Avoncliff Aqueduct
Avoncliff Aqueduct carries the Kennet and Avon Canal over the River Avon and the Bath to Westbury railway line, at Avoncliff in Wiltshire. It was built by John Rennie and chief engineer John Thomas, between 1797 and 1801. It is a Grade-II* listed building.[1]
During construction stone from a local quarry was used which broke when affected by frost. This caused buttresses to collapse and parts of the structure to need rebuilding. Eventually Bath stone from Bathampton Down was used enabling greater stability.[2]
The aqueduct consists of three arches and is 110 yds long with a central elliptical arch of 60-foot span with two side arches each semicircular and 34 ft across, all with V-jointed arch stones. The spandrel and wing walls are built in alternate courses of ashlar masonry and rock-faced blocks.[3] The central span sagged soon after it was built and has been repaired many times.[4]
As part of the restoration of the canal the aqueduct was lined with a concrete "cradle" and made water-tight in 1980.[5]
Gallery
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Crossing the Avoncliff Aqueduct -
View from Avoncliff railway station -
The aqueduct seen from the Bradford on Avon side. The River Avon passes beneath.
References
- ↑ National Heritage List 1021876: Avoncliff Aqueduct
- ↑ Hawkins, Derek (2011). Bath Stone Quarries. Folly Books. pp. 36-37. ISBN 9780956440549.
- ↑ "Avoncliff Aqueduct". Avoncliff. http://www.avoncliff.co.uk/archives/739. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- ↑ Allsop, Niall (1987). The Kennet & Avon Canal. Bath: Millstream Book. ISBN 0-948975-15-6.
- ↑ "The Kennet and Avon Canal". Avoncliff. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110718093146/http://www.avoncliff.co.uk/history/canal.htm. Retrieved 17 May 2011.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Avoncliff Aqueduct) |
- Location map: 51°20’20"N, 2°16’57"W
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