Chirk Aqueduct

Chirk Aqueduct is a cast iron and stone structure that spans the Ceiriog Valley, carrying water through a channel supported by multiple arches. The construction allows boats to travel along the Llangollen Canal at an elevated height above the river below.

The structure was built in the early 1800s as part of a major canal project intended to carry water across a deep valley. A renowned engineer designed it, and a foundry supplied the metal components, making it an important example of technical progress at that time.

The name comes from the nearby village, marking how engineers once linked distant regions through water routes. Today, visitors walking across experience how communities relied on such passages for trade and connection.

Visitors can walk along the towpath beside the canal and watch boats move through the water channel. The path runs directly across the structure, giving clear views of both sides of the valley.

Just beside it, a railway line crosses the valley on a separate structure running parallel overhead. This rare double-crossing arrangement lets visitors see two transportation routes operating one above the other.

Location: Wrexham County Borough

Location: Shropshire

Architects: Thomas Telford

Elevation above the sea: 74.5 m

GPS coordinates: 52.92760,-3.06173

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:55