Pete’s
Montgomery Canal
Photo-site
Guilsfield Arm (Nature reserve) Section (9a)
This section is NOT navigable.
The Guilsfield Arm, which is in parts a nature reserve, branches off from the main line of the canal at a point just above the top lock at Burgedin.
Believed to have been constructed around 1797, the two and a quarter mile long, level arm, terminated well short of the village of Guilsfield at Tyddyn where there was a basin, wharfs and Navigation Inn.
It was originally built to carry lime, lead and slate. Later, cargoes of coal were carried to Tyddyn where in 1828, a coal wharf was known to exist.
The towpath is now pleasant to walk. New stiles and gates have been installed along the whole of the route between Burgedin and Tyddyn Basin .
The Guilsfield Arm leaves the main line of the canal to the right of the Top Lock at Burgedin.
The Burgedin Lock Cottage seen in the centre of the photo is now a British Waterways Office.
The Burgedin Lock Cottage seen in the centre of the photo is now a British Waterways Office.
Travelling along the arm you come to the first obstruction,
a pipe crossing the canal.
The canal then crosses the Guilsfield road.
At this point it has been filled in and piped under the road.
At this point it has been filled in and piped under the road.
At the North side of the crossing, the pipe, having passed under the road, is seen to enter the channel.
Leaving the blockage, the arm runs parallel to the road and clear patches of water are to be found.
Passing The Hollies, the canal is choked by reeds but the towpath is quite clear.
Approaching Deepcutting, clear water can once more be seen in the canal bed which has trees lining both banks.
Bridge Number 2 at Deepcutting, carries a road over the cutting which is up to 20 feet deep and over 600 foot long.
The far bank side is also walk-able with care and takes you up above the canal.
The far bank side is also walk-
Near Burgedin Hall. After climbing over a new stile from the road, the towpath is quite clear and water is to be seen in the canal bed.
Nearer to “Bridge”, the canal bed has become shallow with little or no water in it and is lined by trees growing on the towpath side.
At “Bridge”. The bridge passes
over another dry canal section.
A new stile allows access to the
tow-path.
over another dry canal section.
A new stile allows access to the
tow-
The next bridge that you come to,
has been concreted underneath.
A driveway now passes over the
bed of the canal. The footpath
follows the original tow-path
and passes under the bridge.
has been concreted underneath.
A driveway now passes over the
bed of the canal. The footpath
follows the original tow-
and passes under the bridge.
Between “Bridge” and Tyddyn,
shallow water is in the bed.
The towpath is quite passable.
shallow water is in the bed.
The towpath is quite passable.
Also between “Bridge” and
Tyddyn, a section of the canal
bed has stone sides.
This may have been a wharf
area for the limekilns at
Varchoel.
Tyddyn, a section of the canal
bed has stone sides.
This may have been a wharf
area for the limekilns at
Varchoel.
Lime Kiln at Varchoel.
This photo(courtesy, Sue Perry)
shows what remains of one of
the lime kilns at Varchoel
mentioned in the previous photo.
Unless you are aware of it, it is
quite easy to miss.
This photo(courtesy, Sue Perry)
shows what remains of one of
the lime kilns at Varchoel
mentioned in the previous photo.
Unless you are aware of it, it is
quite easy to miss.
At Tyddyn, the building seen to
the right of the photo was one
of two wharf buildings.
This area , now with trees
growing in it was Tyddyn Basin,
at the end of the Guilsfield Arm.
the right of the photo was one
of two wharf buildings.
This area , now with trees
growing in it was Tyddyn Basin,
at the end of the Guilsfield Arm.
View across Tyddyn Basin
looking north.
The building that you can see
were the wharf cottage and
behind it the Navigation Inn -
now private houses.
looking north.
The building that you can see
were the wharf cottage and
behind it the Navigation Inn -
now private houses.
Tyddyn Basin seen from the
field that was used to graze the
horses that pulled the boats.
field that was used to graze the
horses that pulled the boats.
In the field adjacent to Tyddyn
Basin, is evidence of the
Shropshire Union Canal
Company ownership.
Stone pillars used to tether the
canals horses after arriving at
the wharf.
Basin, is evidence of the
Shropshire Union Canal
Company ownership.
Stone pillars used to tether the
canals horses after arriving at
the wharf.
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