What a masterpiece of construction. Those people long ago knew how to build. What an experience for all you boys being allowed to film on the Aqueduct and then to share it with us. Thank you Ant. This should be on TV as well for all to see. Brilliant. Awesome. Filming outstanding.
This is a terrific insight into the aqueduct. I crossed it in a boat about 11 years ago and watching your well presented video brought back so many great memories. Thank you. John from Australia 🇦🇺
Oh ja, das muss man jedem sagen, der dort oben arbeiten muss. Passt auf euch auf!!!! Ein wunderschönes abenteuerliches Video. Dankeschön an euch alle ❣️❣️
As has already been said, they knew how to build and engineer things back then. So good to see that its being looked after for future generations to enjoy. Loved the filming, drone footage and music. Very informative as well. Well done and thank you for sharing.
Hi guys, I find there’s absolutely incredible how it was built all those years ago and still standing and still being used on a daily basis. Keep up the good work. Love this video from Australia
Stunning. I can't help but wonder (although I don't watch TV, haven't had one for decades) if this channel is picked-up by a streaming service or TV network.
It’s nice to see Martin doing a video in wales 🏴 I’m welsh n proud ….. it’s my first time seeing g your videos on your channel and a video made in wales super proud ❤
Wonderful clip! With Roy, Martin & you the perfect team explores a unique historic location, perfectly set in scene with amazing drone shots and atmospheric music. Ant, it a pleasure to follow you and your adventures 😊
What an amazing opportunity to visit when empty. I'd get a lemming feeling if I was on a narrow boat with no railing on one side. It certainly is a marvel of British engineering. I still don't understand the function of those metal loops under 5 feet of water. This reminds me of the plughole on the canal in Manchester that Martin covered. Belated Happy Birthday, Ant. Another great episode. I love the way the music ends on a crescendo. Thanks for sharing.
Re: the metal loops - me neither! I thought the CRT man was going to explain but he didn't really make much sense. I can't what they would do in relation the towpath though, I'd have thought they were there to aid construction or transport of the sections? Also odd to have just one drainage grill for the whole towpath, and have it raised above the surface! I guess it probably made sense when the original wooden towpath that in place
From what I'm trying to understand about the metal loops they were part of the original structure when horses were used on the towpath which was built with blue bricks and somehow supported by those metal loops and over the years has been modified with a wooden and steel structure what you see today 😊
Fantastic! Hard to think back in 1980 my school class went across the aqueduct without any PPE and with that huge drop on one side!! This was a class of 10 and 11 year olds.
Great insight into the original construction of this aqueduct….This was manufactured when we were had skilled foundry men making amazing forms out of cast iron which is on display all around Wales and beyond! Many thanks for a great production.
Fantastic, better than I thought it would be, brilliant engineering that would be difficult to achieve today, thanks for taking the time and trouble in making this great video
My brother Paul died of a heart attack on his narrow boat Xanadu just around the bend from Trefor basin. I had to take Xanadu back to its moorings at Chirk and crossing the aqueduct that my late brother loved so much was an emotional experience. I was extra careful that day not to bump the paint work. Even though we had already had the funeral that was the day I said goodbye to my big brother.
What a fantastic rare opportunity that was! I must say, I do prefer the side with a railing - the camera looking over the other side made my toes curl a bit! So glad you could get that footage - and a very happy birthday to you, Ant and many more. All the best to you. S.
On a more serious note your commentary, drone work, research etc is amazing not to mention the application of the music and the editing you do to tie it all together Well done a most interesting exploration of something few of us have ever seen.
Thank you for such a fantastic and informative video. Big thank you to the Canals and River Trust for allowing you access to video record a fantastic piece of engineering history. Been over a few times in a narrow boat and also walked over as well. The scariest crossing was early on late September morning and the fog as so thick you could only see 20 yards in front of you. You felt like you were on a floating puddle in the Sky. You could hear the river below and only birds singing not another boat could be heard. Fantastic memories 🙂
I remember filming for our channel there a few years ago. What an absolute brilliant bit of engineering and a thrilling walk over. One of my favourite photos ever is a 360 one of the wife and I looking over the edge. So nice you've got access to the empty trough and see the maintenance
I lived in Froncysyllte House and worked the drawbridge with my bro and walked across the then fallen in footpath on the aqueduct to Trefor at the age of 4 ! (1959) Great to see it so well maintained.
what a brilliant piece of engineering this is. I crossed this aqueduct in an Indian Canoe with a friend of mine. The sense of exposure was just exhilarating.
