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!

Famous Canal Aqueducts in the UK
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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.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wales, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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.

The Barton Swing Aqueduct can swing open to let ships pass.

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.

The Lune Aqueduct is a grand structure with five arches.

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.

The classical design of the Dundas Aqueduct.

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.

Edstone Aqueduct, the longest in England.

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).

Avon Aqueduct, Scotland's longest and tallest.

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.

Chirk Aqueduct crossing the Ceiriog Valley.

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.

Cosgrove Aqueduct, built to replace an earlier one.

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.

Stewart Aqueduct, showing multiple transport routes crossing.

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.

View of the canal and road bridges crossing the railway line.

Images for kids

Almond Aqueduct, Scotland
Ariel Aqueduct
Avoncliff Aqueduct
Beam Aqueduct
Bonnington Aqueduct near the M8
Old engraving of the demolished Bull Bridge Aqueduct
Clifton Aqueduct from Clifton Viaduct
Dowley Gap Aqueduct
The Engine Arm Aqueduct
Ewood Aqueduct
Glen Loy Viaduct
Holliday Street Aqueduct
Kelvin Aqueduct
View of the open ended aqueduct over the M6 Toll
Luggie Aqueduct
Marple Aqueduct
Murtry Aqueduct
Nantwich Aqueduct
New Semington Aqueduct
North Circular Road aqueduct spans the A406 in London.
Palmerston Street Aqueduct
Prestolee Aqueduct
Rea Aqueduct
River Cart Aqueduct
Scott Russell Aqueduct, Scotland
Semington Aqueduct
Slateford Aqueduct, Scotland
Stockingfield Aqueduct, Scotland
Stanley Ferry Aqueduct
Store Street Aqueduct
Stretton Aqueduct carrying the Shropshire Union Canal over the A5. The inscription in the centre panel reads: "Birmingham and Liverpool Canal Thos. Telford F.R.S.I.& E. Engineer 1832"
Wootton Wawen Aqueduct spans the A3400
Yarningale aqueduct spans Kingswood Brook