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M.W.R.T. “Friends”.- |
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Join the “Friends” and read the full Newsletter each quarter.
BACK TO MONTGOMERY CANAL HOMEPAGE.
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Extract from Newsletter No.33. Summer 2010.
Page 20 Friends of the Montgomery Canal
25th Annual Dinghy Dawdle.
The boaters were welcomed by organiser Terry Wain and Derrick and Mary Awcock,who started this event some 25 years ago. The Dawdlers were then sent on their way by the new Conservative MP for Montgomery, Glyn Davies.
Starting at 10.30 am, the Dawdle’s 25th Anniversary attracted a record number of visitors with more than 70 craft of various shapes and sizes including canoes, coracles and inflatable boats together with their crews and accompanying walkers. This years entrants entered the water , or at least their boats did, at Berriew Aqueduct heading north and east for their lunch stop at Belan Locks. With beautiful weather, at least at the start of the dawdle, a stark contrast to last years punishment , the entrants had an enjoyable paddle, over Berriew Aqueduct before passing through Berriew Lock, crossing the Luggy Aqueduct and locking through Brithdir. The long run from here to Belan passes beneath the Wernllwyd Bridge, Chapel Bridge and Sweeps Bridge. Lunch at Belan Locks and then through the top and bottom locks with Belan Bridge in between and on through Whitehouse Bridge beneath the A483 with Powys Castle in the background to a rather wet finish at Welshpool. Commemorative plaques were presentedto boaters by the Mayor of Welshpool Cllr. Estelle Bleivas assisted by Derrick and Mary Awcock, with a special mounted plaque awarded to Derrick and Mary for their services to the Dawdle through SUCS over the years.
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Extract from Newsletter No.32. Spring 2010.
Page 21 Friends of the Montgomery Canal
St. David’s Day Walk.
The St David’s day walk, was held on the last day of February rather than the first of March, as usual, well supported with 28 folk of all ages joining in. Most of the group topped off the morning with lunch at the Talbot Hotel, Berriew. We followed the Berriew to Brithdir circular walk route described in the B.W. Explorer Trail booklet and enjoyed good weather, the sun appearing to keep us company in defiance of the forecast of heavy rain.
This walk provides lots of good views as the route across across the fields follows some high ground. Plenty of photo opportunities appear as well, with the swan sculpture board at Brithdir Lock looking particularly impressive with real swans there to admire it to!
Our thanks to Christine Palin and Freda Davies for the walk organisation and to the Talbot ata Berriew for a good lunch and their sponsorship of the month of April in the Montgomery Canal Calendar for 2010. |
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Extract from Newsletter No.31. Winter 2009.
Page 12 Friends of the Montgomery Canal Friends Winter Walk Our Winter Walk was held on 14th November and was led by local historian David Pug h.15 intrepid walkers met at the Waggon and Horses in Llanllwchaiarn (as Newtown is south of the river and Llanllwchaiarn north) on a very wet and windy morning, rugged up to the hilt and for whatever the elements could throw at us. His introduction, told us about the purpose of this agricultural canal and the woollen industry it served and David set off pointing out the canal origins of the buildings that we passed; the remains of the perimeter of the canal basin, the Cambrian Woollen Mill , sites of the wharves, dropped bridges and buildings with canal connections. Underneath a bungalow, built in the 1800’s by the Infirmary for an injured soldier like the remains of lime kilns which the canal served. We followed the flood bank down on to the towpath which is also now part of the national
cycle network This took us past The former pumping station (now a private residence),
past two derelict locks, Port Lock (otherwise known as Rock Lock) and Dolfor Lock,
before coming to Freestone Lock , which has two semi- This was the furthest point of our walk and we made our return journey through the nature reserve which evolved from the closure of the old sewage works that served the Newtown area. At our starting point, David was excited to see that the ground in. front of the lime kilns had been cleared by the landowner and that the kiln entrances are now visible for the first time in many years. The stone wall on either side of the kilns Is also in relatively good condition and the owner is keen to restore it and retain the kilns as a feature in his future plans. Our grateful thanks must go to David Pugh not only for turning out on such an awful day but for being so informative and making the walk so interesting. CP.
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Extract from Newsletter No.30. Autumn 2009.
Page 20 Friends of the Montgomery Canal
Welshpool's Big Dig 40th Anniversary Celebrations The Friends of the Montgomery Canal are organising celebrations in Welshpool for the 40th anniversary of the 'Big Dig' (originally known as the 'Welshpool Weekend'). In 1969, the canal was threatened by oblivion under the proposed Welshpool bypass
route and so, after much planning, 200- The celebrations in Welshpool will be from 1pm till 4pm on Saturday 17th October
and are planned to include a gathering of boats at the Town Wharf, where stalls and
children's activities are also planned, the VIP unveiling of a plaque at the Town
Lock followed by a procession of boats, small and large led by the Mayor of Welshpool
in a cruiser. This will be a re- Boats of all descriptions are expected to be there, from visiting trailable steamboats
and a caraboat to the local 'landlocked' cruisers, horsedrawn boat, steam launch
and narrowboats - ME |