2019

SP0288 : Engine Arm Aqueduct, Birmingham Canal

taken 5 years ago, near to Smethwick, Sandwell, England

Engine Arm Aqueduct, Birmingham Canal
Engine Arm Aqueduct, Birmingham Canal
Looking north west towards the main canal beyond the towpath bridge.
Engine Arm Aqueduct

This formed part of Thomas Telford's improvement of the Birmingham Canal and was built around 1828. The work incorporated the 3.6 mile long Smethwick Cutting, at the time one of the largest earthworks to have been carried out.

The Engine Arm intersected the line of the new cut, but was needed for two main reasons – firstly to maintain a supply of coal to the Smethwick Pumping Engine, and secondly to maintain the water supply from Rotton Park Reservoir into the old summit level.

The aqueduct consists of a cast iron trough, 8 feet wide, supported on a cast iron arch of 52 feet span consisting of 5 ribs, three of which support the trough with the outer ones supporting the towpaths and bracing to the sides of the trough. The towpath support consists of an arcade of Gothic arches with quatrefoil spandrels.

As with most of the bridges erected as part of the Telford rebuilding, the ironwork was cast at the Horseley Iron Works at Tipton.

The aqueduct is Listed Grade II* and is also designated as a Scheduled Monument. The Listing includes the brick arch towpath bridge at the junction.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Alan Murray-Rust and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Historic sites and artefacts Suburb, Urban fringe Canals Canal: Birmingham Canal Navigations Period: Early 19th Century Date: 1828 Name: Thomas Telford other tags: Canal Aqueduct Grade II(star) Listed Scheduled Monument Click a tag, to view other nearby images.
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Engine Arm Aqueduct [17] · Towpath [9] Title Clusters: · Engine Arm Aqueduct, Birmingham Canal [7] ·
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SP0288, 174 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Alan Murray-Rust   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 5 September, 2019   (more nearby)
Submitted
Wednesday, 11 September, 2019
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 0237 8889 [10m precision]
WGS84: 52:29.8746N 1:57.9911W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! SP 0238 8887
View Direction
Northwest (about 315 degrees)
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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