New Interpretation for the World Heritage Site

A series of new interpretation panels have been installed along the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal World Heritage Site, as part of a project to engage people with the rich heritage of the area.

The Our Picturesque Landscape project, a partnership scheme funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, has been working with partners from the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and Canal and Rivers Trust to develop the interpretation. It explores the feats of engineering and design that got the site inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2009 and tells the story of some of the pioneering engineers, artists, tourists, entrepreneurs, and canal labouring navigators who have helped to shape the landscape over the centuries.

The interpretation panels, produced by VisitMôr, have been placed at eight key sites across the 11 miles of the World Heritage Site, including Gledrid Bridge, Chirk Aqueduct, Froncysyllte, Trevor Basin and Llangollen, and will help provide visitors with a sense of place, sharing stories of local significance. This is the first phase of new interpretation, with further panels to be replaced along the canal between Llangollen Wharf and the Horseshoe Falls over the summer.

Hannah Marubbi, Our Picturesque Landscape Project Manager, said: “There are so many special places along the 11 miles of the World Heritage Site, from the Horseshoe Falls, Llangollen Wharf, Chirk and Gledrid as well as the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct itself. This project has been about telling the story of all these places and encouraging people to explore the whole site.”

Emrys Wynne, Lead Member for Welsh Language, Culture and Heritage, said: “There is a rich vein of history and culture in this wonderful area, and I am pleased to see it recognised through this fantastic partnership work.