Store Street Aqueduct

Store Street Aqueduct is a stone structure that carries the Ashton Canal across a street in central Manchester. The construction spans around 220 feet in length, with a single arch rising approximately 9 feet above road level to allow traffic to pass underneath.

Built in 1798, this was the first major skewed aqueduct constructed in Great Britain. The innovative design by engineer Benjamin Outram demonstrated new possibilities in bridge building and continues to function today as originally intended.

The structure carries water across a busy street in a way that shaped how the city was built and used. You can still see boats or water flowing through it, connecting the industrial past with the present-day landscape.

The structure is located in central Manchester and is easy to reach on foot from nearby streets. You can view it best from street level below, where you get a clear sense of its arched form and can see the passageway it creates over the road.

It was built at a 40-degree angle to cross the street diagonally, using a design with triangular supports. This skewed construction method was uncommon at the time and shows how engineers creatively tackled difficult building sites.

Location: Manchester

Official opening: 1798

GPS coordinates: 53.47960,-2.22740

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:53