A great exploration trio this day. Good to see the trio again. Always a great video, thank you for today’s video. See you on the next, Ant. Cheers mates! 😊😊😊
Excellent video, thank you. We took our boat over there last summer and then stayed in the basin at Llangollen for a few days. What about a video on the heritage railway in Llangollen. That was yet another fantastic experience just a few miles down the road.
Great video, thanks. Went over this a couple of times in a narrowboat some years ago. Still don't understand what those metal straps/loops are for. The chap you asked just said they were to do with original walkway but didn't explain anything about their function, unless I missed something...
The straps I couldn't really worked out how they worked myself just that they were for the original towpath. I've tried to imagine how they would be used. Thanks for watching
Superb aerial shots! A once in a lifetime trek inside this magnificent structure. I wonder how they get those huge bolts undone should it prove necessary?
@@TrekkingExploration that’s good wouldn’t won’t to fall through proves thing made 100s of years ago are better quality and no worries dude can’t wait for the next video 🫶🏻
Boated over it many times. Some would say it was over engineered at the time, but its a testament to many of our great engineering feats of the age. Thats why they are still here today, those Victorians were damn clever, they never cease to amaze me with their planning and enginuity. Like Brunel building in underwater sluices to wash out any silt in Bristol docks. Elsewhere they have to dredge. Great informative film, thanks.
Awesome ... I can remember driving past this when I was probably 5 or 6 years old (1980) heading to Barmouth which we went to several times a year .. I so enjoyed this... You stirred memories I've got so thankyou for an awesome upload 👍🇬🇧
@@TrekkingExplorationI hope so Ant. If you go over the river from Trevor and walk along the track, there you will on the stone pillar in the river a big plaque giving you details of the construction Ant. Another interesting feature that not many people know about. If you go over the aqueduct from Trevor and walk underneath, you will see one of the metal arches looks newer than the rest. That's because myself and my friend Will Jones went under there and found one of them broken and we informed the Waterboard who were responsible for it back then and the aqueduct was closed for about two years while it was replaced with the current one.
I walked half way over once and crapt myself ,so turned round 🤣 not good with heights , great video Ant , your real professional with these vids keep them coming
I narrowboated over in my early teens.....I could not believe that we were so close to that sheer drop (on the canalside) the boat was banging into it all the way across..... Due to a strong wind from the footpath side......... Squeaky bum time indeed!
I used to ride my bike over when I was a lot younger, all I remember was the flicker of the railings as you went over. Trying not to let them distract you.
I remember my first trip across there in a Narrowboat. It was 11 years ago and there were four of us on the boat. Three of the guy on there all much bigger than me but they crapped themselves and went below leaving me to man the Tiller. There was sideways rain and quite a bit of wind. Was certainly a good way to get introduced to the insane feat of engineering that is the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct. At the time I had wished one of them would take the Tiller and even that the weather was more favourable but by the time I was halfway across and had made peace with the huge drop just inches off to the side of me it actually became very enjoyable and now one of those long lasting and very fond of life memories.
As others have said,great video on all points. I'm afraid I still don't understand those iron "loops" that were used for the original tow path though. And if they opened the plug I'd have loved to see that,seems as though they may just have relied on pumping if I understand correctly. The UK canal system fascinates me, and I love that is has been preserved and maintained. Thanks from Alabama!
Great video and great commentary.. You mention it was scary crossing the aqueduct in a narrow boat as there was no fence on the other side of the waterway to the tow path. In 1992ish my family and I and my son's mate did just that. It had been raining and the checkerplate floor of the rear potion of the boat got slippy. My son's mate was walking along the towpath and then jumped back on the boat. He slipped and nearly shot off the other side of the boat and over the edge. He just managed to grab hold of something in time. A very near miss.
Thank you, that was really interesting, naively when you said it had been drained I was expecting it to be almost dry. Loved the drone shots, it gives a really good perspective, when it comes to aqueducts and bridges there’s high and then there’s bloody seriously high.
Thank you for watching. I also expected it to be completely dry. At least after this we know it's not completely level with Welly deep water at one end
Not mentioned is how they sealed the joints . If it's the same as an abandoned one in Devon they used pitch and Welsh flannel to seal them and the angled part is so that its own weight pushes the pieces together
I’m so lucky to live, not too far from this beautiful aqueduct…. it really is a special place to walk across… I’ve been living up here for 35 years and I’ve never seen it empty. Fascinating
Stupendous pics, sound and editing! I was expecting Lawrence of Arabia to be riding across on a narrow boat in the intro. In all seriousness, I can't believe that incidents didn't happen of horses refusing to cross. I don't know if I could do it even as a pedestrian, let alone in wind and rain. My heart is pounding just watching this. Again, excellent production.
