Chirk Viaduct

Chirk Viaduct is a railway viaduct crossing the Ceiriog Valley in Shropshire with ten stone arches spanning roughly 260 meters and rising about 30 meters above the river. The massive arches are supported by solid abutments that make the structure look strong and enduring.

The viaduct was designed by Henry Robertson in 1846 and completed by Thomas Brassey in 1848 after years of construction work. In 1859, wooden structures were replaced with new stone arches to make the structure more permanent.

The structure forms part of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal World Heritage Site, showing how Victorians valued connecting distant places through engineering. Today, both the railway and canal remain active, keeping this dual use alive in the modern landscape.

The viaduct is accessible from Glyn Wylfa car park or Chirk railway station, with walking paths leading to several viewing points under and around the structure. It helps to wear comfortable shoes since the path crosses fields and follows the valley floor.

What makes this viaduct special is that it runs side by side with Chirk Aqueduct, which carries water across the valley while trains pass below. This double corridor of Victorian transport engineering sitting next to each other is rare to see anywhere in the world.

Location: Weston Rhyn

Location: Chirk

Location: Shropshire

Location: Wrexham County Borough

Elevation above the sea: 72.2 m

GPS coordinates: 52.92750,-3.06217

Latest update: December 12, 2025 17:43