Gilwern, The Canal c.1955

Photo ref: G246007

The bottom part of this secen now lies under the Heads of the Valley Road. This is taken before the ‘old’ road was built, showing open fields down to the canal bank and the former Navigation Inn. You can see the Congregational Chapel in the left hand corner. The Farm was demolished when the old Heads of the Valley was built, but there is a footpath across the fields to Ty Gwyn.

This is the view from Brunant Road, over Brunant Farm to Maesygwartha and Pantybeiliau. The Old Rectory just on the left edge.

Looking across the Clydach Gorge from Pant-y-Beiliau Farm, before the Heads of the Valley Road was built. Brunant Farm in the middle of the picture. My grandparents’ house is in the middle left. The railway line running clearly across the middle. I grew up in a new house built next to my grandparents, so it’s fascinating for me to see how things looked before I was born. The thing that strikes ...see more

The boats were owned by a Mr Goodin, he hired them out by the hour and people came from all the valleys to go on the canal. We as teenagers used to make some pocket money by rowing those that could not row up the canal. They were fun times. Now the scene has changed since those days, it is now narrow boats that are on the canal.