Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

The famous engineer, Thomas Telford, built Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen in 1795, and the structure continues to represent a masterpiece of Georgian engineering. Taking 10 years to build, the first stone was laid on 25th July 1795. To Telford's credit, just one life was lost during the construction which, for that time, was as impressive as the engineering feat itself. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct takes its name from a triple arched bridge a little further up the river and, literally translated, means 'the bridge that connects the river'. The canal is fed from the River Dee and the fall of the canal from its source is one inch (25mm) per mile.

The aqueduct is built on one strata of rock, each pier being constructed of local stone and rising to a height of 116ft (35m). The support piers are tapered, measuring 27ft (8m) in width at the bottom and 17ft (5m) at the top. 19 cast iron arches, each with a 45ft (13.6m) span support the bridgework. Mortar used in the construction comprised of lime, water and Oxen blood. The iron castings were produced at the Plaskynaston Foundy and each casting dovetail's into the next. To seal the ironwork, the joints were caulked with Welsh flannel dipped in boiling sugar, and then sealed with lead. The bridge section was made entirely from cast iron, the overall dimension of ironwork being 11ft (3.3m) wide, 5.25ft (1.6m) deep and 1,007ft (305m) long. Once constructed the trough was filled with water and left to stand for six months.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct had cost £45,000 to build and was opened on 26th November 1805, in the presence of some 8,000 people. The opening ceremony involved the passage of six boats across the bridge, and back again, commencing on a cannon signal from the Royal Artillery from a platform below. The first two boats carried the managing committee and their families, the third carried the band of the Shropshire Volunteers in full dress uniform, and the fourth carried the civil engineers. The last two boats carried a cargo of coal representing the first commercial use of the aqueduct.

A plaque on one of the piers reads....
'The nobility and gentry of the adjacent counties having united their efforts with the great commercial interest of this country in creating an intercourse and union between England and North Wales. By navigable communication of the three rivers - Severn, Dee and Mersey, for the mutual benefit of agriculture and trade, caused the first stone of the aqueduct of Pontcysyllte to be laid, on the 25th July, 1795, when Richard Myddleton - M.P. of Chirk, one of the original patrons of the Ellesmere Canal was Lord of the Manor and in the reign of our sovereign George III. When the Equity of the laws and security of property promoted the general welfare of the Nation, while the arts and sciences flourished by his patronage, and the conduct of civil life was improved by his example.'

To see narrowboats crossing this deep river gorge is a memorable sight, even 200 years after it was first built. A really good way to get the full experience is by walking along the towpath which extends across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - but this does require a reasonable head for heights!