Chirk Tunnel, including the N and S Portals, and Chirk Basin. is a Grade II* listed building in the Wrexham local planning authority area, Wales. First listed on 29 July 1998. Canal tunnel.

Chirk Tunnel, including the N and S Portals, and Chirk Basin.

WRENN ID
eastward-timber-lake
Grade
II*
Local Planning Authority
Wrexham
Constituency
Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP: Steve Witherden (Lab)
Country
Wales
Date first listed
29 July 1998
Type
Canal tunnel
Address
Chirk Tunnel, including the N and S Portals, and Chirk Basin., Ceirog
OS grid reference
SJ 286 374
Coordinates
52.92972, -3.06304
Source
Cadw listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

Chirk Tunnel, which includes the northern and southern portals and Chirk Basin, is a significant structure on the Llangollen Canal, built in the early 19th century. The tunnel is 421 meters (495 yards) long and constructed from brick in a semicircular shape, featuring a towpath that was a new addition at the time of its construction. The southern portal of the tunnel has a parabolic arch made of limestone voussoirs, which rises to a keystone and is set slightly proud of a high rubble-faced curved retaining wall. This wall extends to a flat string course at the base of the parapet. The cantilevered towpath, which includes a timber handrail supported by tapered cast iron supports, was installed in 1822. The northern portal mirrors the southern one, but its retaining wall has a sharper curve.

Local climate

Chirk Tunnel, including the N and S Portals, and Chirk Basin. receives an average of 870 mm of rain a year. This makes it wetter than 62% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 80% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 46 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 87% of listed buildings. Of these, 26 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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