Crumlin Arm (Monmouthshire canal) facts for kids
The Crumlin Arm is a special part of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal system in South Wales. It was built a long time ago to connect the town of Crumlin and its old tramways to the busy Docks in Newport. This canal helped move goods like coal and iron from the mines to ships.
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History of the Crumlin Arm
The first part of the canal, from Crumlin to Abercarn, opened in March 1794. Two years later, almost the whole branch was open. The only part left to finish was the area with the Fourteen Locks. Finally, in April 1799, the people who owned the canal (called proprietors) announced that it was completely finished.
The Crumlin Arm was about 11 miles (18 km) long. It went uphill by 358 feet (109 meters) using 32 special water lifts called locks.
The Canal's Route
The canal started at a special turning area, or basin, in Crumlin. It then flowed through several villages like Newbridge, Abercarn, and Cwmcarn. Today, parts of the canal in this area are hidden under the A467 road.
The canal reached Cwmcarn lock, which is now covered by grass. It then crossed the Pontywaun aqueduct, which is like a bridge for water. After that, it followed the side of the mountain above Crosskeys and Risca. This part of the canal was the longest section without any locks until it reached the famous Fourteen Locks.
The canal then went down the Fourteen Locks and made a sharp turn along the hillside. Today, this part of the canal flows next to the M4 road. It then entered the city of Newport and went through the Barrack Hill tunnel. This tunnel is no longer used and is now a covered drain. The rest of the canal through Newport is hidden beneath modern roads and buildings. A main road called Kingsway now follows the old path of the canal to the area where the Old Town Docks used to be, near the Transporter Bridge.
Canal Locks
Locks are like water elevators that help boats move up or down hills. The Crumlin Arm had many locks along its route.
| Location | Number of locks |
|---|---|
| Allt-yr-yn | 5 |
| Cefn | 1 |
| Fourteen Locks | 14 |
| Cwmcarn | 1 |
| Abercarn | 7 |
| Newbridge area | 4 |
Originally, the locks were numbered starting from the top of the canal going down. So, Cwmcarn lock was number 12. Later, the GWR company changed the numbering system. They started numbering the locks from Newport up to Crumlin, and then up the main canal line to Brecon. Because of this, Cwmcarn lock became Lock 22. Lock 22 was located under the grassy area just past the end of the canal.
Going down from Cwmcarn lock, there was a long section without any locks until you reached the top of the Fourteen Locks. Going up from Cwmcarn, there was another section without locks until the Abercarn bottom lock, which was below the old Prince of Wales Colliery.
What the Canal Carried
Most of the goods carried on the Crumlin Arm were coal and iron. These were very important for industries in the area. Later, bricks from the Allt-yr-yn Brickworks were also transported, but in smaller amounts.
There was also a regular boat that carried general goods twice a week from Newport to Crumlin. This service was important for local traders, even though it didn't carry huge amounts of cargo.
Sometimes, the canal didn't have enough water. By 1829, a new tramroad (like a railway for horse-drawn wagons) was built from Beaufort to Newport. There were also tramroads from the big coal mines at Abercarn. This meant that the canal above Abercarn was used less often because goods could be moved by tramroad instead.
The boats used on the canal were about 64 feet 9 inches (19 meters) long and 9 feet 2 inches (2.8 meters) wide.
The Canal Today
Today, most of the Crumlin Arm is no longer used. The northern end is now covered by the A467 bypass road. About eight miles of the canal are still visible, but they are blocked by roads.
The National Cycle Route 47 follows the old towpath (the path next to the canal where horses used to pull boats) for seven miles (11 km). This path goes from Barrack Hill tunnel in Newport to Green Meadow Bridge in Crosskeys.
About 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of the canal, between Pontywaun Aqueduct (Pontywaun) and Darren Bridge (Risca), can still be used by small boats. There's a special ramp, called a slipway, at Pontywaun where small boats can be put into the water.
Future Plans
There are exciting plans to reopen parts of the canal. One plan is to make the canal usable again down to the Fourteen Locks and then all the way to central Newport. This project would involve building two new aqueducts, raising several roads, and rebuilding 20 locks.
There are also plans to build a marina (a small harbor for boats) at the Darran quarry in Risca. This marina might also include a transport museum. Other ideas include a new marina in Newport and connecting the canal to the River Usk. This connection would link the Crumlin Arm to the larger system of canals across the UK.
