The Glamorganshire Canal: Page

The Glamorganshire Canal

To lesson the expense of carrying iron goods to Cardiff by road, the Ironmasters sought permission of Parliament to build a canal between Merthyr and Cardiff, It was just over 25 miles in length, and would have a "fall" of over 510 feet.

Construction of the Glamorganshire Canal was commenced in 1790.It was a difficult task, 50 locks had to be made, 16 of which were between Abercynon and Quakers Yard, where there was a fall of 200feet. The first part, between Abercynon and Cardiff, known as "The Navigation", or "The Basin", was the easiest and was completed by 1794.It took another 4 years to complete the 9 miles between Abercynon and Merthyr.

<CLICK ON THE PHOTOGRAPH TO ENLARGE>

Notice.

(Photograph Courtesy of The Leo Davies Collection.)

	(Courtesy of Byn Walters)

The Glamorganshire Canal Company. Boat No 502

GlamorganshireCanalCompany_BoatNo502.JPG (147128 bytes)

The Head of the Canal at Cyfarthfa in 1948.

GlamorganshireCanal_HeadOf_1948.JPG (158433 bytes)

The Canal at Georgetown. Richard Crawshay's Chapel of Ease can be seen, along with the rooftops

of Chapel Row, Cyfarthfa works, and in the distance Cyfarthfa Castle.

MerthyrTydfil_GlamorganshireCanal_ChapelRow.JPG (193959 bytes)

Middle Lock Bridge, Georgetown.

The Canal at the Tanyard Georgetown.

GlamorganshireCanal_TheTanyard.JPG (193300 bytes)

The Canal and the Taff Vale Brewery.

Merthyr_TheTaffValeBrewery.JPG (91630 bytes)

Parliament Lock.

A Close up from the above photograph. The bridge in the photograph below can be seen in the middle.

MerthyrTydfil_Town_Canalside_TheGlamorganCanal_CloseUp.jpg (193756 bytes)

A similar photograph to above.

Canal Bridge Georgetown, The Taff Vale Brewery (looking derelict) is in the background.

CanalBridge_Georgetown.JPG (103329 bytes)

The Three Bridges, The canal.

MerthyrThreeBridgesTheCanal.JPG (118770 bytes)

Byn Walters Sends Us These Photographs of his Walk Along the Canal Path in the Early 1970's:

Neath & Aberdare Railway Bridge at Rhydycar	Neath & Aberdare Railway Bridge at Rhydycar


Cast Iron Bridge at Rhydycar	Bridge at Pontygwaith

The Canal Walk

Abercanaid, Glyndyrus

Abercanaid Old Pit, at the side of the canal.

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