Drained ! The Pontcysyllte aqueduct. A ten year event !

In this video we visit the Pontcysyllte aqueduct in Wales. Near to the town of Wrexham. This UNESCO world heritage site is a masterpiece of Georgian canal engineering. Designed by Thomas Telford and built between 1795 and 1805. The aqueduct has been drained for maintenance a one in 10 or 20 year event. The aqueduct was actually built by a team of master engineers during the canal building frenzy during the late Georgian period in Britain. Thomas Telford amongst others were responsible for this cast iron giant that spans the River Dee. This video is a historic canal documentary that looks at the construction of the Pontcysyllte aqueduct and makes use of that fact that the aqueduct is drained and we can look in detail at its construction and how Telford and the canal engineers at the time put it together like a large meccano set. Canal history documentary.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you to the Canal & River trust for the invite A link to the crowd funder bit.ly/Ponty_Aqueduct A link to the Canal & River Trust bit.ly/435jbgS A link to an animation showing construction kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKLIdKhsn8lsjZIsi=M3GG9HgQDWfsKwHE

[@AMPProf]

Bet bet it had a few stranz Vid pandy in that muck

[@jackmehoff1840]

Martin must have reached the lofty heights of credibility to be invited to witness a canal service like this, lucky for us

[@MartinZero]

I was one of a lucky few, but was very honoured to be invited.

[@QIKUGAMES-QIKU]

Plug it back up and ride inflatable in it ​@@MartinZero

[@garybrignell1831]

Excellent video Martin . Aquaduct looks so streamlined and modern. Telford was a master Engineer indeed . Lucky man Martin rare privilege indeed to be involved in the maintenance and restoration

[@MartinZero]

Hopefully I can go and see it when its next drained

[@RichieReportsUK]

This has reminded me of one of Martins old videos, about the trap door in the canal!

[@deejayimm]

Thanks to Cruising the cut, I knew this thing existed. I'm an American, jealous of the amazing history of your area. Thanks for sharing.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@NR23derek]

When I was about 14 (1968) I started to ride my bike across this bridge. Thing is, when you're sitting on a bike you're well above the guard rail and that is really terrifying. But worse, about half way across, I ran out of bottle and stopped. I grabbed the handrail, which meant leaning forward and down. I was then stuck, I couldn't get going again and couldn't get off the bike. There was no-one around to help apart from my friend who had gone on ahead of me, so I had to get off, which somehow I did. That was about as close as I've come to being very smelly. I think the spoilsports have now put up no cycling signs, I discovered the Llangollen canal about a year earlier, we were taken there on a school trip, we got off the coach at the Chirk aqueduct. Two tunnels and two aqueducts later and I was totally sold on canals and the industrial revolution. Talk about a way to impress kids!

[@MartinZero]

I might have a go at cycling over 😆

[@countesscable]

What were you thinking???!!! 😱.my stomach was churning at the thought of walking over (no way!!) and then read what you did. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@NR23derek]

@@countesscable I was 14...

[@GenaF]

I looked online as you can actually 😮canoe over it but it says you can't go over standing up on a paddle board. Can you imagine anyone actually considering pootling over, standing up with no rail on one side to protect them?

[@NR23derek]

@@GenaF I can imagine it, yes. I don't want to though :)

[@tresparivet6348]

Can you imagine bringing back to life the Engineers and the Construction Workers who built this structure and showing them this video after 200 years after it was constructed? Fantastic Post!

[@NickandMildred]

I was over it last year on a narrowboat - great experience …

[@Wayne-R-]

We done the same I was terrified 😂

[@MartinZero]

I want to do that

[@NickandMildred]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@MartinZero If only I’d known you’d have had an invite . On the way back we broke down by the Chirk aqueduct and were there for a week or so , that’s also impressive . If it makes you feel better I also can’t pronounce Pontcysyllte … Thanks for another great video . :-)

[@bethintexas9678]

Thank you for this wonderful look at the engineering of the time. As an American, I really enjoy seeing all these pieces of local history, since I don't know that I'll ever get a chance to get over there and see them for myself.

[@moonbear6220]

the canal trust guys were very helpful and detailed in answering your questions with out being to officious. i have been across the bridhe in the 90s on a narrow boat with my family and stood on the side of the boat with no railings holding the roof bar. wasnt being clever and wasnt good with heights but the experience was one of those things i just had to have...

