Chirk tunnel (460 yards)
This tunnel lies on the Llangollen Canal, immediately north of the Chirk Aqueduct.The tunnel is designed for a single standard narrowboat, so passing is not possible. Fortunately the tunnel is straight enough to be able to see if a boat is already inside the tunnel.
The tunnel was opened in 1796, is brick lined and also the longest tunnel on the Llangollen canal.
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| North portal |
Whitehouse tunnel (174 yards)
The shorter of two cut and cover construction tunnels designed by Thomas Telford, under the Principal engineer of the Ellesmere Canal Company William Jessop, on the Ellesmere Canal mainline near Chirk. Construction had begun on the aqueducts to north and south in 1795 and navigation through the tunnel commenced in 1802 when the section of canal from Chirk Basin to the south to Froncysyllte in the north commenced. The tunnel is one of the first on a British Canal to have towing-paths.
The tunnel tapers out to the South and North portals in the form of a parabolic arch of limestone voussoirs rising to a keystone, and set slightly proud of the high rubble-faced curved retaining wall. This wall rises to a flat string course at the base of the parapet. The original towpath was formed of timber framings with planking and gravel was reconstructed around 1821 with Stone Piers and Brick Arches carrying a gravelling roadway with Cast Iron hand Rail and Ballustres.
with thanks to - (visit link)
The shorter of two cut and cover construction tunnels designed by Thomas Telford, under the Principal engineer of the Ellesmere Canal Company William Jessop, on the Ellesmere Canal mainline near Chirk. Construction had begun on the aqueducts to north and south in 1795 and navigation through the tunnel commenced in 1802 when the section of canal from Chirk Basin to the south to Froncysyllte in the north commenced. The tunnel is one of the first on a British Canal to have towing-paths.
The tunnel tapers out to the South and North portals in the form of a parabolic arch of limestone voussoirs rising to a keystone, and set slightly proud of the high rubble-faced curved retaining wall. This wall rises to a flat string course at the base of the parapet. The original towpath was formed of timber framings with planking and gravel was reconstructed around 1821 with Stone Piers and Brick Arches carrying a gravelling roadway with Cast Iron hand Rail and Ballustres.
with thanks to - (visit link)
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| South portal |
Ellesmere tunnel (87yards)
This is a one way tunnel with a towing path to the east of Ellesmere, it was opened in 1796 and is brick lined. The canal runs to the south of The Mere, a well known beauty spot, after which Ellesmere is named. Along this stretch of canal are many large oak trees. The canal company that owned this canal and the Shropshire Union grew many oak trees as an insurance to provide the raw materials to replace their cargo fleet.
This is a one way tunnel with a towing path to the east of Ellesmere, it was opened in 1796 and is brick lined. The canal runs to the south of The Mere, a well known beauty spot, after which Ellesmere is named. Along this stretch of canal are many large oak trees. The canal company that owned this canal and the Shropshire Union grew many oak trees as an insurance to provide the raw materials to replace their cargo fleet.
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