the works during 1865 and there were quite some wrangle between the local population and the specialists working on the canal.
By the end of 1865 financial difficulties hit the company and they tried to stop the works. However the works continued slowly during 1866 and 1867. But on New Years Eve 1867 the company was declared bancrupt and the works were finally stopped. The canal was never finished.
There are several visible remnants of the project, still called "the English Grave" by the locals.
The oremining in Gällivare was not developed until another English company, The Luleå-Ofoten Company, in 1887 to 1888 built a railroad from the minefields to Luleå.

Sources: The Boden municipality website, Yngve Rollof Sveriges Inre Vattenvägar, part 2, 1978.
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