Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal 2112713 224692283 2008-07-10T00:11:44Z Saga City 138511 /* The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal */ added link The '''Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal''' is a small network of [[canal]]s in [[South Wales]]. For most of its 35-mile length it runs through the [[Brecon Beacons]] [[National parks of England and Wales|National Park]], and its present rural character and tranquillity belies its original purpose as an industrial corridor for coal and iron, which were brought to the canal by a network of tramways. The "Mon and Brec" was originally two independent canals - the [[Monmouthshire (historic)|Monmouthshire]] Canal from [[Newport]] to [[Pontymoile Basin]] (including the [[Crumlin Arm (Monmouthshire canal)|Crumlin Arm]]) and the [[Brecknockshire|Brecknock]] and [[Abergavenny]] Canal running from [[Pontymoile]] to [[Brecon]]. Both canals were abandoned in 1962, but the Brecknock and Abergavenny route and a small section of the Monmouthshire route have been reopened since 1970. Much of the rest of the original Monmouthshire Canal is the subject of a restoration plan, which includes the construction of a new marina at the Newport end of the canal. [[Image:Brecon.JPG|right|thumb|400px|The canal's basin at Brecon.]] ==The Monmouthshire Canal== This canal was authorised by an [[Act of Parliament]], passed on [[3 June]] [[1792]], which created the ''Company of Proprietors of the Monmouthshire Canal Navigation'' and empowered them to raise £120,000 by the issuing of shares, and a further £60,000 if required. The act stated that the canal would run from [[Pontnewynydd]] to the [[River Usk]] near [[Newport]], and would include a branch from [[Crindau]] to Crumlin Bridge. The Company also had powers to construct railways from the canal to any coal mines, iron works or limetone quarries which were within eight miles of it.<ref name=priestley>[http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/sdoc.php?wpage=PNRC0461#PNRC453 Joseph Priestley, (1831) ''Historical Account of the Navigable Rivers, Canals, and Railways, of Great Britain'']</ref> Construction of the canal was supervised by Thomas Dadford, Jr., and further Acts of Parliament were obtained as the work progressed. An act of [[4 July]] [[1797]] gave the Company powers to extend the navigation, while a third act of [[26 June]] [[1802]] authorised specific railways, and allowed the Company to raise additional finance.<ref name=priestley/> As built, the main line, which was opened in 1796 and was 12.5 miles (20.1km) long, ran from the docks in Newport to Pontnewydd, rising by 447 feet (136.3m) through 31 locks. The maximum width for vessels was 9 foot 2 inches (2.8m) with a draught of three feet (0.9m). Railway branches were constructed from near Pontypool to Blaen-Din Works and Trosnant Furnace.<ref name=priestley/> The 11 mile (17.7km) [[Crumlin Arm (Monmouthshire canal)|Crumlin Arm]] left the main line at [[Crindau]], rising 358 feet (109m) through 32 locks to [[Crumlin, Wales|Crumlin]] (including the Cefn flight of [[Fourteen Locks]]), and was opened in 1799. From Crumlin a railway was built to Beaufort Iron Works, which was 10 miles (16km) long and rose by 619 ft (188.8m), and there were additional branches to Sorwy Furnace, Nant-y-glo Works, and the Sirhowey Railway at Risca.<ref name=priestley/> ==The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal== [[Image:Brecon Canal Basin.JPG|thumb|right|400px|Another view of the canal basin at Brecon]] This canal was first proposed in 1792 as a separate venture, to link Brecon to the River Usk near Caerleon. The Monmouthshire proprietors invited their potential competitors to alter the plans to create a junction with the Monmouthshire Canal at [[Pontymoile]] near [[Pontypool]]<ref name=nic>[[Nicholson Guides| Nicholson Waterways Guide]], Volume 4, (2006) Harper Collins Publishers, ISBN 0-00-721112-0</ref> and share the navigation from there to Newport. An Act of Parliament was obtained on 28 March 1793, allowing the newly formed Canal Company to raise £100,000 in shares, with an additional £50,000 if required, and to construct railways to link the canal to mines, quarries and iron works.