Abseiling antics as team cleans up Chirk Aqueduct
Abseiling contractors made their way 70ft down an historic aqueduct to give it a spruce-up.
Work to remove unwanted vegetation from the crevices of Chirk Aqueduct, which carries the Llangollen Canal between England and Wales, has been carried out by Gland?r Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales.
Specialist harnessed contractors were tasked with carrying out the vital maintenance work to remove vegetation which has taken root in the crevices of the Grade II listed structure.
Using trowels and other hand tools, the team dug out ivy, moss, weeds and even young saplings which, if left unchecked, could have damaged masonry on the impressive 200-year-old aqueduct.
The work is part of a wider Canal & River Trust project to protect heritage structures along the Llangollen and Montgomery canals this winter, including the magnificent Pontcysllte and Chirk aqueducts.
Constructed by the famous canal engineer Thomas Telford between 1796 and 1801, Chirk Aqueduct is a masterpiece of civil engineering.
Measuring 70-foot high and 710-foot long, the aqueduct carries the Llangollen Canal across the Ceiriog Valley near Chirk, on the Shropshire/Wales border, spanning two countries.
The aqueduct consists of ten arches, each with a span of 40ft.
The water level is 65ft above the ground and 70ft above the River Ceiriog.
Steve Hinton, contracts supervisor at the Canal & River Trust, said: "This is a rare opportunity to see people abseiling over this breathtaking structure to remove overgrown vegetation which has built up over several years."
He added: "The work we are doing here will help to safeguard these unique, heritage structures for many generations to come."
