The famous engineer, Thomas Telford, built Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Llangollen in 1795, and the structure continues to represent a masterpiece of Georgian engineering. Taking 10 years to build, the first stone was laid on 25th July 1795. To Telford's credit, just one life was lost during the construction which, for that time, was as impressive as the engineering feat itself. The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct takes its name from a triple arched bridge a little further up the river and, literally translated, means 'the bridge that connects the river'. The canal is fed from the River Dee and the fall of the canal from its source is one inch (25mm) per mile.