Feature (1) Midford Aqueduct on the Somersetshire Coal Canal Somersetshire Coal Canal: the restoration of Midford Aqueduct The Somersetshire Coal Canal Society aims to preserve the remains of the canal but is not, at present, attempting full restoration. However, when the residents of Midford, near Bath, decided they would either have to restore their aqueduct or risk losing it, the SCCS was glad of the opportunity to help.
Somersetshire Coal Canal Short section of Timsbury - Limpley Stoke length opened 1805, closed 1898, abandoned 1904 and parts used later for GWR CamertonLimpley Stoke railway line (now closed).
Midford Aqueduct was built at the point where the southern branch of the Somersetshire Coal Canal from Radstock crossed the Cam Brook to join the northern branch coming from Paulton. In fact, no boat from Radstock ever reached the aqueduct because the elevated southern branch stopped short of Midford and the coal was brought down into the valley by a gravity-operated plateway (an early form of railway). By 1815, the plateway had been extended back along the towpath of the southern branch all the way to Radstock and a complex marshalling yard terminus had been built adjacent to the aqueduct, with three transfer basins. The whole site became redundant in 1871 when the southern branch was bought-out for the building of the Somerset & Dorset Railway. Twenty years later, the basins and aqueduct were filled up as part of a rubbish tipping scheme for Bath and left to disintegrate.
Radstock branch Kennet including Midford & Avon Aqueduct opened Canal about 1804, used for to Bath transhipment to plateway until abandoned in 1871. Limpley Stoke
Timsbury Peasedown St John
Radstock Radstock-Twinhoe length opened around 1804, replaced by horse-drawn plateway on towpath in 1815, abandoned 1871 and mainly incorporated into Somerset & Dorset Railway (now closed).
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History
Restoration The official unveiling ceremony for the restored Midford Aqueduct on the Somersetshire Coal Canal finally took place this July. It was the culmination of a long series of adventures and misadventures for all concerned and there were times when the whole project seemed doomed to failure.
Midford Kennet Combe & Avon TwinhoeCanal to How many other canal projects Hay have had to contend with no less Reading than three '50-year flood' events in succession - followed by a '100Wellow year flood'? ....and all in the space of 3 months.
Twinhoe-Midford length of Radstock Branch of canal never built: 'temporary' plateway built instead around 1804, extended along towpath of rest of Radstock Branch in 1815, abandoned 1871 and partly incorporated into Somerset & Dorset Railway (now closed).
The idea of repair was first raised seriously in the mid 1990s: by then the aqueduct had reached a sorry state and the local Midford Environment Group was concerned that a bad winter flood could start a collapse and lead to demolition of the whole structure. In conjunction with the Avon Industrial Buildings Trust and the Somersetshire Coal Canal Society they set about applying for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Originally the intention was just to stabilise the ruin, but despite the extra cost, full restoration was decided to be the best option.