[@MartinZero]

I would love to sail over it

[@Acapulc941]

Oh my goodness, Martin. A million thanks for showing us all of that. I always wondered how on earth it was built. Leigh, Texas

[@martin4787]

Me too and I lived there for nearly 10 years🙂

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, yes its amazing to learn how it all pieced together

[@Almightyrastus]

Hats off to those Canal and River Trust engineers. Being a good engineer from a quantifiable point of view of the quality and efficiency of their work, and the depth of their knowledge is one thing, but equally important is the ability to share and teach (and willingness to do so) that knowledge in a way that is available to different levels of comprehension without coming across as condescending. Also, the ability and willingness to admire and learn from others on the team or those who's work has gone before. I have been an engineer in the lightning protection industry for almost 17 years and this is something that I still strive to do. Properly interesting video.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much. Yes it was great to gain their insightful knowledge

[@GenaF]

I thoroughly enjoyed the video. My parents used to take my sister and I on narrowboat holidays, usually on the Grand Union canal but one year they decided to head to Wales which would have included passing over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and with me being afraid of heights I kicked off BIG TIME. They wouldn't change their minds and neither would I and so they went without me. They obviously enjoyed themselves either because of the scenery or because I wasn't there as afterwards they did the same holiday each year.

[@Steve_Wardley_G6JEF]

Thanks for showcasing this work Martin, have donated.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Steve, am sure they will appreciate it

[@thomasdieckmann5711]

What a great video for a great acqueduct! Martin, very well done, and the intro is a masterpiece!

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much Thomas

[@daviespaulaann8913]

Wow what an awesome piece of engineering....great video as ever Martin and gang ., luv you guys ...you made my Sunday so much better ...as still watching from my hospital bed

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, I wish you a speedy recovery 👍

[@roytabberer7427]

As always, thank you very much for an interesting vlog about the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. A bit more info that I would like to offer. The Llangollen Canal, which the aqueduct carries, starts at the Horseshoe Falls near Llangollen and eventually joins the Shropshire Union Canal at Hurleston near Nantwich. At Hurleston is a reservoir which the canal feeds which in turn gives Nantwich and the local its drinking water. If you look at the canal when the aqueduct is filled you will see that there is a slight flow on it. Each lock has a small bypass weir for the water to bypass locks when they are not in use. Due to it's width, I have known boat owners, who don't like heights, put the boat onto the aqueduct put it in slow forward and then go inside their boat.

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Roy much appreciated

[@aniwilliams3370]

You and Canal & Rivers Trust are the dream-team! Fascinating… thank you! 😍

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Ani 😀👍

[@shirleylynch7529]

Amazing video. What an honour being invited along to witness this aqueduct being maintained like this. Those workmen long ago knew their stuff. They were builders. Thank you Martin. Brilliant scenery and filming.😊

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much Shirley

[@davedear929]

I've seen a number of videos on this subject recently since it's been drained. Yours was the best by far. Thank you Martin.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much Dave 👍

[@RichieReportsUK]

@@MartinZero One of those videos brought me here, (Cruising the cut).

[@MrDurandal25]

So amazing to behold. What a fantastic structure, built by a generation of folks who knew how to work with metal and stone......by hand. Truly a marvel.

[@varisonik]

Great video! I walked across on the footpath years ago, the view was amazing

[@philippabaker1078]

What a fabulous piece of engineering. You have made a cracking video Martin.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you 😃

[@Arachnoid_of_the_underverse]

That must have been really hard work constructing and moving those heavy plates at such a height.Well done Martin and team for an excellent video

[@SheriffofYouTube]

lovely visit thank you

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much

[@120ingram]

Thanks for a really good video. Your questions and the answers your got were very helpful in understanding this beautiful aqueduct.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much

[@ivanrowland6353]

Great stuff again Martin , Jessop is a legend around here and died in Ripley . I love his Cromford canal which I've walked /swam over the years 😊

[@dilwyn1]

Great and informative vid Martin. You are quite right about the little tunnel at the end of the two basins. it was a spur off to the Monsanto chemical works and to make it more quirky it was operated by the LMS ... Imagine that in the heart of the GWR "God wonderful railway" !!

[@MartinZero]

Oh wow thanks for the info 👍

[@adriangallon2636]

Came across this by accident. Glad I did. Really interesting. No music. Well done.

[@wendarampton1888]

I went on a canal boat in 1967/8 across here. It was amazing

[@andyhill242]

Nice to hear that the engineers actually respected the workers and appreciated them.

