Cut Hole Aqueduct On Bridgewater Canal - Stretford, 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 triple 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.
"STRETFORD BRIDGEWATER CANAL SJ 79 SE (SJ 7993 NE) 5/8 Aqueduct over - Hawthorn Road - II Canal aqueduct. c.1776. J. Gilbert and J. Brindley engineers. Hammer-dressed stone. 3 segmental-arched spans, one over the road, the others over a River Mersey overflow channel. Each of the arches is of brick construction with a keystone and segmental band. The aqueduct was widened to the west in late C18 or early C19. The overflow channel arches are considerably wider and are separated by a triangular cutwater. Continuous stone band above the arches. Sometimes referred to as Cut Hole 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 this aqueduct to allow more water to drain away under the canal. link

Height of bridge: 9 feet 6 inches What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Canal boats on the canal, and pedestrian and cyclists on towpath What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: Hawthorn Road and a River Mersey flood channel 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: Stretford, Trafford, Greater Manchester Length of bridge: Not listed

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