Download - Wrexham County Borough Council

don’t look down
Take a deep breath. This is Thomas Telford’s
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at Trevor. They call it
“the stream in the sky”. And it’s been made a
World Heritage Site along with 11 miles of
the Llangollen Canal including Chirk
Aqueduct and the Horseshoe Falls.
It’s 126 feet tall and 1,007 feet long. But
surprisingly narrow. Especially when you’ve
got your hand on the tiller.
“But it was a real experience once I took the
bull by the horns. In the end it wasn’t quite as
terrifying as I imagined.”
See what you think. You can cross Pontcysyllte
Aqueduct by boat or on foot. And to keep
your mind off the drop, you can practise how
to pronounce it: pont-kersulty.
Peter Jones, aka Jones the Boats, has made
the crossing more than a thousand times. But
it’s still a nerve-tingler: “There are only a couple
of inches to spare on either side,” he says.
“You can’t believe this thin piece of metal is
going to hold. But it’s held for 200 years. You
realise you should have more confidence in
Mr Telford’s skills.”
Eighteen great stone pillars hold up a cast-iron
trough which transports the Llangollen Canal
dizzyingly over the River Dee. A trough made
watertight by Welsh flannel, lead and boiling
sugar. Or treacle toffee to you and me.
Small wonder Rita Salisbury of Somerset was
a tad nervous when Peter took her over in his
70-foot boat, the Eirlys. “Your tummy goes a
bit funny when you look over the side. It’s
quite a drop,” she says.
“Your tummy goes a bit
funny when you look over
the side.”
Rita Salisbury, Somerset
www.wrexham.gov.uk/aqueduct
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