190-year-old acqueduct set to be drained

The Engine Arm Aqueduct was built back in 1825, carrying the Engine Arm Canal over the Birmingham Canal Navigation.

The Canal and River Trust has decided to undertake the work as the duct is beginning to show signs of leaking and they want to make repairs.

The full extent of the work is unclear but the trust is going to put dams in place before pumping out water to find out what work is required.

It will then return in the new year when they know what repairs are needed.

Lawrence Tall, who is from the Canal and River Trust, said: "The Engine Arm Aqueduct is a real masterpiece of engineering. It's been in service for almost 200 years and to this day still remains an immensely important part of the region's canal system.

"Because the structure is showing signs of its age with a few leaks, we're putting in dams.

"We are then pumping out the water to find out exactly what work is required to keep it in service for another 200 years.

"Once we know where the aqueduct is leaking we'll spend the next few weeks working out how best to repair it and then come back in the new year to carry out the full repair."

Peter Mathews CMG, who is chair of the West Midlands Waterways Partnership, added: "It's great to see this impressive structure getting some much needed attention. The aqueduct was built locally in the Black Country.

"And it is testament to the enormous skills of the iron workers of the day that it is still working today, nearly 200 years later."

The aqueduct was built by renowned engineer Thomas Telford.

Historically, the aqueduct helped to transfer a vital supply of water from Edgbaston Reservoir to ensure the canals around the West Midlands were kept topped up.

The aqueduct is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and is one of only a few canal aqueducts in the Midlands that carry a canal directly over the top of another canal.