Valve house proved popular

Published: Friday, 28 May 2010

THE opening of the valve house at Horseshoe Falls at the head of the Llangollen Canal for a day in early May proved so popular that it is to be opened again tomorrow, Saturday.

The historic valve house controls water flow between the  Dee and Llangollen Canal at Horseshoe Falls. Yet despite having stood for over 60 years, its interior remained a mystery to local people and visitors alike until its first public airing on 7th May.

Second chance

Such was the take-up of visitors eager to venture inside, British Waterways is offering a second chance to take a step back into history between 10am and 12.30pm tomorrow.

Built in 1947, the centrepiece of the valve house is a 20 foot long three foot diameter pipe running eight feet below ground level and connecting the  river Dee water source with the Llangollen Canal. The water flow is controlled by guillotines which in turn are raised and lowered by levers within the building.

The Horseshoe Falls  was constructed 200 years ago by Thomas Telford to maintain water levels in the Llangollen Canal across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.