<ref name=priestley/> Initially work concentrated on the railways and it was not until 1795 that [[Thomas Dadford]] was appointed as the engineer and construction began in earnest at [[Penpedairheol, Monmouthshire|Penpedairheol]] near Llangattock. Work began in 1796 and by 1798, the canal was open from [[Gilwern]] to [[Llangynidr]] in Brecknockshire and much of the rest was in hand. However costs, as usual, were higher than expected and, in 1799, the engineer, Dadford, stated that further money was needed to complete the section from Clydach to [[Brecon]]. [[Benjamin Outram]] was called in to inspect the work and to advise on substituting a railway between [[Gilwern]] and Pont-y-Moel. Outram recommended several improvements, in particular the partial rebuilding of the Ashford Tunnel. He was also somewhat critical of the existing railways. The canal was completed to Brecon in 1800. The Canal Company obtained another Act of Parliament on 3 May 1804, to authorise the raising of more capital,<ref name=priestley/> and it was 1805 before Abergavenny was reached. The company then concentrated on running the canal and railways so far opened. By 1809 the Monmouthshire Canal was threatening litigation about the uncompleted connection from Gilwern. William Crosley was appointed to complete the work which opened in 1812. From the Pontymoile junction, the Brecknock and Abergavenny runs through [[Llanfoist]] near [[Abergavenny]] and [[Talybont-on-Usk|Talybont]], ending at a basin in [[Brecon]]. The canal is 33 miles (53km) long and is level for the first 23 miles (37km) to [[Llangynidr]], where there are five locks.<ref name=nic/> Two miles (3.2km) below Brecon, the canal crosses the River Usk on an aqueduct at Brynich, and a final lock brings the total rise to 68 ft (20.7m).<ref name=priestley/> The River Usk provides the main water supply for the canal.<ref name=nic/> A weir near the Brecon Promenade controls the water levels on the river, and half a mile (0.8km) of underground culvert brings water through the town to the Theatre Basin.<ref name=bbnp>[http://www.breconbeacons.org/content/visit-us/things-to-do-and-see/special-places-to-visit/monmouthshire-and-brecon-canal Brecon Beacons National Park: Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal]</ref> Additional water is taken from a number of streams, where part of the flow is diverted into the canal and the rest flows under an aqueduct to reach the River Usk.<ref name=nic/> {{Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal map}} ==Llanhiddel Railway== In 1798, the canal company agreed with [[Sir Richard Salusbury]] to build a line connecting his collieries to the head of the canal at [[Crumlin]]. It was not until 1800, however, that Outram was asked to survey the line. It was twin track and connected by means of an inclined plane to an existing line - the Beaufort Tramway - at [[Argoed]]. Outram was somewhat dismayed that they had not followed his designs to the letter, probably to save costs. ==Sirhowy Tramroad== In 1800, the owners of Sirhowy Ironworks were granted permission to exploit the minerals under [[Bedwellty]] Common and build a tramroad to join the canal, with the erection of a works (which was later [[Tredegar]] Ironworks). The Monmouthshire Canal Company's 1802 Act sanctioned the construction of tramroads to places within 8 miles of the canal, and they therefore built 8 miles of tramroad from Newport to a point near Wattsvill and Cwmfelinfach. The tramway from the Sirhowy Ironworks was built by the ironmasters, to a point one mile from the canal company section. The mile between crossed the land of Sir Charles Morgan of Tredegar, who agreed to build the connection across Tredegar Park, in return for the tolls for goods crossing his land. This section became known as the "golden mile",<ref name=caerphilly>[http://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/chronicle/english/onthemove/tramroads.htm Caerphilly County Borough Council: Chronicle - Local History site]</ref> because it proved to be quite lucrative for Sir Charles. The tramroad was constructed between 1802 and 1805<ref>[http://www.archivesnetworkwales.info/cgi-bin/anw/fulldesc_nofr?inst_id=36&coll_id=2719&expand= Archives Network Wales: Context for papers in Gwent Records Office]</ref> or 1806.<ref name=crosskeys>[http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/local.htm Crosskeys Local History Site]</ref> Branches would be built to the limestone quarries at [[Trefil]] (the Trefil Tramroad) and to the Union Ironworks at [[Rhymney]]. Two more branches, from Llanarth and Penllwyn to 9-mile point were added in 1824.<ref name=crosskeys/> A major feature of the line was the 'Long Bridge' at [[Risca]], 930 feet long with 33 arches each of 24 foot span averaging 28 feet high. The bridge was abandoned in 1853, in order to eliminate the sharp curves at either end, when part of the line was converted to standard gauge, and was demolished in 1905.<ref>[http://www.riscamuseum.org.uk/risca.html Risca Industrial History Museum]</ref> Conversion of the whole line to standard gauge was completed in 1863, and the Sirhowy Tramroad became the Sirhowy Railway Company in 1865.