Ewood Aqueduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ewood Aqueduct |
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Ewood Aqueduct, Blackburn Lancashire
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| Coordinates | 53°44′01″N 2°29′33″W / 53.7335°N 2.4926°W |
| OS grid reference | |
| Carries | Leeds and Liverpool Canal |
| Crosses | River Darwen & B6447 |
| Locale | Blackburn |
| Maintained by | Canal & River Trust |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 68 feet (20.7 m) |
| Width | 43 feet (13.1 m) |
| Traversable? | Yes |
| Towpaths | NW Side |
| Number of spans | One |
| History | |
| Construction end | 19th century |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: Leeds and Liverpool Canal Ewood Aqueduct | |
| Designated: | 18 February 1992 |
| Reference #: | 1267539 |
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The Ewood Aqueduct is a special bridge that carries the Leeds and Liverpool Canal high above the River Darwen. It also crosses the B6447 road near Blackburn, Lancashire, England. This amazing structure was built from sandstone in the early 1800s. Today, it is a protected building, known as a Grade II listed building. This means it is an important historical site.
Building the Leeds and Liverpool Canal
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a very long waterway. It connects the cities of Leeds and Liverpool. Building such a huge canal was a massive project. It took many years and a lot of planning.
Changing the Canal's Route
In 1789, a man named Robert Whitworth made some changes to the canal's path. He decided to build a new tunnel at Foulridge. This tunnel helped lower the canal's water level by 40 feet. It also meant the canal would take a more southerly route through Lancashire.
To make these changes, a special law was passed in 1790. This law, called an Act of Parliament, allowed more money to be raised for the canal's completion. Another Act of Parliament was passed in 1794 for more route changes and funds.
Completing the Canal
The new Foulridge Tunnel was very difficult and expensive to dig. It finally opened in 1796 and was about 1,500 meters (1,640 yards) long. This new path took the canal south through towns like Burnley and Blackburn. The canal reached Blackburn in 1810.
This new route meant the Leeds and Liverpool Canal would run next to, and then cross, the southern part of the Lancaster Canal. Instead of building two separate canals, it made sense to connect them. So, the Leeds and Liverpool Canal joined with the Lancaster Canal between Wigan and Johnson's Hillock. The main part of the canal was finally finished in 1816. The Ewood Aqueduct was a key part of this important waterway.
