Reviews of Barton Swing Bridge Aqueduct. (Museum) in Manchester (Greater Manchester).

Barton Swing Bridge Aqueduct

148 Reviews

88 Comments

Museum

Bridge

Trafford Park, Urmston, Eccles, Manchester M41 7LG, United Kingdom

Description

Information of Barton Swing Bridge Aqueduct, Museum in Manchester (Greater Manchester)

On this page you’ll find the address, open hours, more popular times, the contact, photos and real reviews of this business.

This business has received very good reviews from their customers, so probably it’s a place you should try if you are looking for this kind of services.

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Reviews of Barton Swing Bridge Aqueduct

J. D. (.

Another bit of awesome engineering. Close by is the swing road bridge. Both only operate maybe 3 or 4 times a week. Parking available on old Barton Road or Chapel Place.

S. A.

What an awesome piece of industrial heritage. Was lucky when I was there the road bridge got swung open.

D. C.

Great spot for a brew and a breather before pressing on. Pump house in front of you, swing aqueduct to the left and Barton Road Swing Bridge to the right. A hell of a lot of quality engineering within 200 metres. Lovely spot

I. J.

Good interpretation panels that explains how the viaduct operates. Well maintained cycle route from Worsley Delph along tow path

m. h.

Was doing some work near here recently, & spent a bit of time having a good look at it. It's a great piece of engineering, and is an interesting aqueduct. Had a look on the ship tracker (phone) to see if any ships were passing through as would love to see it in action, but no joy. Maybe next time.

P. J.

Great to stop for a minute as you passing by. With little pocket park between aqueduct and bridge. Both bridges swings as well.

T. M.

Wonderful Victorian engineering. Sadly looks in need of paint and landscape around is neglected. This is a major heritage site and deserves better. Notwithstanding that, it was great to visit and photograph a narrow boat crossing over the Shil Canal on the Bridgewater canal.

A. V.

The only one of its kind in the world. Urban masterpiece.

C. F.

Fantastic engineering but area around it is very neglected. From Traffort Centre side, there is no information about it. Should be much better promoted.

R. M.

Marvellous World renowned Aqueduct..carrying the Brigewater canal over Manchester ship canal..engineering masterpiece.small viewing platform when bridge closed to get close up view of passing ship."A must".to see the scale of ship so close..A godsend in the past to 1000's of workers of industrial Trafford Patk..many workplaces..supplying goods in WW 11. It has quieter timestoday with nearby Barton High level M62 bridge.. a good visit any day..👌

N. R.

One of oldest Aqueduct in Manchester that is still functional. It is amazing how such an old invention is still alive. It is serving as pass point for many house boats through the canals and many birds as well. Its just a shame that these canals and surrounding are so litter full.

d. t.

The Barton Swing Aqueduct is a direct replacement for the earlier Barton Aqueduct, a masonry structure crossing the river Irwell and completed in 1761. The construction of the Manchester Ship Canal in the 1890s necessitated the replacement of this structure, as the height of ships using the new ship canal was too great to pass under the old aqueduct.[6] An alternative scheme involving the use of a double lock flight was rejected, because of the need to conserve water in the Bridgewater Canal above. The new aqueduct was designed by Sir Edward Leader Williams, engineer to the Manchester Ship Canal Company, and was built by Andrew Handyside and Company of Derby. The first barge crossed the new aqueduct on 21 August 1893, and it opened to commercial traffic on 1 January 1894. Williams was also involved with the Anderton Boat Lift, another moving canal structure in the region. The swing aqueduct in open position. At this point transit through the Manchester Ship Canal is possible. Construction work began in 1890, with the demolition of a Roman Catholic school on the south bank of the ship canal. The scale of the operation meant that the course of the River Irwell had to be temporarily diverted around the site, so that the central island could be built on dry land. The swing aqueduct in the closed position, showing the Bridgewater Canal crossing over the Ship Canal. The Barton Road Swing Bridge is on the right. The aqueduct is a form of swing bridge. When closed, it allows canal traffic to pass along the Bridgewater Canal. When large vessels need to pass along the ship canal underneath, the 1,450-tonne (1,430-long-ton; 1,600-short-ton) and 330-foot (100 m) long iron trough is rotated 90 degrees on a pivot mounted on a small purpose-built island. Gates at each end of the trough retain around 800 tonnes of water; additional gates on each bank retain water in their adjacent stretches of canal. The aqueduct originally had a suspended towpath along its length, about 9 feet (2.7 m) above the water level of the Bridgewater Canal, which has now been removed. The structure is adjacent to, and upstream of, the Barton Road Swing Bridge. Both bridges are operated from a brick control tower on an island in the centre of the ship canal. When in the open position, the aqueduct and road bridge line up along the length of the island, allowing ships to traverse each side. To avoid the risk of collision, the aqueduct is opened half an hour before traffic on the Manchester Ship Canal is scheduled to pass. Two barriers are extended across the Bridgewater Canal before the bridge is swung. Here the inner barrier is only extended part way. The turning mechanism built into the central island consists of a 27-foot (8.2 m) race plate embedded in granite blocks. Sixty-four tapered cast iron rollers sat on top of the race plate, held in position by a spider ring. On top of that an upper race plate supports the aqueduct and its circular gear rack, which was powered by a hydraulic engine manufactured by Sir W. G. Armstrong Mitchell of Newcastle. To reduce the pressure on the turning mechanism, a hydraulic press was installed in the pivot. When water was admitted to the press it took up to half the weight. So successful was this system of hydraulic assistance that Leader Williams retrofitted it to several road swing bridges being built over the Ship Canal including the ones at Stockton Heath and Knutsford Road in Warrington.

