Barton Swing Aqueduct
Coordinates: 53 ° 28 '29.3 " N , 2 ° 21' 7.6" W.
The Barton Swing Aqueduct is a movable navigable trough bridge in Barton-upon-Irwell ( City of Salford ) in Greater Manchester , England . The bridge runs the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal . The mobility of the bridge ensures that larger ships can sail on the Manchester Ship Canal and that narrowboats can continue to use the Bridgewater Canal. The aqueduct was not only the first, but also remained the only movable one in the world. Planned by Sir Edward Leader Williams and built by Andrew Handyside and Company , the structure was opened in 1894 and is still in regular use today.
history
The Barton Swing Aqueduct replaced the older Barton Aqueduct that crossed the River Irwell . This first aqueduct was built of stone and designed by James Brindley . It was inaugurated in 1761.
The construction of the Manchester Ship Canal made it necessary to build a new one because the ships that were supposed to use this canal would not have fit under the old aqueduct. A plan to solve the problem with locks was abandoned due to a concern to save water in the Bridgewater Canal.
The new aqueduct was designed by the Manchester Ship Canal Company engineer Edward Leader Williams and built by Andrew Handyside. The first boat was able to pass the new aqueduct on August 21, 1893. Regular operation of the bridge began on January 1, 1894. The aqueduct is now a Grade II * protected cultural monument.
business
The aqueduct is a swing bridge. When closed, the bridge allows travel on the Bridgewater Canal. When large ships pass on the Manchester Ship Canal, the 1450 tonne and 100 m long trough is rotated 90 degrees. The pivot point is on a small purpose-built island in the Manchester Ship Canal. A gate at each end of the trough holds 800 tons of water in the trough and additional gates on both sides of the canal prevent it from leaking. Originally a towpath was suspended along the bridge, but this was dismantled for safety reasons.
In the immediate vicinity of the aqueduct is the Barton Road Swing Bridge , which provides a road link between Trafford and Salford .
Both bridges are moved by a tower on the island in the canal. When open, both bridges are parallel to this island and allow ships to pass on both sides of the island.
Web links
- Barton Swing Aqueduct on Pennine Waterways
literature
- John C. Fletcher: The History and Operation of Barton Swing Aqueduct. John & Margaret Fletcher, 1992, ISBN 0-9519058-0-5 .