|

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is generally regarded as one of Thomas Telford's
greatest civil engineering achievements. Its construction was revolutionary
at the time for, apart from its dramatic size and setting, Telford, rejecting
all precedents, designed a cast iron trough 3.25 meters wide and
307 meters long laid along the top of 18 stone piers to carry the waterway
37 meters above the River Dee. The first stone was laid in July 1795 and
construction took ten years at a total cost of £47,018.
The Pontcysllte Aqueduct is one of the main tourist attractions within
Wrexham County Borough. It can be accessed from either end - at Trefor
(signed off the A539) or at Froncysyllte (signed off the A5(T)). Car parking
is available at both ends of the Aqueduct. It is an amazing experience
to walk across the Aqueduct as it towers 37 meters above the River Dee
and to take in the panoramic views of the whole area. However, you need
a head for heights! The international importance of the Aqueduct is reflected
in its inclusion on the tentative list of future nominations for UNESCO
World Heritage Site designation.
For the adventurous, it is possible to hire a canal boat
both at Chirk Marina (Tel: 01691 774558) or at Trefor Basin (Tel:Anglo
Welsh on 01978 821749 or Ribbon Plate on 01978 823215) and cross the Aqueduct
by boat, alternatively there are canal boat trips available for those
who want to sit and take it all in.
Link
to On-line Tour Information | Link
to Maps |