List of canal aqueducts in the United Kingdom facts for kids
Imagine a bridge that carries water instead of cars or people! That's exactly what a canal aqueduct is. These amazing structures are like watery bridges that help canals cross over rivers, valleys, or even busy roads. They are super important for keeping boats moving along the waterways without having to go downhill and then back uphill. The United Kingdom has many incredible canal aqueducts, some of them very old and others quite new. Let's explore some of the most famous and interesting ones!
Contents
- Famous Canal Aqueducts in the UK
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: A World Wonder
- Barton Swing Aqueduct: A Moving Bridge
- Lune Aqueduct: A Grand Design
- Dundas Aqueduct: Classical Beauty
- Edstone Aqueduct: England's Longest
- Avon Aqueduct: Scotland's Giant
- Chirk Aqueduct: A Border Crossing
- Cosgrove Aqueduct: A Replacement Story
- Stewart Aqueduct: A Stacked Crossing
- Three Bridges, London: Brunel's Last Project
- Images for kids
- See also
Famous Canal Aqueducts in the UK
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: A World Wonder
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the most famous aqueducts in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's located in Wales and carries the Llangollen Canal high above the River Dee.
- Built by: Thomas Telford
- Opened: 1805
- Cool Fact: It's made of a cast-iron trough (like a giant bathtub) that is 307 meters (1,007 feet) long! This trough is held up by 19 tall stone pillars, lifting the canal 38 meters (126 feet) above the river below. It was a huge engineering achievement for its time.
Barton Swing Aqueduct: A Moving Bridge
The Barton Swing Aqueduct is truly unique! It carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal.
- Built by: Sir Edward Leader Williams
- Opened: 1894
- Cool Fact: Unlike most aqueducts, this one can swing open like a gate! When large ships need to pass along the Manchester Ship Canal below, the entire section of the aqueduct, filled with water and boats, pivots 90 degrees. This allows the ships to go through, and then it swings back into place.
Lune Aqueduct: A Grand Design
The Lune Aqueduct is a beautiful and impressive structure that carries the Lancaster Canal over the River Lune in Lancashire, England.
- Built by: John Rennie
- Opened: 1797
- Cool Fact: It's a Grade II listed building, meaning it's a very important historical structure. It has five large arches, making it look very grand as it crosses the river.
Dundas Aqueduct: Classical Beauty
Another masterpiece by John Rennie, the Dundas Aqueduct carries the Kennet and Avon Canal over the River Avon (Bristol) and a railway line.
- Built by: John Rennie
- Opened: 1805
- Cool Fact: It was designed in a classical style, making it look like an ancient Roman structure. It's now a Scheduled Monument, recognized for its historical importance.
Edstone Aqueduct: England's Longest
The Edstone aqueduct is a significant structure on the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal.
- Cool Fact: It holds the record for being the longest aqueduct in England! It crosses not just one obstacle, but a minor road, a railway line, and even the path of an old railway line.
Avon Aqueduct: Scotland's Giant
The Avon Aqueduct is a major feature of the Union Canal in Scotland.
- Cool Fact: This aqueduct is the longest and tallest in Scotland! It carries the canal high over the River Avon (Falkirk).
Chirk Aqueduct: A Border Crossing
The Chirk Aqueduct is another impressive structure on the Llangollen Canal, close to the Welsh border.
- Cool Fact: It crosses the beautiful Ceiriog Valley, offering stunning views for those travelling along the canal. It's often seen as a partner to the larger Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.
Cosgrove Aqueduct: A Replacement Story
The Cosgrove aqueduct carries the Grand Union Canal over the River Great Ouse.
- Cool Fact: The current aqueduct was built to replace an older one that sadly collapsed. This shows how important these structures are and the challenges engineers face in building and maintaining them.
Stewart Aqueduct: A Stacked Crossing
The Stewart Aqueduct is a fascinating example of how different transport routes can cross each other.
- Built by: Thomas Telford
- Cool Fact: This spot is unique because the M5 motorway (built in 1970) crosses the West Coast Main Line railway (1852), which then crosses the BCN Old Main Line Canal (1770), which finally crosses the BCN New Main Line Canal (1828)! It's like a stack of transport history.
Three Bridges, London: Brunel's Last Project
This unique set of structures in London is known as Three Bridges, London.
- Built by: Isambard Kingdom Brunel
- Cool Fact: This was one of the last major projects by the famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It's a special arrangement where a railway, a road, and a canal all cross over each other at different levels. It's a scheduled monument because of its clever design.
Images for kids
See also
- Category:Aqueducts in the United Kingdom
- Navigable aqueduct
- Canals of the United Kingdom
- List of canal basins in the United Kingdom
- List of canal junctions in the United Kingdom
- List of canal locks in the United Kingdom
- List of canal tunnels in the United Kingdom