Lune Aqueduct

[davel]

The Lune Aqueduct on The Lancaster Canal has been closed off for a few days now with a clay dams, but not drained till yesterday due to a covering of ice that would hamper the rescue of the fish.

 

The plug (flap) was pulled at 8 ish am yesterday (Tuesday) and I went along about 2pm yesterday and took the following piccies.

 

Road Aqueduct South of the Lune. Last bit of ice remains on the bed.

 

 

South end of the Lune Aqueduct. The level had dropped about 3'.

 

 

Section of canal between the two aqueducts.

 

 

South of the road Aqueduct.

 

 

Some Freshwater mussels left stranded. Some appear to be making their way towards the remaining water.

 

 

The photos stopped loading part way through so I'll add some more later and try to get there occasionally to get updates.

 

Edited to add which canal the aqueduct is on!

Edited January 12, 2011 by davel

[soldthehouse]

Very interesting and refreshing thread, well done Dave

[TheWilk]

aw, the good old aqueduct! I almost miss crossing it 8 times a day...

 

I found a mussel shell just south of Lancaster that was as big as my hand. Never knew they lived in canals!

[davel]

More pics and short video.

 

Lune Aqueduct partly drained.

 

 

 

The basin to the north of the Aqueduct. The outlet is in the corner of the basin about 1/3rd down and 1/3rd in from the right in this photo.

 

 

 

We watched the contractors tirfor open the outlet then walked down to the river and shot this. The Channel is about 2' wide.

I shot it in portrait then realised back at the boat that I did not know how to re-orientate it. You'll just have to turn your monitors on there side.

 

Edited to add - I wasn't sure how this worked so clicked it and it links to photobucket were you can play it.

 

 

This morning nowt but a trickle.

 

 

Some of the debris left at the bottom of the chute.

 

 

Lun - ar photo. Shot at 2 pm ish.

 

Edited January 12, 2011 by davel

[Josher]

From the BBC 20 January 2011 Last updated at 11:09

 

Work starts on Lancaster's Lune Aqueduct

 

 

The Lune Aqueduct was designed by John Rennie

 

A £2.5m restoration project is under way on a historic Lancashire landmark. The work on Lancaster's Lune Aqueduct has been given the go-ahead after a successful lottery bid for £1m. Work is already underway on the 18th Century aqueduct which was recently targeted by vandals and thieves who stole eight stone balustrades.

 

Steve Higham, from British Waterways, said the investment would preserve the grade I-listed structure designed by John Rennie and attract more visitors. British Waterways matched the heritage lottery funding with further contributions from Lancashire County Council and Lancaster City Council bringing the total to £2.5m.

 

Mr Higham, the regeneration manager, said: "We're doing works to protect the long-term integrity of the aqueduct, primarily dealing with leaks it has suffered from at the north end. "We also want to open up the structure which will promote it and raise its profile and hopefully in turn increase visitor numbers."

 

The project will take two years to complete but British Waterways said it will not affect canal users as it will be carried out in the winter stoppage. "We will be doing the work when the canal is closed between October and March and the towpath will remain open," said Mr Higham.

[Pluto]

When the new road aqueduct was built in the late 1960s or early 70s, in order to maintain navigation there were two inclines, one on either side of the aqueduct, joined by a railway, so boats could be pulled out of the canal on a cradle, traverse the works on the railway, and then be returned into the canal on the opposite side of the stoppage.

[Ange]

From the BBC

SNIP "We will be doing the work when the canal is closed between October and March" SNIP

 

eh? Since when did they close the Lancaster Canal between October and March!!

[Josher]

eh? Since when did they close the Lancaster Canal between October and March!!

You didn't like that article then? - how about this one?

 

Rotting aqueduct to get a £2m makeover

 

 

new look: The Lune Aqueduct is having a makeover

 

Published on Fri Jan 21 08:32:13 GMT 2011 LEP

 

A 230-year-old Lancashire aqueduct is getting a £2m makeover. Workmen have descended on the Lune Aqueduct, Halton, Lancaster, to restore the structure. A new car park will be created, as well as improved access for visitors. The aqueduct, which has started to leak and deteriorate, carries the Lancaster Canal over the River Lune and is a Grade I listed structure.

 

Steve Higham, regeneration manager at British Waterways, said: “The canal system was a key driver in the industrial revolution and we feel that, at the moment, the aqueduct is hidden away and people don’t recognise its true value. “There are eight people (working) on site but that number will be increasing. It’s cold up here but there have been no problems so far.” Two years of studies and surveys were carried out prior to work starting earlier this month. The scheme will also see work to repair the canal and aqueduct channel, remove vegetation and graffiti and re-pointing and masonry repairs. Landscaping work will be carried out to increase the prominence of the aqueduct against the landscape. It has been awarded a grant of £1m by the Heritage Lottery Fund. British Waterways will provide £1.25m with contributions from Lancaster Council, Lancashire County Council and Lancaster Canal Trust.

