Marple Aqueduct, Navigable aqueduct in Marple, England
Marple Aqueduct is a three-arch sandstone structure that spans 96 meters across the River Goyt and rises about 30 meters above the water surface. It connects different sections of the Peak Forest Canal and allows boats to cross the valley.
Construction began in 1795 under engineer Benjamin Outram and was completed in 1800 as part of an ambitious canal network for moving industrial goods. It was one of the first major water engineering projects of its kind in the region.
The canal passage shows how waterways once connected industrial communities before railways took over as the main transport method. Visitors can observe boats still moving through the water channel and understand why this route mattered to the region.
The best views of the structure come from below in the valley or from paths along the canal towpath. Visitors can walk or cycle along the canal route and see the aqueduct from different angles throughout their visit.
The structure was one of the tallest masonry arch aqueducts of its era and required stone from two different quarries in the area. This blend of stone types is still visible in the facade today and tells the story of where each material came from.
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