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Somerset Historic Environment Record

29301

Public access:

The public accessibility of this site is unknown or has not been checked. Please ask locally and do not visit without permission. [Information last updated on 11 February 2010]

Details:

The Murtry Aqueduct was constructed between 1796 and 1803 to carry a branch of the Dorset and Somerset Cannel over the river Mells at OS grid reference ST62498. The aqueduct is in excellent structural condition. The arches show no sign of any visible distortion and no sign of cracking or relative movement. The main long-term future threat to its preservation is that removal of the majority of the standard trees will allow active new saplings to grow in the beds of the stonework. Maintenance should include ensure removal of any new vegetation.

Some of voussiors have suffered significant face loss, especially just above the downstream cutwaters. This is probably due to a combination of water flow, drag from debris and greater exposure to frost and freezing water. The loss however, has had little effect to the strength of the structure. {1}

A sketched plan of the aqueduct. {2}

The Murtry Aqueduct has three-arches and was constructed of tooled and rusticated masonry. The aqueduct would have linked Frome to the Nettlebridge Valley, which meant that the coal fields would have been linked to the main line. Due to the high cost of its construction the branch line was never completed. Murtry Aqueduct is very similar in both appearance and construction to Midford Aqueduct.

The aqueduct appears to have been constructed from stone the was quarried from the west bank, adjacent to the structure.

Detached from the main structure is the northern entrance to the access tunnel situated in the canal bank. This is constructed in the same materials and manner however, the site appears to have been robbed.

An inspection was carried out on the 2nd August 2002 and then a survey was carried out on the 19th March 2003.

The structure is in fairly good condition however, short term repairs such as pinning back and pointing would help to slow down the erosion and some frost protection. This type of repair should last about two years depending on the weather conditions and water levels. {3}

A plan of the aqueduct. {4}

References:

Record created on 11 February 2010

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