Montgomeryshire Canal

Montgomery Canal
Montgomery Canal milepost
Specifications
Maximum boat length	70 ft 0 in (21.34 m)
Maximum boat beam	6 ft 10 in (2.08 m)
Locks	24 (originally 26) (Graham Palmer lock was added at restoration)
Maximum height above sea level	265 ft (81 m)
Status	Parts navigable; parts under restoration
Navigation authority	Canal and River Trust
History
Former names	Montgomeryshire Canal; Llanymynech Branch of the Ellesmere Canal; Montgomery Branch (or Arm) of the Shropshire Union
Modern name	Montgomery Canal
Original owner	The Company of Proprietors of the Montgomeryshire Canal
Principal engineer	John Dadford
Other engineer(s)	Thomas Dadford Junior/Thomas Dadford senior/Josias Jessop/John Williams/George W.Buck
Date of act	1794
Date completed	1821
Date closed	1936 (legal abandonment: 1944)
Date restored	1987 — (On-going restoration)
Geography
Branch(es)	Weston Branch (dis.)
Branch of	Llangollen Canal

The Montgomery Canal (Welsh: Camlas Trefaldwyn), known colloquially as "The Monty", is a partially restored canal in Powys, in eastern Wales, and in northwest Shropshire, in western England. The canal runs 33 miles (53 km) from the Llangollen Canal (at Frankton Junction) to Newtown, via Llanymynech and Welshpool.

Originally the canal from Llanymynech to Newtown was known as the Montgomeryshire Canal, named after the county of Montgomeryshire it ran through, itself divided into Western and Eastern branches. At Carreghofa Locks near Llanymynech the Montgomeryshire Canal connected to the Llanymynech Branch of the Ellesmere Canal. These elements of the present-day Montgomery Canal were unified by becoming part of the Shropshire Union system; the Ellesmere Canal in 1846, the Eastern Branch in 1847 and the Western Branch in 1850.

The canal fell into disuse following a breach in 1936, and was officially abandoned in 1944. With the revival of canal use in the late 20th century, the two canals became known as the Montgomery Canal, although the canal does not, and never did, go to the town of Montgomery.

At present only 7 miles (11 km) from Frankton Junction to Gronwyn Wharf is navigable and connected to the rest of the national Canal & River Trust network; separately, a short stretch at Llanymynech and a central section of the canal around Welshpool are also navigable, though 'isolated' from the national canal network. On-going restoration work continues to expand the navigable sections.

The Montgomeryshire Canal was devised with a different purpose from most other canals of the time. Whereas other canals could generate sufficient revenue from cargo carrying to be financially viable, the Montgomeryshire was planned to serve a more rural area, which would not offer such opportunities. Instead the primary purpose of the canal was to transport lime for agricultural purposes, which would allow the Upper Severn Valley to become better agricultural land. As a result, the promoters of the canal included local landowners who hoped to achieve a return on their investment through greater crop yields, rather than relying upon share dividends.