Barfoot Aqueduct - Sale, UK - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

The Bridgewater Canal
"The Bridgewater Canal connects Runcorn, Manchester and Leigh, in North West England. It was commissioned by Francis Egerton, 3rd Duke of Bridgewater, to transport coal from his mines in Worsley to Manchester. It was opened in 1761 from Worsley to Manchester, and later extended from Manchester to Runcorn, and then from Worsley to Leigh.

Often considered to be the first "true" canal in England, as it relied upon existing watercourses as sources of water rather than as navigable routes. Navigable throughout its history, it is one of the few canals in Britain not to have been nationalised, and remains privately owned. Pleasure craft now use the canal which forms part of the Cheshire Ring network of canals." link

The Aqueduct
The aqueduct is a single span arch bridge constructed in brick and based on a standard template used along most of the canal. It is an English Heritage Grade II Listed Building with the following description.
"Aqueduct over River Mersey. c.1776. J. Gilbert and J. Brindley engineers. Dressed stone and brick. Single segmental-arched brick span. The arch is constructed in brick with a segmental stone band and two continuous bands above that. The west parapet has been rebuilt in brick, concrete and steel whereas the east side retains its stone- coped brick parapet wall. Sometimes referred to as Barfoot Aqueduct." link

The area around here is rather flat, but in the foothills of the Pennine Hills. Over the years the land was prone to flooding and this aqueduct and another one nearby were subject to damage. This old map shows a survey undertaken in 1801 by J. Foulkes the canal's original surveyor. As a result improvements were made to the other aqueduct to allow more water to drain away under the canal. link

Originally the River Mersey formed the border between the counties of Lancashire and Cheshire, with the towns of Sale to the south and Stretford to the north. These days both towns are in the metropolitan borough of Trafford in Greater Manchester.

Length of bridge: 63 feet 9 inches Height of bridge: 1f feet 7 inches What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Canal boats, pedestrians and cyclists What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: The River Mersey Date constructed: 1776 Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes Name of road or trail the bridge services: The Bridgewater Canal Location: Border between Sale and Stretford, Trafford

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