GC1PFA3 Marple Aqueduct (Traditional Cache) in North West England, United Kingdom created by meltdiceburg

This cache has been archived.

meltdiceburg: With sadness I am archiving this one - it was one of my earliest placements. Pressure put on me in my early inexperienced days caused me to give this a totally unfair terrain rating but it's equally not fair on people who have come here especially to fill their grid if I change it now. This has been pointed out to me recently. Therefore, as it has disappeared on a number of occasions I am going to archive it and replace it with a new hide in the same area that merits the terrain rating given here, and I think given it is quite different, it should have a new listing rather than updated co-ordinates. Thank you to everyone that has visited this one.

GC1PFA3 ▼

A cache by meltdiceburg Message this owner

Hidden : 4/3/2009

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

A micro cache located beneath the spectacular Marple Aqueduct.

Marple Aqueduct was designed and built by Benjamin Outram. From Alfreton in Derbyshire, Outram was an outstanding Engineer of his time and was involved in the construction of many canals including the Manchester, Bolton and Bury, the Ashton and the Huddersfield Narrow. Construction started without ceremony in May 1794 with the laying of the foundation stones.

The aqueduct took almost seven years to complete, during which seven men lost their lives. The arches were keyed in by 1799 but it was not until late 1800 that work was completed and the water let in. An interesting comparison can be drawn with the railway viaduct now running alongside. This much larger structure was built around sixty-five years later, by which time construction methods and techniques had advanced so much, it took only a year to build, with no loss of life.

The Grand Aqueduct, as it became known, measures 309 feet in width and towers 100 feet above the River Goyt at its central point. The whole structure contains 8,000 cubic yards of masonry. The shoulders of the arches are pierced with hollow cylinders to lessen the weight bearing down on the piers.

A little less than 40 years ago the Marple Aqueduct was close to ruin. After gradual decline due to lack of maintenance over many years, water began to seep into the stonework. During the long cold winter of 1961-62 this froze and caused severe damage to the walls of the aqueduct and a large section fell into the River Goyt below. At this time the canals were already un-navigable due to the sorry condition of the locks and it looked like time might be up for this magnificent structure, once described as "a wonder of the age" by author George Borrow.

Costs for a full repair were estimated at £35,000, a huge amount of money in the 60's and for a saving of £8,000 it was possible to pipe the water across the Goyt Valley instead. Volunteer pressure groups ensured the restoration and preservation of this important part of Marple's local history.

To reach the cache you must take the public footpath from the west side of the aqueduct which descends towards the River Goyt below. It is often muddy so please expect this, however the view from below is well worth the trek. You will have to climb slightly on reaching the GZ so please note the terrain rating before attempting it. Underneath the towering aqueduct you will find the path runs beside the huge concrete base of one of the piers.

You need to follow the pier footing to the other side (end facing the railway viaduct). The cache is up on the original stone ledge above the more modern concrete base they added for extra strength. You will need to climb onto the concrete section. Please take care.

Anyone wishing to read about this section of the canal in more detail, please (visit link) for more information on the Marple Locks Guide (pdf).

Well done to CJMACC for getting here first.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

hc, pbeare bs ndhrqhpg cvre, ba fgbar yrqtr, haqre fgbar naq onex

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)

This cache has been archived.

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Marple Aqueduct Traditional Cache

This cache has been archived.

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Geocache Description:

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