<ref name=crosskeys/> ==Decline and Re-opening== With their network of feeder railways, the canals were profitable. Coal traffic rose from 3,500 tons in 1796 to 150,000 tons in 1809,<ref name=conserve>[http://www.newport.gov.uk/_dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=planning.conservation&contentid=n_077703 City of Newport: Conservation]</ref> but the arrival of the railways brought serious decline, and in the 1850s, several schemes to abandon the canals were proposed. The Monmouthshire Company, which had become the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company under an act of parliament obtained in 1845,<ref name=ware>Michael E. Ware, (1989), ''Britain's Lost Waterways'', Moorland Publishing Co Ltd, ISBN 0-86190-327-7</ref> bought out the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal Company in 1865, but the move came too late, and the Monmouthshire Canal gradually closed, while the Brecon line was retained as a water feeder.<ref name=nic/> Control of the canals passed to the [[Great Western Railway]] in 1880, and they were consequently nationalised in 1948.<ref>Hugh McKnight, (1975), ''The Shell Book of Inland Waterways'', [[David & Charles]] (Publishers) Ltd.</ref> The first part of the canal to close was the section from Newport to the docks, which lasted until 1879. The rest of the Newport section, to the northern portal of Barrack Hill Tunnel, was closed in 1930, and the Cwmbran section followed in 1954.<ref name=IWoGB>Lewis A. Edwards, (1985), ''Inland Waterways of Great Britain'', 6th Ed, Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson, ISBN 0-85288-081-2</ref> The Crumlin branch was abandoned as a commercial waterway in 1930,<ref name=newport>[http://www.newport.gov.uk/_dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=regeneration.canals&contentid=CONT105346 City of Newport Regeneration: Canals]</ref>, but was retained in water. In February 1946, a serious breach occurred at Abercarn, 2.5 miles (4km) from Crumlin, and although this section of the canal had not been used for 16 years, the breach was repaired. However, the branch was closed just three years later in 1949,<ref name=ware/> and the section from Pontywaen to Crumlin was filled in and used as the route for the [[A467 road]] in 1968/9. The rest of the canal was formally abandoned in 1962, but within two years, restoration had begun.<ref name=nic/> Funding for the restoration became available as a result of the National Parks legislation. This was designed to help [[The Broads]] in [[Norfolk]] and [[Suffolk]], but that area was not designated as a National Park, whereas the [[Brecon Beacons]] were,<ref name=IWoGB/> and the canal was seen as a valuable amenity in an area of natural beauty. The canal was reopened in 1970.<ref name=bbnp/> The Brecon to Pontypool section was one of seven stretches of canal, formally designated as remainder waterways, which were re-classified by the British Waterways Act of 8 February 1983. Under the act, a total of 82 route miles (132km) were upgraded to Cruising Waterway Standard.<ref name=IWoGB/> The Cefn Flight of fourteen locks has been recognised as being of international significance, and is on [[Cadw]]'s list of [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]]s.<ref name=newport/> All of the canal route within the jurisdiction of the City of Newport was designated as a Conservation Area on 21 January 1998. 21 of the structures of the canal now have Grade II [[listed building]] status.<ref name=conserve/> At the Brecon end, the canal terminates at the Theatre Basin, as a result of a project to rebuild the Brecknock Boat Company wharf, which was abandoned and infilled in 1881. Funding was provided by the Welsh Office, the Welsh Arts Council and various private sector bodies. The old wharf buildings have been re-used by the Brecon Theatre, and access is provided by a new canal bridge, named after the engineer Thomas Dadford.