Sedgewick Aqueduct

Sedgewick Aqueduct
Lancaster Canal
Jan 2010

With winter upon us it is becoming more difficult to collect aqueduct photo's.

Luckily, some of my boating friends are out and about and Jim of nb Starcross came across the magnificent Sedgewick Aqueduct in Cumbria. This aqueduct has been lovingly restored but as it sits on the disconnected northern section few boaters will have seen it.

Sedgewick Aqueduct

I have been saving the many aqueducts of the Lancaster Canal for a special occasion, but as Jim so obligingly posted a particularly good image of it in the snow, it seemed appropriate to add it to the blog sooner rather than later.

Thanks Jim.

Brock Aqueduct - Lancaster Canal

Brock Aqueduct
Lancaster Canal

An unassuming stone aqueduct built by John Rennie in 1797, carrying the Lancaster Canal over the River Brock.

The waterfall in the background is present because the river level had to be lowered to provide clearance for the canal - without resorting to a sump aqueduct.

Lune Aqueduct

Lune Aqueduct

This aqueduct, constructed by John Rennie Snr, is considered to be the finest in the North west.

NB - Please see the comment below. This rather beautiful photo of the Lune aqueduct is from NRT whose Flickr pages are something to behold. His (or her) photography is simply beautiful.

The aqueduct, with its five classical stone arches, carries the Lancaster Canal over the River Lune using a rusticated form of masonry. The piers were built in a hurry using special form of concrete incorporating Italian pozzolana powder, which allowed them to be finished before the 1794 /5 winter floods arrived.

The structure was, as ever, over budget at £48,000 - an overrun which played a large part in the plans to connect the canal to Preston being abandoned.

Wyre Aqueduct

Wyre Aqueduct
Lancaster Canal
Near Garstang


Another aqueduct by John Rennie (also Dundas and Lune), built in 1797 and stands 110 feet long and 34 feet high, carrying the Lancaster Canal over the River Wyre.