Editing Thomas Telford (section)

==Ellesmere Canal==
Telford's reputation in Shropshire led to his appointment in 1793 to manage the detailed design and construction of the [[Ellesmere Canal]], linking the ironworks and collieries of [[Wrexham]] via the north-west Shropshire town of [[Ellesmere, England|Ellesmere]], with [[Chester]], utilising the existing [[Chester Canal]], and then the [[River Mersey]].

[[File:pontcysyllte aqueduct arp.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|right|A canal boat traverses the [[Pontcysyllte Aqueduct|Pontcysyllte aqueduct]] in North Wales]]

Among other structures, this involved the spectacular [[Pontcysyllte Aqueduct]] over the [[River Dee, Wales|River Dee]] in the Vale of [[Llangollen]], where Telford used a new method of construction consisting of troughs made from [[cast iron]] plates and fixed in masonry. Extending for over {{convert|1000|ft|m|abbr=off}} with an altitude of {{convert|126|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the valley floor, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct consists of nineteen arches, each with a {{convert|45|ft|m|abbr=on}} span. Being a pioneer in the use of cast-iron for large scaled structures, Telford had to invent new techniques, such as using boiling sugar and lead as a sealant on the iron connections. Canal engineer [[William Jessop]] oversaw the project but left the detailed execution of the project in Telford's hands.  The aqueduct was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2009.<ref name="UNESCO-Pontcysyllte">{{cite web|title=Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1303|website=UNESCO – World Heritage List|publisher=UNESCO|access-date=17 January 2017}}</ref>

[[File:Longden-on-Tern1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|[[Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct]] in Shropshire]]

The same period also saw Telford involved in the design and construction of the [[Shrewsbury Canal]]. When the original engineer, Josiah Clowes, died in 1795, Telford succeeded him. One of Telford's achievements on this project was the design of [[Longdon-on-Tern Aqueduct]], the cast-iron aqueduct at [[Longdon-on-Tern]], pre-dating that at Pontcysyllte, and substantially bigger than the UK's first cast-iron aqueduct, built by [[Benjamin Outram]] on the [[Derby Canal]] just months earlier. The aqueduct is no longer in use, but is preserved as a distinctive piece of canal engineering.

The Ellesmere Canal was left uncompleted in 1805 because it failed to generate the revenues needed to finance the connecting sections to Chester and Shrewbury. However, alongside his canal responsibilities, Telford's reputation as a civil engineer meant he was constantly consulted on numerous other projects. These included water supply works for [[Liverpool]], improvements to London's docklands and [[London Bridge#.22New.22 .2819th-century.29 London Bridge|the rebuilding of London Bridge]] (c. 1800).

Most notably (and again William Pulteney was influential), in 1801 Telford devised a master plan to improve communications in the [[Highlands of Scotland]], a massive project that was to last some 20 years. It included the building of the [[Caledonian Canal]] along the [[Great Glen]] and redesign of sections of the [[Crinan Canal]], some {{convert|920|mi|km}} of new roads, over a thousand new bridges (including the [[Craigellachie Bridge]]), numerous [[harbour]] improvements (including works at [[Aberdeen Harbour|Aberdeen]], Dundee, [[Peterhead]], [[Wick, Highland|Wick]], [[Portmahomack]] and [[Banff, Aberdeenshire|Banff]]), and 32 new churches.

Telford also undertook highway works in the Scottish Lowlands, including {{convert|184|mi|km}} of new roads and numerous bridges, ranging from a 112&nbsp;ft (34&nbsp;m) span stone bridge across the [[River Dee, Galloway|Dee]] at [[Tongueland]] in [[Kirkcudbright]] (1805–06) to the 129&nbsp;ft (39&nbsp;m) tall Cartland Crags bridge near [[Lanark]] (1822).

In 1809, Telford was tasked with improving the [[Howth Road]] in Dublin, to connect the new harbour at [[Howth]] to the city of Dublin as part of wider plan to improve communication between Dublin and London.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Telford, Thomas |url=https://www.dia.ie/architects/view/5291/telford-thomas# |access-date=24 October 2022 |website=Dictionary of Irish Architects}}</ref> The milestones that are a feature of this route from Howth to the [[General Post Office, Dublin|GPO]] on [[O'Connell Street]] still mark the route.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |title=Howth Road, Dublin 3 |url=https://www.buildingsofireland.ie/buildings-search/building/50030295/howth-road-dublin-3-dublin |access-date=24 October 2022 |website=National Inventory of Architectural Heritage |language=en-ie}}</ref> He also drafted the first design of the [[Ulster Canal]].<ref name=":0" /> Irish engineer, [[William Dargan]], was trained by Telford.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mulligan |first=Fergus |date=29 May 2013 |title=The genius who put Ireland on rails |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/heritage/the-genius-who-put-ireland-on-rails-1.1408976 |access-date=24 October 2022 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>

Telford was consulted in 1806 by the [[Gustaf IV Adolf of Sweden|King of Sweden]] about the construction of a canal between [[Gothenburg]] and [[Stockholm]]. His plans were adopted and construction of the [[Göta Canal]] began in 1810. Telford travelled to Sweden at that time to oversee some of the more important initial excavations.

Many of Telford's projects were undertaken due to his role as a member of the [[Exchequer Bill Loan Commission]], an organ set up under the [[Public Works Loans Act 1817]] ([[57 Geo. 3]]. c. 34), to help finance public work projects that would generate employment.<ref name="engineering-timelines">{{cite web|url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/who/Telford_T/telfordThomas6.asp|title=Engineering Timelines – Thomas Telford|publisher=engineering-timelines.com|access-date=26 September 2014}}</ref>