Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal
Situated in north-eastern Wales, the 18 kilometre long Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal is a feat of civil engineering of the Industrial Revolution, completed in the early years of the 19th century. Covering a difficult geographical setting, the building of the canal required substantial, bold civil engineering solutions, especially as it was built without using locks. The aqueduct is a pioneering masterpiece of engineering and monumental metal architecture, conceived by the celebrated civil engineer Thomas Telford. The use of both cast and wrought iron in the aqueduct enabled the construction of arches that were light and d strong, producing an overall effect that is both monumental and elegant. The property is inscribed as a masterpiece of creative genius, and as a remarkable synthesis of expertise already acquired in Europe. It is also recognized as an innovative ensemble that inspired many projects all over the world.
http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1303
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal comprises an 18km stretch of canal including a navigable aqueduct that is considered a masterpiece of enigineering during the Industrial Revolution. It was built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop, and completed in 1805.
Innovative metal (cast iron) was used for the trough, while the pillars are made of brick. The aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee in north east Wales.
The area includes besides the Aqueduct:
- Pontcysyllte Canal, a narrow waterway of 8-9m wide and 1.5m deep, including the towpath and adjacent buildings
- public structures and houses in Georgian architectural style
- Whitehouse and Chirk tunnels
- Chirk Aqueduct
http://www.worldheritagesite.org/sites/pontcysyllte.html
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