Telford's Triumph

Canals appear to be very quaint and old fashioned now but at the end of the 18th century sending 40 tons of bulk goods on a road as smooth as silk at 4 miles per hour was the “killer app” which moved industrial production from remote hamlets located on fast flowing streams in the hills to major production centres with easy access to sea ports and World markets.

On our journey between Liverpool and Ludlow we diverted into North Wales to visit and walk across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct designed by Thomas Telford. The aqueduct over the River Dee was constructed between 1795 and 1805 to link the villages of Froncysyllte, Llangollen and Trevor allowing access rich deposits of coal, limestone and potters clay from the area.

The aqueduct is constructed from cast iron segments, bolted together and set on slender sandstone pillars to form a continuous watertight box extending across a deep river valley. The box sections are 5 feet deep and wide enough for a single narrow boat and a towpath, now used by pedestrians.

The engraving and photos show the elegant design and current recreational use of the aqueduct.