Built in 1796 to carry the Shropshire Union Canal over the River Tern. The aqueduct is thought to have been a model for the Pontcysyllte aqueduct on the Llangollen Canal at Chirk.
With the canal first abandoned, then largely obliterated nearby, the aqueduct stands isolated forming a bridge between two farmer’s fields. It is, however, still passable although permission should be sought from the farmer, Mr Jim Boffey, at Longdon Hall.
This is a view of the aqueduct from the east
The aqueduct is walkable
The Shrewsbury and Newport Canals Trust hopes to reinstate the aqueduct as part of its plan to reopen the canal from its link with the Shropshire Union Canal at Norbury Junction to the River Severn in Shrewsbury.
You can read more about the SNCT’s plans here, and specifically more about the aqueduct here. The site includes a number of interesting pictures of old Longdon, too, including the corrugated iron warehouse that stood at what was once the bend in the canal that took it across the road and on to Rodington, but which now stands in the garden of a house.
Wikipedia has more about the aqueduct here, and more about Thomas Telford, the famous engineer, here.
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