Thanks very much Stephen. We couldn't get Lawrence sadly 😂 It's an absolute thing of beauty. To walk across on the towpath still gets me even now. Thank you for watching
Lovely video and so well made, does justice to the subject. The empty trough was just as one expected, bolts apart not very much to see. Did they get the plug functioning??👍
An amazing piece of engineering. I was just wondering how much water is normally in the aqueduct and how much it weighs? At the same time I was wondering if there's any risk of damage to the structure when all this weight of water is removed?
Yet again sir some epic music for an epic video. I love your passion for this. It makes me want to watch your videos. I would love to do a trek with you somewhere. I’d have the time of my life I’m sure.
Concerning the blind turn at a Trevor Basin, do some narrow boats have remote bow cameras so that the helmsman can see if anyone is in the way without an assistant at the bow?
There are lots of blind junctions on the canals, boats just go dead slow and honk their horns. A small dead slow collision wouldn't damage most steel narrowboats boats in any case
Excellent video, an amazing structure that I walked around ten years ago. How does the wrought iron design cope with extremely hot summers and when the canal freezes? Does the metal have sufficient 'give' in it without needing expansion joints or something to prevent bucking/ distortion?
Great video, lovely drone shots, really interesting to see the construction. We walked across there about 10 years ago, those railings did not seem to me to be tall enough or strong enough! Thank you again.
Do they empty sections to dry to check the bolts and do they clear out all the rubbish including the silt or just the big stuff like shopping trolleys and motorway cones ?
I believe so yes they do little sections with the portable pumps. Apparently the piles of muck were being scooped out before refilling which happened yesterday ( Monday )
Really apprecited it, kinda of reminds me of when I walked on thr Niagara River right at the Niagara Falls when they closed it off in 1968-1969 to do repair work and the used 5 levels of fence so we could walk on the River Bed, amazing.
@@TrekkingExploration very well, Ant. Foot recovering after surgery and I am enjoying not going to work. Didn't realise how much I needed to just rest! 👍
I have crossed this on a narrow boat with my wife and two young girls, it was certainly a big part of the trip as well as the tunnel and this was the main reason for doing the trip.
I first walked across there in about 1967 on a school trip. We walked all the way from Chirk. Since then I've been across a few times on a boat and on foot with a well earned pint at the Trevor Arms. I think I saw some sort of drain pipe underneath at the end opposite Trevor near the abutment. A good video indeed, Cheers!
Good to see my old stomping exposed again, crossed in the trough myself in the late 90's. The concrete troughs on either side are some of my works as well
I was interested in this after your collab with Martin James and Timmy in Lathkill Dale - you cover some great topics! And lo and behold - here's Martin and Roy! Its worth a Google for the aqueduct's own website, which includes pics of the fully assembled plug hole lifter, and also a quick hint on how to pronounce its name in Welsh (and not Italian ;-) )
A nice video. The one point not covered that I noticed was the seal between the sections, i believe this was horsehair and pitch. Very effective as there doesn't seem to be any appreciable leakage across the entire aqueduct.
Well, if you are like me. I watch the videos and then forget to press like. I think the “like” thing should be abolished and replaced with full video watch count.
Being a fan of Telford I was looking forward to see this amazing structure whilst on holiday in Chirk. I was not disappointed. Walked it twice and sailed over it once during that weeks holiday. It left many unanswered questions. Your video has answered quit a few of them .. thank you
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is a perfect example of "Do It Right The First Time."
Built to last 😊
Or do you mean my video? 😉😂
Errrrr......... Both, "Yea" both..........@@TrekkingExploration
@@jetsons101 😊😊😊😊
What’s the thickness of the bottom plates roughly ant?
@@muckle8 that's a good question... One I don't think any of us asked
What a masterpiece of construction. Those people long ago knew how to build. What an experience for all you boys being allowed to film on the Aqueduct and then to share it with us. Thank you Ant. This should be on TV as well for all to see. Brilliant. Awesome. Filming outstanding.
Yes amazing work indeed , makes some of 2days construction look rather fragile indeed.
