Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Chirk Aqueduct (continued into England)
Chirk, Wrexham, Wales
A Grade II* listed building in Ceiriog, Wrexham, Chirk, designated on 4 January 1966.
The record
- Designation
- Listed building, Grade II*
- Broad class
- Transport
- Date of designation
- 4 January 1966
- Locality
- Ceiriog
- Town
- Wrexham
- Community
- Chirk
- Unitary authority
- Wrexham
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates
- 52.92815, -3.06216
- Cadw reference
- 618
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 LibrariesLlyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of WalesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
5 historical maps cover this location, the earliest the 1608 map "(13) Cambriae Typus." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Historical maps covering this location
- 1608 · (13) Cambriae Typus. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1795 · To Sir Watkin Williams-Wynn Bart ... the map of the six counties of North Wales is most… (Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru – The National Library of Wales)
- 1883 · Watershed map England, Wales 3. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1898 · 121 Wrexham (Hills) (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
- 1901 · Sheet 9 and 10. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
Cadw's description
Location
The aqueduct straddles the Ceiriog Valley, approximately 55m SW of the parish church, and can be reached by a footpath from Castle Road. The aqueduct passes into England (Weston Rhyn) at its S end.
History
Designed by Thomas Telford in 1796 for the Ellesmere Canal Company, to carry the the Llangollen Branch canal over the valley of the Afon Ceiriog. The foundation stone was laid by Richard Myddleton of Chirk Castle in June 1797. Six arches only are shown by Sir Richard Colt Hoare in his watercolour of c1799. The canal was extended at the suggestion of William Jessop to obtain headwater from the river Dee at Llantysilio-yn-ial. The iron for constructing the aqueduct channel was provided by William Hazeldine of Shrewsbury at the Plas Kynaston foundry, the masonry provided by James Varley of Colne, and the total cost was £21,000.
Exterior
Brick piers faced with stone ashlar, carry 10 arches of 12.2m (40ft) span for the tank set at 20m (68ft) above the valley for a length of 216.5m (710ft). The water tank c3m wide, is carried on flanged and bolted cast iron plates on the bottom, with ashlar stonework and brick sides laid in Parker's Cement. In c1870 additional cast iron side plates 1.25m long and 23mm thick were inserted. The tow path is on the E side, and bordered by cast iron railings set on the wide coping.
Reason for designation
Included at II* as one of the outstanding industrial monuments associated with canal transport in Britain. Of group value with Chirk Tunnel, and with the adjacent Chirk Railway Viaduct.
Nearby in the register
- Railway Viaduct over River CeiriogTransportunder 1 mi
- Chirk Tunnel, including the N and S Portals, and Chirk Basin.Transportunder 1 mi
- WhitewallsDomesticunder 1 mi
- The Holyhead Road: the Chirk Embankment and earlier trackwaysRoadunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.