Edstone Aqueduct

Edstone Aqueduct is one of three aqueducts on a 4 miles length of the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal in Warwickshire. All are unusual in that the towpaths are at the level of the canal bottom. At 475 feet, Edstone is the longest cast iron aqueduct in England. It crosses a minor road, a stream, and a field, a railway line and the trackbed of the disused Alcester branch line. There was once a pipe from the side of the canal that enabled steam locomotives to draw water to fill their tanks.The aqueduct was completed in 1816 and is an early example of a prefabricated structure. Its cast iron trough is formed of 35 separate sections bolted together, which sits on thirteen brick piers, creating 14 spans. The trough is 2.7 metres wide, and 1.5 metres deep. The towpath is set level with the base of the trough, which is a somewhat unusual design feature.The aqueduct is a Grade II* listed structure.