camp report Montgomery A week’s unglamorous but vital preparation work ready for next year’s big project: the reinstatement of the important School House Bridge Camp report: School House Bridge, Montgomery Canal 14 - 21 August The canal camp accommodation was based at the Silver Band Hall in Porth-y-waen, with the work site at Schoolhouse Bridge in Crickheath. Schoolhouse Bridge is the last road crossing needing to be rebuilt before the Montgomery canal enters mid-Wales. The bridge reconstruction is being carried out by Montgomery Canal Reconstruction Ltd (MCRL), a company set Length: 35 miles Locks: 27 up specifically to rebuild Date closed: 1936 (breach south of Frankton), 1944 (legally abandoned) the bridge. The Canal Camp project: Preparation for rebuilding of School House The tasks for the Bridge hear Crickheath canal camp were in Llangollen Canal to Llangollen To Hurleston preparation for the reconWhy? Because the Frankton struction of the bridge demolished bridge forms the first major obstruction from March next year, and to navigation beyond the end of the navigable section Former consisted of building a at Gronwen and the length under restoration from Weston soakaway for Schoolhouse there to Crickheath Wharf. Arm Bridge Cottage (the existAston Locks ing soakaway will be Crickheath The wider picture: Reinstating Gronwen Bridge destroyed during the Pant School House Bridge will (navigable limit) construction of the new Llanymynech En not only clear the next bridge); installing drainW glan Carreghofa blockage and allow the ale d School House age across the entrance Locks s navigable lenght to be Bridge (to be to the temporary track(restored) extended, it is also the reinstated) way, which was built last last serious blockage Arddleen year and caused flooding before the Welsh border. Burgedin of the road; some placeGetting the canal open Locks ment of hardcore to 4 road blockages into Wales is likely to between Llanymynech extend the hardstanding and Arddleen in the compound; removal unlock possible Welsh funding for further restoration. It of brash cut down by improves the chances of WRG North West preputting together a package to pandemic; and the Welshpool reopen the more expensive preparation and repaintLlanymynech to Arddleen 12 mile isolated restored ing of the site welfare navigable length from section. This would link container. MCRL provided Arddleen through up with the 12-mile a 13 tonnre excavator Welshpool to Refail Berriew restored section and 6 tonne dumper for through Welshpool Refail the work. Garthmyl to Refail and open Covid restrictions 3 locks restored but up the possibility meant that the camp was several road blockages of carrying on to limited to 12 volunteers. remain south of Refail Newtown Aged between 17 and 75, they assembled from far and wide across the Final length into Newtown obstructed by Newtown sewer in canal bed, terminus basin built country at the Silver band on, possibility of diversion to new terminus Hall on Saturday. After the
fact file Montgomery
page 10
