“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 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 PONTCYSYLLTY, To be laid on the 25th day of July, M.DCC.XCV. When RICHARD MYDDLETON, of Chirk, Esq. M.P. One of the original Patrons of the Ellesmere Canal, Was Lord of this 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.” “Pont y Cyssyllte, a bridge of several arches, close to it, is quite eclipsed by its stupendous height and magnitude. In it we recognize the great water conveyances of ancient Rome, which, though superior in point of length, were inferior in other respects. Its direction is north and south, crossing the Dee at right angles. It forms, connected as it is with the surrounding fine scenery, a noble and magnificent picture; but to view it to the best advantage, the stranger must ascend the acclivities on either side of it: from whence he will be highly pleased with a scene, in which there is every concomitant circumstance that can please the lover of nature and art.” The extent of the aqueduct is nine hundred and eighty-eight feet, and exhibits nineteen arches, each forty-five feet span. The summit has a water-trough of cast iron, one thousand and nine feet in length, and in breadth eleven feet eight inches. The elegant piers lessen upwards gradually, from ten feet width, and twenty-one feet depth at the base, to seven feet width, and twelve feet depth at the top. These piers are one hundred and sixteen feet high from the river, and from their ending, to the greatest height of the building, twenty feet; making the total elevation, one hundred and twenty-six feet. To each end of the aqueduct are added ten feet six inches of iron work. From centre to centre of each arch are screwed together eleven strong iron plates, as strengthened.