At the southern end is an embankment of earth, 1500 feet in length, and seventy-five feet in height nearest the abutment of the arches. The whole undertaking is said to have cost £47,069 : 6 : 7.
On the centre arch is the following inscription:—“The nobility and gentry of the adjacent counties, having united their efforts with the great commercial interest of this country, in creating an intercourse and union between England and North Wales, by a navigable communication of the three rivers, Severn, Dee, and Mersey, for the mutual benefit of agriculture and trade, caused the first stone of this aqueduct of Pont Cyssyllte to be laid on the 25th day of July, MDCCXCV, when Richard Myddelton, of Chirk, Esq., one of the original patrons of the Ellesmere canal, was Lord of the Manor, and in the reign of our Sovereign George the Third; when the equity of the laws and the security of property promoted the general welfare of the nation, while the arts and sciences flourished by his patronage, and the conduct of civil life was improved by his example.”
The antiquarian will find some interesting remains in this neighbourhood worthy of investigation. Amongst them is a square tower, very strongly built, in advance of and at the foot of the hill on which Crow Castle stands. For many years it has been appropriated as part of a farm-house, called ‘The Tower.’ The walls of the original building or tower are very thick; and in one corner of the quadrangle there is a winding stone staircase, now concealed by a bookcase. The probability is that this old tower was an advanced station belonging to the castle. There are also vestiges of a nunnery or monastery at a place called Pengwern.
About six miles from Llangollen, on the Ruthin road, is a curious old building, called Rhydidris, near Llandaglan. The site, the extensive stabling, and the antique curiosities in the house, raise the probability that it has been garrisoned, and also been a military station of great importance.
The Shrewsbury and Chester Railway Company intend to run a branch from their main line at Ruabon to Llangollen.
Angling Stations.
| The Dee | from Corwen to Llangollen. |
| “ “ | from Llangollen to Overton. |
LLANGYNOG,
(Montgomeryshire.)
| Bala | 11 |
| Llanfyllyn | 7 |
| Llanrhaiadr | 6 |
Llangynog (the church of St. Cynog) is a small village, situated in a pleasing slip of fertile land, above which rises a stupendous rock of coarse slate. The river Tanat, which runs through this village, is celebrated for its delicious trout. The upper end of the vale is bounded by two vast precipices; between them juts out the rude promontory of Moel ddu Vawr. On the north side of this valley is the house of Llechwend-garth, the occasional residence of the late Thomas Thomas, Esq. of Downing, near Holywell, whose daughter married H. Davies Griffith, Esq. of Caer-Rhûn, Caernarvonshire, who, in consequence, became possessed of this estate, and was in 1835 high sheriff of the county of Montgomery. The new inn affords tolerable accommodations.