Canal aqueduct

Scheduled monument

What is recorded here

Forton Aqueduct is Thomas Telford's 1833 stone crossing for the Newport Branch of the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal. Its three river arches and adjoining skew bridge carried the new waterway and a public road across the River Meese, and survive from the last canal completed under Telford's direction.

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Why it was made

The eastern part of the Shrewsbury and Newport route had to run from Norbury Junction to Wappenshall Junction while crossing the River Meese and an existing road near Forton. Holding the canal at its working height avoided a descent into the river valley. The combined aqueduct and skew bridge solved both crossings within one carefully planned group of stonework.

People and events

Engineer Thomas Telford designed the work, which was built in 1833. Stone workers used squared blocks laid in regular courses and formed three arches over the river. The eastern canal section opened in 1835 as part of Telford's last canal project, linking the older Shrewsbury waterway to the wider canal system through Norbury.

How it worked

The three spans let the Meese pass below while the raised channel kept boats moving above. The nearby bridge crosses at an angle rather than meeting the route squarely, allowing the public road to hold its established line. Together the parts carried water, boats, towing traffic and road users through a difficult meeting of river and land routes.

What remains

The multi-span aqueduct, three river arches, skew bridge and much of their coursed stone facing remain. Historic England records the monument as surviving in good condition even though the canal itself closed in stages during the twentieth century. The complete crossing still shows the shape of the abandoned waterway and the quality of Telford's Forton stonework.

Why it mattered

Forton helped the Newport Branch carry goods between the Shrewsbury Canal and the national network. Iron ore and limestone continued to use the route even after a parallel railway opened in 1848 and reduced canal trade. The surviving work records both the commercial purpose of that link and Telford's ability to fit canal, road and river together at one place.