Glandŵr Cymru and the Swansea Canal Society celebrate Swansea Canal anniversary

An industrial canal built to serve collieries, iron works and copper works in the Tawe valley, for over two centuries the canal has played a key role in the history of the city and continues to be a haven for wildlife and a landmark in Swansea's rich heritage today.

In 1981 the Swansea Canal Society was formed to work towards the restoration of the canal, and Glandŵr Cymru works in partnership with the society, managing the five miles that are now fully navigable of a once 16-mile waterway.

A year long series of celebrations are taking place as part of the anniversary, with the centrepiece taking place between April and September at the National Waterfront Museum Swansea where an exhibition looking back at the history of the canal is on show.

A film project featuring four primary schools local to the canal which tells the story of its history is one of the features of the exhibition. Entry to the exhibition and museum is free.

Commenting on the exhibition, Mark Evans, regional director for Glandŵr Cymru said: "We are delighted to be celebrating the 225th anniversary of the Swansea Canal, in partnership with the Swansea Canal Society, with an exhibition at the National Waterfront Museum.

"The exhibition is an exciting opportunity for visitors to discover the important role the Swansea Canal has had to play for the past 225 years. From its origins as an industrial canal built to serve collieries, iron works and copper works in the Tawe valley, the ongoing project to restore the remaining sections of the canal, and how in that time it has benefitted wildlife and the wellbeing of the people living on its doorstep."

Other events taking place to mark the anniversary throughout the year include an oral history project featuring memories of the canal, heritage walks with performances from a theatre company in August, while Coed Gwilym Park will host a Party in the Park in May.

You can discover more about the anniversary throughout the year on the Swansea 225 anniversary section of the Canal & River Trust website and Swansea Canal Society website.