Timeline of the Brecknock & Abergavenny Canal

The canal played a significant part in our industrial heritage and the remains of this heritage can still be viewed along the canal today including wharfs and lime kilns.

Take a look at our timeline looking back at the major milestones of the canal.

1792

Proposals for a canal to link Brecon with the Monmouthshire Canal at Pontymoile

1793

Act passed for construction of the Brecknock & Abergavenny (B & A) Canal. The Act includes the right to build connecting tramroads up to eight miles long

1795

Thomas Dadford Junior appointed engineer for the new canal

1794

Canal company first builds a tramroad from Gellifelen to Glangrwyney

1797

In February canal work begins with Gilwern Aqueduct over the River Clydach. By November eight miles of canal and five locks at Lllangynidr have been completed

1798

Ashford Tunnel under construction but suffers partial collapse

1799

Canal reaches Talybont and work starts on Brynich Aqueduct over the River Usk

1800

Canal completed to Brecon and first boatload of coal is delivered on Christmas Eve

1801

Thomas Dadford dies and is buried at Llanarth churchyard

1802

Canal company builds the first limekiln at Watton

1812

The B & A Canal joins the Monmouthshire Canal at Pontymoile. Brecon is now linked to Newport by the two canals

1815

Brinore tramroad opens with new limekilns at Talybont and Llangattock

1816

The Hay Railway opens, a tramroad from the canal at Brecon to Hay-on-Wye

1840s

Trade on the canal at its height with cargoes of coal, iron, lime and pit props

1865

B & A Canal purchased by the Monmouthshire Railway & Canal Company

1880

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal sold to the Great Western Railway

1915

Last regular boat traffic between Brecon and Newport

1930s

Sections of the canal below Pontymoile progressively closed

1948

Canal ownership passes from GWR to the British Transport Commission

1962

Remaining 35 miles of canal in disrepair transferred to British Waterways

1964

Volunteers begin canal restoration

1970

Canal reopens from the outskirts of Brecon to Pontymoile

1995

New basin in Brecon opens and canal is restored into the town

2012

Mon & Brec Canal transferred from British Waterways to the Canal & River Trust