THE FAMOUS FIVE

from Shire Magazine September-October 2023 Cheshire

PUZZLE TIME

You’ve seen the wonderful picture of Jodrell Bank’s Lovell telescope on our cover. Perhaps you’re lucky enough to see its iconic outline on the horizon from where you live. But do you know what links the Cheshire observatory to Dinorwig Quarry near Llanberis, or the mighty castles of Beaumaris and Harlech? And why each of us has a personal duty to preserve them? Read on to ﬁnd out…

Shire Magazine covers an amazing part of the world. Coastline and countryside apart, this is a region with a rich cultural and industrial heritage – a land of quarrymen and stonemasons, engineers, scientists and inventors, thinkers and visionaries. Small wonder then that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, has designated no fewer than five locations across our patch worthy of World Heritage status – that is, “of outstanding value to humanity”.

It is part of UNESCO’s mission to “encourage the identification, protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage around the world”. Heritage, says its website, “is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration.” Its World Heritage List includes places as unique and diverse as East Africa’s Serengeti plains, the Pyramids of Egypt and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. And on that same list we find… Jodrell Bank Observatory, Ironbridge Gorge, the Slate Landscape of North West Wales, the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd – Beaumaris, Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech – and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal.

Let’s talk to the people who run these world-class sites and keep their stories alive.

DID YOU KNOW?

Castles And Town Walls Of King Edward In Gwynedd

The magnificent castles of Beaumaris and Harlech – largely the work of James of St George, the great military engineer of the time – and the fortified complexes of Caernarfon and Conwy are examples of the colonisation and defence works carried out during the reign of Edward I (1272–1307) and are a huge draw for tourists.

Gwilym Hughes is head of Cadw. “At Cadw, we are immensely proud to be responsible for the conservation and presentation of these magnificent castles and town walls that are worthy of their status as world heritage sites,” he told us.

“We recognise they represent a challenging period in the long history of Wales – a time of war and conquest. But they also reflect the powerful resistance that was made to this conquest, and we are equally proud to be the custodians of many castles built by the native Welsh princes. All of these monuments now serve as a reminder of that past, and welcome visitors from around the world.”

“As a heritage graduate, it’s a privilege working at a World Heritage site like Castell Caernarfon,” added Hannah Litherland, head custodian at the castle. “It’s incredibly rewarding to engage with different audiences, ensuring the castle and its history are accessible to all.”

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct And Canal

UNESCO has described the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Llangollen Canal near Wrexham as “a masterpiece of creative genius”. The first 11 miles of the canal is an outstanding piece of engineering, comprising embankments, tunnels, viaducts and aqueducts, including Pontcysyllte and 31 other listed structures. The whole length has also been designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument of National Importance, and an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Councillor Nigel Williams, lead member for economy and regeneration at Wrexham County Borough Council, is very proud of the accolade.

“This fantastic World Heritage Site with Pontcysyllte Aqueduct at its heart is a symbol of the determination of the Industrial Revolution, with Thomas Telford leading the way in engineering and taking advantage of John Wilkinson’s reputation for steel making,” he said. “When it opened in 1805 it was an engineering masterpiece standing 126 feet over the River Dee and an important development in the area, enabling goods to be transported faster than ever before.

“The aquaduct has been crossed for generations by local people on their way to work, school or for pleasure, and continues to be a favourite with locals, who fondly refer to it as the ‘jewel in the crown’ of Wrexham.”

Since being granted UNESCO World Heritage status in 2009

Photos © Crown Copyright the popularity of Pontcysyllte has grown, with annual visitor numbers reaching almost 500,000. Tourists from all over the world come to marvel at the ‘bridge that connects’, with the option to walk across or take a canal-boat ride the full length of the site.

“There are exciting plans for development since being awarded levelling-up funding from the UK government,” said Cllr Williams. “But it’s essential that everything complements the current site.”

