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Montgomery Canal

Buildings and structures in PowysCanals in ShropshireCanals in WalesCanals opened in 1797Canals opened in 1821
EngvarB from September 2013Geographic coordinate listsLists of coordinatesShropshire Union CanalSites of Special Scientific Interest in MontgomerySites of Special Scientific Interest in ShropshireTourist attractions in ShropshireTransport in Powys
Montgomery Canal sign
Montgomery Canal sign

The Montgomery Canal (Welsh: Camlas Trefaldwyn), known colloquially as "The Monty", is a partially restored canal in eastern Powys and northwest Shropshire. The canal runs 33 miles (53 km) from the Llangollen Canal at Frankton Junction to Newtown via Llanymynech and Welshpool and crosses the England–Wales border. Originally, the canal from Llanymynech to Newtown was known as the Montgomeryshire Canal. It was named after the county of Montgomeryshire that it ran through and it was divided into Western and Eastern branches which met at Garthmyl. 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 when they each became 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 Western and Eastern branches of the Montgomeryshire Canal and the Llanymynech Branch of the Ellesmere Canal together 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 Gronwen 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. Ongoing restoration work continues to expand the navigable sections.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Montgomery Canal (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 52.821 ° E -3 °
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Address

Oswestry Rural


, Oswestry Rural
England, United Kingdom
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Montgomery Canal sign
Montgomery Canal sign
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Nearby Places

Maesbury
Maesbury

Maesbury is a small scattered community in Shropshire, England, south of the town of Oswestry, falling within the Oswestry Rural parish. The name is derived from maes, meaning field or plain in Brythonic Welsh, and burh, meaning fort in Old English. Maesbury traditionally consists of five hamlets: Ball, Gwernybrenin, Newbridge, Maesbury and Maesbury Marsh, though the wider area now includes Ashfield, Aston and Woolston. Maesbury Marsh is at the southern end of the area. There is a public house here, located by the main road bridge over the Montgomery Canal, called The Navigation Inn. Local restoration of the Montgomery Canal has been completed and it connects with the Shropshire Union Canal/Ellesmere Canal further to the north east. Further restoration is taking place to the south west through Crickheath. There is a newly constructed nature reserve at Bridge 81, a lift bridge over a minor road, by Bridge House. There is another public house in Ball called The Original Ball on the road into Oswestry. In nearby Woolston is St Winifred's Well, which is believed to have been a resting place for monks travelling from Holywell to Shrewsbury Abbey with her body. A biennial canal festival is held in Maesbury. The local small primary school - Maesbury Primary School - located at Ashfield Close the school faced closure twice after over a 100 year history which also included deaths linked to TB in the 30's and closed its doors in 2013. The building reopened as a children's nursery after renovation in 2017. The Village is connected to the nearest town Oswestry via bus route which also connects to Shrewsbury.