Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen canal, May 2009.

This is a brief portrait of the aqueduct and two of the boats that carry passengers across it. The recommended pronunciation is not exact, but it serves many of us locals well enough!

The aqueduct, built between 1795 and 1805, is one of Britain's most spectacular products of the Industrial Revolution. Known as "The Stream in the Sky", it was designed by Thomas Telford, the self-educated son of a Scottish shepherd, and built under the direction of William Jessop. The cruise boat shown in this video and a horse drawn boat, both based at Llangollen Wharf, bear the names of these great engineers.

Telford's use of a cast-iron trough to carry the water across the Dee valley was revolutionary, allowing a very light, lofty structure with the minimum of stonework. Indeed, the top portion of each pier is hollow. The approach embankment on the Froncysyllte side was at the time the biggest earthwork in the UK. It extends just as far (and high, 90 feet) as earthworks were less costly than fine masonry and cast iron! Also, a bridge of only one boat's width would have caused traffic congestion if it had been much longer, and the embankment has curves that align the canal with the ideal placement for the aqueduct..

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[wwwDarkTacklecom]

sorry if I missed it, but what county is this in?

[danlefou]

@wwwDarkTacklecom It's in Denbighshire, North Wales. The canal serves Shropshire and Cheshire, and is connected to the national system.

[danlefou]

@wwwDarkTacklecom Actually, the aqueduct is in Wrexham County Borough, but most of the Llangollen branch is in Denbighshire.

[filthybaggage]

Great video, thank you. Do you happen to know how deep the water in the trough is?

[danlefou]

Thanks for the kind words. I've got a bit smoother since this early experimental job. :-)

The depth of water varies, of course, but measuring off photos I took in the Spring, it was about 54 inches, the top of the trough being nine inches above water level.

A friend of my parents used to cycle across the aqueduct until one night she fell in. Unable to climb out, she had to wheel her bike in the water all the way to the end of the trough.

[2002646]

we crossed this aqueduct the first time we rented a narrowboat (me and my parents) I was about 12 at the time, and this is still one of my best holiday memories ever. only rented a narrowboat once after that, but I hope to go many more times!

great video and greetings from The Netherlands.

[excession33]

I walked across this today, amazing views.

[Racingnut24]

Wonderful video definetly a place I will have to visit when I finally can (I live in the US) although im not all that crazy bout heights :shudders: