Page:Rivers, Canals, Railways of Great Britain.djvu/633



SWANSEA CANAL.
34 George III. Cap. 109, Royal Assent 23rd May, 1794.

THIS canal commences in Swansea Harbour, at the mouth of the Tawe River, and running in a direction a little to the eastward of north, and parallel with the River Tawe, passes Landoor, the copper-works of J. Morris, Esq, at Morris Town; afterwards crossing the small River Twrch, it terminates at Pen Tawe, and from whence is continued a railway to the lime-works at Hen-Noyadd, in the parish of Ystradgunlais, in the county of Brecon. There are two railways branching from this canal, each about two miles in length; one near Ynis Tawe, to coal mines, and the other to coal mines and lime-works near Bryan Morgan.

The length of this canal is about seventeen miles, of which a portion, one mile and a half in length, between Landoor Brook and Morris Town, (called Morris's Canal) through the estate of the Duke of Beaufort, was constructed by that nobleman, who receives the tolls thereof. From Swansea to opposite Pont-ar-Tawe, a distance of about eight miles and a quarter, is a rise of 105 feet; from thence to Pont Gwaynclawdd, eight miles further, it rises 237 feet; and there is a rise of 31 feet in the remaining three quarters of a mile, making a rise in the whole distance of 373 feet.

The act of parliament, under authority of which this undertaking was completed, is entitled, 'An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal, from the town of Swansea, in the county of Glamorgan, into the parish of Ystradgunlais, in the county of Brecon.' It incorporates the subscribers by the name of "The Company of Proprietors of the Swansea Canal;" empowers them to raise £60,000 in shares of £100 each, and, if necessary, a further sum of £30,000; and authorizes them to take the following