M. V.

Interesting to see, but the area is not very inviting to explore.

k. d.

I visited this national treasure was a bit surprised given it's the only one in the world and still working after 200 years it felt abit abandoned. Theres a pocket park yet the upper part is fenced off. I'd have thought given its importance more should be done to show it off. Ok moan over! The Aqueduct is stunning where else can you sail in a canal over another canal. The Bridgewater canal passes over the manchester ship canal here but if you look carefully you can see signs of the original aqueduct the big walled embankment was the original line of the Bridgewater canal passing roughly between the aquaduct and the road bridge. The original non opening bridge spanned the mersey and irwell navigation but this was widened to form this section of the manchester ship canal so the swing aqueduct replaced the original to accommodate larger ships to pass. If you manage to see it in it's open position as I did you can see how they seal off the canal before it opens. The aquaduct remains full of water as it opens. Notice the ramps on both sides and the remains of the brackets high up on the aquaduct this was for the towpath and horses were lead over the aquaduct above the boats! If you stand on the salford side and look upstream on the left you will see a very slight widening of the canal this is the original line of the river and a lock. Hopefully one day I will get to see inside the control tower.

R. K.

Stopped off at Pocket Park whilst having a leisurely ride along the canal. Nice place to take in the wonders of 19th century civil engineering. Plenty of birdlife in this aptly named mini oasis.

P. S.

I love this piece of engineering and actually saw it swing today very impressive. For me always worth a visit but then again I don't live far from it.

C. S.

I don't live far from Barton Bridge. In fact I can see it from my flat. The Canal Bridge.

D. M.

Nice views for the area, I'm always impressed with the swinging bridge itself and views down the canal, lovely today beneath a clear blue sky, however my friend was very tired.

P. M.

Very interesting history. First time & place where boats can sail over the top of other boats. Swing aquaduct & swing bridge in same place.

S. T.

It's quite a grand example of clever engineering and provides interesting views up and down the Irwell. Just take care of the traffic as the pavement is narrow.

R. L.

Lovely piece of Victorian industrial architecture, but hardly a tourist trap and has zero promotion as such. Works well as a bridge.

S. N.

Historical wonder you have to see

A. H.

Lovely old bridge, but it takes about 10 minutes to open can close when a ship comes through.

J. S. (.

Great place to see the history of the area. From the site of the old power station nearby to the 2 different swing bridges, one road and one canal

S. L.

Passing through on a walk along the Bridgewater canal. Interesting info stops along the way, shaped like small boats

T. L.

Great piece of engineering. But opening the bridge in rush hour not very helpful to commuters.

D. C.

I love watching the boats

D. B.

Not as good as when we saw it on TV. Deserves more publicity and tourist info around and also a viewing platform so you can see it properly.

