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Avoncliff Aqueduct |
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Westwood and Winsley, Wiltshire KAC67.19 |
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KandAC mile 67
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Looking across the aqueduct from the eastward end.
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Avoncliff Aqueduct carries the canal across the River Avon and the
railway, and crosses the canal to the other side of the valley. The
towpath roves from north to south side of the canal using the southern
arch of the aqueduct.
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the aqueduct is built of ashlar stonework and rusticated stonework,
etc, in Bath Stone, 330ft long. The aqueduct is 67 miles 19 chains
from Reading.
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depth of water |
5ft1ins (used to be) |
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Avoncliff Aqueduct, westward face.
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Avoncliff Aqueduct, eastward face.
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Part of the grand cornice.
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The River Avon and weir upstream of Avoncliff Aqueduct, ie looking
'eastwards' towards Bradford-on-Avon.
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The aqueduct has three arches with a wide cornice. The central arch is
elliptical, spanning 60ft; the side arches are semicircular, spans
34ft. The south arch has sagged, this occurred soon after building as
the structure settled. It was designed by John Rennie, completed
1797-98. It is repaired with brickwork, mostly unsympathetically, and
now has a concrete lining.
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The aqueduct has a number of mason's marks on its stones.
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Mason's mark.
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date marks found on the aqueduct suggest a completion date 1797. But,
a company report to subscribers, 26 June 1798, states:-
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... The Avon Cliff Aqueduct is finished, except the inverted arch. ...
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Rope marks on the parapet; when you consider the angles it is hard to
see how these got here.
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Rope marks on the parapet, eastward end.
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The aqueduct bed is now concrete, hopefully sealing leaks properly.
Part of the new work was to place steps and hand holds to help boat
crews off, this safety provision now blocked by the ?safety provision
of the fencing.
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To eastward of the north side is Avoncliff Halt, just an unstaffed
station where you must hold your hand out to stop the train.
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The railway towards Bradford-on-Avon, Avoncliff Halt.
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The two arches under the canal at Avoncliff aqueduct, from Avoncliff
Halt.
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Train just gone, from Avoncliff Halt, under the aqueduct arch.
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View down the valley of the River Avon; river between the trees, the
railway on a slight embankment.
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Gorham, Major: 1920: Kennet and Avon canal and its Marks: Transactions
of the Somerset Masters Lodge:: pp.172-182
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Kennet and Avon Scrapbook 2000
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