Avon Aqueduct
Encyclopedia
The Avon Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct
on the Union Canal
near Linlithgow
, West Lothian
, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is 810 feet (246.9 m) long and 86 feet (26.2 m) high; it is the longest and tallest aqueduct in Scotland, and the second longest in Britain (after the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
in Wales). It can be viewed from Muiravonside Country Park.
The aqueduct was built after a design by Thomas Telford
, there are twelve arches, and the water is carried in a cast iron
trough. There is a towpath
along one side.
Navigable aqueduct
Navigable aqueducts are bridge structures that carry navigable waterway canals over other rivers, valleys, railways or roads. They are primarily distinguished by their size, carrying a larger cross-section of water than most water-supply aqueducts...
on the Union Canal
Union Canal (Scotland)
The Union Canal is a 31.5-mile canal in Scotland, from Lochrin Basin, Fountainbridge, Edinburgh to Falkirk, where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal.-Location and features:...
near Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
, West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is 810 feet (246.9 m) long and 86 feet (26.2 m) high; it is the longest and tallest aqueduct in Scotland, and the second longest in Britain (after the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a navigable aqueduct that carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee in Wrexham in north east Wales....
in Wales). It can be viewed from Muiravonside Country Park.
The aqueduct was built after a design by Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford
Thomas Telford FRS, FRSE was a Scottish civil engineer, architect and stonemason, and a noted road, bridge and canal builder.-Early career:...
, there are twelve arches, and the water is carried in a cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
trough. There is a towpath
Towpath
A towpath is a road or trail on the bank of a river, canal, or other inland waterway. The purpose of a towpath is to allow a land vehicle, beasts of burden, or a team of human pullers to tow a boat, often a barge...
along one side.
See also
- List of canal aqueducts in Great Britain
- River AvonRiver Avon, FalkirkThe River Avon is a river in Falkirk, Scotland. It originates near Cumbernauld, flows through Avonbridge, through the Avon Gorge, through Muiravonside Country Park, Falkirk, past the west of Linlithgow and enters the Firth of Forth near Grangemouth....
- Avon GorgeAvon Gorge, FalkirkThe Avon Gorge, Falkirk is a small wooded gorge in Falkirk, Scotland.An area of 19.05 hectares of the gorge is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest; it was notified in 1986...
External links
- Location of Avon Aqueduct
- River Avon Heritage Trail, by Falkirk Council
- RCAHMS: two images of Avon Aqueduct milestones
- GEOGRAPH image 10656 of Avon Aqueduct
- Scran image of Avon Aqueduct
- Aerial photo of Avon Aqueduct and Muiravonside country Park by James Gentles
- Jim Shead's website - Canal aqueducts