The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct: World’s Highest Aqueduct
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in northeast Wales is the longest aqueduct in Britain and the highest aqueduct in the world.
It's one of the most astonishing feats of engineering from the Industrial Revolution.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the jewel in the crown of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site.
Completed in 1805, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was the brainchild of the celebrated civil engineer Thomas Telford and his collaborator William Jessop.
Telford’s genius was recognised by all concerned when he was made the first president of the newly formed Institution of Civil Engineers in 1820.
Telford went on to complete many other great works of civil engineering, including opening up vast swathes of the Scottish Highlands with the building of canals, harbours and almost 1,000 miles of roads.
The ambitious project to build Pontcysyllte Aqueduct took ten years to complete.
The total cost to build it was £47,000 (close to £3,000,000 in today’s money).
This awe-inspiring structure was built to carry the Llangollen Canal over the River Dee, providing a vital link for transporting goods and people during the Industrial Revolution.
The crossing made it easier for goods to get from Wales to England. It helped boost the local economy and opened the region to new markets.
The aqueduct's 18 stone pillars and cast-iron trough stretch an astonishing 1,007ft long and rise to a height of 126ft above the valley floor.
Its graceful arches and meticulous craftsmanship are a testament to the skill and dedication of the workers who laboured tirelessly to construct this monumental feat.
The views from the aqueduct are simply unparalleled, offering panoramic vistas of the surrounding Welsh countryside.
Llangollen was also the first canal to offer pleasure boat trips which are still running today and just as popular!
The incident in 1945
In 1945, due to inadequate maintenance, the canal breached its banks east of Llangollen near Sun Bank Halt.
The flow of hundreds of tons of water washed away the embankment of the railway further down the hill, tearing a 40-yard crater 50 feet deep.
This caused the first traffic of the morning, a mail and goods train composed of 16 carriages and two vans, to crash into the breach, killing one and injuring two engine crew.
In 1955, the Mid & South East Cheshire Water Board agreed to maintain the canal securing its future.
Today, it has become one of the most popular canals for holidaymakers in Britain because of its aqueducts and scenery.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is now maintained and managed by the Canal & River Trust.
At the start of 2024, however, the historic aqueduct was closed until the middle of March (2024) to allow for major maintenance of both the canal and the towpath.
A spokesperson for the Trevor Basin Visitor Centre on north side of the aqueduct said: "It’s done in the winter when it’s as quiet as possible although it isn’t ideal conditions for the engineers.
”There are some very important jobs to be done this time around, so it will take slightly longer.”
The bridge has raving reviews on TripAdvisor, one recent visitor said: “We walked over the aqueduct having parked at Trevor Basin (Pay and Display).
”The walk is only a few hundred yards to the aqueduct itself and there is an interesting visitors centre on site.
”The walk over the aqueduct is an unusual experience and the views of the River Dee from the top was fantastic. Highly recommended.”
Another person added: “During a recent holiday in Mid Wales, this was one of the places that we wanted to visit.
”From where we were stopping to the Aqueduct was an hour and a half drive. Well worth it. If you park in the first carpark listed on the website you are a ten minute easy walk away from the aqueduct.
”The views are amazing, a nice visitors centre with a shop and vending machines. Plenty of seating if you want to take a picnic.”
UNESCO described this world heritage site as ‘a masterpiece of creative genius’.
The first 11 miles of the Llangollen Canal is an outstanding piece of industrial and engineering heritage comprising of embankments, tunnels, viaducts and aqueducts, including the stunning Pontcysyllte Aqueduct itself and 31 other listed structures.
The whole length of the site has also been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument of National Importance, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Head for heights? Try it for yourself, you can hire a narrowboat on the Llangollen Canal and test your own.
Tours are also available to book via their official website.
All photos used in this article were taken from the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site Facebook page.
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