Shire’s own Wendy Reed visited Pontcysyllte Aqueduct with her son Felipe, then 11. She recalled: “I’d been on canalboat holidays when I was young and Pontcysyllte always featured in the brochures. It’s such an extraordinary piece of engineering and I longed to see it for myself. Then the summer before my son started senior school, I planned a week’s holiday for the two of us. He’d heard about the mountain zipwire at Penrhyn and was desperate to have a go, and I realised Pontcysyllte was on our route.

“It was August and we arrived mid-afternoon. It seemed quiet –and flat. Where was this amazing drop people talked about? Why on earth was such a high-level crossing even necessary, I wondered?”

But they had approached the site from the east, on the same level as the canal…

“We found ourselves at the waterside, with all the bustle of canal life,” said Wendy. “People laughing from the boats, calling instructions, waving to friends. In the distance, iron railings were just visible, but it still didn’t seem much of a sight… And then we set foot on the walkway and saw that famous drop. Wow, the view!

“A boat passed us, the narrow walkway to the left of it, nothing but air to the right. It was almost as if it was flying.

“The zipwire later in the week was fun, but for a breathtaking, knee-wobbling adventure and fabulous photo opps, Pontcysyllte won hands down. There’s such a sense of history and achievement about the place, you really do appreciate what a splendour it is.”

Ironbridge Gorge

Five miles from Telford town centre in Shropshire you’ll find Ironbridge Valley of Invention, stretching along the River Severn – 10 awardwinning museums within the six square miles of Ironbridge Gorge.

“Ironbridge was the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution,” explained Nick Booth, collections and learning director at Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust. “It was the Silicon Valley of its day, a place rich in the fuel and materials needed to improve iron production, which also had access to the coast and global markets via the River Severn. As a result, it attracted many industries, industrialists, entrepreneurs and workers who settled there.

“The Gorge’s World Heritage status, awarded in 1986, confirmed its international significance as a district that ushered in the age of industry. We are very proud of our location in the Ironbridge Gorge. At Ironbridge Valley of Invention,

DID YOU KNOW?

The aqueduct carries enough water to ﬁll nearly twenty thousand baths and takes four hours to drain through our buildings, monuments, and collections, we tell the stories of this time of transformation and its relevance to us today. We explore the technological advances and social change that occurred in the Gorge, bringing to life and increasing understanding of its significance for visitors from around the world.”

Haris Ali is a demonstrator at Blists Hill Victorian Town, one of the museums run by the Trust. He told us: “Due to my interests, I gravitated towards working in the printer’s shop and the candlemaker’s, but I work with steam engines and

DID YOU KNOW?

On 13th & 20th September, and 18th & 25th October you can experience the life of a Victorian printer at Blists Hill in the mine too. My job involves explaining to the public why we’re here and the importance of what we do – the story of life on the East Shropshire Coalfield in 1900. “It’s a unique place to work. It makes you see everything from a historical perspective. When you walk through the gate you literally do step into a different world. On a day-to-day basis you don’t necessarily think about the fact you’re in a World Heritage site, but when it does occur to me I think how incredible it is to be in an area so important to the nation and the world, an area whose story goes back hundreds of years and which marked the dawn of a new age. You feel a sense of responsibility and pride. I enjoy telling people about it.”

Simon Yates, from Crewe, has visited Ironbridge several times with his wife Diane. “Once we took our great-niece and her friend, who were both teenagers; this was to visit the Christmas activities at Blists Hill Victorian Town, including the ice rink.” Simon also arranged a visit with his Rotary Club when they had visiting Rotarians from France and Germany, to give them a taste of our industrial heritage. “It provided them with an educational and historical visit,” he said.

Jodrell Bank Observatory

Jodrell Bank’s inspirational story includes revolutionary scientific discoveries, amazing feats of engineering, the dawn of the Space Age and the creation of the Grade I-listed Lovell Telescope, an icon for science and engineering.

