The view looking east across the Elan Aqueduct showing members of the Church Lads Brigade, guarding the pipeline as it crosses the River Severn near Trimpley

Date:: 1906-1921

Location:: Elan Aqueduct, Upper Arley, Hawkbatch, Trimpley, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire; Show all locations

Elan Aqueduct, Kidderminster Foreign, Hawkbatch, Trimpley, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire

Reference:: BB046202

Type:: Photograph (Negative)

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Description

The Elan Aqueduct is 73 miles long and carries drinking water to Birmingham from the Elan Valley Reservoirs in Wales. Work on the aqueduct began in June 1896 under the governance of Birmingham Corporation Water Department. It opened in 1906. As the primary water supply for the inhabitants of Birmingham it would have been a strategic target. The Church Lads Brigade provided a grounding in military service for young men in preparation for joining the army. The CLB members seen here may have been on a training exercise or perhaps guarding the aqueduct against threats from Irish republicans during the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921).

Content

This is part of the Series: JWE01/01 Jw Evans Photographic Collection - Negatives; within the Collection: JWE01 Jw Evans Photographic Collection

Rights

Source: Historic England Archive

Keywords

Edwardian Aqueduct, Water Pipe, Military, Engineering