Illuminating survey of canal tunnel
Boaters will be able to continue to travel through the longest canal tunnel in Wales.
An illuminating structural survey of the 1,200 foot Chirk tunnel on the Llangollen Canal saw the 200 year old brickwork lit up by engineers from the Canal and River Trust giving a view few ever get the chance to see.
Nicknamed the the Darkie Tunnel and normally almost pitch black, the structure is the latest along the 11-mile World Heritage Site to be surveyed by the charity, which has the challenging task of maintaining the 2,000-mile canal network.
Engineering specialists, led by Jonathan Muir and Chris Reynard used a boat to travel through the 421 metre-long Chirk and 174 metre-long Whitehouse tunnels to see if there had been any structural changes since the last principal inspection three years ago.
They gave the all clear to the structures.
It inspections included checking for leaks, cracks and damaged brickwork. The Chirk tunnel contains more than a million bricks, with much of the surface sealed in clay to make it waterproof.
Chris Reynard, principal inspector, said the engineers’ observations were analysed and it was found that no repairs were necessary.
Opened in 1805, Chirk tunnel is the longest of three canal tunnels on the Llangollen Canal, formerly a branch of the Ellesmere Canal, and is remarkable as one of the first tunnels to incorporate a horse towing path.
Previously, boat owners would have had to ‘leg it’ through a canal tunnel by lying on the roof of their vessels and effectively walking along the roof.
“A trip into the canal tunnel is like stepping back in time. It’s dark, quiet, a little bit eerie and much of the brickwork dates back to when the tunnel was constructed two centuries ago,” Mr Reynard said.
“The Llangollen Canal is arguably more popular than ever before and Our inspection is a good example of the type of work needed to keep it in top shape.”
For more information about how to support the vital work of the Canal & River Trust by donating or becoming a ‘Friend’, check out www.canalrivertrust.org.uk or call the customer services team on 0303 040 4040.
