Letter - Stanley Ferry is a national asset

I was pleased to read in your article ‘Deal Signed to Secure Future of Historic Bridge’ of June 21 2013, that the 1979 Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act (Section 17) and the 1994 Class of Consent Ammended Order of the Historic Buildings and Monuments Commission for England still apply.
By The Newsroom
Published 2nd Aug 2013, 10:41 BST

British Waterways and the Canal and River Trust were concerned to extend the life of the monuments - Stanley Ferry Aqueduct and the areas shown on the Site Plan - protecting this as a National Asset for the pleasure of the users of the Waterways and seeking to steer any local development plans from designs which might conflict with the historic appearance of the area, besides ensuring that any repair materials need to match the historic setting of Stanley Ferry Aqueduct.

The details of this agreement describe how the Canal was carried in a deep, cast-iron trough, screened on each side by 50 Greek Doric-Style fluted columns, with two projecting 7 bay Doric Temple-Style pavillions,

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They continue to state how Stanley Ferry Aqueduct is one of the earliest Through-Arch Birdges in the world, and thought to be the largest one made of cast-iron.

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The Stanley Ferry Aqueduct is scheduled as SAM (Scheduled Ancient Monument) but also given a grade 1 listed bulding status in Normanton Corporation.

They state (Schedule 17) in the Stanley Ferry and Locomotive Bridge (Huddersfield Area) agreements, as mentioned in your paper, that they needed to protect and conserve the Stanley Ferry Aqueduct as a National Asset, along with its setting and appearance, knowing of its considerable potential to increase public awareness and profile of, I quote, “this important and attractive structure, and its associated buildings”.

The site plan indicates, in their words, the “Ancient Canoe found in 1835, Boat Repair Yard, River Basin, the Mill House, Ship Inn, Stanley Ferry Bridge, Ferry Lane.”

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Their text mentions the grade 2, former Aqueduct Toll House, and the ‘Tom Pudding’ boats, which were loaded with coal from local collieries from 1863 to 1985, and transported for export by canal to Goole.

In your newspaper article of June 21, you state that the designer of the Stanley Ferry Aqueduct was George Leather Senior, but the Stanley Ferry Aqueduct Section 17 Management Agreement names the designer as George Leather Junior, of George Leather, a Son of Leeds.

Susan Margaret Churm

Windsor Close

Shaw Cross

Dewsbury