[@carolynfield1177]

Another great video Martin - we've just spent a very enjoyable day exploring the spectacular viaduct and surrounding area - a truly world class site - the remedial works have been completed and we were able to walk across the viaduct and then sail across on a tourist barge -

[@MartinZero]

Hi Carolyn, I might just take that tourist barge myself

[@havingalook2]

You lucky, lucky, lucky, lucky, man. I would have L O V E D to have been able to do and see that. That was exceptionally interesting. Always miss James though when he is absent. Martin - I must declare this is my most favourite video of all time. You lucky lucky man. Cheers

[@kittylandrover1693]

excellent went over it in a canal boat in the 80s on a family canal holiday, I will hopefully get to do it again in my own boat. keep up the good work and stay safe

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@gavinstirling7088]

Looks like someone dropped a nice camera lens at 18min 12sec! Super interesting video Martin, thank you so much for taking us here!

[@jetsons101]

Just made my tea...... Perfect timing.....

[@MartinZero]

Enjoy Mike

[@romac9516]

Fascinating video Martin, cheers. Kudos to the CRT staff, they always seem so helpful. Pity the gov is strangling their purse strings.

[@DeanJuvenal]

Congratulations on a well edited vid. Full of vital info well presented and including the on site professionals.

[@40swhistleryates60]

ahh..., the wonderful "accie" as it was refered to when I lived near there for some years, but never saw it drained like this.. Formidable engineering . Had many a good walks along the canal there. Brings back lovely memories.. Great video..

[@martin4787]

We called it the Accie when I lived in Trevor.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much

[@metalhad101]

Great to see you also made a videos with somewhat more details than from the cruising the cut guy. Both of you are symphatic

[@oceanwanderer8065]

Wow I well remember walking under the aquaduct and paddling along the side of the Dee as a small child when I lived in the area ---happy days! now I'll be ending my days in Walkden worse luck! Nice one mate! Interesting!

[@davidotto7666]

Hey bud I just want to say your videos are awesome we appreciate the history and everything like that you got some awesome content you keep making content like this like that bridge dude will keep watching your videos all the time thank you again God bless you have a blessed day

[@nezbitt1469]

Fantastic piece of engineering thanks for sharing martin & team great video as usual 👍🏻

[@DebbieBlue-dt1zx]

Martin Martin wow would you believe it I live three miles away and cross a bridge over the river Dee which is ground level about a mile away towards Llangollen almost every day. I’ve been watching your channel almost from the start. My parents lived near Manchester which is how I found your channel so I usually give you an A* for your video so today you get a double A** ( and you presented it better than your mate but don’t tell him that lol😂) thank you again 😍😍Brilliant.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Debbie really appreciate that

[@terrylalley]

Been a viewer and fan for a couple of years but the Ellemere Port Boat Museum and the Pontcysyltte have personal commections. My dad opened the boat museum and I used to live in Cefn Mawr and I would jog down over the Dee bridge and back across the canal; bridge and yes, you get giddy looking down. I now live on a canal in Southern France.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Terry

[@b43xoit]

Nivernais?

[@garethparr9482]

Fabulous Martin and the gang. Remember watching Fred dibnah taking a sale across in one of his programs. Must be quite an experience!! Can’t help but marvel at things like this how did they do what they did all those years ago. It’s certainly testament to the engineers and navies that we can still use it today!

[@user-wu7sn7ml7v]

Thank you Martin and team. That is such wonderfull art work.😅

[@Scotty3146]

I remember shaking with fear as my brother-in-law steered our boat along the aqueduct when we had a holiday on the Llangollen canal.

[@danny2me70]

Absolutely fantastic video Martin the history on this bridge is amazing.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Danny

[@brummiedoug1]

Seeing all the bits and bobs that are in the water in aqueduct are they removed before it’s filled with water again . Thanks for giving us a chance to see what it’s like and long may it stand there it all it’s glory. Brilliant film thank you

[@chimp3376]

Martin, fantastic video as always fascinating, thought I had explored all of Wales.

[@MartinZero]

Well worth a visit

[@keith800]

Thank you for another wonderful video Martin👍 , they were great men of their day to think they designed and built these projects in the days of quill pens and paper , before the days of computer models and design software now so common .

[@colin125gwr]

brilliant video as always I went up and had a look when it was drained too but had to stay behind the fence

[@MartinZero]

Thats a shame, at least you saw part of it

[@colin125gwr]

@@MartinZero I was pleased with the photos I got i have put them on my youtube in my top 10 with in a week 3K +

[@Jimyjames73]

Very Good - It's a 20 year event I saw in another Video!!! Very good - very interesting - Thanks for sharing 🙂🚂🚂🚂

[@peterfryer9615]

Thanks guys that was an amazing video you were very fortunate to be invited thanks again for sharing it with us 😊😊😊

[@jetsons101]

A simple design but not simple to build. The Aqueduct is a perfect example of "Do it right the first time." Also calling the Aqueduct a work of art is somewhat of a understatement. Martin did I see spilt Tea on your saucer??? Thanks to Martin and Team for their time, work and posting.....

