progress Montgomery Canal

Having completed rebuilding work on the Montgomery Canal to Crickheath ready for an opening soon, SUCS have moved on to the next section...

Montgomery Canal

Crickheath South work party reportMarch 3-5, 2023: This Shropshire Union Canal Society work party on the new section south of Crickheath Bridge (having completed the lengths up to that point - see reports in previous issues of Navvies) is best characterised by the 3 P’s: Plant, Progress and Pace. An outstanding achievement thanks to the volunteers’ efforts and some kind weather.

Traditionally, March is the first month when plant operations recommence on site. Since February’s work party, the site had received virtually no rainfall at all and weather conditions during the work party were similarly benign, albeit a little chilly at times. Diggers and dumpers were put to maximum effect and even the task of cleaning them at the end was very quick and simple. By Saturday, the multitude of tree stumps remaining from the previous vegetation clearance were removed over the full length of Phase 1B. This included 20 classified as ‘substantial’ or ‘monster’. The redundant 10" concrete drain, headwalls and chamber were also removed from the channel and by close of play on Sunday over 110m of Phase 1B had been site stripped.

Friday saw a superb turnout of 21 Society volunteers complemented by three volunteers from CGI who planted some hedging kindly donated by the company. There have been bonfires on each of the recent work parties but this month’s effort surpassed the lot. Whilst a number of volunteers diligently attended to the bonfire, others took the opportunity to completely clear Phase 1A of brash, and carefully replanted snowdrops that had colonised the channel. With pumping and low rainfall, Phase 1A is now clear of water in the channel although the ground remains a little soft for plant work at the bridge end. As well as permitting vegetation clearance in this area, it was also possible to complete the surveying of the channel profile up as far as Crick-

Montgomery Canal and Crickheath South project

Length: 35 miles Locks: 27 Date closed: 1936 (breach south of Frankton), 1944 (legally abandoned)

Crickheath South Project

Crickheath Bridge 85

Phase 1A

Phase 2

Phase 1B

Schoolhouse Bridge 86

The Crickheath South Restoration Project is the Shropshire Union Canal Society’s latest project on the Montgomery Canal, and carries on from where the last project finished at Crickheath.

It continues southwards towards Llanymynech and covers the 750 metres between Crickheath Bridge and the soon to be rebuilt Schoolhouse Bridge. Engineering wise it’s expected to be simpler than the last project with no significant subsidence, and ground investigations by the Canal & River Trust revealing no areas of its primary cause, peat. The project is divided into three phases:

Llangollen Canal to Llangollen

7 miles reopened Frankton to Gronwen Bridge

Gronwen Bridge: current navigable limit, reopening to Crickheath imminent

Frankton

To Hurleston

Aston Locks

Former Weston Arm Llanymynech

Carreghofa Locks (restored)

Arddleen

Burgedin Locks

Pant

WalesEngland

School House Bridge (to be reinstated)

Short restored length with trip-boat at Llanymynech on Welsh border

4 road blockages between Llanymynech and Arddleen

Welshpool

Berriew

Refail

Garthmyl

Crickheath Newtown

12 mile isolated restored navigable length from Arddleen through Welshpool to Refail

3 locks restored but several road blockages remain south of Refail

Phase 1A covers the first 180m through Crickheath village. and features a former tramway wharf on the offside. In places the wharf wall has been repaired or rebuilt but two thirds of the length (over 100m) requires attention. Phase 1B continues through open country covering half of the remaining distance to Schoolhouse Bridge. Phase 2 covers the remainder and is characterised by being in a cutting, the offside bank being rather steep in places. Preparatory work began in 2021 and continues apace as described in this report.

Final length into Newtown obstructed by sewer in canal bed, terminus basin built on, possibility of diversion to new terminus heath Bridge. The channel over the entire project has now been surveyed ‘pre-site strip’ and further surveying will be undertaken as the site strip progresses.

Finally, on Sunday, we welcomed four members of the Dry Stone Walling Association from Cheshire who are keen to help with repairs to the tramway wharf and came to meet us. We all have a much better idea of what will be involved and the most effective way to proceed. Work on the wall repairs is scheduled to start later in the spring.

We are always looking for new volunteers and members. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should see shropshireunion.org.uk/ work-party-schedule for details of dates and contacts. Please encourage family, friends and colleagues to become members of the society - please see shropshireunion.org.uk/support-us/ membership for details of how to join.

More details on the Shropshire Union Canal Society’s restoration activities, including detailed work party reports, can be found at shropshireunion.org.uk/restoration/.

See the previous page for an overview of the Crickheath South restoration project and explanation of the phases.