A fact from Orb Aqueduct appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 12 February 2009, and was viewed approximately 1,505 times (disclaimer) (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:
This article is within the scope of WikiProject Bridges and Tunnels, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of bridges and tunnels on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.Bridges and TunnelsWikipedia:WikiProject Bridges and TunnelsTemplate:WikiProject Bridges and TunnelsBridge and Tunnel articles
This article is within the scope of WikiProject France, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of France on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.FranceWikipedia:WikiProject FranceTemplate:WikiProject FranceFrance articles
Genius from beyond the grave indeed. It's from Rolt and he definitely says Vauban (no forename, no initials, no qualifier) and I then just wikilinked without thinking as I knew him from La Nouvelle branch - never a wise thing to do! I'll remove the name for now and double check when I get home just in case I mistyped the date or something equally dim. Cheers, Nancy talk11:05, 4 February 2009 (UTC)Reply
Rolt says "There were plans for high and low level aqueducts, the first coming from Vauban in 1739" (page 131 of the 1994 paperback edition). As the Vauban was long since dead and Rolt does not indicate who the 1739 one was I think it probably better to leave it out of the article all together - it's only really worth a name check if it was the Vauban so not the end of the world. Thanks for realising the error. Kind regards Nancy talk18:48, 4 February 2009 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 15 years ago5 comments2 people in discussion
The map in the article could be improved. It is not obvious that the item labelled "Fonserannes Lock" is in fact a staircase of six chambers, nor that the red triangle is an inclined plane. Maproom (talk) 09:42, 12 February 2009 (UTC)Reply
It's a case of trying to stop the template being so wide that it takes over the page but I can see where you're coming from. On the plus side the route map does have a Legend link which explains the symbols and also a wikilink to Fonserannes Lock so all the info is but a click away. Nancy talk10:15, 12 February 2009 (UTC)Reply
You're right about the 'legend' link, I should have spotted that.
I would try to help with the template myself, but I haven't been able to figure out how to get at it.
I see wikipedia has an article called Fonserannes Lock, which seems wrong to me. The French may call it "une écluse", but to me it is definitely not a lock, it is a staircase of six (formerly eight) locks. I have never come across anyone calling Bingley Five-rise, say, a lock. I propose changing the Fonserannes article accordingly. Maproom (talk) 14:17, 12 February 2009 (UTC)Reply
(this bit should really be at Talk:Fonserannes Lock but what the hell) I don't endorse a move. The authoritative English language sources, including Rolt (which is probably the definitive English language source) call it Fonserannes Lock, not "Locks" and not "Staircase". Nancy talk16:25, 12 February 2009 (UTC)Reply
I won't change or move the Fonserannes Lock article: it makes it clear that it is in fact a staircase.
I have changed the template, partly for the fun of experimenting with a template, something I had never managed before. Please undo anything you don't like. I have taken care not to make it wider.Maproom (talk) 18:31, 12 February 2009 (UTC)Reply