This is a terrific insight into the aqueduct. I crossed it in a boat about 11 years ago and watching your well presented video brought back so many great memories. Thank you. John from Australia 🇦🇺
Glad you enjoyed it! I'm very pleased it has rekindled those memories
Oh ja, das muss man jedem sagen, der dort oben arbeiten muss.
Passt auf euch auf!!!!
Ein wunderschönes abenteuerliches Video.
Dankeschön an euch alle ❣️❣️
I have had the pleasure of boating over this beautiful piece of engineering several times. Thanks for your great programme. 😊
Thanks very much for watching Serena 🙂
You are the luckiest group of men in the world to have had that privilege to have seen that. And thank you for sharing.
Happy Birthday, Ant! Brilliant video, better every day. Nice to see Martin and Roy out with you. ❤
Thanks very much Jeff
So pleased you enjoyed it and thank you for watching
As has already been said, they knew how to build and engineer things back then. So good to see that its being looked after for future generations to enjoy. Loved the filming, drone footage and music. Very informative as well. Well done and thank you for sharing.
Hi guys, I find there’s absolutely incredible how it was built all those years ago and still standing and still being used on a daily basis. Keep up the good work. Love this video from Australia
Thanks very much indeed. It was certainly built to last 😊
The load remains the same so no extra stresses to worry about.
Hint: Archimedes Principle and displacement.
lovely bit of work especially combining the drone shots with the walk thru. Well done.
Thanks very much Pete ☺️
Stunning. I can't help but wonder (although I don't watch TV, haven't had one for decades) if this channel is picked-up by a streaming service or TV network.
@@stephensaines7100 it's not no.
Brilliant thanks from a local person who live around there ❤👌👏👏
It’s nice to see Martin doing a video in wales 🏴 I’m welsh n proud ….. it’s my first time seeing g your videos on your channel and a video made in wales super proud ❤
Wonderful clip! With Roy, Martin & you the perfect team explores a unique historic location, perfectly set in scene with amazing drone shots and atmospheric music. Ant, it a pleasure to follow you and your adventures 😊
Very very kind Thomas thanks very much indeed. This is one of those rare special ones I've been too ☺️
What an amazing opportunity to visit when empty. I'd get a lemming feeling if I was on a narrow boat with no railing on one side. It certainly is a marvel of British engineering. I still don't understand the function of those metal loops under 5 feet of water. This reminds me of the plughole on the canal in Manchester that Martin covered. Belated Happy Birthday, Ant. Another great episode. I love the way the music ends on a crescendo. Thanks for sharing.
Re: the metal loops - me neither! I thought the CRT man was going to explain but he didn't really make much sense. I can't what they would do in relation the towpath though, I'd have thought they were there to aid construction or transport of the sections?
Also odd to have just one drainage grill for the whole towpath, and have it raised above the surface! I guess it probably made sense when the original wooden towpath that in place
From what I'm trying to understand about the metal loops they were part of the original structure when horses were used on the towpath which was built with blue bricks and somehow supported by those metal loops and over the years has been modified with a wooden and steel structure what you see today 😊
Fantastic! Hard to think back in 1980 my school class went across the aqueduct without any PPE and with that huge drop on one side!!
This was a class of 10 and 11 year olds.
Some memories for you there 😊
Thank you for watching David 😊
In those days common sense ruled supreme.
The good old days when people were expected to behave like they had brains.
I doubt that PPE is generally required today. It's a public footpath.
@qwertyTRiG indeed it is but there are railings on that side.
When you're on a canal barge there's nothing to stop you falling off!!
Great insight into the original construction of this aqueduct….This was manufactured when we were had skilled foundry men making amazing forms out of cast iron which is on display all around Wales and beyond! Many thanks for a great production.
Thanks very much Tony. We really are losing some skills. I wonder how much and how long this would take to build now
Fantastic, better than I thought it would be, brilliant engineering that would be difficult to achieve today, thanks for taking the time and trouble in making this great video
Thanks very much Roger that's very kind of you 😊
I came here from Martin Zero's video. Great work on your version, going to make my way thrifty your other videos. Really quality work!
My brother Paul died of a heart attack on his narrow boat Xanadu just around the bend from Trefor basin. I had to take Xanadu back to its moorings at Chirk and crossing the aqueduct that my late brother loved so much was an emotional experience. I was extra careful that day not to bump the paint work. Even though we had already had the funeral that was the day I said goodbye to my big brother.
