Engine Arm Aqueduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Engine Arm Aqueduct |
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The Engine Arm Aqueduct, cast by Horseley Ironworks
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| Coordinates | 52°29′52″N 1°57′59″W / 52.4979°N 1.9665°W |
| OS grid reference | |
| Carries | BCN Engine Arm |
| Crosses | BCN New Main Line |
| Locale | Smethwick |
| Maintained by | British Waterways |
| Heritage status | Scheduled Ancient Monument |
| Characteristics | |
| Trough construction | Cast Iron |
| Pier construction | Stone |
| Total length | 52 feet (15.8 m) |
| Width | 8 feet (2.4 m) |
| Traversable? | No |
| Towpaths | Both |
| Number of spans | One |
The Engine Arm Aqueduct near Smethwick, West Midlands, England, was built in 1825 by Thomas Telford to carry a water feeder, the Engine Arm, from Edgbaston Reservoir over the BCN New Main Line canal to the adjacent and parallel Old Main Line. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is Grade II* listed.
It is a 52-foot (16 m) span structure consisting of a cast-iron trough supported by a single arch with five ribs, each consisting of four sections with bolted joints. The trough is supported on three of the ribs, with the adjacent towpaths being supported by cast-iron arcades of Gothic-styled arches and columns. All cast-iron features were manufactured at the Horseley Ironworks in nearby Tipton. The waterway in the aqueduct is 8 feet (2.4 m) wide with the towpaths either side being 4-foot-4-inch (1.32 m) in width each. The eastern towpath is paved in brick with raised strips for horses.
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The top of the aqueduct
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Roving bridge at the junction
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Aqueduct approaching from the east
