Two North Wales icons racing to become first Welsh locations immortalised in LEGO

Plastic brick models of two iconic North Wales landmarks are racing to become the first in the country to be immortalised by LEGO. Replicas of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Wrexham AFC’s STōK Cae Ras stadium have been created by campaigners wanting their designs to be incorporated into the company’s global collection of kit landmarks.

At present, only four UK locations are officially recognised by LEGO and all are in England – Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Old Trafford Stadium and Trafalgar Square. STōK Cae Ras and Pontcysyllte Aqueduct will each need 10,000 online votes to have a chance of becoming the first Welsh landmark in the world-famous LEGO line-up.

A 6ft-long model of the aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site near Llangollen, is on display just a few miles away at Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham. From 1962 to 2000 the city’s industrial estate was was home to British Lego where kits were manufactured and packed for the UK’s model makers.

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Pushing the case for STōK Cae Ras, the world’s oldest international football stadium, is “Bricks with Keith”. His LEGO build, unveiled last week, has so far attracted 135 supporters, more than twice the number backing the aqueduct, which was launched four days later. Explaining why he built it, Keith said: “Like many others, I fell in love with not just the team and their underdog story, but also the town, its people and the deep-rooted passion they all share for their club, day in and day out.”

The aqueduct model was commissioned as part of a year-long community art project for the World Heritage Site, The Bridge that Connects. This is being delivered by Glandŵr Cymru – the Canal & River Trust in Wales – with funding from Wrexham Council and the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The model was created by Welsh based @Minibrickarchitecture, sometimes referred to as LEGO Banksy, who has built several other Welsh landmarks. It celebrates a structure that was completed in 1805 and which remains the world’s highest canal aqueduct. Over 300 metres long, it stands 126ft above the River Dee supported by 18 stone arches.

Among its backers is Rachel Clacher, co-founder of Moneypenny and chair of Wrexham City Board. She said: “What a great campaign to get behind - a celebration of past ingenuity miniaturised in an iconic present-day medium that in itself is an important part of Wrexham’s story.

"This is a pivotal time for Wrexham: the eyes of the world are on us, and the future of our proud city will be shaped by what we do now for our young people. This campaign and project adds to the many exciting, world-class things happening here right now.” Join the North Wales Live Whatsapp community now

If chosen as a LEGO kit, the aqueduct will be 45cm long, 9.5cm high and 8cm deep. It has been described as a “fun and challenging build” and a “great piece to display”. Another model of an aqueduct that looks suspiciously like Pontcysyllte is set to feature in the new Wallace and Gromit film due to screen over Christmas.

The campaign to have the aqueduct officially recognised by LEGO is well organised. Ironically, its official backers includes Wrexham AFC, whose STōK Cae Ras merchandise shop will be one of three venues exhibiting miniature models of the aqueduct. Wrexham AFC CEO Michael Williamson said it was a “brilliant project”.

Another is Glandŵr Cymru’s Trevor Basin Visitor Centre, the third is on board the Seren Fach Anglo Welsh trip boat that offers trips across the aqueduct. The miniature models will be on display all all three venues on November 23-24, when people can cast votes for the LEGO aqueduct.

Mark Evans, regional director at Glandŵr Cymru, said: “Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is one of the true icons of the waterways, and the possibility of it being added into LEGO’s global collection is incredibly fitting. The aqueduct draws in thousands of visitors every year who come to see this captivating landmark. We want people to get behind the campaign to see it incorporated into the LEGO collection.”

When it has finished its time on display at Tŷ Pawb, the 6ft model will become part of Glandŵr Cymru’s learning resources at the trust’s new Education Resource Space next to the aqueduct. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox

Details of the STōK Cae Ras campaign can be found here. Information about the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct campaign is here.

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