Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Horseshoe Falls (partly in Llantysilio community)
Llangollen, Denbighshire, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 22 December 1989
- Locality
- Berwyn
- Community
- Llangollen
- Unitary authority
- Denbighshire
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.98131, -3.20042
- Cadw reference
- 1237
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1795 "To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most humbly inscribed by his obedient humble servant" (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales).
Cadw's description
Location
On the northern boundary of Llangollen Community. In a bend in the River Dee at the start of the Llangollen canal.
History
The Horseshoe Falls were constructed by the renowned engineer Thomas Telford contemporary with the Llangollen canal begun in 1804 and completed in 1808. The falls were essential to the efficient operation of a complicated and heavily used canal network and represent one of the first river regulation schemes anywhere in Britain. Water was drawn off the fast flowing River Dee into the canal which acted principally as a feeder for the Ellesmere Canal. Today 6 million gallons a day are metered into the canal. The falls are more J-shaped than horseshoe so the name may refer to the horseshoe like bend in the river.
Exterior
460 ft long masonry weir sloped down to a 4 ft vertical face with cast-iron capping to the crest. The canal water is drawn off on a high level channel to N.
Sluice gate midway along has been removed; the channel curves left under a modern footbridge and then culverted under modern pumphouse into the canal.
Partly in Llantysilio Community.
Nearby in the register
- Horseshoe Falls and canal entry pounds with sluices (partly in Llangollen Community)Transportunder 1 mi
- BryntysilioEducationunder 1 mi
- Church of St TysilioReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
- Roberts Monument in churchyard of Church of St TysilioReligious, Ritual and Funeraryunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.