[@MartinZero]

Thank you. I rarely spill my tea 😁

[@jetsons101]

Don't feel bad, a few days ago I knocked a coffee over on our floor with carpet on it. Hmmm maybe that's why we have a home steam carped cleaner...... lol@@MartinZero

[@Twmpa]

Excellent video Martin. If you want a good walk, start at Chirk, where an aqueduct and viaduct stand side by side over the Ceiriog valley, and walk to Llangollen which is about 5 miles and passes through two tunnels on the way. It is a beautiful walk in the summer. Also, if you haven't already, I suggest you visit Longdon on Tern near Telford where you will find another smaller iron aqueduct, effectively Thomas Telford's prototype for Pontcysllte, crossing the river Tern. Part of the long abandoned Shrewsbury canal.

[@Christians-hu1pk]

something you don't see everyday . very impressive and well detailed 👏 👌

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@torquesteer2657]

This is great to see, thank you Martin! I visit there a couple of times per year and it’s great to see it being inspected and looked after. Will contribute to the upkeep/fund for sure.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@peterthornton2396]

Cheers Martin I just love our incredible engineering history. Ant is a good lad 😉

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the informative video this day. Always appreciate to watch them. See you on the next, Martin and crew! 🇬🇧🙂👍🇺🇸

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

A great video Martin and very interesting to watch. It's not very often that it becomes emptied, but you had the chance to show us how it was constructed, with information from a couple of the maintenance people. Many thanks for putting this one on.

[@Drivershell53]

one of your best videos Martin. very enjoyable.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much

[@sputumtube]

This is fascinating. I went over this in 1973 (when I was 13) as part of a canal boat holiday, and even at that young age I was utterly mesmerised by the scale of it. Thanks for posting - yet another awesome video.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, sir

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Wow fantastic video. That via duct is awesome. I was enthralled from beginning to end. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care

[@MartinBrenner]

Fascinating construction, how cool we can see the details thanks to you and the canal trust!

[@iandavies8061]

Just up the road from where I live! They do similar work occasionally on the Chirk aquaduct about 4 miles to the south. It was built by Telford and his team at the same time, but they used different construction techniques....

[@ArcAudios77]

Truly 'Magnificent Engineering'... Great explanation & views, thanks for your work Martin.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed

[@shoresyman1]

Another fantastic video Martin keep up the good work 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@ponyboymb]

Excellent, what a privilege for you to be there Whilst they did this 👍 & great for us the viewer 💯🙏🏻 Brilliant 👌, shame no james 👍

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much sir

[@johnstilljohn3181]

What a marvelous opportunity...! I have only ever seen the aqueduct from nearby - it's impressive...!

[@BigD63]

Fantastic, fantastic video. Thanks again Martin. As always your videos are educational and thought provoking. Best regards from Chicago

[@MartinZero]

Thank you very much

[@freddypflugbeil6]

WOW cool stuff thanks Martin Zero. From New York

[@MartinZero]

Hi Freddy, thanks very much for watching, glad you enjoyed 👍

[@davidberlanny3308]

Hi Martin, that was really interesting. The Colossus of Roads they call him, the collossus of canals too I think. Amazing that so much of it is still original maybe it gets covered in silt and there is little oxygen to corrode it. Back then this really would have been rocket science everything they did, they did for the first time. Thanks for taking us along. Great video as always. All the best!!

[@MartinZero]

Thanks very much David

[@myself248]

So cool! I learned that this existed a few months ago during @gonewiththewynns canal-boat adventure, but this is a view I never thought I'd get to see. Thank you for all the fascinating footage and the interviews to put it in context!

[@johnowen3891]

Martin, you definitely need to have a further visit not only to walk the towpath but also on board a boat. At the Trevor Basin they do run trips over the aqueduct to the winding basin and back again. The views from the towpath and boat are fantastic. In 2022 my partner and myself were there, on a coach trip to Llangollen where we joined the cruiser, a ploughman's lunch was provided by the cruise company. We had a very enjoyable day out. Not far away is the source of the water feeding the canal at the Horseshoe Falls which has a car park on the opposite side of the River Dee at Berwyn just off the B5103. The tour company who we went with was G B Tours based in Birkenhead We have been there on a number of occasions taking friends and visitors to the UK and all off them were blown away with the aqueduct especially on the path underneath to see how it was constructed. Keep them coming young man, stay safe and look forward to your next adventure there.

