World Heritage Canal: Thomas Telford and the Pontcysyllte aqueduct

摘要

This beautifully illustrated book begins with a review of historic sites which show the evolution of canal aqueducts, including the early iron example on the Shrewsbury Canal at Longdon-on-Tern. A second chapter considers the transport difficulties of the age which gave rise to the development of the British canal system. Having set the scene, the author explores the early life of Telford, who lost his father when he was young, but through a desire for self-development used the local village library at Westerkirk to good effect. Contacts made locally subsequently offered Telford an introduction to work in London at Somerset House. He later gained a commission to develop buildings in Portsmouth Dockyard. Thence, through a much earlier contact with William Pulteney, he gained commissions in Shrewsbury, where he accepted the post of Surveyor of Public Works for the county of Shropshire. Subsequently he was offered the post of resident engineer to the Ellesmere Canal Company as an assistant to William Jessop, even though he had no prior experience of canal engineering. The book provides an introduction to the Pontcysyllte aqueduct. It shows how Telford proposed the high level crossing of the River Dee and came up with a unique design which included a cast iron trough on stone piers, the construction of which took ten years. Two hundred years later the aqueduct was showing signs of wear and tear and remedial work was j undertaken in 2003. The aqueduct reopened in March 2004 and was granted World Heritage Site status in 2008. The final chapter reviews the basis of the submission used.