Monday 15 February 2010

canal journey

This is looking back down the beginning of the flight of canal locks towards the M4 road.
Here looking up, and you can see where the clearing has begun.
A feeder pool

A ledge each side where the narrow boats could then be fitted three in a lock, but use less water to pass each through
looking along the locks (and showing my modern transport!)
Pensarn Basin and bridge number five
Pensarn Cottage, built in 1792
The higher feeder ponds and locks have been drained ready to be cleared
Part of the feeding system, blocked with stone
A higher lock, showing the plate for the lock gate

The second feeder pond showing the arch connecting to the pond, and the square entry possibly for an overflow
The modern visitor centre and cafe
Looking across the top feeder pond which now sports a dragonfly sculpture, towards Mynydd Maen where the ponies live.
Not the easiest gate to pass when you have two pannier bags full of shopping!!
An original sign for the bridge by Fourteen Locks

A new sign giving the history of the Crumlin Arm of the Monmouth and Brecon Canal
If you are going to have a fence, have one made by Artist Blacksmiths! Work from Myfyrfa Petersen Studios in St.Cler near Caerfyrddin (Carmarthen)
Pontywaen, nearly home, looking towards Cefn Rhyswg
The end of the water, and how some people treat where they live

A new sign giving the history of 13 July 1875 when a neglected feeder dam burst after prolonged heavy rain. The ensuing torrent washed away the flannel factory, drowning the Hunt family who lived there, and ten bodies were washed down to Newport.
The last little hill into Cwmcarn-a sting in the tail when you have been for a bike ride! It is called Twyncarn, but is also called Factory Trip (trip meaning a sharp rise) after the Flannel Factory

4 comments:

Kerry O'Gorman said...

What an interesting place...I love visiting these things of the past...cheers for the tour!

gz said...

What it needs is water traffic.
The canal could be reinstated under the M4, there is enough width and headroom, they couldn't be bothered in the '70s.
Above Cwmcarn the villages' bypass follows the canal route.
Around Risca the access roads to the Ty Sign estate (started late 1940s?) all cross the canal. If you are lucky the water still has a pipe to flow through.
The highest usable turning pond is Fourteen Locks, there is a further half mile that could be used, but no turning. Work on the canal seems to suffer from the fact that it runs through three council areas and they don't seem to have a joined up attitude to working on it.

Anonymous said...

I feel like I have been on a bike ride with you. Very interesting, thanks! I love old canals, railways too, so much history.

Ally said...

Lovely, gz - thank you! Takes me right back to living at Chapel Of Ease!