montgomery special

While the recent celebrations mark the opening of the restored canal to Shropshire Union Canal Society: Crickheath South work party report

The Crickheath South project is the volunteer restoration / relining / reconstruction of the 750 metres from Crickheath Wharf (the new limit of navigation following the recent reopening) to Schoolhouse Bridge (currently under construction). It forms the first part of the crucial two mile length (if you’ll excuse me mixing metric and imperial!) which is the subject of the Appeal covered in John Dodwell’s article on the preceding pages, and which will link the restored English section to the start of the Welsh length (currently benefiting from a £15m Government grant). It’s covered in more detail in Navvies 318.

The SUCS April work party focused on Phase 1A (Crickheath Wharf area) and was characterised by new tasks, high volunteer numbers and great progress. Work on repairs to the former tramway wharf south of Crickheath Bridge has started. After much planning, coping stones –some weighing over half a tonne – were lifted off to allow repairs to the wall beneath. Whilst it was anticipated that this could take the whole three days, by Friday evening, the task was largely complete. Members of the Dry Stone Walling Association (DSWA) joined the work party and by the end of Saturday, over 8m of wall had tions. There remains 83m of parties for the coming months