Barton Swing Aqueduct

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The Barton Swing Aqueduct is a moveable aqueduct located at Barton upon Irwell, it carries the Bridgewater Canal over the Manchester Ship Canal.

It is a form of swing bridge. In its closed position, it allows canal traffic to pass along the Bridgewater Canal. However, when large vessels need to pass along the Ship Canal, the massive iron trough which is 234ft long and weighs 800 tonnes is swung through ninety degrees via a pivot mounted on a small, purpose-built island in the Ship Canal to allow them to pass.

Gates at either end of the trough retain around 800 tonnes of water within the trough; further gates on either bank retain water in their adjacent stretches of canal.

The aqueduct was built as part of the Manchester Ship Canal and replaced James Brindley's earlier viaduct that crossed the Mersey and Irwell Navigation.

It was designed by Sir Edward Leader Williams, engineer to the Manchester Ship Canal Company, and built by Andrew Handyside of Derby.

It opened on 21st August 1893.