Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Irishman's Bridge on the Llangollen Canal
Chirk, Wrexham, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 29 July 1998
- Locality
- Pentre
- Town
- Wrexham
- Community
- Chirk
- Unitary authority
- Wrexham
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.95949, -3.06433
- Cadw reference
- 20214
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
The bridge carries the Chirk to Newbridge road over the Llangollen Canal.
History
The 6 mile 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 headwaters at Llantysilio, W of Llangollen, 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 the later C19 with the arrival of the railways and ceased by 2nd World War. The canal was only kept open because of its importance as a supplier of water.
Exterior
Coursed sandstone rubble. A single tall 3-centred arch composed of a single ring of cut voussoirs, set flush with the battered spandrel walls. Square plat band and rubble parapet. A later C20 moulded concrete beam carries a widening of the parapet on the SW side of the S portal. The bridge spans the canal and the towpath on its E side.
Reason for designation
Included as a well formed bridge, characteristic of the series of such bridges on the Llangollen canal where it passed through low cuttings.
Nearby in the register
- Pen-y-clawdd FarmhouseDomesticunder 1 mi
- Whitehouse BridgeNo class recordedunder 1 mi
- Smithy at Whitehurst Gate and House attachedIndustrialunder 1 mi
- Offa's Dyke: Section N & S of Tan-y-CutLinear Earthworkunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.