What a fantastic rare opportunity that was! I must say, I do prefer the side with a railing - the camera looking over the other side made my toes curl a bit! So glad you could get that footage - and a very happy birthday to you, Ant and many more. All the best to you. S.
I thought that about the camera going over the edge when I edited it I thought omg that'll be epic on a big TV 🤣
On a more serious note your commentary, drone work, research etc is amazing not to mention the application of the music and the editing you do to tie it all together Well done a most interesting exploration of something few of us have ever seen.
So pleased you enjoyed it. I really do pay attention to comments and feedback and I'm pleased everyone is happy with the format ☺️
It’s almost like the beginning of a movie! Very beautiful surroundings!
It's so lovely there.. thank you for watching
What amazed me was when you mentioned that they had to get all the fish out. Who'd have thought? Excellent. Loved the drone shots. All the best.
Imagine how the fish felt a 100 years ago when the Plughole was opened 🤣
@@TrekkingExploration Ride of their lives! Weeeeee!
Martin Zero has recently done a video about why and how they do this, it's worth a look. (And yes I am a fan!)
Great video as normal. Thanks for filming and sharing with us all.
So pleased you enjoyed it Roy 😊
Thank you for such a fantastic and informative video. Big thank you to the Canals and River Trust for allowing you access to video record a fantastic piece of engineering history. Been over a few times in a narrow boat and also walked over as well. The scariest crossing was early on late September morning and the fog as so thick you could only see 20 yards in front of you. You felt like you were on a floating puddle in the Sky. You could hear the river below and only birds singing not another boat could be heard. Fantastic memories 🙂
Great video my friend Richard Dibble took me there l will never forget the lovely time we had, thank u richard,
Thank you for watching Cliff
Wow this was so interesting thank you lads what a brilliant day out as Martin said once in a lifetime trip.
Thanks very much Terry. It was quite a rare experience
I remember filming for our channel there a few years ago. What an absolute brilliant bit of engineering and a thrilling walk over. One of my favourite photos ever is a 360 one of the wife and I looking over the edge.
So nice you've got access to the empty trough and see the maintenance
They knew how to bulld stuff then!, I was thinking is there a plug lol!..a great vlog once again!. Love the music choices!
Thanks very much indeed. I expected it to be a little sluice rather than a plug
I lived in Froncysyllte House and worked the drawbridge with my bro and walked across the then fallen in footpath on the aqueduct to Trefor at the age of 4 ! (1959) Great to see it so well maintained.
I've heard about all of the holes etc the footpath had in the 1960s . Good it's sorted. Thanks for watching
what a brilliant piece of engineering this is. I crossed this aqueduct in an Indian Canoe with a friend of mine. The sense of exposure was just exhilarating.
It really is an experiance and a thrill. Thankyou for watching :)
What a fantastic feat of engineering.
Definitely built to last
A great exploration trio this day. Good to see the trio again. Always a great video, thank you for today’s video. See you on the next, Ant. Cheers mates! 😊😊😊
Glad you enjoyed it Martin. It was a fantastic opportunity
Fascinating and certainly something I'll very likely never get a chance to see.. Brilliant video as always.. Hope you had a great birthday 😊👍
Really pleased you both enjoyed it. Thanks very much indeed ☺️
My Grandfather, James Diggory, owned the foundry in Llangollen that did all the ironwork on the Aqueduct working with Telford.
Oh my goodness that's an amazing bit of history 😍
Thanks very much for watching
@@TrekkingExploration No worries. Happy to share it with you.👍🏻
Thanks for the education very interesting ,and thanks to everyone who keeps it going and repaired.
After seeing the aqueduct on Countryfile last week, this came along at just the right time to show how work is progressing. Great vid!
Ahhh brilliant thanks very much. I'll have to have a look at countryfile
I would not bother. What you filmed is how it should be, they just skimmed over it, not how Fred Dibnah would have done it 20yrs ago.
Excellent video, thank you. We took our boat over there last summer and then stayed in the basin at Llangollen for a few days. What about a video on the heritage railway in Llangollen. That was yet another fantastic experience just a few miles down the road.
I'd like to do the railway I've yet to try that. I'd also like to have a boat holiday again too up there
Thanks for watching
Great video, thanks. Went over this a couple of times in a narrowboat some years ago.
Still don't understand what those metal straps/loops are for. The chap you asked just said they were to do with original walkway but didn't explain anything about their function, unless I missed something...
