Thomas Telford (1757-1834) was an English civil engineer and architect who was responsible for many of Britain’s most important engineering projects of the 19th century. He was born in Dumfries, Scotland and at the age of 14, began an apprenticeship as a stonemason. He soon moved to London and was employed by a firm of engineers, where his talents were quickly recognised.
Known as the 'Colossus of Roads' for the many roads he built in Scotland, Thomas Telford also contributed incredible bridges, aqueducts and tunnels on the canal network.
His works include: The Caledonian Canal, Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct, Chirk Aqueduct and Chirk Tunnel, Harecastle Tunnel (the second tunnel with tow path), numerous bridges and churches.
In 1782, he was appointed Surveyor of Public Works for Shropshire, England and set about improving the county’s infrastructure. He built bridges and roads, including the famous Iron Bridge, the first of its kind in the world, which opened in 1781. His other works in Shropshire included the Ellesmere Canal and repairs to Shrewsbury Castle.
In 1793, Telford was appointed engineer to the Scottish Board of Commissioners, a post he held until 1803. During this time, he oversaw a number of major projects, including the Caledonian Canal, the construction of several harbours, and improvements to the Forth and Clyde Canal.
In 1803, Telford was appointed Engineer-in-Chief of the British Admiralty and was responsible for the design of a number of naval dockyards, including Portsmouth and Plymouth. He also designed the famous Menai Suspension Bridge, which opened in 1826.
In 1810, Thomas Telford was asked to improve the A5 that formed part of the route from Holyhead to London. This included crossing the formidable Manai Straights which until then was done so by ferry.
The Menai Suspension Bridge is one of Thomas Telford's most impressive engineering achievements. The road deck is 100 feet above the water to allow for tall ships to pass beneath whilst the overall span is 1500 feet from end to end. Taking 7 years to build and completed in 1826. In 1800, Ireland became part of the United Kingdom under the Union Act. Politicians used the bridge on their journey to London. The bridge made the crossing of the Menai Straights much safer and faster. Now almost 200 years old, it's still as breathtaking a feat of engineering today as when it was completed.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct matches the Menai Suspension Bridge for ingenuity and genius.
Construction was completed in 1805 by Thomas Telford. His design replaced more than one previous design. Thomas Telford's design is of a single span of 1007 feet in length is preceded by an embankment canal of 1500 feet. The embankment was made from excavations at the Chirk Tunnel and Aqueduct sites a little further south.
The aqueduct has 19 Stone piers that support 18 iron sections, 126 feet above the river Dee. The piers are 40 feet in length and just over 12 feet wide. The trough sections are made of cast iron, 2 inches thick and carry the canal at 5 feet 3 inches deep . The towpath of almost 4 feet wide and has water beneath it. This allows for displacement as a narrow boat passes. This amazing structure was ten years in the design and building.
A Grand Opening
At 2 pm on 26 November 1805 the aqueduct was opened to traffic. A huge procession and opening ceremony of boats bedecked with flags and bunting, one boat with a brass band playing God Save the King and Rule Britannia. Two cannons in the valley below fired a sixteen shot salute and waved on by a crowd of 8000 people that included many of the iron works owners and financiers.
In 1821, Telford was made a Fellow of the Royal Society and was knighted in 1820. He continued to work on engineering projects throughout his life, including roads, canals, and bridges. He also wrote a number of books on engineering and architecture, including his most famous work, A Treatise on the Construction of Roads, in 1810.
Telford’s legacy lives on today in the many structures he built and the improvements he made to Britain’s infrastructure. His name is honoured through the Telford Prizes, awarded annually by the Institution of Civil Engineers, and the Thomas Telford School, a specialist engineering school in Shropshire. He is remembered as one of Britain’s greatest engineers and architects, whose work paved the way for the country’s industrial revolution.
These engineers played a significant role in the development of the canal system in Britain during the Industrial Revolution. Their innovations helped to transform transportation and infrastructure in the country.
