Complete cast iron arch (in 3 sections) from Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Designed 1794 to 1795

Made:
circa 1802 in Shrewsbury
maker:
Thomas Telford

Complete cast iron arch (in 3 sections) from Thomas Telford's Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Designed 1794 to 1795, ironwork requisitioned from William Hazledine 1802. Aqueduct completed 1805.

The supreme achievement of canal engineering, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct over the Vale of Llangollen, through which the river Dee flows, is undoubtedly one of Thomas Telford’s finest works. Nineteen iron spans of 54ft give a total length of 1007ft at a maximum height of 127ft above the river. This object is a single arch (in three sections) of one of the spans that was fractured after prolonged settlement of the impressive embankment, also of Telford’s design. Now replaced with welded steel, this cast iron arch was acquired from the British Waterways Board in 1977 and has been in storage ever since.

Details

Category:
Civil Engineering
Object Number:
1977-456
Materials:
cast iron
type:
cast iron arch
credit:
British Waterways Board