 

Julie Sharman, head of regeneration north, British Waterways, said: “We are delighted to be awarded this significant amount of money from the Heritage Lottery Fund to rejuvenate this fantastic piece of English waterway heritage. “The planned works will refurbish the aqueduct’s historic masonry and stonework and visually and physically open up this magnificent structure to the local and visiting public.” Local schools will also be encouraged to make use of a teaching pack aimed at educating youngsters about canal heritage and environment. Sara Hilton, head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, said: “The aqueduct is a masterpiece and a striking example of the impact the industrial revolution had on the region. “This award will mean the historic features of the aqueduct will be conserved, and public access improved.”

 

Work will take two years. A ‘behind the scenes’ tour is on February 9.

[Ange]

You didn't like that article then? - how about this one?

 

 

Hi Josher

 

Apologies - I wasn't having a pop at the link, just the assertion that the canal closes for 6 months of the year! Both links were very informative - thanks for posting them.

 

We're booked to go on the "behind the scenes tour" on Feb 9th, which happens to be my hubby's birthday (hubby being davel - the OP for this thread). We'll post some more pics and info after the tour.

 

[Josher]

Whilst waiting for the pics of the 'behind the scenes tour' (ange/davel) here is a splendid photograph (and article) from Culture 24:

 

John Rennie-designed Grade I-listed Lune Aqueduct in Lancaster wins £1 million grant

By Culture24 Staff | 25 January 2011 | Updated: 24 January 2011 Here

 

 

The Lune Aqueduct

 

A Grade I-listed Lancashire aqueduct built by Scottish engineering forefather John Rennie 214 years ago will be given a £2 million overhaul. The Lune Aqueduct in Lancaster has been awarded £1 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund for rebuilding works, match-funded with a £1.25 million investment by British Waterways, Lancaster City Council, Lancashire County Council and the Lancaster Canal Trust

 

“The Lune Aqueduct is a masterpiece of engineering and a striking example of the impact the industrial revolution had both on the local landscape and the development of the region,” said Heritage Lottery Fund North West boss Sara Hilton. “This award will mean that the historic features of the aqueduct will be conserved, and public access improved so that more people will be able to explore and enjoy this heritage treasure, ensuring it is preserved for future generations.”

 

The works aim to make the landmark more accessible and attractive to visitors, including the provision of a temporary community engagement officer to run volunteering and educational schemes around the site. British Waterways applied for the funding following two years of investigations into restoring the aqueduct. Channel repairs, vegetation and graffiti removal, repointing and masonry repairs, landscaping and improved access and facilities are among the programme of renovations planned in a project expected to take two years to complete.

 

“We are delighted to be awarded this significant amount of money from the Heritage Lottery Fund to rejuvenate this fantastic piece of English waterway heritage,” said British Waterways regeneration planner Julie Sharman. “The planned works will refurbish the Aqueduct’s historic masonry and stonework and visually and physically open up this magnificent structure to the local and visiting public.”

 

* British Waterways will be hosting a Stoppage Open Day on February 9 with behind-the-scenes tours of the repairs. Visit Here for details.

[davel]

Had the tour now so here is an update and further information and photos.

 

Thanks Josher for filling in with articles and other photos and apologies if I repeat stuff that Josher has mentioned.

 

Aqueduct from South side ----

 

 

---and north side.

 

 

According to the BW personnel conducting the tour the piers were built on Timber piles the timber having been imported from Russia. Also they imported volcanic ash from Italy to mix with the lime water to give extra strength.

 

The piers went down about 7m below the water surface and the piles a further 3m.

 

Although there is a crack in the masonry which is in the same place in all five aches it is thought that this happened as the aqueduct settled soon after it was built.

 

 

 

According to drawing that BW have the piers are hollow, I believe this is also the case with other bridges and aqueducts.

 

Soon after it was finished (possibly the next year) the aqueduct suffered a breach at the eastern end resulting in a rebuild, with a stone that was dressed differently, from the last pier and from about 8 courses up from the current ground level.

 

The original stone being on the left of the following images.

 

 

 

 

And on the trough

 

 

 

Also the last arch on the eastern was originally built over water but this was subsequently filled in so a railway line could be built to go under the aqueduct.

[davel]

I took some photos on an earlier visit a few days after the initial draining when the fish zapping guys were there.

 

They towed a little dinghy along behind them with Genny and big bucket.

 

 

This was the first pass, of three I believe, and this bucket full was caught in the first half of the drained section.

 

 

There were loads of little bream and perch at least one pike about 15" long an eel about 3' long and 1 1/4" diameter a Tench about 12" long and a bream about the same, these were what I could see in the bucket or were caught when I was there.

 

 

 

Back to today's visit.

