Avoncliff Aqueduct
Avoncliff Aqueduct | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 51°20′20″N 2°16′57″W / 51.3389°N 2.2825°W |
| OS grid reference | ST802593 |
| Carries | Kennet and Avon Canal |
| Crosses | River Avon, Heart of Wessex Line |
| Locale | Avoncliff |
| Maintained by | Canal & River Trust |
| Characteristics | |
| Trough construction | Brick and stone |
| Pier construction | Brick and stone |
| Total length | 330 feet (100.6 m) |
| Traversable? | Yes |
| Towpaths | Both |
| Longest span | 60 feet (18.3 m) |
| No. of spans | 3 |
| History | |
| Designer | John Rennie |
| Construction start | 1797 |
| Opened | 1805 |
| Location | |
 | |
Avoncliff Aqueduct (grid reference ST803599) carries the Kennet and Avon Canal over the River Avon and the Bath to Westbury railway line, at Avoncliff in Wiltshire, England. It was built by John Rennie and chief engineer John Thomas, between 1797 and 1801. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1]
During construction stone from a local quarry was used which broke when affected by frost. This caused buttresses to collapse and parts of the structure to need rebuilding. Eventually Bath stone from Bathampton Down was used enabling greater stability.[2]
The aqueduct consists of three arches and is 110 yards (100.6 m) long with a central elliptical arch of 60 ft (18.3 m) span with two side arches each semicircular and 34 ft (10.4 m) across, all with V-jointed arch stones. The spandrel and wing walls are built in alternate courses of ashlar masonry and rock-faced blocks.[3] The central span sagged soon after it was built and has been repaired many times.[4]
As part of the restoration of the canal the aqueduct was lined with a concrete "cradle" and made water-tight in 1980.[5]
Gallery
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Crossing the Avoncliff Aqueduct -
View from Avoncliff railway station -
See also
- Dundas Aqueduct
- Locks on the Kennet and Avon Canal
- List of canal aqueducts in Great Britain
- Canals of Great Britain
References
- ^ Historic England. "Avoncliff Aqueduct (1021876)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
- ^ Hawkins, Derek (2011). Bath Stone Quarries. Folly Books. pp. 36–37. ISBN 9780956440549.
- ^ "Avoncliff Aqueduct". Avoncliff. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ^ Allsop, Niall (1987). The Kennet & Avon Canal. Bath: Millstream Book. ISBN 0-948975-15-6.
- ^ "The Kennet and Avon Canal". Avoncliff. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
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- Kennet and Avon Canal
- Canals in Wiltshire
- Bridges completed in 1805
- Navigable aqueducts in England
- Grade II* listed buildings in Wiltshire
- Grade II* listed canals
- Grade II* listed bridges
- 1805 establishments in England
- Bridges across the River Avon, Bristol
- Wiltshire building and structure stubs
- United Kingdom bridge (structure) stubs