Marple Aqueduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marple Aqueduct |
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The Marple Aqueduct from the River Goyt
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| Coordinates | 53°24′26″N 2°04′09″W / 53.4073°N 2.0691°W |
| OS grid reference | |
| Carries | Peak Forest Canal |
| Crosses | River Goyt |
| Locale | Marple, Greater Manchester |
| Maintained by | Canal & River Trust |
| Heritage status | Grade I listed, Scheduled Monument |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 105 yards (96 m) |
| Width | 8 feet (2.4 m) |
| Height | 30 metres (98 ft) |
| Traversable? | yes |
| Towpaths | Western side only |
| Number of spans | Three |
| History | |
| Designer | Benjamin Outram |
| Construction begin | 1795 |
| Construction end | 1799 |
| Opened | 1800 |
The Marple Aqueduct, also known as the Goyt Aqueduct, is a huge bridge that carries a canal over a river. It's located in Marple, Greater Manchester, in north-west England. This amazing structure was built to carry the lower part of the Peak Forest Canal across the River Goyt.
Contents
Building a Giant Aqueduct
The Marple Aqueduct was designed by a clever engineer named Benjamin Outram. The actual building work was managed by Thomas Brown. Construction started in 1795. It was a big project, and sadly, seven workers lost their lives while building it. The aqueduct was finished in 1799, but it wasn't used until 1800.
What Makes It Special?
The Marple Aqueduct is the highest canal aqueduct in England. It's also the tallest stone arch aqueduct in Britain! The canal water flows about 90 feet (27.4 meters) higher than the river below. That's like a nine-story building! Only the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which is made of iron, is taller.
This aqueduct is made from about 8,000 cubic yards (6,000 cubic meters) of stone. That's a lot of rock! It has three large arches, each about 78 feet (23.8 meters) above the river. The lower parts of the aqueduct are made from red sandstone found nearby. The upper parts use white stone from a quarry further away. The way the different stones and shapes are used makes the aqueduct look very graceful and strong.
Saving the Aqueduct
Over the years, the aqueduct needed repairs to stay strong.
Early Repairs
In 1860, water started leaking through the canal's lining, causing damage when it froze. Charles Sacré, an engineer, had to fix it quickly. He used large metal bolts to tie the two sides of the aqueduct together above the middle arch. You can still see these metal plates today!
The Big Collapse of 1962
About a hundred years later, in 1962, a similar problem was ignored. On January 9, 1962, the outer part of one of the arches collapsed. The people in charge thought it would be best to just knock down the aqueduct and close the canals.
However, a government minister named Geoffrey Rippon stepped in. He helped arrange a plan where the local council, Cheshire County Council, paid extra money to fully restore the aqueduct instead of demolishing it. This was a great example of saving an important historical structure. Harry Fairclough Ltd. was the main company that rebuilt the aqueduct.
Soon after it was repaired, the Marple Aqueduct was protected as an ancient monument. In 1966, it was given a special "Grade I listed" status, meaning it's a very important historical building. For a long time, trees hid the beautiful view of the aqueduct in the Goyt valley. But now, these trees have been cut back, so everyone can enjoy the amazing sight once more.
Photo gallery
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Marple Aqueduct as viewed from a drone
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A working boat crossing Marple Aqueduct
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A working narrowboat on Marple Aqueduct, with the railway viaduct nearby
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A working freight boat on Marple Aqueduct
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The canal curves away and goes under the railway viaduct.
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The canal then enters the Marple flight of locks.
