Aberdare Canal - History

History

The Aberdare Canal Company was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1793, which authorised the company to build a canal from Aberdare to Abercynon (at the time called Navigation) and a railway from Aberdare to Glyn Neath, on the Neath Canal. The Act also empowered the company to build tramroads to any mines, quarries or works within 8 miles (13 km) of the route of the canal and railway. To complete this task, it had powers to raise an initial £22,500, and a further £11,000 if required.

Although construction of the canal was authorised, it was not deemed to be viable at the time, as the Hirwaun Ironworks was the only potential user. Instead, the company leased some limestone quarries at Penderyn, and conveyed the stone by tramroad to the Hirwaun Ironworks and to their own lime kilns. However, the opening of two further ironworks by 1806 led to the company resolving to build the canal at a meeting held in September 1809. Edward Martin from Morriston was employed to re-survey the route, which was completed by 9 January 1810, and Thomas Sheasby junior was employed as engineer.

Construction of the 6.75 miles (10.86 km) of canal began, with the Glamorganshire Canal Company agreeing to waiving tolls on all stone and lime cargoes which were for the new canal. Thomas Sheasby resigned as engineer in August 1811, and was replaced by George Overton, who worked for two days each week. The canal level dropped by 13 ft (4m) over its length, and this was accommodated by building two locks, one at Cwmbach and the other at Dyffryn. A feeder from the Afon Cynon supplied water to the canal at Canal Head, an aqueduct carried the canal over Nant Pennar, and a stop lock was built at the bottom end, where the canal joined the Glamorganshire Canal just below lock 17. There was a dispute with Richard Blakemore, who owned the Pentyrch ironworks and the Melingriffith Tin Plate Works, and who wanted surplus water to be returned to the river, but he was ultimately ignored, and the water supplied the Glamorganshire Canal. The canal was open for traffic by May 1812, although some outstanding work was completed over the following months.