Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/304

 produce of the country, and for importing coal, lime, timber, deals, groceries, and other commodities generally required in an agricultural district.

GLAMORGANSHIRE CANAL.
30 George III. Cap. 82, Royal Assent 9th June, 1790.

36 George III. Cap. 69, Royal Assent 26th April, 1796.

THIS navigation, which is sometimes called the Cardiff Canal, commences at a place called The Lower Layer, a mile and a half below the town of Cardiff, on the east side of the River Taff, and near its entrance into Penarth Harbour. Its course is directly north, passing on the east side of the town of Cardiff, and thence in a north-westwardly direction, parallel, with the Taff and by the city of Llandaff to near the junction of the Taff and Cynon. It crosses the Taff by an aqueduct, and within a short distance is joined by the Aberdare Canal. From hence its course is round the base of the Twyn Maur Hills, still keeping in the vale, but on the western side of the Taff, to its termination at the town of Merthyr Tidvile. The length is about twenty-five miles, with a total rise of about 611 feet. At its termination in the tideway of the River Taff, at Lower Layer, there is a sea-lock, with a floating-dock 16 feet deep, and capable of admitting ships of three hundred tons burthen. The line from Merthyr to Cardiff was opened in February, 1794.

Many railways extend from the several iron-works, mines and collieries which abound in this rich mineral district. The Cardiff and Merthyr Tidvile Railway takes a parallel course with the canal from Merthyr to the aqueduct, but on the opposite side of the river. There is also a railway from the mines near Glancayach, to this canal, a little below the above-mentioned aqueduct; and there is another railway of considerable extent, which commences at the collieries at Dinas Ucha, on the west bank of the River Rhondda Vawr, along which it continues to below its junction with the River Taff, near Forest Bridge.

The act of the 30th George III. is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from Merthyr Tidvile,