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Montgomery Canal

The Montgomery Canal runs from the Llangollen Canal at Frankton Junction to its terminus at Newtown.

Map of the Montgomery Canal

Gronwen Wharf on the Montgomery Canal

Facts & Stats

35 miles

(56 km)

The total original length of the Montgomery Canal from Frankton to Newtown.

25 locks

1987

Year partially re-opened

The canal was partially re-opened after restoration efforts following a breach in 1936 and formal abandonment in 1944.

From Llangollen Canal to Newtown

The Montgomery Canal passes through some of the most beautiful countryside adjacent to a canal in the UK. ‘The Monty’, as it is often referred to, is currently under restoration with sections from Frankton Junction to Gronwyn Bridge, Maesbury (6.5 miles) and Ardleen (bridge 103 lowered) to Berriew (bridge 129 lowered) – a further 11.5 miles – currently navigable. The canal runs for 35 miles from Frankton Junction near Ellesmere in Shropshire to Newtown in Powys.

 

Montgomery Canal restoration

This Montgomery Canal, as we know it today, was constructed by three different canal companies; however, it closed initially after a burst in 1936. Full closure came in 1944. Restoration started with a ‘Big Dig’ in Welshpool in 1969. Since then, IWA has received considerable support and assistance, with volunteers from WRG and Shropshire Union Canal Society restoring many structures, including the locks at Frankton, Aston, Carreghofa, Burgeddin Brynderwen and Newhouse.

Following determined restoration efforts by the Inland Waterways Association and Shropshire Union Canal Society, the canal was the subject of the first new Act of Parliament for its reopening in 1987. Restoration is still continuing to this day, and, as a result, there is now a sufficient navigable stretch around Welshpool to see hire boats operating.

Work is also currently underway to remove the two serious blockages on the stretch of the canal between Crickheath and the one-mile navigable section straddling the Welsh border at Llanymynech.

With the Heritage Lottery Fund already supporting reopening the canal to Crickheath, the project is helping to extend navigation by another couple of miles further into Wales. As well as opening up significant lengths of the canal to navigation and reaching the landmark of the Welsh border, this work is also helping to narrow the gap to the 12-mile isolated restored Welsh section. This section runs from Arddleen through Welshpool to Refail. When connected, over two-thirds of the canal will be continuously open and thus increasing the momentum to carry on through to Newtown.

As well as having one of the best collections of listed locks, bridges and other canal-age structures, the canal is of considerable ecological interest, which is an integral part of the restoration: IWA contributed to the original nature reserve at Aston Locks, created by WRG in 1995 as their largest such project to that date, thus allowing the opening of the restored canal to Maesbury.

Restoration has strong support on both sides of the border, mainly due to the considerable contribution made by volunteers over many years in work parties and with professional engineering, construction and other skills. A substantial bequest from a local member enabled IWA to fund the Aston reserve. IWA is assisting the Schoolhouse Bridge project with a significant grant from the Tony Harrison Legacy fund. In addition, the IWA’s local branch is also an active member of the team running the Restore the Montgomery Canal Appeal.

The restoration efforts are promoted by a partnership led by Canal & River Trust and includes local authorities, heritage and wildlife groups, Montgomery Waterway Restoration Trust, IWA and Shropshire Union Canal Society. The Restoration Trust also has a subsidiary, Friends of the Montgomery Canal, which promotes support along the line of the canal: The Friends organise the popular Montgomery Canal Triathlon each year, bringing visitors and raising funds for the restoration.

In the autumn of 2016, the restoration won a £2.53million award from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards a £4.2million plan building on the Montgomery’s ecology, built heritage and communities that include extending navigation from Gronwen Bridge to Crickheath. In addition, plans are well advanced to restore Schoolhouse Bridge, the last remaining road blockage in Shropshire, which will help the canal to reach the Welsh border at Llanymynech.

In 2021, the UK Government awarded £16million of Levelling Up funding to support the restoration of the Montgomery Canal. The funding will be used to progress the restoration of navigation to a 4.4-mile section from the Wales-England border at Llanymynech to Arddleen.

Waterway notes

Maximum boat sizes

  • Length: 73′ 10″ (22.51 metres) – Frankton Locks
  • Beam: 7′ 0″ (2.13 metres) – Frankton Locks
  • Height: 7′ 0″ (2.13 metres)
  • Draught: 3′ 11″ (1.2 metres) – cill of Frankton Locks

Navigation authority

Canal & River Trust

Useful Info

Passage through Frankton Locks has to be booked with Canal & River Trust in advance (48 hours notice in the winter).

Aston Nature Reserve, Montgomery Canal

Work to bring the Montgomery Canal back into use as a navigation must also protect habitats.

Funding of Canal & River Trust waterways

IWA was instrumental in Canal & River Trust receiving a sufficient funding package from Government when the new charity was set up in 2012 to run the waterways previously managed by British Waterways.

Sustainable Boating

We want boating on canals and rivers to be more sustainable and – even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions is very small – we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.

Restoration II

Over the last 75 years – since IWA was formed – more than 500 miles of waterway have been restored. This includes the Kennet & Avon Canal, the Rochdale Canal, the Warwickshire Avon, the Peak Forest Canal, Ashton Canal, the southern Stratford-upon-Avon Canal, the Basingstoke Canal, the Droitwich Canals, the Pocklington Canal, the Huddersfield Narrow Canal, much of the Great Ouse, the Droitwich Canals and main route through the Middle Level via Well Creek, and many other besides.

Waterway news

Waterway underfunding

Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.

Sustainable Boating

We want boating on canals and rivers to be more sustainable and – even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions is very small – we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.

Waterways Heritage at Risk

Britain’s canals and rivers are a unique, living heritage. But that heritage is at risk – from urban development, lack of protection, loss of skills and knowledge and climate change.

You can help Save Waterways Heritage.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.

Local activities