Trevor Basin a fascinating place on the Llangollen Canal

Sunday, 18 April 2010 19:52

It is pronounced "Trefor" (accent on the first syllable)

Trevor Basin was designated a Conservation Area in July 1998

Ruabon Junction - basin to left, aqueduct to right, taken from Rhos y Coed Bridge (31W)

The basin developed between 1796 and the 1880's. When the intended continuation of the Main Line to the River Dee fell through the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct was half finished. So was decided that a feeder canal from the River Dee should be constructed in 1808 Trevor Basin became the terminus of the Ellesmere Canal Main Line from Welsh Frankton.

The Basin was linked to the local industries of slate quarrying, lime making and later brick making and metal mining. Tram roads and the Plas Kynaston Canal provided links to the Ellesmere Canal for transport to Chester and beyond.

Tram lines at Anglo Welsh hire base

These would probably have carried iron materials from the Plas Kynaston Iron Works which was used in the construction of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. The Supervising Engineer for the canal and aqueduct may well have been provided with a house by the Ellesmere Canal Company. This was later known as Scotch Hall and stood by New Road.

Scotch Hall is now Telford's Inn and the New Road Bridge is Scotch Hall Bridge

Trevor Basin from footbridge

By 1883 Trevor Basin looked very much as it does today (without the modern narrowboats and hire boats of course!). The twin dry dock was constructed and is now used by Anglo Welsh.

Dry Docks

South of the dry dock is a brick workshop, now home to BW's information centre and a small exhibition. Here we met David, the seasonal Lock Keeper who helped us at Frankton Locks.

Information Centre

Opposite is the hire base shop. This may well have been one of the buildings of the Ruabon and Llangollen Turnpike Trust. We chatted to the AW man in the shop and he had been there since the AW livery was brown and cream. We mostly hired from AW and our boat from here, on our first trip on the Llangollen in 1983, was called "Towyn" in that livery.

Shop and AW office

But what is beyond Scotch Hall Bridge?