<ref name=nic/> ==The canal today== Communities on or near the canal include: On the main arm: *[[Brecon]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/9883] *[[Talybont-on-Usk]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/49223] *[[Llangynidr]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/389477] *[[Crickhowell]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/49769] *[[Gilwern]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/49781] *[[Govilon]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/108204] *[[Abergavenny]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/499532] *[[Goetre]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/302313] *[[Pontypool]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/357787] *[[Cwmbran]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/95993] *[[Newport]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/372716] On the [[Crumlin Arm (Monmouthshire canal)|Crumlin arm]]: *[[Risca]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/295715] *[[Crosskeys]] [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/55542] ===Boat Hire Companies=== The canal is popular with holiday-makers, as it is largely located within the Brecon Beacons National Park. Its isolation from any other waterways has enabled the canal to support a number of boat hire companies. *Beacon Park Boats with 11 boats. *Cambrian Cruisers with 8 Boats. *Castle Narrowboats with 8 Boats. *Country Craft Narrowboats with 5 Boats. *Red Line Boats with 12 Boats. *Road House Narrowboats with 4 Boats. *Day boat hire at Pontymoile Basin 4 to 8 seaters. ===Access=== Much of the canal towpath [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/476672] is easily walkable [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/476664] along the entire route [http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/476654]. The [[Taff Trail]] cycle route, follows the canal for a few miles from [[Brecon]], but the path after that is not suitable for cyclists. ===October 2007 breach=== On [[16 October]] [[2007]] a serious breach occurred when part of the canal bank near Gilwern collapsed, causing a number of houses to be evacuated.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7046727.stm Homes evacuated in canal collapse] BBC Wales - 16 October, 2007</ref> Eight people were rescued by local Fire and Emergency services, and the [[A4077 road]] between [[Crickhowell]] and [[Gilwern]] was closed, for a period which was expected to be several weeks. Two families were provided with temporary accommodation, and twenty-three hire boats were also affected with cranes being brought in to help them back to their bases.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/7053107.stm Canal breach plans are drawn up] BBC Wales - 21 October 2007</ref> Contractors Noel Fitzpatrick working for [[British Waterways]] managed to reopen the road within a week of the breach occurring. British Waterways announced on 5th November 2007 that a 16-mile (26km) stretch of the canal from Llanover to Llangynidr would be drained completely, so that a full inspection of the canal structure could be carried out. They stated that they were working with boat owners to move all boats to parts of the canal which would not be affected by this drainage, but that the towpath would remain open during this phase.<ref>[http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/newsroom/stories/Monmouthshire_Brecon_Canal_Inspections.html British Waterways Newsroom: Report of 7 November 2007]</ref> Subsequently, they announced that a full geotechnical survey would be carried out, and that they expected the stretch to be closed for up to a year.<ref>[http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/newsroom/stories/Update-Monmouthshire_and_Brecon_Canal_Closure.html British Waterways Newsroom: Report of 13 November 2007]</ref> Water levels on this section were reduced significantly, but engineers were then faced with the task of moving upwards of 100,000 fish before it could be drained fully.<ref> [http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/newsroom/stories/Experts_Wade_In_To_Rehouse_100000_Waterway_Fish.html British Waterways Newsroom: Experts to rehouse fish]</ref> At a meeting at Crickhowell on 20th December 2007, British Waterways announced the preliminary results of the investigations: there were over 90 leaks on the section from Talybont to Gilwern, with less leakage on the stretch from Llanover to Goytre Wharf. A press release in February 2008 announced that the total cost of restoration was likely to be around £15 million, with major investment required in the 2008/9 financial year, in order to repair the breach and to deal with other areas identified as being of top priority. The aim of the work would be to ensure that the canal would be safe and fully open from March 2009, but further work would be required during the following three winters in order to complete the process. Their actions earned British Waterways the praise of Rhodri Glyn Thomas of the Welsh Assembly, who applauded their ''"courageous decision"'' to manage the breach in the way that they had.