Slateford Aqueduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Slateford Aqueduct |
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| Coordinates | 55°55′24″N 3°14′58″W / 55.923414°N 3.249454°W |
| Carries | Union Canal |
| Crosses | Water of Leith |
| Locale | Slateford |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 500 feet (150 m) |
| Height | 75 feet (23 m) |
| Longest span | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Number of spans | Eight |
| History | |
| Designer | Hugh Baird, Thomas Telford |
| Construction begin | 1819 |
| Construction end | 1822 |
The Slateford Aqueduct is a special kind of bridge that carries the Union Canal over the Water of Leith river. It is located in Slateford, a part of Edinburgh, Scotland. This amazing structure was finished in 1822.
The aqueduct is 500 feet (150 m) long and has eight large arches. It allows boats to travel smoothly across the canal, high above the river below.
Building the Slateford Aqueduct
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The Slateford Aqueduct was designed by an engineer named Hugh Baird. He also got helpful advice from another famous engineer, Thomas Telford. The design was inspired by Telford's own Chirk Aqueduct.
Building such a large structure needed many different workers and plans. The stone parts of the aqueduct were offered to builders in 1818. Hugh Baird also talked with Thomas Telford about the iron parts needed for the aqueduct.
A company that had worked on the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was interested in the project. However, Baird was unsure about hiring a company from so far away. In April 1818, Hugh McIntosh was chosen to build the aqueduct.
Work on the aqueduct began in March 1819. It took about three years to complete. The aqueduct and the rest of the Union Canal officially opened in 1822. In 1970, the Slateford Aqueduct was recognized as an important historical building.
How the Aqueduct is Designed
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Early aqueducts, like the Barton Aqueduct built in 1761, used a lot of stone and a special clay called puddle clay to keep the water from leaking. But after the success of The Iron Bridge in 1789, engineers like Thomas Telford started using strong cast iron.
The Slateford Aqueduct uses a mix of these ideas. It has eight arches, each about 50 feet (15 m) wide. The whole structure is 500 feet (150 m) long and stands 75 feet (23 m) high above the Water of Leith.
The supports for the arches are wider at the bottom, making them very stable. Inside the stone structure, there are hollow spaces. This was a clever idea from Thomas Telford. It means you can actually walk inside parts of the stone structure on the north side!
The aqueduct carries the Union Canal over Inglis Green Road and the Water of Leith. Right next to the aqueduct, you can see the Slateford Viaduct. This is a separate bridge that carries a working railway line.
See also
In Spanish: Acueducto de Slateford para niños
