Pentrefelin (Afon Eglwyseg) Aquaduct

Cadw's description

Location

Located in Pentrefelin, near the junction of the A542 with the B5013, NNW of Llangollen.

History

The 6 mile (3.73 km) long Llangollen canal had been proposed as feeder to the main Ellesmere Canal that was to link the Rivers Mersey and Dee with the River Severn. The Act was passed in 1793 and this section was constructed under the direction of Thomas Telford: work on the extension to Llantysilio was begun in 1804 and completed in 1808. The canal also provided transport to the slate quarries and limestone works. In 1846 it became part of the Shropshire Union Railways and Canal Company but the following year was taken over by the LNWR. Transport on the canal diminished in later C19 with the arrival of the railways and then ceased by 2nd World War. The canal was only kept open because of its importance as a supplier of water.

Exterior

Built-up embankment faced with rubble stonework, above a short semi-circular tunnel for the River Eglwyseg to pass through to join the River Dee immediately to the S. The tunnel is faced with flush regular ashlar voussoirs with a pronounced keystone rising to a horizontal string course. Above this the faced stonework rises some 2m to the level of the canal towpath, where another square string forms the base to the orthostatic parapet to the towpath. The faced embankment is curved on plan between slight end pilasters, and continues for a further 35m each side to die away into the embankment. The cut for the canal, and the N face of the aquaduct was rebuilt in c1990.

Reason for designation

Included as an important canal structure on the Llangollen Branch of the Ellesmere Canal, and one of a group of such structures.