Description and History of Site:-

Stanley Ferry Aqueduct is an early and notable example of bow-string arch construction, carrying the Aire & Calder Canal across the River Calder near Wakefield. Built between 1836 and 1839 and opened on 8 August 1839, it demonstrates engineering more closely aligned with railway design than traditional canal construction.

The aqueduct features a cast-iron trough suspended from a segmental cast-iron arch spanning 155 ft. The trough measures 165 ft long, 24 ft wide, and 8 ft 6 in deep, holding approximately 940 tons of water. It is supported by around 35 wrought-iron hangers, 2½ in diameter and spaced at 3 ft intervals on each side, which are hung from paired cast-iron open-web arch ribs. Each rib, spanning 155 ft and weighing 110 tons, is composed of seven segments shaped like five-rung ladders, with T-shaped sides forming the arch flanges and rectangular rungs forming the web.

The stone abutments, built on piles by H. McIntosh of London, provide stable support for the structure. The castings were produced by William Graham & Co. of Milton Ironworks near Sheffield, with George Leather of Leeds serving as the engineer.

Considered one of the largest cast-iron aqueducts in the world, Stanley Ferry Aqueduct remains a remarkable feat of 19th-century engineering. Its age and the increasing size and weight of modern traffic mean it is under significant strain, yet it continues to be a historic and visually striking landmark.

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Key Words :- canal aqueduct cast iron bowstring arch

Address :- Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Grid Ref :- SE3557623023
Co-ordinates :- Lat 53.702435 , Long -1.462592
Local Authority :- Wakefield Council
Pre 1974 County :- Yorkshire - West Riding
Site Status :- Listed - Grade I
Historic England List No - 1261690,
Site Condition :- Operational site, in use for original purpose
Site Dates :- 1839 -
Contributor :- John Suter - 29 September 2016

Copyright :- cc-by-nc-sa 4.0 © John Suter