The straps I couldn't really worked out how they worked myself just that they were for the original towpath. I've tried to imagine how they would be used. Thanks for watching
Superb aerial shots! A once in a lifetime trek inside this magnificent structure. I wonder how they get those huge bolts undone should it prove necessary?
Always amazes me how well it has lasted
And still rock solid. Thank you for watching 😊
@@TrekkingExploration that’s good wouldn’t won’t to fall through proves thing made 100s of years ago are better quality and no worries dude can’t wait for the next video 🫶🏻
@@DpacOP 😊😊😊😊
Boated over it many times. Some would say it was over engineered at the time, but its a testament to many of our great engineering feats of the age. Thats why they are still here today, those Victorians were damn clever, they never cease to amaze me with their planning and enginuity. Like Brunel building in underwater sluices to wash out any silt in Bristol docks. Elsewhere they have to dredge. Great informative film, thanks.
It's a wonderful experience
😂😂😂
Go to the bottom of the class!
Google up the dates of the construction and compare to the Victorian era.
Hint: George 3
Built quite some time before the Victorians.....
Nice video guys/Martin don't normally comment. Went to the Peak District last year .back again in the spring we'll try that walk..
Fantastic. Nice to see Martin too. So much history there I love it. Thanks for taking me along. Please take care
Thanks very much for watching as always
Awesome ... I can remember driving past this when I was probably 5 or 6 years old (1980) heading to Barmouth which we went to several times a year .. I so enjoyed this... You stirred memories I've got so thankyou for an awesome upload 👍🇬🇧
Another excellent video Ant!
Always enjoy.
I also follow Martin another excellent UA-camr 👍
So pleased you enjoyed it thank you 😄
Me too and great to see Martin and Roy. I also lived there from 1971 to 1980 and it brings back many memory's.
@@martin4787 I'll definitely be going back soon 😊
@@TrekkingExplorationI hope so Ant. If you go over the river from Trevor and walk along the track, there you will on the stone pillar in the river a big plaque giving you details of the construction Ant. Another interesting feature that not many people know about.
If you go over the aqueduct from Trevor and walk underneath, you will see one of the metal arches looks newer than the rest. That's because myself and my friend Will Jones went under there and found one of them broken and we informed the Waterboard who were responsible for it back then and the aqueduct was closed for about two years while it was replaced with the current one.
@@martin4787 blimey that was well spotted with the damaged arch 😯
It's amazing that never got picked up sooner during inspection
Brilliant video. Wife and I rented a narrowboat two years ago and crossed this aqueduct so great to see this video and bring those memories back!
Thanks very much 😊
It's made me want to hire one again too
Brilliant presentation Ant fascinating info really enjoyed it many thanks for making and sharing.
Brilliant thank you John very very kind
We have paddled a Canadian canoe over the aqueduct , there and back on a couple of occasions - a great experience. Fascinating film - thank you.
@Ant ... In the seventies I did some work in that area mainly in the canal basin and warf
Hi Dilwyn. We meet again🙂 Was it on the Monsanto side of the basin?
I walked half way over once and crapt myself ,so turned round 🤣 not good with heights , great video Ant , your real professional with these vids keep them coming
I was so nervous the first time in 2010. So pleased you enjoyed it thank you ☺️
I narrowboated over in my early teens.....I could not believe that we were so close to that sheer drop (on the canalside) the boat was banging into it all the way across.....
Due to a strong wind from the footpath side......... Squeaky bum time indeed!
That's halfway more than I would/could do. I'd have done it as a kid, but fear was a different manifestation back then.
I used to ride my bike over when I was a lot younger, all I remember was the flicker of the railings as you went over. Trying not to let them distract you.
I remember my first trip across there in a Narrowboat. It was 11 years ago and there were four of us on the boat. Three of the guy on there all much bigger than me but they crapped themselves and went below leaving me to man the Tiller. There was sideways rain and quite a bit of wind. Was certainly a good way to get introduced to the insane feat of engineering that is the Pontcysyllte Aquaduct.
At the time I had wished one of them would take the Tiller and even that the weather was more favourable but by the time I was halfway across and had made peace with the huge drop just inches off to the side of me it actually became very enjoyable and now one of those long lasting and very fond of life memories.
As others have said,great video on all points. I'm afraid I still don't understand those iron "loops" that were used for the original tow path though. And if they opened the plug I'd have loved to see that,seems as though they may just have relied on pumping if I understand correctly. The UK canal system fascinates me, and I love that is has been preserved and maintained. Thanks from Alabama!
