BIRCHILLS/LEAMORE AQUEDUCT 1846 HEW 830 SK 009 004 N52o 36' 8.2" W1o 59' 17.3"

This aqueduct carries the Wysley and Essington Canal over the very busy Cannock Branch of the LNWR Railroad line. It was built by Lloyd Foster & Company of Wednesbury in 1846. It is the twin of the Brownhills Aqueduct. Although not particularly impressive from the top beside the canal since the parapets are tall solid iron panels, from the side or from below it is an impressive structure with the usual 19th century boldness of masonry abutments and single supporting column and nice detailing on the outside of the parapet. A screening arch has an XX detail in the spandrels which also masks the stiffening fins along the bottom of the trough.

To find the aqueduct take a small residential road on the east side of Bloxwich Road (B4210) called Forest Lane. Go over the tracks on the road bridge to the end of the close. There is a path there to the canal and the top of the aqueduct. Parallel to the road bridge over the train tracks is a modern foot bridge from which one can see the side of the aqueduct.