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200th Anniversary of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal

@ Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal The Canal links Brecon to Newport

The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal is celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2012 and to commemorate its bicentennial year a wide range of activities and events are planned on and along the canal.

All the Canal Anniversary events and activities can be found on the Facebook page, so for up to date details and a full list of the calendar of events see website link If you have an event which you would like to include in the publicity or plans and ideas you wish to develop for the celebrations get in contact.

The Act of Parliament required to build the canal was obtained in March 1793 and it provided for the making of a navigable waterway from Brecon to Pontymoile, where it would join the Monmouth Canal which went to Newport. It also included permission for the building of several connecting tramways (horse-drawn railways). The canal was opened to Brecon on Christmas Eve 1800, thus connecting the town by water and tramways to Gilwern, Beaufort, Clydach, Glyngwerny and other surrounding industrial areas. Coal, limestone, timber and many other goods were brought up the canal to Brecon and goods were taken from Brecon down the canal included agricultural goods - hay, vegetables etc. - also woollen and leather goods. Brecon old Brewery shipped barrels of ale and porter (a dark brown malt liquor, a favourite drink with London Porters) down by boat to the industrial valleys. In March 1802 work started again at Gilwern and the canal was completed to Pontymoile in 1812, where it joined the flourishing Monmouth Canal, which ran to Newport (and the sea), with a branch going to Crumlin.

The year's celebrations were launched on Friday the 10th of February 2012 with the Ringing of the Bells, recreating the canal opening 200 years ago. Over 70 Church's along the canal rang their bells at 12 noon to mark this historic occasion.

For the Canal Anniversary, "Canalmans" is available from Tipple 'n' Tiffin at Brecon Canal Basin, The Three Horseshoes at Groesffordd, The Star Inn at Talybont, The Red Lion and The Coach & Horses at Llangynidr. The Canalmans is a variation on a Ploughman's but specially developed for the Canal Anniversary with the very tasty Canalman Cheese created by Bleanavon Cheddar. And don't forget to try the `Beacons to the Sea' beer developed especially for the Canal Anniversary by Buster at Brecon Brewing.

LIGHTING UP THE CANAL _______________________________ Lantern Celebration for the 200th anniversary of the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal SATURDAY 1 DECEMBER 2012, 5pm to 7pm At Theatr Brycheiniog and the Canal Basin, BRECON A fabulous project for the communities of Crickhowell, Llangattock, Llangynidr, Talybont on Usk, Pencelli, Llanfrynach and Brecon Join our FREE lantern making workshops Prizes for the best lanterns! Tuesday workshops in Brecon at the Gallery, Theatr Brycheiniog on Tuesday 13th November and Tuesday 20th November (6.30 to 9.30pm) or let us bring lantern-making workshops to your village or group! Ring for available dates Contact Justine Wheatley at Arts Alive Wales by Friday 12 October to book your date T: 01873 811579 e: Click to email Completion workshop on Friday 30 November 2012, 6.30 to 9.30pm at the Studio, Theatr Brycheiniog