Aqueduct’s world heritage status
Monday 29th June 2009, 10:37AM BST.
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The 200-year-old Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Oswestry has been named Britain’s newest World Heritage Site.
The aqueduct was added to the prestigious list by officials at a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) meeting in Seville, Spain, on Saturday.
It joins the Great Wall of China, the Taj Mahal and the Ironbridge Gorge on the World Heritage list of about 900 landmarks deemed to have “outstanding universal value” for humanity.
The status not only covers the aqueduct, but also the 11-mile stretch of the Llangollen Canal from Chirk Bank to Llangollen. Councillor Ian Roberts, Wrexham Council member for Chirk, said: “This will bring a massive economic boost to Chirk and the Oswestry area in terms of profile and tourism potential.”
Dr Dawn Roberts, council economic development manager, said: “World Heritage status does not bring with it any prize or money, it is more of a badge of honour. It is an awesome sight and one of those sites in the world we feel people must visit.”
The aqueduct, built by Thomas Telford and William Jessop between 1795 and 1805, is the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain.
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Jolly good show, about time too!
Three cheers for the Pontsycyltte Aqueduct:
Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray!
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I know the Ironbridge Gorge and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct but not sure where the other two are.
Are these other two sites Asian restuarants in Shropshire?
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English Exile@2 >
You really must be an English exile if you know “The Ironbridge Gorge”.
Like me, you must live in Dubai, because no-one who was not an exile would have heard about that delightful English restaurant in the middle of downtown Dubai, (“the real taste of Shropshire in UAE” is their slogan).
I also understand that there’s a Welsh cafe called the Pontsycyllte Aqueduct, but I’m not sure where that is.
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