Sedgwick Aqueduct - Sedgwick, Cumbria - Arch Bridges on Waymarking.com

The northern part of the Lancaster Canal between Tewitfield and Kendal is no longer in use.

Until 1942 the Lancaster Canal connected Preston with Kendal. Known as the Black and White canal it carried coal north from the Lancashire Coalfields, and limestone south from Cumbria.

Apart from the eight locks at Tewitfield the canal followed the contours of the countryside and was very flat.

Competition from trains and roads eventually led to the locks at Tewitfield to be closed and Tewitfield became the northern terminus of the canal.

Nine miles of the old canal north of Tewitfield are still in water because it carries water from Killington Reservoir to supply the bottom part of the canal. Although boats cannot use this stretch of the canal the towpath is well maintained and used by walkers and cyclists. Above this point to Kendal it is no longer in water, but the line of the canal is visible and can be walked.

The Lancaster Canal Trust has been formed to try and reinstate all the canal from Tewitfield to Kendal but this will be difficult as the canal has been blocked at a few points by modern road crossings.

The Bridge
From Stainton northwards the canal has been filled in and the route of the old towpath still maintained as a footpath even though in some sections there is no sign at all that a canal ever existed.

On top of the aqueduct there is no real sign of the canal, just a narrow dirt path in a grassed area.

This bridge is an Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
"Aqueduct.1818, by William Crosley, engineer. Squared coursed limestone with limestone ashlar dressings, limestone string and copings to parapet. Tunnel over roadway, at angle to direction of Canal, has segmental arched opening with rusticated voussoirs and keystone, flanked by rusticated tapering pilasters curved in section. Blank panel probably intended for inscription above. Massive curved retaining walls with flight of stone steps behind that to North West. Scheduled Ancient Monument. " link

Height of bridge: 9ft 6in What type of traffic does this bridge support?: Pedestrians What kind of gap does this bridge cross?: Main road through Sedgwick Date constructed: 1818 Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: No Name of road or trail the bridge services: Lancaster Canal (Northern Reaches - filled in) Location: Sedgwick, Cumbria Length of bridge: Not listed

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