Chirk Aqueduct event marks two-year community canal project
Over 1,000 people attended a special event at Chirk Aqueduct celebrating the conclusion of a two-year community and heritage-led project for the Llangollen Canal UNESCO World Heritage Site on 22 March.
Celebration event at Chirk Aqueduct
The special day was part of Glandŵr Cymru, the Canal & River Trust in Wales’, community and heritage-led project funded thanks to the UK Government Shared Prosperity Fund through Wrexham County Borough Council.
Throughout the last few years as part of the Shared Prosperity Funded project Glandŵr Cymru have been working closely with the communities of Chirk, Trevor, Froncysyllte and Cefn Mawr to explore the individual identities of these communities to celebrate the enormity of heritage that was enabled in the centuries since the making of the aqueducts pioneering technology, and the workforce who built it to inspire the next generation with the engineering marvel on their doorstep.
Creating a LEGO model of the Chirk Aqueduct
The event got underway in the morning with the ringing of six bells by St Mary's Church, which after they were cast and tunned in the 1800s, were transported to Chirk via the River Severn and then along the Llangollen Canal across Chirk Aqueduct.
Visitors were entertained by live music from the Chirk Community Choir, performances from the Water Voles and the Canal Navvie Characters, and were able to enjoy time on the water with a free water taxi provided by Anglo-Welsh Holidays.
There was also a floating market and self-guided history trail introducing the lesser-known heritage and landmarks along the canal towpath and across Chirk.
Celebrations at Chirk Aqueduct
People were also able to build their own LEGO model of Chirk Aqueduct with a larger model of the Grade II* listed structure having been created as part of celebrations for the 225th anniversary of the aqueduct in 2026.
