Prestolee Aqueduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prestolee Aqueduct |
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Panorama of Prestolee Aqueduct
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| Coordinates | 53°33′09″N 2°22′35″W / 53.5525°N 2.3764°W |
| OS grid reference | |
| Carries | Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal |
| Crosses | River Irwell |
| Locale | Prestolee, Greater Manchester |
| Heritage status | Grade II |
| Characteristics | |
| Trough construction | Stone |
| Pier construction | Stone |
| Total length | 185 feet (56.4 m) |
| Width | 16 feet 6 inches (5.03 m) |
| Traversable? | Yes |
| Towpaths | SW Side |
| Number of spans | Four |
| History | |
| Construction end | 1793 |
The Prestolee Aqueduct is a special bridge that carries water. It is built from strong stone in a place called Prestolee, near Kearsley in Greater Manchester, England. This amazing structure has four arches and was finished in 1793. Its main job was to carry the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal over the River Irwell.
Today, the Prestolee Aqueduct is protected as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical structure that needs to be preserved. It's a cool example of old engineering!
Contents
What is an Aqueduct?
An aqueduct is like a water bridge. It's a structure built to carry water from one place to another. Sometimes, it carries water for drinking. Other times, like the Prestolee Aqueduct, it carries a canal. Canals are man-made waterways that boats can use to travel.
Why Were Aqueducts Built?
In the past, before trains and trucks, canals were super important. They helped move goods like coal and cotton. If a canal needed to cross a river or a valley, engineers built an aqueduct. This allowed boats to stay on the canal without having to go down into the river below.
History of Prestolee Aqueduct
The Prestolee Aqueduct was built a very long time ago, in 1793. That's over 230 years ago! It was part of the Manchester Bolton & Bury Canal. This canal connected the towns of Manchester, Bolton, and Bury. It was a busy route for trade and transport.
Building the Aqueduct
Imagine building such a big structure without modern machines! The aqueduct is made of strong stone. It has four large arches that help it stand firm. These arches allow the River Irwell to flow freely underneath. Building it would have taken many skilled workers and a lot of time.
Important Structures on the Canal
The Prestolee Aqueduct is one of only two major structures left on the old canal. The other important one is the Clifton Aqueduct. There used to be a third big aqueduct called Damside Aqueduct. But it was taken down in the 1950s. This makes Prestolee Aqueduct even more special.
The Aqueduct Today
Even though it's very old, the Prestolee Aqueduct still holds water! It continues to carry water from the canal. However, boats can't travel on this part of the canal right now. This is because other parts of the canal nearby need to be fixed up.
Future of the Aqueduct
People are working to restore parts of the Manchester, Bolton and Bury Canal. If these efforts are successful, one day boats might be able to travel across the Prestolee Aqueduct again. It would be amazing to see it fully used as it was long ago!
