PONTCYSYLLTE AQUEDUCT 1805 Thomas Telford near Ruabon HEW112 SJ271 420 {N52o 58’ 18.3 W3o 5’ 18.9}
This spectacular aqueduct carries the Shropshire Union Canal over the River Dee. This was Telford’s first use of cast iron to make the water trough rather than using the conventional brick or masonry sealed with puddle clay. Using iron greatly lightened the weight being supported by the high piers that rise 121 feet above the river. The trough extends under the towpath on the east side which gives extra width to accommodate the water displaced by the passing barges while maintaining the standard 7 feet 10 inch channel width. The aqueduct is 1027 feet long.
This was the first collaboration between Telford, William Jessop, Mathew Davidson and William Hazledine (1763-1840) who subsequently worked together and separately on many pioneering engineering projects involving cast and wrought iron. Pontcsyllte Aqueduct is now a World Heritage Site.