The Leominster Canal

The Late Martin Hudson, Friends of Leominster Canal (FoLC)

Editor’s Note: This is the last article that Martin sent to me before his death in December 2021 and I haven’t had the space to include it before.

Aqueducts

In 1795, Rev John Price wrote of the Leominster Canal: Apart from the tunnels, it has aqueducts, the one over the River Teme is of the greatest magnitude and elevation…

The Leominster Canal is often regarded as a mere footnote of history and yet it had some of the grandest engineering spectacles of the canal age.

The Leominster Canal was surveyed by Thomas Dadford in the late 1780s and made no secret of the enormous undertaking involved. Precipitous terrain, record-breaking tunnels and very large aqueducts were just part of the challenge. Even the culverts were built on a grand scale. But, for a select few, the allure of coal sales and great profit were temptations too great to resist.

Although Dadford and Waring reported 7 aqueducts built by 1794, we can only identify 6. None are fully intact today.

A sketch map based on the seminal Woolhope Club article shows the location of the 6 aqueducts. Rea, Teme and Brimfield are accessible by footpaths.

The Teme

Perhaps the best known due to its accessibility, it was a popular Sunday afternoon destination until WWII. A footpath leads to the remains. The loss of the centre arch was by no means due to age and decay. It was demolished as part of WWII exercises. Well worth a visit to view the 35ft spans.

Bryan Heatley unveiling the Blue Plaque in 2019 and a view circa 1900

The scale of the embankments alone will impress. The remaining arches are Grade 2 Listed. Access using a footpath from Gosford Bridge.

Ledwyche Aqueduct

Tucked away behind Burford Mill, this one is on private land. Adapted for railway use in the 1860s, this was a substantial construction of over 20ft span with embankments. Although the arch has gone, the original wing walls and footings can be seen (Photos on page 12).

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The pink of the canal-age bricks is clear in the wing walls and footings

The Cock Aqueduct

Another aqueduct rebuilt as a railway bridge, the footings are all that remain.

The lofty railway bridge erected in place of the aqueduct is quite unlike the original. The familiar image on the Monmouth and Brecon Canal is a Dadford design and gives an impression of what the Cock Aqueduct original was like. Like all the Leominster aqueducts, it leaked. We found an 1841 advert for bids to repair it.

Brimfield

When John Rennie visited, he found a re-built aqueduct which he criticized as having too little clearance over the Brimfield Brook. The present structure is more culvert/siphon than aqueduct, and is shown below during repairs, with a modern tube being inserted as a temporary measure. A sketch by Robert Williams shows the arrangement of the brick-built waterway. Members of FoLC view the same scene before drainage. Well worth a look, the site is on public footpaths.

Kingsland

Reported as near ruinous by John Rennie in 1795 after fierce flooding, a crossing was still standing by the time the 1841 tithe maps were made.

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From Page 13

On private land, we are grateful to the Environment Agency (EA) who recently surveyed and photographed the site. It is difficult to appreciate what Rennie saw. The aqueduct consisted of 3 arches of 20ft each, but again, with too little water-way.

The Rea

The Rea Aqueduct can still be visited by using the footpath from Broom Bank. That route will take you by the impressive Wharf House and lock remains. Don’t approach it from Newnham as that footpath has been closed.

Downstream in 2013

The collapse of 2013

The aqueduct has a 45ft span. Much criticized by John Rennie, it is a bold Dadford design who created a one of the largest aqueducts of its time. Rennie reported:

“…mostly built of brick, this aqueduct is unfortunately in a very bad situation, being split in the longitudinal direction of the arch … is not kept together by its own strength, but by iron bars which have been put across it…”

The iron crosses are very evident in the photograph above. Rennie went on to say that the aqueduct leaked profusely – a common theme of Dadford designs. We are grateful for a Worcestershire County Council report that revealed this aqueduct was also being prepared for demolition during WWII. The demolition didn’t take place, but the holes gouged into the brickwork further weakened the structure. In spite of clearance and efforts by FoLC to repair it, the up-stream face fell away in 2013. It now presents a sorry sight and is testament to the dubious value of its Grade 2 listing.

OS Maps such as Landranger 149 or Explorer 203 are very useful when visiting. Also, try www.theleominstercanal.co.uk

Editor’s Note: The original name of the canal was The Kington, Leominster and Stourport Canal but is now more commonly known as the Leominster Canal. Martin sent me many articles about the Leominster Canal which have proved both entertaining and informative. He is very much missed.

FRIENDS OF THE LEOMINSTER CANAL Registered Charity 1113746

Programme Of Walks For 2023

Saturday, 1st July Corn Brook Embankment near Tenbury Wells

An area of the canal not visited in a very long time, this impressive embankment is where the canal crosses the Corn Brook. Another wonder of the canal builders, this huge earthwork is well worth seeing.

Meeting point: TBA 10.30am

Directions: TBA

Saturday, 30th September: Field trip to the Putnal Tunnel

A field trip to the eastern portal of the Putnal Tunnel and southern edge of Wyson Common to survey feeder and pilot channels, culverts as well as having a poke around for clues to other structures.

Meeting point: TBA 10.30am

Directions: TBA

Thursday, 28th December: Christmas Walk. To be announced Hopefully the sun will shine and we can walk off the indulgences of the Christmas holiday, (please note that this is usually a social walk and not a guided canal walk).

Meeting point: TBA 10.30am

Directions: TBA

For more details of the walks, times and meeting points, please contact FoLC at: leominstercanal@gmail.com