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 is a special bridge near Smethwick, West Midlands, England. It was built in 1825 by a famous engineer named Thomas Telford. An aqueduct is like a water bridge that carries water or a canal over something else, like a road or another canal.
This aqueduct carries a waterway called the Engine Arm. This waterway brings water from Edgbaston Reservoir to the BCN New Main Line canal. It also crosses over the older part of the canal system. The Engine Arm Aqueduct is very important. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is also a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a historic structure that needs to be preserved.
Contents
What is the Engine Arm Aqueduct?
The Engine Arm Aqueduct is a bridge that is 52-foot (16 m) long. It is made mostly of strong cast iron. The main part of the aqueduct is a big cast-iron trough. This trough holds the water for the canal.
How is the Aqueduct Built?
The trough is held up by a single arch. This arch has five strong ribs, which are like giant curved beams. Each rib is made from four pieces of cast iron, bolted together. The water-carrying trough sits on three of these ribs.
Next to the water, there are paths for people and horses. These paths are called towpaths. They are supported by decorative cast-iron arches and columns. These designs look like the Gothic style, which was popular for old churches and castles.
Where Were the Parts Made?
All the cast-iron parts for the aqueduct were made at the Horseley Ironworks. This factory was in Tipton, a town nearby. The waterway part of the aqueduct is 8 feet (2.4 m) wide. The towpaths on each side are about 4-foot-4-inch (1.32 m) wide. The towpath on the east side is paved with bricks. It even has special raised strips for horses to walk on.
Images for kids
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The top of the aqueduct, showing the water channel.
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A roving bridge at the junction, allowing towpaths to cross.
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The aqueduct as you approach it from the east side.
