Heritage Plaques
- Structures
Glamorganshire Canal
Accessed from
CF48 1UT
Scheduled Ancient
Monument - ref 34425
The
Glamorganshire Canal, backed by the principal ironmasters of Merthyr Tydfil,
was built to carry iron twenty five and a half miles from Merthyr to the port
of Cardiff, descending (originally) through 50 locks. It was opened on 10
February 1794 and became the most successful canal in south Wales. A southern
extension giving direct access to the Bristol Channel and known as the sea
pound was opened in 1798. The Aberdare Canal branched off from
Abercynon and the Doctor's Canal branched from Denia to Treforest. Control
of the Glamorganshire and Aberdare Canals passed to the Marquis of Bute in 1885.
Merthyr to Abercynon closed 1898, Abercynon to Pontypridd closed 1915,
Pontypridd to Cardiff closed 1942 and Cardiff sea pound closed 1951.
Remains of the canal are now scanty, having been built over by realignments of
the A470 trunk road.
The plaque
read:
Glamorgan Canal
Completed in 1794 by Cyfarthfa, Dowlais, Penydarren & Plymouth Works iron masters to transport goods to Cardiff Docks. The canal ended in Cyfarthfa as Crawshay was the major shareholder. |
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