Thomas
Telford was responsible
for the early 19th century improvements to the main line canal at
Birmingham. Having surveyed the original Brindley contour canal across
the Birmingham Plateau he declared it "little better than a crooked
ditch" and set about carving a straight line across the route. The
result was the largest earthwork in the world at the time - a
little over 70 feet deep and a mile long - now known as the Galton
Valley. It was crossed by the magnificent Galton Bridge, at the
time the longest single span bridge in the world. Among his other
improvements to the canal system were the Engine Arm feeder canal that
crosses the new line and carries water supplies to the old main line
across the dramatic, cast-iron Engine Arm aqueduct, a scheduled ancient
monument.
Telford is also
known
for his audacious improvements to the old Roman road of Watling Street
(the A5) that led from London to Wales. His engineering feats include
the masterpiece of the Menai Bridge, a suspension bridge that carries
the road across the Menai Strait and onto Anglesey to open up the
western port of Holyhead. The Menai Bridge was built between 1818 and
1826 at a height of 153 feet, a length of 1388 feet and a main span of
580 feet.
Another of his A5 works is the magnificent Waterloo Bridge over the River Conwy at Betwys-y-Coed inscribed:"This arch was constructed in the same year the Battle of Waterloo was fought. 1815"
See also: Cantlop Bridge
Telford is also
known
for his audacious improvements to the old Roman road of Watling Street
(the A5) that led from London to Wales. His engineering feats include
the masterpiece of the Menai Bridge, a suspension bridge that carries
the road across the Menai Strait and onto Anglesey to open up the
western port of Holyhead. The Menai Bridge was built between 1818 and
1826 at a height of 153 feet, a length of 1388 feet and a main span of
580 feet. Another of his A5 works is the magnificent Waterloo Bridge over the River Conwy at Betwys-y-Coed inscribed:"This arch was constructed in the same year the Battle of Waterloo was fought. 1815"
See also: Cantlop Bridge