[@DeanJuvenal]

I’ve crossed that aqua/ via duct a number of times, starting in the late 1960s. Each time we bow hauled our boat as my vertigo couldn’t take the 126 ft drop nor the ant sized sheep safely grazing next to the river Dee. The first time, in our tiny boat, we navigated as far as the Dee weir.

[@mikethomas2138]

Excellent video. It’s an incredible feat of engineering. When you walk over it, look how wide the gap is between the railings. I walked over it years ago when my kids were little and was terrified when I realised my boy was small enough to slip through the gaps.

[@morturn]

Super video Martin, thanks.

[@MartinZero]

Thank you

[@pilpelet100]

That's wonderful. Thanks for posting.

[@liamfinch4129]

An informative, well researched and very interesting video. Thanks

[@speedicusmaximus]

I've sailed across this aqueduct twice; there are back again to Llangollen, a nice place to visit in Wales. And yes, putting along with a drop of 120-odd feet of nothing only inches from you in attention-getting !

[@danbuckman5691]

Another cracking video. Sunday complete…

[@MartinZero]

Thanks Dan

[@geoffbreen2386]

At 21:21 the sole green plant in view on the left is a Geranium(Pelargonium) seedling. Always amazed at how plants colonise some amazing locations. Wales is a gem for the world. I feel privileged to have visited, but once.

[@Frankfurtdabezzzt]

Another magnificent work of engineering, and video of course. Also 18:13 looks like someone dropped their camera in the canal 😮

[@MartinZero]

Oh yeah, I noticed that 😃

[@user-ko2wx5xv1f]

Super interesting thank you very much. I have wondered what this looked like empty. Safe travels

[@user-qs4ok3do1d]

Thanks again for a another brill informative video 👍

[@MartinZero]

Thank you 👍

[@EasyGrowsIt]

Very neat thanks for sharing!

[@davidsedlickas8222]

Superb vlog Martin Thank you so much.

[@MartinZero]

Much appreciated David 👍

[@douglasthompson296]

Hi Martin and crew, now never mind your vertigo my googlies were pulling up tight and it was only on a tablet screen 😭 in real time i would have to be deep inside a boat cabin to get across that one. I see you got your posh dayglo wellies on 😎 Cheers DougT

[@MartinZero]

My goolies pulled up to 😂

[@thoughtful_criticiser]

I have cruised across, as well as walked the aqueduct many times. On an emergency driving course we stopped there and some of us jumped across the waterway at the southern end. Living locally I pass it on the road bridge below four times a day.

[@bonetiredtoo]

It is worth looking at the Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct on the now disused Shrewsbury canal. This ( the aqueduct is standing). This is one of the very first cast iron aqueducts in the world and was designed by Telford and completed in 1796. It was used, very much so, as a testing ground for Telford for his future structures.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks, worth a look 👍

[@jeffjones6107]

It is an amazing piece of engineering and craftsmanship. When England was at the forefront of technology, great video Martin and the crew👍 Ps see the wellie bobs got an outing. 😂😂

[@MartinZero]

Cheers Jeff, Wellies holding up ok 👍

[@welshpete12]

Thank you for that, a fascinating and informative video . Twenty shillings then , would have the buying power of about £ 100 or $ 80 today . Bread and butter in Welsh is bara menyn , say bar-raa mean . Pontcysyllte, say, pont- sis-ta and just means a Link bridge .

[@hollydelihgt]

so glad you visited here i live up the road from this amazing site

[@MartinZero]

Beautiful place 👌

[@user-rr2np7cq2z]

Долгожданное ,очень интересное видео👍

[@MartinZero]

Большое спасибо. Рад, что вам понравилось 👍

[@davidjames9775]

Wow that was a wonderful video. Presenting as good as it gets.

[@MartinZero]

Thanks David 👍

[@soundgroundermusic]

Another fascinating episode. It is a great hook up with the Canal and River Trust again. They depart the knowledge and your research follows it up. The result is clear you have reached another level Martin not to take away any credit for your many videos over the years which have been equally entertaining. Who needs the Beeb anymore.

[@thomasswallow6418]

Another excellent video. Thank you Martin!😀

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Thomas

[@mileshigh1321]

Best brew up yet! That 1964 picture you could still see the tow path was wooden. It would have been amazing to be at the work site in like 1800 with everything being built and put together!

[@cecilwilson5442]

Great video keep the countries heritage going ☘️☘️☘️ from northern Ireland

[@MartinZero]

Thank you Cecil