News - The Montgomery Canal

24 June 20223 July 2022

Montgomery Canal and exciting plans for the future

Canal supporters, council representatives and others interested in the canal met at the Montgomery Canal Forum in Newtown on 20 June 2022.

Delayed by the pandemic, the Forum marked last year’s bicentenary of the final opening of the canal to trade in Newtown. While most of the engineering works had been completed earlier, it was not until 1821 that the final water supply and other arrangements were in place for the regular narrowboat trade which continued until the canal was suddenly closed in 1936 due to a breach in the bank at the northern end of the canal.

4 May 20224 May 2022

Help the Montgomery Canal keep its horse-drawn boat

The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust is appealing to horse-lovers and boat-lovers to come to the rescue of the Montgomery Canal’s popular horse-drawn boat based at Maesbury near Oswestry, Shropshire.

For seven years Cracker the boat-horse and his butty, the specially constructed Countess, have given rides to visitors from near and far, from local councillors and other dignitaries being encouraged to support the canal and its restoration to Sir Gareth Edwards and his wife filming on canals for their Great Welsh Adventure for the BBC.

4 April 20224 April 2022

Schoolhouse Bridge to be rebuilt in 2022

Timothy West and Prunella Scales, stars of Channel 4 TV series Great Canal Journeys, are supporting an appeal for the reconstruction of the Montgomery Canal’s Schoolhouse Bridge.

The latest appeal by the Restore the Montgomery Canal! team, made necessary by rising costs after the delays of Covid, will be boosted by a supporter who will once again match every £1 donated.

11 March 20224 April 2022

People’s Postcode Lottery funds trees

Over 1500 trees were planted by volunteer groups during the first week of March 2022.

The Canal and River Trust received funding from the People’s Postcode Lottery and commissioned Steven Lees from Land & Heritage consultants to work with volunteers in three areas on the Montgomery Canal.

19 February 202219 February 2022

Defra Minister visits Montgomery Canal

Minister Visits the Montgomery Canal 2022

Rebecca Pow, the Minister serving as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, recently made a visit to the wharf in Welshpool accompanied by Craig Williams MP.

Rebecca Pow was met by a delegation representing The Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, Canal & River Trust, Powys County Council, The Shropshire Union Canal Society, The Friends of the Montgomery Canal, The Heulwen Trust and TRAMPS as well as other relevant agencies.