Great video and great commentary.. You mention it was scary crossing the aqueduct in a narrow boat as there was no fence on the other side of the waterway to the tow path. In 1992ish my family and I and my son's mate did just that. It had been raining and the checkerplate floor of the rear potion of the boat got slippy. My son's mate was walking along the towpath and then jumped back on the boat. He slipped and nearly shot off the other side of the boat and over the edge. He just managed to grab hold of something in time. A very near miss.
Wow that's scary stuff 😱
I bet that shuck everyone up for a while afterwards. I can almost imagine it
With the number of Narrow Boat channels on UA-cam these days, I am surprised it wasn't full of Go-Pros !
.
Thank you, that was really interesting, naively when you said it had been drained I was expecting it to be almost dry. Loved the drone shots, it gives a really good perspective, when it comes to aqueducts and bridges there’s high and then there’s bloody seriously high.
Thank you for watching. I also expected it to be completely dry. At least after this we know it's not completely level with Welly deep water at one end
Not mentioned is how they sealed the joints . If it's the same as an abandoned one in Devon they used pitch and Welsh flannel to seal them and the angled part is so that its own weight pushes the pieces together
I’m so lucky to live, not too far from this beautiful aqueduct…. it really is a special place to walk across… I’ve been living up here for 35 years and I’ve never seen it empty. Fascinating
Thanks!
Very kind thank you 🙂
Stupendous pics, sound and editing! I was expecting Lawrence of Arabia to be riding across on a narrow boat in the intro.
In all seriousness, I can't believe that incidents didn't happen of horses refusing to cross. I don't know if I could do it even as a pedestrian, let alone in wind and rain.
My heart is pounding just watching this.
Again, excellent production.
Thanks very much Stephen. We couldn't get Lawrence sadly 😂
It's an absolute thing of beauty. To walk across on the towpath still gets me even now. Thank you for watching
Lovely video and so well made, does justice to the subject. The empty trough was just as one expected, bolts apart not very much to see. Did they get the plug functioning??👍
Brilliant work again, some beautiful sights from up there. Thanks Ant.
Thanks very much Jon very kind 😊
An amazing piece of engineering.
I was just wondering how much water is normally in the aqueduct and how much it weighs?
At the same time I was wondering if there's any risk of damage to the structure when all this weight of water is removed?
at the end of video behind Martin two big pipes pumping water up to the canal to keep it in water Fantastic! wish I could have walk in the aqueduct
Yes that was the pumping station 🙂
You never know there may be another opportunity in 3 years when it's planned to be drained again
Very interesting.I went over there in a Narrowboat many years ago! quiet a hairy experience -Thanks😊
It's definitely an experience. ☺️ Thanks for watching 😊
Yet again sir some epic music for an epic video. I love your passion for this. It makes me want to watch your videos. I would love to do a trek with you somewhere. I’d have the time of my life I’m sure.
Very kind Gary thank you. Getting the music that feels right can sometimes be the hardest part too
If you do calculations on the bridge with modern computers how dose it stand for all the weight it has to hold.
Nicely done, great bit of history about this waterway, do watch videos about the boats and so this was very informative.. thanks for sharing.😊😊
Thanks very much for watching Frank. Very kind
Concerning the blind turn at a Trevor Basin, do some narrow boats have remote bow cameras so that the helmsman can see if anyone is in the way without an assistant at the bow?
I believe some do now and I think if I did it again I'd have a go pro attached to the front live streaming to my phone. Thank you for watching
There are lots of blind junctions on the canals, boats just go dead slow and honk their horns. A small dead slow collision wouldn't damage most steel narrowboats boats in any case
Excellent video, an amazing structure that I walked around ten years ago.
How does the wrought iron design cope with extremely hot summers and when the canal freezes? Does the metal have sufficient 'give' in it without needing expansion joints or something to prevent bucking/ distortion?
They certainly built things to last back in the day. Wonderful video today.(not that I don't enjoy them all) Have a happy Birthday.
Thanks very much Sheila. Yes they certainly did 😊
Do you know what I genuinely enjoyed this film ! I adore history and you boy hit the nail on the head !, subscribed sir 👌👌👌👌👌👌
Thanks very much that's very kind. I was a little out of my comfort zone with this one it's a little different to all my other stuff 😊
Thank you
Amazing video, and I cringe every time the camera peers over the edge. (And it’s been years since I last jumped out of a perfectly good aircraft) 🤣
It got me too when I edited it as I hadn't seen what the camera saw on the day 🤣
What an experience! Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks very much for watching 🙂
Great video, lovely drone shots, really interesting to see the construction. We walked across there about 10 years ago, those railings did not seem to me to be tall enough or strong enough! Thank you again.
