Chirk viaduct

The railway viaduct at Chirk which was erected in 1846-8 and rebuilt in 1858 was the work of the Scottish engineer Henry Robertson. The 100 feet high stone structure was built for the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway and has ten spans with round arches. Three further arches at either end of the viaduct replace former timber spans and are dated 1858-9. The viaduct stands some 30 feet above the adjoining aqueduct.

This photo is taken at the winding hole just before the entrance to the Chirk tunnel which lies on the Llangollen Canal, immediately northwards of the Chirk Aqueduct. It is 421 metres (460 yd) long and has a complete towpath inside. The tunnel portals and the canal basin are collectively a Grade II* listed structures.

The PiP shows what the entrance to the tunnel looks like. We have walked through the tunnel quite a few times but not recently. The tow path can be very muddy, and we need to buy a lighter torch.