Cosgrove aqueduct

Cosgrove aqueduct is a cast iron trough that carries boats over the River Great Ouse using panels and girders fitted into a metal frame. The structure features a flat channel on top for the canal boats and a walking path beside it, supported by diagonal bracing underneath.

The current structure was built following the collapse of an earlier brick version in 1808 and was ready to carry boats across the river again. This failure triggered disputes between the contractor and the company operating the canal.

The structure demonstrates how 19th-century engineers adapted their craft to new materials for river crossings. Walking across it, visitors notice the cast iron panels fitted together, creating something quite different from the traditional brick aqueducts of earlier times.

The structure is easily accessible from the towpath and the walkway beside the canal is wide enough to stroll along and examine the details. There are no gates or barriers, so visitors can walk the full length and enjoy views of the river below.

The iron components were manufactured at Ketley Iron Works and then transported to the site by canal itself. This unusual solution meant the material traveled by the very type of waterway it was designed to serve.

Location: Cosgrove

Location: Wolverton and Greenleys

Official opening: August 26, 1805

Made from material: cast iron, brick

GPS coordinates: 52.06880,-0.83371

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:09