Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal becomes 28th World Heritage Site in UK
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal in north eastern Wales is the UK's newest World Heritage Site, following the World Heritage Committee meeting in Seville, Spain (22-30 June, 2009). Following a favourable review by the World Heritage Committee, Pontcysyllte has not only become the 28th World Heritage inscribed site in the United Kingdom, but also the first World Heritage site to cross the border between two countries in the UK, as part of the 11-mile length of canal extends into England.
The navigable aqueduct that carries the Llangollen Canal over the valley of the River Dee in Wrexham in north east Wales was completed in 1805 and is the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain. It was built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop and is the third Unesco heritage site in Wales. The use of both cast and wrought iron in the aqueduct enabled the construction of arches that were light and strong, producing an overall effect that is both monumental and elegant.
Rhodri Morgan, First Minister for Wales, said:
When we applied for UNESCO recognition of Poncysyllte Aqueduct as a World Heritage Site we had every confidence that they would confirm what we knew already about this amazing Aqueduct constructed by Thomas Telford. Now that the World Heritage Committee has done exactly what we asked for, it confirms to outstanding universal value of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal and the important contribution it made to shaping the industrial revolution. World Heritage nomination for Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal is the cherry on the cake for Wales’s historic transport and industrial environment.”
Written: 30/06/2009 , last modified: 30/06/2009
Pontcysyllte World Heritage Site