Engine Arm Aqueduct Explained

Engine Arm Aqueduct
Carries:BCN Engine Arm
Crosses:BCN New Main Line
Location:Smethwick
Os Grid Reference:SP023888
Maintained:British Waterways
Material1:Cast Iron
Material2:Stone
Number Spans:One
Length:52feet
Width:8feet
Passable:No
Towpath:Both
Heritage:Scheduled Ancient Monument
Coordinates:52.4979°N -1.9665°W

The Engine Arm Aqueduct near Smethwick, West Midlands, England, was built in 1825 by Thomas Telford to carry a water feeder, the Engine Arm, from Edgbaston Reservoir over the BCN New Main Line canal to the adjacent and parallel Old Main Line. The structure is maintained by the Canal & River Trust. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument[1] and is Grade II* listed.

The bridge is a 52ft (16m) span cast iron arch structure formed by 5 ribs, each of them consisting of four sections with bolted joints. The ribs are connected to each other by transverse members and they are fixed to the masonry abutments. The three central ribs support the 8ft wide (2.4m) cast iron trough and the outer ones support the 4ft-4in (1.32m) towpaths and the bracing that connects to the sides of the trough. The towpath support consists of an arcade of Gothic arches with quatrefoil spandrels. The eastern towpath is paved in brick with raised strips for horses. The ironwork was cast at the Horseley Ironworks at Tipton, which is where most of Thomas Telford bridges were cast.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Top Ten Canal Attractions. https://web.archive.org/web/20070928011147/http://www.laws.sandwell.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/transport-and-streets/waterways/canals/top-10-canal-attractions/ . 28 September 2007 . Sandwell Council .