Elan aqueduct
Encyclopedia
The Elan aqueduct, crosses Wales
and the Midlands
of England
, running eastwards from the Elan Valley Reservoirs
in Powys
to Birmingham
's Frankley Reservoir
, carrying drinking water
for Birmingham.
It delivers enormous quantities of water by gravity across the mid-Wales country side, through Shropshire
and into the west Midlands through eleven major river valleys. The aqueduct is 73 miles (117.5 km) long down which the water travels at less than 2 miles per hour, taking one and a half days to get to Birmingham.
was started in June 1896 by Birmingham Corporation Water Department
. The aqueduct was built in sections by outside contractors, using three types of construction depending on the nature of the terrain it had to cross. "Cut and cover" was essentially a brick
lined channel which was manually dug as a trench, then roofed over and concealed underground. Where the route of the aqueduct encountered high ground above the gradient needed to maintain the downward slope, a certain amount of tunnel
ing was required using the same type of channel as above. This totaled around 12 miles (19.3 km), with the longest single length being just over 4 miles (6.4 km). The third construction type was the use of pipelines to cross valleys and rivers where the ground level dropped too steeply for the required hydraulic gradient. The pipeline was continued at the other side of the valley at the same height as the delivery pipe, as the water naturally fills the pipe due to the head of water traveling along behind.
The initial scheme opened in 1906 with two 42in diameter pipes. Two more pipes of 60in diameter were added between 1919 and 1961.
(52.264032°N 3.597665°W) via Elan Valley
, Rhayader
, Dolau
, Knighton, Powys, Leintwardine
, Downton on the Rock, Ludlow
, Knowbury
, Cleobury Mortimer
, Bewdley
and Hagley
to Frankley
(52.422451°N 2.001329°W).
Some crossings over canals an railways have been replaced by buried pipes. The line of the buried aqueduct through woodland is marked by a 20 metres (65.6 ft) "exclusion zone" from which trees are removed.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and the Midlands
English Midlands
The Midlands, or the English Midlands, is the traditional name for the area comprising central England that broadly corresponds to the early medieval Kingdom of Mercia. It borders Southern England, Northern England, East Anglia and Wales. Its largest city is Birmingham, and it was an important...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, running eastwards from the Elan Valley Reservoirs
Elan Valley Reservoirs
The Elan Valley Reservoirs are a chain of man-made lakes and reservoirs in the Elan Valley in Powys, Mid Wales , using the rivers Elan and Claerwen...
in Powys
Powys
Powys is a local-government county and preserved county in Wales.-Geography:Powys covers the historic counties of Montgomeryshire and Radnorshire, most of Brecknockshire , and a small part of Denbighshire — an area of 5,179 km², making it the largest county in Wales by land area.It is...
to Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
's Frankley Reservoir
Frankley Reservoir
Frankley Reservoir is a semi-circular reservoir for drinking water in Birmingham, England. Its construction was authorised by the Birmingham Corporation Water Act of 1892...
, carrying drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
for Birmingham.
It delivers enormous quantities of water by gravity across the mid-Wales country side, through Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
and into the west Midlands through eleven major river valleys. The aqueduct is 73 miles (117.5 km) long down which the water travels at less than 2 miles per hour, taking one and a half days to get to Birmingham.
Construction
Work on the first 13 miles (20.9 km) of the route from the Elan ValleyElan Valley
The Elan Valley is a river valley situated to the west of Rhayader, in Powys, Wales, sometimes known as the "Welsh Lake District". It covers of lake and countryside....
was started in June 1896 by Birmingham Corporation Water Department
Birmingham Corporation Water Department
The Birmingham Corporation Water Department was responsible for the supply of water to Birmingham from 1876 to 1974. It was also known as Birmingham Corporation Waterworks Department.-Early History 1808 - 1876:...
. The aqueduct was built in sections by outside contractors, using three types of construction depending on the nature of the terrain it had to cross. "Cut and cover" was essentially a brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
lined channel which was manually dug as a trench, then roofed over and concealed underground. Where the route of the aqueduct encountered high ground above the gradient needed to maintain the downward slope, a certain amount of tunnel
Tunnel
A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for egress, commonly at each end.A tunnel may be for foot or vehicular road traffic, for rail traffic, or for a canal. Some tunnels are aqueducts to supply water for consumption or for hydroelectric stations or are sewers...
ing was required using the same type of channel as above. This totaled around 12 miles (19.3 km), with the longest single length being just over 4 miles (6.4 km). The third construction type was the use of pipelines to cross valleys and rivers where the ground level dropped too steeply for the required hydraulic gradient. The pipeline was continued at the other side of the valley at the same height as the delivery pipe, as the water naturally fills the pipe due to the head of water traveling along behind.
The initial scheme opened in 1906 with two 42in diameter pipes. Two more pipes of 60in diameter were added between 1919 and 1961.
Route
The route is Caban CochElan Valley Reservoirs
The Elan Valley Reservoirs are a chain of man-made lakes and reservoirs in the Elan Valley in Powys, Mid Wales , using the rivers Elan and Claerwen...
(52.264032°N 3.597665°W) via Elan Valley
Elan Valley
The Elan Valley is a river valley situated to the west of Rhayader, in Powys, Wales, sometimes known as the "Welsh Lake District". It covers of lake and countryside....
, Rhayader
Rhayader
Rhayader is a market town and community in Powys, Mid Wales. It has a population of 2,075, and is the first town on the banks of the River Wye, from its source on the Plynlimon range of the Cambrian Mountains....
