camp report Mon & Brec

The summer Canal Camps programme featured a return to the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal for some bywash restoration. Marion Carter reports...

Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal 10 - 17 September 2022

The main task this year for the camp on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal was to repair a bywash (lock overflow structure) close to ‘Shop Lock’, one of the Ty-coch flight of locks south of Cwmbran.

Much of the old stonework was leaking and vegetation was growing where it should not have been. We removed several large sections of stones and revealed a large hole where the water had been piping out from underneath the stones. We made our own ‘channel’ from wooden formwork and used this to pour concrete from the barrow ramp straight into the hole. The local volunteers showed us where spare old stones could be found, but fitting the jigsaw back together was difficult. Rachel the jigsaw queen started cutting many of the stones to fit them back together. We used lime mortar between the stones.

We also cleared vegetation to reveal the remains of an old cottage and a workshop saw pit.

Painting the lock gates allowed us ample opportunity to have a natter with walkers and cyclists. Everyone was interested and enthusiastic about restoring the canal. Being a councillor let Rex explain how town and country planning might work for restoring a canal.

We numbered nine in total, WRG regulars and some new recruits, including Pete who has been volunteering for the National Trust for years. We were from all over England and Wales and Germany too. Accommodation was at Crosskeys Methodist Church Hall, a huge hall with magnificent views all around, and showers generously provided by a local leisure centre. The hall is close to the station and bus stops and has ample parking for vans and cars. Andy slept in his own campervan