<ref>[http://www.britishwaterways.co.uk/newsroom/stories/2008-09_Canal_repairs_are_just_the_beginning.html British Waterways Newsroom: Canal repairs are just the beginning]</ref> ==Restoration== The canal is located within the boundaries of a number of local authorities, and such bodies are increasingly aware of the benefits and regeneration that a canal restoration project can bring. To this end, the ''Monmouthshire and Brecon Canals Regeneration Partnership'' was created as a collaborative effort between the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canals Trust, [[Torfaen]] Council, [[Newport City Council]], [[Caerphilly County Borough Council]], the [[Forestry Commission]] and [[British Waterways]]. The Regeneration Partnership submitted a bid to the Big Lottery Living Landmarks fund for £25 million, this being 75 percent of the estimated cost of restoring the main line from Barrack Hill to Cwmbran, including the construction of a new aqueduct to take the canal over Greenforge Way, and of restoring the Crumlin Branch from Malpas Junction to the bottom of the Cefn Flight of fourteen locks, including improvements to its water supply. The bid reached the development stage, and the Partnership successfully obtained a grant of £250,000 to enable them to undertake a full cost and engineering study for the proposed community based regeneration of the waterway.<ref>[http://www.newport.gov.uk/_dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=regeneration.canals&contentid=CONT105335 City of Newport: Living Links report]</ref> The Partnership continues to meet to discuss the way forward to completing the restoration.[http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/88847] Restoration of the top lock of the Cefn Flight (lock 21) was completed by volunteers in 2003. The Canals Trust and Newport City Council made a joint presentation to the Heritage Lottery Fund for £700,000 to restore the next four locks of the flight, and this was granted on 23 March 2007.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_east/6480869.stm Historic canal stretch to reopen] BBC Wales - 23 March, 2007</ref> The regeneration of the Cefn flight (Fourteen Locks) is a separate project from the main scheme; contractors will work down the flight, while a voluntary team led by the Canals Trust and Waterway Recovery Group will work up from lock 3 on the Allt-yr-yn locks. There are also plans to connect the southern end of the canal to the [[River Usk]] by means of a [[Crindau Marina|marina in Crindau]]. The Crindau Gateway Project is an Urban Regeneration project for the area around the southern terminus of the canal, which has received £75,000 in funding from the Welsh Assembly to consider the provision of a marina as part of the scheme.<ref>[http://www.newportunlimited.co.uk/projects/crindaugateway.html Crindau Gateway Urban Regeneration Project]</ref> A link from the marina to the River Usk would be provided by way of Crindau Pill, an inlet from the river which would be made navigable. This would create sustainability for the project. The Canals Trust have taken over the lease of the Canal Centre at Fourteen Locks. An extension has been completed, which houses a meeting room (available for groups to hire) and also a community run tea room. The Canal Centre is now a base for the Trust and its restoration work at the centre of the community. '''I.W.A National Trailboat festival 2010''' This will be held at Newport on the whitsun bank holiday weekend, organised by the Mon & Brec Canals Trust and should attract boats from all over the UK to South Wales. A similar event was organised at Newport in 2000 and in 2004 when over 12,000 people attended the 3 day festival. The Trust is actively looking for sponsors and traders for the 2010 Event. The organisers are hoping that some narrowboats will attend, but the logistics of moving them by lorry and craning them into the water make it an expensive task. ==References== {{reflist}} ==See also== *[[Canals of Great Britain]] *[[History of the British canal system]] ==External links== *[http://www.mon-brec-canal-trust.org.uk/ Monmouthshire, Brecon and Abergavenny Canal Trust] *[http://www.waterscape.com/Monmouthshire_%26_Brecon_Canal/wid53;mine304652;maxe331804;minn196927;maxn228223 British Waterways Guide] *[http://www.gtj.org.uk/item.php?lan=en&id=21934&t=1 a 1911 Sunday school and Chapel outing on the canal] *[http://www.canaljunction.com/canal/mon_brec.htm Canal Junction website on the Mon & Brec] *[http://www.itvlocal.com/wales/news/?player=WAL_News_15&void=191029 ITV programme on the Brecon and Mon Canal with beautiful pictures] [[Category:Brecknockshire]] [[Category:Canals in Wales]] [[Category:History of Monmouthshire]] [[Category:Monmouthshire]] [[Category:Powys]] [[Category:Visitor attractions in Wales]]