Glamorganshire Canal

Glamorganshire Canal
The Glamorganshire Canal at Nightingales Bush, Pontypridd.
Specifications
Locks	52
Status	Mostly filled in; part under A470 road; part footpaths.
History
Original owner	Glamorganshire Canal Navigation Co
Principal engineer	Thomas Dadford
Other engineer(s)	Thomas Sheasby
Date of act	1790
Date completed	1794
Date closed	1898, 1915, 1942, 1951
Geography
Start point	Merthyr Tydfil
End point	Cardiff Docks
Branch(es)	Aberdare Canal

The Glamorganshire Canal was a valley-side canal, in South Wales, UK, running from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff.

The Glamorganshire Canal began its life when construction started in 1790. Being watched over by the wealthy ironmasters of Merthyr, including Richard Crawshay of the Cyfarthfa Ironworks, the canal was thought up as a solution to the issue of transporting the goods (Iron ore, coal and Limestone) from the valleys to Cardiff, where they’d be shipped off, around the world. Thomas Dadford was hired to inspect and plan a route for the canal, and with support from Lord Cardiff, the canal was authorised by Parliament on 9 June 1790.

Almost £90,000 was raised in preparation of constructing the canal and would be linked to any works within 4 miles of the canal, through branch canals and linking railways. However, during the approaching few miles leading to Cardiff, the canal suffered from severe water shortages, resulting in the goods not arriving in Cardiff on time. To solve this problem, a water pump was introduced in Melingriffith, with the main purpose being to provide water to the canal from the River Taff. Located not far from the Melingriffith Tinplate works, (located directly between the River Taff and the Glamorganshire Canal) it was built in 1807, but the origins of the water pump are disputed, depending on what sources you choose to believe. Historians believe it was designed by either Watkin George of Cafarthfa Ironworks (1793), or John Rennie (1795).

The Company of Proprietors of the Glamorganshire Canal Navigation was authorised to raise £60,000 in capital, with a further £30,000 if required, to build the main canal, together with branch canals as required, and feeder railways linking the canal to any works within 4 miles (6.4 km) of its course. These railways were deemed to be part of the canal itself, and so land for their routes could be obtained by compulsory purchase if required. Construction began in August 1790, when Thomas Dadford, a pupil of the canal engineer James Brindley, arrived on site, with Thomas Sheasby, his son Thomas Dadford, Jr., and a team of workmen. Construction started from the Merthyr Tydfil end. An extension from Merthyr to Crawshay's Cyfarthfa Ironworks was also built, although payment for it resulted in a dispute which was eventually resolved by arbitration; but a plan to build a branch to the Dowlais and Penydarren Ironworks, which would have risen 411 feet (125 m) in only 1.75 miles (2.82 km) was dropped, and was replaced by two tramroads, one from each works.