In 1804 the Ellesmere Canal Company obtained powers to construct a navigable feeder from the River Dee at Llantysilio to the end of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, then under construction. The Aqueduct was completed by Thomas Telford in 1805 and remains one of the most impressive feats of canal engineering in the world. The canal is carried in a cast iron trough 127 feet above the river on 18 stone piers. Telford completed the top section of the Llangollen Canal in 1808 and at that time it would have been very busy with goods such as salt and coal coming into the town and slate going out.
The Horseshoe Falls at the head of the canal were built at this time to provide a minimum head of water for the canal. In 1947 a valve house was constructed to control and measure the 6 million gallons of water that flow into the canal each day.
For over 100 years people have enjoyed the calm relaxation of a boat trip on the Llangollen Canal. The horse drawn tourist boats were originated by the heavily bearded Captain Jones who ran trips from Llangollen Wharf to the Horseshoe Falls several times a day.