 

I don't know if it was yobs or the wind that threw the ready-fence panels into the cut but the guys were saying that this year they have had security patrolling the area as they were spending so much time dragging panels out of the water.

 

 

We then climbed down into the aqueduct to see the work going on to the trough.

 

 

 

The contractors were scraping out old mortar (and clay in places where the mortar had been pushed/flushed out) between the masonry to the a depth of at least 3" then refilling with Lime mortar.

 

 

When the mortar has set sufficiently they then drill a hole at each corner of every block and inject waterproofing stuff to fill any voids behind the blockwork and drive the remaining water out.

 

 

They were doing this at a rate of about 1.5m per day per man.

 

 

They have dug out the canal bed at the western end and concreted up to the start of the trough.

 

 

 

 

Presumably these are to tie one section of concrete to the next.

 

 

Excuse the rubbish photos. It's a nice shot of the ready-fence panels though.

[buccaneer]

Thanks for info and pictures Dave,are you staying on Lancaster this year or exploring further south?

Any more Pictureson above?

[Ange]

Thanks for info and pictures Dave,are you staying on Lancaster this year or exploring further south?

Any more Pictureson above?

 

Hya - sorry tis me cos birthday boy has gone to bed

 

We've put in our application form to go back across the Ribble Link on the first crossings at the end of April, then we're planning to travel down to the K&A with a stopover in Coventry where my brother lives on the way (and maybe making it by boat to the Lapworth banter - fingers crossed!)

 

No more pics I'm afraid - just two handouts that we need to figure out how to scan then upload onto the forum - definitely not a job for tonight!

[Josher]

Great photos - was the tour worth it? How many people turned up?

[davel]

Great photos - was the tour worth it? How many people turned up?

 

 

There were 16 places on each tour and 4 tours during the day, all tours were fully booked and there was a full complement on the tour we were on even though it was a rather grotty day.

 

Was it worth it -- Yes I think so, there was some interesting information but I would have liked to be able to wander more extensively around the site and have a nose around the winding hole where the outlet is.

[Josher]

Latest ...

 

Lancaster's Lune Aqueduct undergoes restoration

16 November 2011 Last updated at 17:12 BBC

 

Specialist contractors on the Lune Aqueduct Specialist teams are needed to get to areas that are difficult to access

 

For Terry Mellis, dangling 53ft (16m) over the side of the Lune Aqueduct in Lancaster is "just another day at the office". He is part of a team of specialist contractors abseiling down the aqueduct high above the River Lune to carry out repair work on difficult to access areas. The Grade I-listed 200-year-old Georgian structure is being restored as part of a £2.4m restoration project. The two-year operation includes repairing the canal channel, removing vegetation and graffiti, undertaking repointing and masonry repairs and improving public access.

 

"We do this all year round, so you've got to have a head for heights," said Mr Mellis. "There's not many people who will see places from where we see them." Designed by John Rennie and constructed by Alexander Stevens, the aqueduct consists of five stone arches supporting a 600ft (183m) stone trough. It took three years to build and was completed in 1797 at a cost £48,321. This amount exceeded the original estimate of £18,619 to such an extent that a corresponding aqueduct over the River Ribble was never built.

 

The aqueduct is an impressive feature of the Lancaster Canal, which was the main conduit for the economic development of Cumbria and parts of Lancashire for more than 100 years. The Lune Aqueduct in Lancaster The aqueduct consists of five stone arches supporting a 600ft (183m) stone trough. An inscription on the upstream face of the aqueduct reads "To Public Prosperity" while the downstream side bears a Latin inscription, translated as "Old needs are served, far distant sites combined. Rivers by art to bring new wealth are joined".

 

Clive Mitchell, project manager for British Waterways, said: "It's incredible to be able to restore the aqueduct and unveil a view which shows it in its full former glory. "The work that we are doing will safeguard this important piece of local and national heritage for generations to come." The work is due to be completed by January next year, and a project officer will be employed to work with local schools and the community to provide people with the opportunity get involved in the long-term management of the aqueduct.

 

An open day, including guided tours, is being held on 25 November for members of the public to see the restoration first-hand.

[Pluto]

Snip

The aqueduct is an impressive feature of the Lancaster Canal, which was the main conduit for the economic development of Cumbria and parts of Lancashire for more than 100 years. .

Where do they get their historical facts from?? The canal was never particularly important as most of industrial Cumbria was served by coastal shipping, which was a far more significant historically. On the radio they even suggested that the canal carried large amounts of cotton which is just ridiculous. And this is a business, ie C&RT or BW, which suggests that it recognises the historical and heritage aspects of our canals.

[boatmanckp]

Do we all have short memories? BW fully restored this aqueduct about ten years ago, some restoration.CKP

[Hairy-Neil]

And doubtless it will need further maintenance in another 10 years....