S. F.

Nice example of old time ingenuity. If you like historical engineering worth a visit

P. S.

Slow but different

J. b.

Very good it's something that you take for granted because its been there for so long

c. b.

Interesting historical things to see and read.

J. S.

One of the wonders of the UK canal network. Unfortunately there's no tow path over it, but there are good views from the nearby road bridge

L. S.

It's not often you see a working aquaduct, especially one so easily accessible to the public.

M. D.

A nice bit of history

R. F.

It's an aqueduct. It swings and it's in Barton. Not really sure what else I could say

S. G.

Great bit of history but need a lick of paint and some nice light on it

S. M.

Best swing aqueduct I've visited in a long time.

S. G.

Somewhere only history geeks and boaters can really appreciate

c. m.

Barton swing bridge could be a nice place to go and visit. If it was tidied up a little.

M. B.

Magnificent piece of civil engineering. I hope to see it in action one day.

j. a.

Amazing Victorian engineering, sadly neglected and needs a serious lick of paint

e. k.

Very interesting point on a good Bike Ride.

P. C.

First time in 67years seen Swing Bridge open . Plus huge Ship passing.

b. c.

Not something you see often. Definitely worth coming but you need to find out when it turns.

S. A.

Great view

s.

Tranquil place to visit during summer!

C. 2.

Interested because I have never seen one working before

J. C.

Iconic historical site of the industrial revolution

J. C.

Have to cross most days to work , but ships delay me sometime

G. F.

Awesome old engineering

A. R.

amazing. very informative and what a peice of mechanical marvel.

M. N.

Old but still in use...as everything in Manchester Ship Canal

E. C.

The only swing aqueduct in the world and it's in Sunny Eccles. What's not to like?

S. D.

An experience never been on one before we were on a boat

T. P.

Nice walk along side the canal

B.

Good see swing bridge

C.

Great peice of history and geography

G. F.

A unique piece of engineering that needs some TLC

M. J.

Great piece of local engineering

T. M.

Industrial heritate that is still in use today

E. C.

Great structure, sadly neglected

K. C.

It's fine

M. T.

Lovely place to sit

R. B. (.

The only one in the world! Who knew?

D. G.

Love it

C. S.

Not far from were I live

B. H.

A nice piece of history

P. a.

Great

J. W.

Piece of history

S. W.

(Translated) Road, bridge and river championship. The only such solution in the world. You can admire the artistry of construction and pioneering architectural solutions for hours. The place itself has a combination of nature and technology. The charm of this place makes you want to come back here. I definitely recommend it. (Original) Mistrzostwo w dziedzinie drogowo-mostowo-rzecznej. Jedyne takie rozwiązanie w świecie. Można godzinami podziwiać kunszt konstrukcji i prekursorskie rozwiązania architektoniczne. Samo miejsce posiada połączenie natury i techniki. Urok tego miejsca sprawia, że chce się tu wracać. Zdecydowanie polecam.

Z. Z.

(Translated) A beautiful and picturesque view of the big river, and you can walk on its bank and enjoy the wonderful views (Original) مظر جميل وخلاب واطلالة على النهر الكبير ويمكنك المشي على ضفته والاستمتاع بالمناظر الرائعة

s. s.

(Translated) Very nice especially when crossing ships from under the rotating bridge (Original) جميل جدا وخاصة عند عبور السفن من تحت الجسر الدوار

A. M.

(Translated) Cool view 😀 walking on foot you have to watch out for cars because there is a narrow pedestrian crossing (Original) Fajny widok 😀 idąc na piechotę trzeba uważać na samochody bo jest wąskie przejście dla pieszych

A. M.

(Translated) An engineering marvel that is more than 250 years old and still in operation! (Original) Uma maravilha da engenharia com mais de 250 anos e ainda em funcionamento!

Z. S.

(Translated) Pretty, I've never seen anything like it (Original) Pretty som nic take nevidela

F. S.

(Translated) Nice rusty thing. one of a kind (Original) Leuk roestig ding. One of a kind

L. C.

(Translated) A very interesting hudroengineering building (Original) Bardzo ciekawa budowla hudroinżynieryjna

S. P.

z. s.

(Translated) cool (Original) Super

C. S.

V. O.

S. A.

E. B.

S. F.

L. E.

D. P.

P. E.

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