The iconic Pontcysyllte Aqueduct near Wrexham inspired the dramatic finale of Vengeance Most Fowl, the latest Wallace and Gromit film.
The film’s closing sequence features a gripping barge chase across a towering aqueduct reminiscent of the real-life landmark.
Though the movie is set in Lancashire, the film’s art director, Matt Perry from Aardman Animations, explained how the team adapted the aqueduct’s design to fit the setting while preserving its Victorian industrial charm.
The film’s version of the aqueduct retained elements of Pontcysyllte’s intricate metalwork but swapped its stone piers for brick to resemble 19th-century railway bridges typical of northwest England.
The surrounding valley draws inspiration from the dramatic rock faces of Avon and Cheddar gorges near Aardman’s Bristol studios.
Perry, who previously worked on A Matter of Loaf and Death and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, acknowledged the clear influence of Thomas Telford’s engineering masterpiece, which stands 126ft (38m) high and holds the title of the world’s tallest canal aqueduct.
Creating the film’s 20ft-long aqueduct took about three months, starting with basic carpentry and intricate hand-painted brick panels.
Perry described the painstaking attention to detail, ensuring each brick varied in color and appeared weathered.
The film version has 12 arches compared to Pontcysyllte’s 18, but clever camera work makes it appear endlessly long during the thrilling chase.
Vengeance Most Fowl, directed by Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, also marks the return of Wallace and Gromit’s nemesis, Feathers McGraw, from The Wrong Trousers (1993).
Perry described the film as the “best one so far,” blending action, comedy, and the familiar eccentricity fans love.
The Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, which attracts around 500,000 visitors annually, is maintained by the Canal and Rivers Trust.
A spokesperson expressed excitement over its feature in the film, hoping it would inspire more visitors to experience the “stream in the sky.”
Perry echoed this sentiment, saying he hopes their animated version encourages people to explore the Dee Valley’s engineering marvel in real life.
“That would be natural justice… for the fact that we used it as our main reference. I hope it does [people] proud.”
Also read: Quannah Chasinghorse: Redefining Fashion Through Culture And Advocacy
