Lune Aqueduct

Lune Aqueduct
Coordinates 54°04′06″N 2°47′22″W / 54.06838°N 2.78932°W / 54.06838; -2.78932Coordinates: 54°04′06″N 2°47′22″W / 54.06838°N 2.78932°W / 54.06838; -2.78932
OS grid reference SD486636
Carries Lancaster Canal
Crosses River Lune
Locale Lancaster
Maintained by Canal & River Trust
Characteristics
Trough construction Concrete
Pier construction Stone
Total length 664 ft (202.4 m)
Width 20 ft (6.0 m)
Height 61 ft (18.6m)
Traversable? Yes
Towpaths Both
Number of spans 5
History
Designer John Rennie
Construction begin January 1794
Opened Autumn 1797
Listed Building – Grade I
Official name Lancaster Canal Lune Aqueduct
Designated 22 December 1953
Reference no. 1362451

The Lune Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct that carries the Lancaster Canal over the River Lune, on the east side of the city of Lancaster in Lancashire, England. It was completed in 1797 at a total cost of £48,320.18s.10d.[1] It is a Grade I listed building.[2]

Construction

The aqueduct was designed by civil engineer John Rennie and constructed by architect Alexander Stevens (died 1796, aged 66).[3][4] The cost of the construction was close to £50,000.[5]

The aqueduct is a traditional structure of that time, consisting of five stone arches supporting the stone trough. Within the piers, special volcanic pozzolana powder was imported to be mixed with cement, which allowed the concrete to set under water.[3] Because of the rush to finish the initial stages, before the winter floods, the construction was carried out around the clock and the final bill for the project was over £30,000 over budget (2.6 times the original estimate). This vast overspend was the reason that the Lancaster canal was never joined to the main canal network – there wasn’t enough money for the planned aqueduct over the River Ribble at the southern end of the canal.

Recent restoration

Work began to restore the aqueduct in January 2011, and was completed in March 2012.[6] The work involved restoring the canal channel, masonry repairs, removing graffiti, and improving public access. The project cost £2.4m, and was funded by British Waterways, Lancaster Canal Trust, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund.[6]

Inscriptions

The structure bears two inscriptions:[7]

Gallery

See also

Notes

  1. "A Short History of the Lancaster Canal 1772-1997". Retrieved 19 January 2009.
  2. Historic England. "Grade I (383094)". Images of England.
  3. 1 2 "Lancaster Canal Trust - Lune Aqueduct". Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  4. Fleury, p.30. It should be noted that on page 574 it is stated that his year of death was 1795.
  5. Fleury, p.116
  6. 1 2 "Work to restore Lancaster's Lune Aqueduct completed". BBC News. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  7. "Engineering Timelines - explore ... where". Retrieved 30 December 2008.

References

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