Monument record 442/1/10 - Cosgrove Canal Embankment & Aqueduct

{1}{4}{5} South of lock no. 21, the canal is carried on an embankment of increasing height until the River Great Ouse is crossed into Buckinghamshire by an iron aqueduct at a height of about 10m. This 'Iron Trunk' was erected in 1811 to replace the original stone culverts which collapsed in 1808. Through the embankment at each end of the aqueduct is a cattle shaped tunnel, know as a cattle creep. Photo.

{2} The remains of at least one of the original pier bases of the iron aqueduct is just visible in the river. The 'cattle creep' here is very similar in character to the listed 'horse tunnel' in the village of Cosgrove (442/1/24).

{3} The valley of the Great River Ouse was a serious problem faced by the builders of the Grand Junction. In the absence of a viaduct over the river itself, a temporary solution involved a series of eight locks on the banks of the river, built in 1800, so that at least the canal could be used for through traffic. However, it could only be a stop-gap, because the river flooded frequently in the winter months. A massive embankment was needed to carry the canal over the flood plain, together with an aqueduct over the river itself. The gigantic embankment, which even today is very impressive, stands about 11 m (36 ft.) high above the valley floor and is 46 m (159 ft.) wide, extending about 800 m from one side of the valley to the other. The pioneer canal builder William Jessop suggested a brick aqueduct over the river. A structure with three arches, supported by two brick piers, was duly opened on 26 August 1805. The piers were built on dry land to one side of the river, which was then diverted through the new canal. A section of the canal embankment collapsed in January 1806, probably over the old course of the river which was repaired. The first aqueduct eventually collapsed in February 1808, severing the canal above. The subsequent Cosgrove Aqueduct is a navigable cast iron trough aqueduct, built in 1811. List of additional sources.

<1> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, NIAG Industrial Gazetteer, (draft part checked) (Draft). SNN101121.

<2> Cadman G., 2005, Site Visit to Cosgrove, Grand Union Canal, (checked) (Report). SNN107045.

<3> 2011, Our Transport Heritage - Heritage Locations - Cosgrove, (checked) (Website). SNN107383.

<4> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2001, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage Of Northamptonshire, Site 76 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN104759.

<5> Northamptonshire Industrial Archaeology Group, 2011, A Guide To The Industrial Heritage of Northamptonshire (2nd Edition), Site 78 (checked) (Gazetteer). SNN107622.

Record last edited

Jan 28 2015 2:13PM