, Dolau
Dolau railway station
Dolau railway station is a railway station serving the small village of Dolau in Powys, mid Wales. It is located on the Heart of Wales Line and is served by four trains each way per weekday. Passenger services are operated by Arriva Trains Wales....
, Knighton, Powys, Leintwardine
Leintwardine
Leintwardine is a large village and civil parish in north Herefordshire, England, close to the border with Shropshire.- Roman Leintwardine :...
, Downton on the Rock, Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, Knowbury
Knowbury
Knowbury is a village near Ludlow in Shropshire, England. It is located in the civil parish of Caynham.It is near to Cleehill and had a part-time Post Office - now closed....
, Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer
Cleobury Mortimer is a small rural market town in Shropshire, England. The town's parish has a population of 1,962 according to the 2001 census. Although sometimes regarded as a village, it is in fact the second smallest town in Shropshire , having been granted a town charter in 1253.Several...
, Bewdley
Bewdley
Bewdley is a town and civil parish in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England, along the Severn Valley a few miles to the west of Kidderminster...
and Hagley
Hagley
Hagley is a village and civil parish on the northern boundary of Worcestershire, England, near to the towns of Kidderminster and Stourbridge. The parish had a population of 4,283 in 2001, but the whole village had a population of perhaps 5,600, including the part in Clent parish...
to Frankley
Frankley
Frankley is a village and civil parish in the Bromsgrove district of Worcestershire, near the border with Birmingham. The modern Frankley estate is part of the New Frankley civil parish in Birmingham, and has been part of the city since 1995. The parish has a population of 122.-St Leonards...
(52.422451°N 2.001329°W).
Features
The aqueduct and its related features are visible at:- River WyeRiver WyeThe River Wye is the fifth-longest river in the UK and for parts of its length forms part of the border between England and Wales. It is important for nature conservation and recreation.-Description:...
: 52.296442°N 3.503467°W - Valve house: 52.291594°N 3.444634°W
- Nantmel Aqueduct: 52.286113°N 3.416445°W
- Carmel Aqueduct: 52.287612°N 3.383281°W
- Bridge over culverted stream: 52.300834°N 3.216593°W
- Observation tower: 52.303591°N 3.188647°W
- Bridge over stream: 52.314798°N 3.121883°W
- Survey tower|52.320521°N 3.107452°W
- Brynymor: 52.287640°N 3.383070°W
- Hidden Aqueduct: 52.334666°N 3.068550°W
- Valve house: 52.339871°N 3.045829°W
- Inspection chamber: 52.347854°N 3.004957°W
- Inspection chamber: 52.348547°N 2.980469°W
- Graham's Cottage Bridge (River TemeRiver TemeThe River Teme rises in Mid Wales, south of Newtown in Powys, and flows through Knighton where it crosses the border into England down to Ludlow in Shropshire, then to the north of Tenbury Wells on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border there, on its way to join the River Severn south of Worcester...
, LeintwardineLeintwardineLeintwardine is a large village and civil parish in north Herefordshire, England, close to the border with Shropshire.- Roman Leintwardine :...
): 52.347344°N 2.858526°W - Downton Bridge (River Teme, Downton): 52.350831°N 2.840863°W
- Inspection chamber: 52.354799°N 2.825199°W
- Valve house: 52.359273°N 2.803600°W
- Inspection chamber: 52.360114°N 2.796648°W
- Valve house: 52.360438°N 2.793830°W
- Deepwood Dingle crossing ("80 or 90 feet high", built by Messrs. Morrison & Mason, of Glasgow.): 52.360697°N 2.789672°W
- Wheelers Vallets Dingle Crossing: 52.361508°N 2.780470°W
- Teme Bridge (River Teme, LudlowLudlowLudlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
): 52.359678°N 2.703721°W - Ledwyche Brook: 52.3603172°N 2.6802536°W
- Inspection chamber: 52.363091°N 2.628587°W
- Bennettsend Bridge (Cumberley Lane/ Colly Brook): 52.365627°N 2.617254°W
- Hope Bagot Bridge: 52.364581°N 2.605730°W
- Corn Brook: 52.369394°N 2.581770°W
- Trig point: 52.366449°N 2.596530°W
- Valve house: 52.381486°N 2.507248°W
- Bridge over stream: 52.385448°N 2.492773°W
- River ReaRiver Rea, ShropshireThe River Rea is a small river that flows through south east Shropshire, England and passes just to the east of the small market town of Cleobury Mortimer, before entering the Teme at Newnham Bridge in Worcestershire. Its waters eventually reach the Bristol Channel, via the Severn. The upper...
: 52.387401°N 2.478847°W - Mad Brook: 52.393083°N 2.413848°W
- River SevernRiver SevernThe River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
: 52.40117°N 2.33145°W - siphon: 52.414734°N 2.266107°W
- siphon: 52.416608°N 2.252064°W
- siphon: 52.429898°N 2.163124°W
- siphon: 52.429569°N 2.152842°W
- Remains of former bridge over Birmingham-Worcester railway lineBirmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster LineThe Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster Line is a commuter railway line from Birmingham Snow Hill to Worcester via Stourbridge and Kidderminster. It is part of the Snow Hill Lines, with trains operated by London Midland and Chiltern Railways using by and diesel units...
: 52.429318°N 2.142821°W
Some crossings over canals an railways have been replaced by buried pipes. The line of the buried aqueduct through woodland is marked by a 20 metres (65.6 ft) "exclusion zone" from which trees are removed.