Aqueduct To East Of Church Of St Mary And St Peter

The aqueduct located to the east of the Church of St Mary and St Peter was built in 1851 and designed by engineer James Simpson. It serves as part of the Bristol water supply system. The structure features a wrought iron tube supported by limestone piers and abutments. The aqueduct spans approximately 260 meters with a wrought iron pipe that has an ovoid section, measuring 4 meters deep and 1 meter wide, carried across a valley on 14 piers made of coursed rock-faced masonry. These piers are tapered square and rest on concrete padstones that hold rocker bearings for the large pipe. The height of the piers varies to match the ground profile, and the central pier is cruciform with raking buttresses. At both ends, there are stone revetment walls topped with simple iron railings, which enclose a reservoir made of puddled clay. This aqueduct is a prominent feature in the valley east of the church and is still in use as part of an 18-kilometer supply line, making it likely the oldest surviving example of such engineering.