Swansea Canal

Swansea Canal
Swansea Canal
	The canal at Pontardawe
Specifications
Maximum boat length	65 ft 0 in (19.81 m)
Maximum boat beam	7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Locks	6; (originally 36)
Status	Restoration proposed
Navigation authority	Canal and River Trust
History
Original owner	Swansea Canal Company
Principal engineer	Charles Roberts
Other engineer(s)	Thomas Sheasby
Date of act	1794
Date completed	1798
Date closed	1931
Geography
Start point	Abercraf
End point	Swansea Docks
Branch(es)	4 short branches

Swansea Canal

Legend

					Tramways to Cribarth quarries
					Afon Tawe
					Gwaunclawdd Dock, Abercraf

				36	Cae'r Bont upper lock
				35	Cae'r Bont lower lock
					Mynydd y Drum tramway
					Cae'r Bont dock
				32-34	Ynys Uchaf locks (3)
				30-31	Ynys Isaf locks (2)
					Afon Giedd aqueduct
				29	Ystradgynlais lock
				25-28	Pen y Gorof locks (4)
					Claypon's Tramway Extension
					Ynyscedwyn Branch Canal
					Gurnos Wharf
					Afon Twrch aqueduct
				23-24	Gurnos locks (2)
					Tramway bridge
					Ystalyfera Iron and Tinplate Works
				21-22	locks (2)
					Feeder channel
				16-20	locks (5) (some remains)
				15	Godre'r-Graig lock
					End of narrowed section
				14	Cilmaengwyn Lock
					B4603 road
					Cwmdu aqueduct
				12-13	Ynysmeudwy Locks (2)
					Colliery tramroad
					Ynysmeudwy Branch
					Arthur Terrace bridge
					Herbert Street bridge
					Upper Clydach aqueduct

				10-11	Pontardawe locks (2)

				9	Trebanos Lock
					B4603 road
				8	Green Lock
					B4603 road

				7	Lock

				6	Mond Lock
					B4391 road
					Lower Clydach aqueduct

				5	Ynystawe lock
					Fendrod River
					West Wales Line
					Various industrial works
				3-4	Hafod Locks
				2	lock
					North Dock lock
				1	lock and North Dock Basin
					Swansea railway station
					Canal Wharfs
					Swansea North Dock
					North Dock entrance lock
					North Dock half tide basin

The Swansea Canal (Welsh: Camlas Abertawe) was a canal constructed by the Swansea Canal Navigation Company between 1794 and 1798, running for 16.5 miles (26.6 km) from Swansea to Hen Neuadd, Abercraf in South Wales. It was steeply graded, and 36 locks were needed to enable it to rise 373 feet (114 m) over its length. The main cargos were coal, iron and steel, and the enterprise was profitable.

Sold to the Great Western Railway in 1873, it continued to make a profit until 1895. A period of decline followed, with the last commercial traffic using the waterway in 1931. Subsequently, parts of it were closed and filled in under a succession of owners, but around 5 miles (8.0 km) remain in water. The Swansea Canal Society, formed in 1981, is actively involved in plans for its restoration.