Marple Aqueduct Peak Forest Canal

Marple Aqueduct on the Peak Forest Canal

Marple Aqueduct, Stockport. — The tallest masonry-arch aqueduct in the UK

Marple Aqueduct, designed by Benjamin Outram and constructed from 1794-1800, is the tallest masonry-arch aqueduct in the UK. The resident engineer was Thomas Brown from nearby Disley.

Located in Marple, a suburb of Stockport in Greater Manchester, the aqueduct is also the tallest aqueduct in England, surpasssed in height only by the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Wales.

It was designed by Benjamin Outram and constructed from 1794-1800. — It was designed by Benjamin Outram, Consultant Engineer for the Peak Forest Canal, and constructed from 1794-1800

The Grade I listed structure carries the Peak Forest Canal across the River Goyt on three semi-circular, stone arches 24 meters above the river's level. It was constructed to carry limestone on barges from quarries in Derbyshire. The nearby Marple Locks were completed in 1804. During construction seven men lost their lives.

The Peak Forest Canal is 15 miles long. It runs from Duckingfield Junction on the Ashton Canal to Bugsworth Basin, with a short spur to Whaley Bridge.

Nowadays the restored canal, which reopened in 1974, is part of the picturesque Cheshire Cruising Ring.