Today Jodrell Bank Observatory is owned and managed by the University of Manchester and is a world-leading science research institute, with scientists working at the cutting edge of modern astrophysics.

Jodrell Bank is set in a stunning green site surrounded by farmland and with an abundance of wildlife. There are four Pavilions to discover - The Space Pavilion, The Star Pavilion, Wolfson Auditorium and The Planet Pavilion - and over 35 acres of beautiful grounds including the Jodrell Bank Arboretum, picnic areas, ponds and even a playground. Discover the Exhibition and Telescope Pathways too, and don’t miss outdoor exhibits including the ever-popular Whispering Dishes! You’ll also find two cafes and a gift shop.

It is also home to exciting concerts like the celebration of Pink Floyd’s 50th anniversary of The Dark Side of the Moon and the Bluedot festival.

Professor Teresa Anderson MBE is director of Jodrell Bank Centre for Engagement at the University of Manchester. She told Shire: “The Observatory is part of the University of Manchester’s world-leading Department of Physics. As such, it is at the forefront of discovery in multi-wavelength astronomy and makes huge contributions to the SKAO, a massive multinational project hosted at Jodrell Bank, which is known as ‘the CERN of Astrophysics’. We have over 200 leading academics and post-doctoral research staff, as well as a massive team of engineer who keep the four radio telescopes on site in tip-top condition, as well as the UK National Radio Astronomy Facility (eMERLIN) telescopes.”

Being recognised as an UNESCO site was a triumph for the team. “After almost 10 years, we had finally succeeded in having a working astronomical observatory, the first in the world, recognised as a cultural site of ‘Outstanding Universal Value’.

“It’s so important that we recognise that the science of today is the heritage of tomorrow,” she added. “Those of us who live in the area recognise the Grade I-listed Lovell telescope as a regional landmark, signifier of ‘place’ and an icon of UK science and engineering. It’s great that this is now recognised at a global level.”

The Slate Landscape Of Northwest Wales

DID YOU KNOW?

The Talyllyn Railway at Bryneglwys was the world’s ﬁrst railway to be saved and operated by volunteers in 1951

The slate landscape of Northwest Wales offers an unparalleled insight into every stage of the quarrying industry. It’s a landscape of outstanding universal value, telling the incredible story of the evolution of an upland agricultural society to one dominated by the slate industry.

Welsh slate is one of the most important single-source building resources. It was exported to all continents, it roofed the Industrial Revolution. More than slate was exported; slate quarries in Gwynedd exported workers, their skills, knowledge and technology. Narrow-gauge railways were an integral part of the industry, their design replicated worldwide. Gwynedd quarrymen were also ready to innovate, learning techniques from other nations. Alongside this distinctive industrial landscape, quarry communities carved out a unique cultural landscape of language, politics and the arts.

Dan Amor is Northwest Wales World Heritage coordinator. He said: “The Slate Landscape was designated as a World Heritage site in July 2021. The nomination process was led by Gwynedd Council, working with partners including Cadw. As someone local to the area, that’s important to me. The outstanding universal value of this landscape has been recognised worldwide.

“Personally, in any conversation about this landscape I think it’s important to remember the human cost. How many lads and men were taken early by the harsh quarrying environment, and what was the cost to families and communities? That’s one of the reasons we must ensure that World Heritage status is a vehicle for ‘giving something back’. Let’s make sure the protection, conservation, enhancement and communication of this landscape’s qualities reinforces cultural distinctiveness, drives economic regeneration and social inclusion, and strengthens the Welsh language.”

Carwyn Price is a demonstrating craftsman at the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, exhibiting the art of splitting and dressing slate.

“I’ve worked in the slate industry for 34 years,” he told us. “I began at Penrhyn at the age of 16. Both my grandfathers were quarrymen at Dinorwig.

“I’ve created a lot of things out of slate, including a harp and a rugby ball! I enjoy meeting people, telling the story and hearing stories from visitors about their connection to the slate industry.”