Thirlmere Aqueduct

In 1874 John Frederick Bateman advised Manchester Corporation that the increasing demand for water, then averaging 18000000 impgal per day, would soon exhaust the available supply from Longdendale. His first recommendation was to source water from Ullswater, but it was eventually decided to seek powers to acquire Thirlmere and build a dam there. In the face of local opposition the Manchester Corporation Waterworks Act 1879 (42 & 43 Vict. c. cxxvi) authorising the project received royal assent. Under this act Manchester was granted priority of right to 25 impgal per person per day.

Sections of the route of the aqueduct have over time been modified for the construction of modern motorways. During the construction of the M6 and M61 connection a short section was diverted. A short section of the aqueduct near Worsley, Greater Manchester, was also re-routed in the late 1960s during the construction of the M62/M63/M602 motorway interchange.