Stone Boating at Trevor

Time and Place: NarrowBoat, Spring 2016

Christopher M Jones

Chris M. Jones studies a late 19th-century limestone carrying scene on the Llangollen Canal.

This splendidly detailed magic lantern slide of the Llangollen Canal was taken in the 1880s or ’90s, and gives a rare view of local industry and its use of the waterway. The view is looking towards Bridge 41 on the feeder at Trevor Uchaf near the Sun Inn. In the distance is the peak of Castell Dinas Bran, and on the right is the towering escarpment of Trevor Rocks. Just beyond the towpath buildings on the left was the Vale of Llangollen section (Ruabon, Llangollen and Dolgelly line) of the Great Western Railway, which ran alongside the canal through the valley a short distance from the River Dee. Another photo (far right) showing the same view many years later clearly depicts the double-arched Bridge 41 at Sun Inn. At the time the photo was taken only the quarries at Trevor Rocks were being operated, with the exposed and extensive limestone quarry workings being visible right across the valley. These were all connected by a tramway which ran down a very steep, 1-in-5 incline to…