Wednesday, May 4, 2011

the Montgomery canal, England/Wales

Photos taken in May 2005 during a break in rain showers, which demonstrate why the boats which negotiate the canals are called narrow boats.  The Montgomery Canal connects with the Llangollen Canal at Frankton Junction, which can be seen in the background of the second photo.

Known popularly as "The Monty", the canal in Powys, eastern Wales, and in northwest Shropshire, England,  was originally planned to run from Llanymynech to Newtown via Welshpool, but is today considered to run 33 miles (53 km) from the Llangollen Canal to Newtown.

Originally known as the Montgomeryshire Canal, after the former county of Montgomeryshire, along with the adjoining Llanymynech Branch of the Ellesmere Canal, the canal fell in to disuse following a breach in 1936, and was officially abandoned in 1944. With the revival of canal use in the late 20th century, the canal became known as the Montgomery Canal, which was considered to include the Llanymynech Branch of the Ellesmere Canal.

At present only 7 miles (11 km) of the northern section, from Frankton Junction to Gronwen Wharf, a short stretch at Llanymynech, and a central section of the canal around Welshpool are navigable, though restoration work continues to expand this. The canal never went to the town of Montgomery.

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