Heritage of Wales

Embankments and Cuttings

The scale and frequency of embankments and cuttings were among the dominant characteristics which distinguished the Age of Canals from the waterways which had preceded them. The initial canals were often long and winding, as the builders tended to follow the natural contours of the land and avoided large earth moving schemes wherever possible. The line of Telford’s canal however, cut through hills and carried straight over valleys, regardless of the scale of construction

  • The Southern Approach Embankment viewed from the east carrying the canal onto the south end of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. (DI2006_0446, NPRN: 405812)
  • The Southern Approach Embankment viewed from the north. (DI2007_1629, NPRN: 405812)
  • South facing section through the Southern Approach Embankment. (PSA02, NPRN: 405812)

The Southern Embankment

Immediately to the south of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is the Southern Embankment, 1500ft ft long, and at the time of construction probably the largest earthwork in Europe. It was constructed by hand, using hundreds of gangers with shovels and barrows to shape the soil, much of which was transported via three railways from near Chirk where excavation of the canal channel was producing large quantities of excess material.

  • A cross section of the Chirk Bank cutting and embankment (CBE02, NPRN: 406778)
  • The rock cutting for the canal at Wern-Isaf (DS2007_062_006)
  • West facing section through the Llangollen Canal at the Chainbridge rock cuttings. (CRC02, NPRN: 405886)

The Cuttings

The deep cuttings provide a direct route through higher ground, both through evenly sloped earth cuttings planted with trees and steep sided rock cuttings. The greatest example of the terraces created by simultaneous cutting and embanking is at Chirk Bank which extends for 0.7 miles/ 1.1km. As it approaches the south end of Chirk Aqueduct it is 60 ft/18.3m high and 196 ft/60 m across at the base, and the spoil was produced as a result of the 25-40 ft/8-12m cutting into the rock on its southern side. One of the most notable examples of rock cutting is that at Wern-Isaf Rock Walls cutting, also with a large embankment on the valley side built 1804-8.