It's quite a hair raising experience isn't it? Dread to think what it's like in the wind
Do they empty sections to dry to check the bolts and do they clear out all the rubbish including the silt or just the big stuff like shopping trolleys and motorway cones ?
I believe so yes they do little sections with the portable pumps. Apparently the piles of muck were being scooped out before refilling which happened yesterday ( Monday )
Thank you.@@TrekkingExploration
Really apprecited it, kinda of reminds me of when I walked on thr Niagara River right at the Niagara Falls when they closed it off in 1968-1969 to do repair work and the used 5 levels of fence so we could walk on the River Bed, amazing.
Thanks very much for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed it 😁
Fantastic drone opportunity. And many happy returns for the birthday. I hope it's really special and you get to treat yourself. Cheers, mate. 🤓🎁🎈
I think doing this the day before was a treat worthy of my birthday. Hope you are well
@@TrekkingExploration very well, Ant. Foot recovering after surgery and I am enjoying not going to work. Didn't realise how much I needed to just rest! 👍
What was being done to the plug? More explanation there would have been nice. How many spans are there not sure if it was mentioned
I couldn't tell you exactly what was being done other than the work was happening.
18 spans it was mentioned near the start
very well done ant very interesting...... as all your videos always are.
Thanks very much Clive very kind ☺️
Happy Birthday Ant! 🎉🎊🥳🍺🍩
Awww thank you 🙂
Marvellous piece of engineering. Imagine working on that!
I have crossed this on a narrow boat with my wife and two young girls, it was certainly a big part of the trip as well as the tunnel and this was the main reason for doing the trip.
Absolutely fantastic!!!
Thanks very much Jane 🙂
I first walked across there in about 1967 on a school trip. We walked all the way from Chirk. Since then I've been across a few times on a boat and on foot with a well earned pint at the Trevor Arms.
I think I saw some sort of drain pipe underneath at the end opposite Trevor near the abutment.
A good video indeed, Cheers!
Good to see my old stomping exposed again, crossed in the trough myself in the late 90's. The concrete troughs on either side are some of my works as well
Awwww brilliant.
Thanks for watching Mike 😊
I was interested in this after your collab with Martin James and Timmy in Lathkill Dale - you cover some great topics! And lo and behold - here's Martin and Roy! Its worth a Google for the aqueduct's own website, which includes pics of the fully assembled plug hole lifter, and also a quick hint on how to pronounce its name in Welsh (and not Italian ;-) )
A nice video. The one point not covered that I noticed was the seal between the sections, i believe this was horsehair and pitch. Very effective as there doesn't seem to be any appreciable leakage across the entire aqueduct.
Brilliant video as always,Ant, very informative and amazing drone shots,❤ xx
Thanks very much 😊😊😊😊
Great video, lovely part of wales! When do they refill it?
It's scheduled for the 15th march we were told 🙂
I’ve been over that several years ago, it’s amazing
It really is an experience. Thanks for watching 😊
I enjoyed that fond memories Got a photo of my late mother on it
Aaww that's lovely ☺️
I wonder how many canal boats would pass over here in a normal week (when back open)compared to 200 years ago
Awesome looking 4D 2 this one 😊
I hope you enjoy it 😁
53,000 views..... only 2,300 thumbs up? What on earth is wrong with folk! Unbelievable.
Well, if you are like me. I watch the videos and then forget to press like.
I think the “like” thing should be abolished and replaced with full video watch count.
Being a fan of Telford I was looking forward to see this amazing structure whilst on holiday in Chirk. I was not disappointed. Walked it twice and sailed over it once during that weeks holiday. It left many unanswered questions. Your video has answered quit a few of them .. thank you
Aaww brilliant Dave thanks very much. If you go again you'll know what's below now 😊
A beautiful structure,many thanks for sharing !
Thank you for watching ☺️
21 again eh??@@TrekkingExploration
I'm fairly sure that I saw it being emptied using the plug hole many years back on Blue Peter or some other similar programme
I wonder how many bolts hold it together?
Around 11000 apparently
Very interesting to see that and what good condition it is in too. Compared to the rubbish built nowadays.
I agree. They really were built to last 😊