Virtual Railfan Tour UK - A Watery Interlude - Devizes, Chirt and Pontcysyllte

 Devizes

The flight of locks at Devizes

Caen Hill in Devizes has an incredible 29 locks in two miles.  We visited this on a day trip by local bus from Salisbury. This is on the Kennet and Avon Canal which has now been fully restored.

It is difficult to get an overall view

This video shows the movement of canal boats through the locks

This drone footage shows the system of water reservoirs used to conserve water for the locks.
The Great Western Railway eventually built a line through Devizes. It is said there was strong support locally because it could take up to half a day just to get out of town.

Chirk
Chirk is on the Llangollen Canal. It is easily accessed by train from Shrewsbury.

Just outside the Chirk station is the location of the Glyn Valley Tramway for which there are restoration plans.  It will take a long time.

The canal at Chirk is a long way below the railway in a dank valley.

 There is a tunnel leading out.  There is a footpath but no lights.

Entering the Chirk basin

We run alongside the railway viaduct which was purposely built higher than the canal to emphasize the superiority of rail over canal



The Chirk aqueduct and viaduct


Walking back across the aqueduct we cross back into England

Pontcysyllte

We can also walk the other way from Chirk towards Llangollen to see the mother of all aqueducts

On the way I notice an oak tree with an Oakapple on it. I was born on Oakapple Day

The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was completed in 1805 and a tramway was used to move the stone and materials. It is the longest aqueduct in England and the highest in the world




An interesting balanced highway bridge over the canal

I have been to Pontcysyllte several times by the walk from Chirk which takes about an hour each way. One time we went only to find the aqueduct was closed because somebody the previous evening had come out of the pub and tried to walk along the outside - he failed. By the time we had returned to Chirk we were hungry and thirsty.  Luckily there is good eating and drinking in Chirk.



In looking at these canals I am amazed at the way they were built. Immense amounts of earth and stone had to be moved - all by hand or with animal power.






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