The Aqueduct, view from the ground

Crossing the aqueduct

A view of the ground below from the aqueduct

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is an aqueduct which carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee, east of Llangollen in north Wales. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 598 KB)Pontcysyllte Aquaduct Picture by Akke Monasso File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 598 KB)Pontcysyllte Aquaduct Picture by Akke Monasso File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2549x1915, 1128 KB) Summary Pontcysyllte Aqueduct from http://www. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2549x1915, 1128 KB) Summary Pontcysyllte Aqueduct from http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 608 KB)Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, view from a narrowboat Picture by Akke Monasso File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 608 KB)Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, view from a narrowboat Picture by Akke Monasso File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Pont du Gard, France, a Roman era aqueduct circa 19 BC, it is one of Frances top tourist attractions at over 1. ... What we now know as the Llangollen Canal initially formed the majority of the Ellesmere Canal, and later was part of the Shropshire Union Canal, and only with increasing popularity of pleasure boats was it renamed the Llangollen Canal in an effort to attract more visitors: ironically, the canal was... Llangollen is a small town in Denbighshire, north Wales, famous for the Llangollen International Eisteddfod, the Llangollen Canal (whose Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is nearby), and the Llangollen Railway. ... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ...

The aqueduct is 1007 feet long, 11 feet wide, and 5 feet 3 inches deep. It is constructed of cast iron troughs mounted on 19 masonry arches and carries the canal 126 feet above the river (up to the ironwork).

Mortar used in the construction comprised of lime, water and Oxen blood. The iron castings were produced at the Plaskynaston Foundry and each casting dovetails into the next. To caulk the joints, Welsh flannel was dipped in boiling sugar after which the joints were sealed with lead.

Part of what was originally called the Ellesmere Canal, it was one of the first major feats of civil engineering undertaken by leading civil engineer Thomas Telford (supervised by the more experienced canal engineer William Jessop). The iron was supplied by Wiliam Hazeldine from his foundries at Shrewsbury and nearby Cefn Mawr. It was opened on 26 November 1805, having taken around ten years to design and construct at a total cost of £47,000. The Llangollen Canal we see today was previously called the Ellesmere Canal, but the Ellesmere Canal as originally envisaged was very different from what was eventually constructed. ... The Falkirk Wheel in Scotland. ... The term civil engineer refers to an individual who practices civil engineering. ... Thomas Telford (August 9, 1757 - September 2, 1834) was born in Westerkirk, Scotland. ... William Jessop (23 January 1745 - 18 November 1814) was a noted English civil engineer, particularly famed for his work on canals, harbours and early railways in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. ... Map sources for Shrewsbury at grid reference SJ4912 Porthill Bridge crossing the Severn at Shrewsbury Shrewsburys Old Market Hall and The Square Market Street, behind the Old Market Hall, with the Music Hall on the left Shrewsbury (pronounced either /ˈʃɹuːzbɹiː/ or /ˈʃɹəʊzbɹiː/) is a town of... November 26 is the 330th day (331st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1805 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The pound sterling is the official currency of the United Kingdom (UK). ...

The footpath is cantilevered over the trough, which is the full width of the aqueduct, so that narrowboats are able to move more freely through the water. There are no railings on the canal side, just the edge of the trough and a sheer drop.

There used to be an accessible small handle in a recess on the footpath in the middle of the centre span, the pulling of which would cause a cascade of water to tumble into the River Dee below.

In 2005 the aqueduct was entered for World Heritage status in its 200th anniversary year.[1]

See also

• Canals of the United Kingdom