Shropshire Canal aqueduct at SJ 69423 05931

The Shropshire Canal aqueduct is a stone structure built around 1792 to carry the Shropshire Canal over the Wellington to Madeley road. Constructed from sandstone ashlar, the aqueduct has a trapezoidal shape, with the longer sides oriented to the north-west and south-east, and the south-west end being longer than the north-east.

The exterior features an elliptical arch that spans the path below, made from a single course of ashlar voussoir stones, supported by ashlar block abutments. Above the arch, ashlar blocks rise to form parapets on either side of the aqueduct, which is now infilled and supports a tarmac path instead of water in an iron trough. Iron railings are positioned above the parapets, set back from the edge.

To the north-west, a wall extends at right angles from the north elevation, retaining the soil of the steep road cutting to the north-east. Additionally, the south side of the aqueduct is buttressed by a shorter rubble stone wall that projects at right angles to the south-west, helping to retain the slope of the road cutting in that direction. On the south elevation, there is an oval metal plaque inscribed with: ‘BUILT c.1792 THIS / AQUEDUCT WAS RESTORED / IN 2001 / ALSO REMEMBERED HERE / ARE THE WAR DEAD OF / AQUEDUCT VILLAGE’.