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The Thirlmere Aqueduct is a 96-mile long water supply system built by the Manchester Corporation Water Works between 1890 and 1925. The aqueduct was built to carry approximately 55,000,000 imperial gallons per day of water from Thirlmere Reservoir in the Lake District to Manchester.
The majority of the aqueduct was built by cut-and-cover and so is only just below ground level. To ensure continuous access by maintenance staff, in most places where the route crossed a road or field boundary, a gate was built. A majority of these have a characteristic construction with stone stoops and iron gate, with spiked staves.
There are also a large number of valve houses, each usually built of stone and often with a green painted door.
The MCWW TA (as displayed on pretty much every piece of hardware) also has some interesting engineering structures on the route, a few of which are pictured here.
The majority of the aqueduct was built by cut-and-cover and so is only just below ground level. To ensure continuous access by maintenance staff, in most places where the route crossed a road or field boundary, a gate was built. A majority of these have a characteristic construction with stone stoops and iron gate, with spiked staves.
There are also a large number of valve houses, each usually built of stone and often with a green painted door.
The MCWW TA (as displayed on pretty much every piece of hardware) also has some interesting engineering structures on the route, a few of which are pictured here.
- Higher Wheelton
Characteristic Thirlmere Aqueduct gate, between fields near the stone aqueduct in Higher Wheelton east of Preston. - Higher Wheelton
Interior view of the very impressive stone structure of the Thirlmere Aqueduct aqueduct, near Higher Wheelton, east of Preston. - Higher Wheelton
The Thirlmere Aqueduct crosses a small valley by this very impressive stone structure near Higher Wheelton, east of Preston. - Fallowfield Loop
The pipe bridge by which the Thirlmere Aqueduct crosses the Fallowfield Loop former railway line, near Nelstrop Road North, between Levenshulme and Reddish. - Fallowfield Loop
Characteristic Thirlmere Aqueduct gate, on Nelstrop Road North where the Aqueduct crosses the Fallowfield Loop former railway line. - Caton
The Thirlmere Aqueduct crosses the River Lune near Caton, east of Lancaster, by this ornate pipe bridge. This is a very distant view, closer access is by a footpath. - Caton
This is the view across the fields to the Thirlmere Aqueduct crossing of the River Lune near Caton, east of Lancaster. The downstream valve house, with green door, is visible to the right of the picture. There are five of the characteristic Thirlmere Aqueduct gates at the field boundaries in this view. - Caton
Characteristic Thirlmere Aqueduct gate, and my bike, on the A683 Lancaster Road in Caton in Lancashire. - Stretford
Thirlmere Aqueduct valve house near the fire station in Stretford, near Manchester. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Looking westwards towards Lancaster. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Looking south towards Manchester: here the aqueduct is cut-and-cover. Note the characteristic gate at the field boundary. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Looking northwards towards Thirlmere - the aqueduct comes down from the valve house visible at the top of the hill. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Fairly impressive flood level lines. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Extremely impressive flood level lines! - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
The south (Manchester, downstream) side of the bridge. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Downstream valve house. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
View across the bridge, across which the water is carried in four large diameter pipes. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
This metalwork belongs to MCWW TA....... - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Characteristic gate and, up the hill, the upstream valve house. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Cattle underbridge at the upstream end of the river bridge. - Thirlmere Aqueduct - River Lune Bridge
Coat of arms and label. - Withington Road, Whalley Range
Thirlmere Aqueduct characteristic gate hidden by the greenery, though one stope is visible. West side of Withington Road, Whalley Range. - Withington Road, Whalley Range
Reverse angle view. Thirlmere Aqueduct characteristic gate on the west side of Withington Road, Whalley Range. - Withington Road, Whalley Range
Thirlmere Aqueduct characteristic gate on the west side of Withington Road, Whalley Range. - Yew Tree Road, Fallowfield
Thirlmere Aqueduct characteristic gate on the west side of Yew Tree Road, Fallowfield. Partly hidden by the wooden fence. - Yew Tree Road, Fallowfield
Thirlmere Aqueduct characteristic gate on the east side of Yew Tree Road, Fallowfield. - Wellington Road, Fallowfield
Thirlmere Aqueduct characteristic gate on the west side of Wellington Road, Fallowfield. - Brailsford Road, Fallowfield
Brailsford Road Thirlmere Aqueduct Valve House at the east end of Brailsford Road, Fallowfield, facing eastwards. The railway is the Styal Loop, north of Mauldeth Road station. The Aqueduct passes under the girder overbridge that is visible to the right of the arched pedestrian subway. - Brailsford Road, Fallowfield
Westwards view of the Styal Loop, north of Mauldeth Road station, where it passes over the Thirlmere Aqueduct which is under the left hand span. - St Werburgh's Road, Chorlton
Thirlmere Aqueduct characteristic gate on the east side of St Werburgh's Road, Chorlton, with an entrance to the eponymous tram stop visible. - Brantingham Road, Chorlton
Thirlmere Aqueduct characteristic gate on the north side of Brantingham Road, Chorlton. - Manchester Road, Chorlton
View over the parapet of the bridge by which Manchester Road, Chorlton, crosses the East Didsbury tram route. The second pipe bridge carries the Thirlmere Aqueduct. - Manchester Road, Chorlton
Manchester Road Thirlmere Aqueduct Pipe Bridge in Chorlton, crossing the East Didsbury tram route; viewed through the fence from Manchester Road. - Manchester Road, Chorlton
Manchester Road Thirlmere Aqueduct Pipe Bridge in Chorlton, crossing the East Didsbury tram route; viewed from the opposite side of Manchester Road. - Cheltenham Road, Chorlton
Rare hooped gate at the junction of Oswald Road and Cheltenham Road in Chorlton, looking westwards. The Thirlmere Aqueduct passes between the rows of houses here under several streets. - Grange Road, Chorlton
Rare double gate on the east side of Grange Road in Chorlton. The Thirlmere Aqueduct passes between the rows of houses here under several streets. - Grange Road, Chorlton
Modified double gate on the west side of Grange Road in Chorlton. The Thirlmere Aqueduct passes between the rows of houses here under several streets. This gate also gives access to another Valve House. - Grange Road, Chorlton
A small Thirlmere Aqueduct inspection hatch on the west side of Grange Road in Chorlton shows the initials MCWW (Manchester Corporation Water Works). - Great Stone Road, Chorlton
Thirlmere Aqueduct Valve house visible on the east side of Great Stone Road in Chorlton, but labelled as Cheltenham Road Valve House. - Great Stone Road, Chorlton
West side of Great Stone Road in Chorlton, note the angled house giving clearance for the Thirlmere Aqueduct. - Great Stone Road, Chorlton
Thirlmere Aqueduct Valve house visible on the east side of Great Stone Road in Chorlton, but labelled as Cheltenham Road Valve House. - Kings Road, Stretford
Thirlmere Aqueduct Valve House off Kings Road in Stretford, unusual brick design. Behind it is the Manchester - Altrincham MSJ&A line, now the Altrincham tram route.