"Once I ever went across it - not again. I took fright half way and there was no other way but to keep going on.  I came back in the car.  The height is terrific isn’t it, but wonderful. wonderful view"  Margaret Roberts, born 1919

 

On 26^th November 2005, Thomas Telford’s extraordinary feat of engineering, the ‘stream that runs in the sky’, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, was 200 years old. 

As part of the bicentenary celebrations, Northern Marches Cymru funded a reminiscence project to gather the memories of the people that live around this famous landmark. ‘Voices around the Aqueduct’ was based at Ty Mawr Country Park from March to November 2005.  As professional storytellers, we were delighted at the opportunity to spend nine months listening to stories!  It was a short time to collect the wealth of local history, anecdotes, memories old and young, tall tales, wise words and wistful moments found in abundance throughout the villages clustered around Pontcysyllte.

Armed with minidisc recorders, we collected stories everywhere: in open reminiscence sessions; a photographic studio, where old photographs were brought to be copied; in comfy armchairs in people’s homes, at W.I meetings, the Local History Society, various Senior Citizens’ Groups and in a corner of the Retirement Home’s lounge…we listened anywhere and everywhere, but seemingly always over a cup of tea!

Discovering the riches held within the community, ‘story detectives’ were recruited from three local schools.  The children interviewed relatives and neighbours, bringing their stories back to school to be recorded.

Throughout the project we had a memory box.  It slowly filled with objects, each having an associated memory from the local community.  Anyone was welcome to pick an object from the box and hear the story.   As we learned more stories we began telling them back to the community – in schools, on story walks and in local groups, to all ages from the Brownies and Junior Rangers to Senior Citizens. We visited the remaining five local schools, telling them memories collected during the project and working with them to retell those memories through dance, drama and storytelling.

In an unusual case of perfect timing, Wrexham Art Gallery hosted the Imperial War museum’s WWII exhibition, ‘Their Past Your Future’ in the autumn of 2005.  We were able to collaborate with the gallery and schools from North Wales, using a combination of storytelling, drama and introducing children to local people who had been evacuees or women working in the war to bring the home front alive.

The project culminated with a tour of ‘Still Waters Run Deep’, an hour of memories woven together to evoke a picture of life over the last century on, under and all around the aqueduct.

But ‘Voices around the Aqueduct’ is still going!  Once started, tongues keep wagging!  People are still talking, remembering with their families.  And now there is even a book, ‘Memories of Pontcysyllte’.  We held a grand launch party on Wednesday 12^th April 2006.  Contributors read from the book and autographed copies.  The Deputy Mayor, now the Mayor, of Wrexham presented each contributor with a copy of the book. 
 

The book is now available from Ty Mawr Country Park and Tempus Publishing.

Fiona Collins and Amy Douglas

Memories of Pontcysyllte

Amy Douglas and Fiona Collins
Tempus Publishing, Ltd. ISBN: 0752437704