Former Barnsfields Aqueduct - Leek, UK
Posted by: 
dtrebilc
N 53° 05.624 W 002° 01.989
30U E 564744 N 5883134
This single span stone aqueduct originally carried the Leek Branch of the Caldon Canal over the River Churnett and onwards into the town of Leek.
Waymark Code: WM11HBJ
Location: East Midlands, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 10/26/2019
Views: 3
The Caldon Canal
The Caldon Canal opened in 1779 to carry Peak District limestone, from the quarries at Cauldon Low, down to the Potteries and the industrial Midlands. A short branch was built 18 years later connecting the Caldon with the town of Leek. Another branch extended the navigation to Uttoxeter but this lasted only until 1845 when it was closed and replaced with a railway line.
Freight traffic deserted the Caldon shortly after the construction of a parallel railway line and the canal became virtually unnavigable by the 1960s. Enthusiasts were justifiably vocal in clamouring for its restoration and it was brought back into use in 1974.
The Uttoxeter Branch still lies derelict but work has recently started on rebuilding the very first lock. Similarly, the final mile of the Leek Branch is no longer navigable, but plans are now being hatched to restore navigation across a surviving aqueduct further towards the town."
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The Leek Branch of the canal is fed from water from the Rudyard Reservoir built at the same time as the canal. Next to this bridge is the navigable end of the Leek Branch of the Caldon Canal and from there a narrow feeder stream continues to the reservoir.
The canal then used to be carried over this bridge acting as an aqueduct to finish at wharves in the town of Leek itself. These days the link to the town centre has been infilled and a path now links Leek with the current end of the canal.
The bridge is a Historic England Grade II Listed Building.
"Aqueduct. 1801. John Rennie, engineer. Coursed and squared
stone. Retaining walls and arch structure curved in both
planes, with stepped parapet, plain string course and
rusticated voussoirs to arch.
The aqueduct formerly carried the Caldon canal over the River
Churnet into the Leek canal basin."
link