Description and History of Site:-
Stanley Ferry Aqueduct, early example of bow string arch construction.

The Aire & Calder Canal is carried across the River Calder in a trough hung from a cast-iron arch which has a span of 155 ft. The aqueduct was opened in 1839 and is certainly more allied to railway engineering than to traditional canal engineering. This is a truly remarkable structure and an historical hngineering work of the first order. Unfortunately, like Telford's Menai Suspension Bridge, it is of considerable age and fully used and the strain is beginning to tell. Not only the weight but the size of traffic units have increased considerably since it was built. It is thought to be the largest cast iron aqueduct in the world, consisting of a cast iron trough 165 ft long by 24 ft wide by 8 ft 6 in deep and holding 940 tons of water. This trough is supported by some 35 2½ in diameter wrought iron hangers at 3 ft centres, each side, from a pair of cast iron segmental arch open web ribs at 30 ft 6 in centres, each in seven segments. The ribs span 155 ft and weigh 110 tons. Each segment is shaped like a five-rung ladder bent to an arc, the T-shaped 'sides' forming the two flanges of the arch ribs which decrease in depth from springing to crown and the 'rungs' being rectangular, part of the web. The abutments are stone, on piles, built by H. McIntosh of London. The castings were by William Graham and Go, Milton Ironworks (SYK01765) near Sheffield. The Engineer was George Leather of Leeds. The aqueduct was built between 1836 and 1839 and opened on 8 August 1839. It carries the new cut of the Aire and Calder Navigation over the River Calder, near Wakefield, and is readily accessible.

Falconer and PHEW

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Key Words :- canal aqueduct cast iron bowstring arch

Address :- Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Grid Ref :- SE 35576 23023
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 -
Record Date :- 29 September 2016

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