Pete's MONTGOMERY CANAL PHOTO-SITE Maesbury to Redwith (Restoration)(Section4a)

Maesbury Marsh to Redwith (Section4a ).
2001 Restoration section. A new updated page is also on line.

Maesbury Wharf.
This was the home of Maesbury Wharf Cruises.
The site you can see in the photo is the site of a canal warehouse that was destroyed by fire in 1968. One of the two wharf cranes was preserved and can be seen in the landscaped area beside the moored boats.

Leaving Maesbury Wharf and heading in the direction of Newtown.
You will find the towpath in good condition but it can be muddy at times of heavy rain.
There is a weed problem in the channel itself as is evident from the photo.

Spiket's or Spiggots Bridge.
(Bridge number 80).
Crossed by a minor road that then doubles back and re-crosses the canal at the Mill Arm.
This short section of the canal is in a good state of repair. No dredging is required as there is a good depth in the channel and no real weed problem.

The open countryside before you reach Mill Arm makes pleasant viewing but weed, especially the duckweed, in the cut itself detracts from the overall picture.

Further along this attractive area, trees line either bank before we reach the next obstacle to the restoration. Namely, the dropped Cofts Mill or Mill Arm Bridge (number 81).

This is a view of the Eastern side of the dropped Crofts Mill Bridge (Bridge number 81) that is adjacent to the mill arm.
A new lift bridge has been constructed and is to be installed in place of this dropped bridge when the next phase of the restoration (expected to begin in November 2000) is under way.

On the western side of the dropped Crofts Mill Bridge (Bridge number 81) you will find the entrance to the Mill Arm (to the left of the photo).
The blockage is immediately in line with the towpath as you view it from this point.

Looking up the Mill Arm towards Peate's Maesbury Hall Mill.
Up to the early 1930's, A & A Peate Ltd ran a fleet of boats carrying corn from and to the mill and also several boats carrying coal for the mill's boilers. One of the boats in this fleet was "Cressy" of L.T.C.Rolt's "Narrowboat" fame.
Originally, the arm ran right into the mill but has now been built over. Note the dense covering of duckweed choking the canal at this point.

A short distance past the mill arm we come to the site of the Gronwen Wharf where the Gronwen Colliery or Morda Tramway used to terminate.
As you can see from the photo, the canal at this point is completely choked by reed growth but is in water and is quite deep.

Gronwen Bridge. (Bridge number 82).

This is the start of the dry section.
A brick wall has been built across the canal under the bridge as a barrier to retain the water in the section fed by the Morda Brook.

The dry section after leaving the Gronwen is in remarkably good condition. The towpath is a little uneven in places but is quite passable on foot.
This photo shows you the pronounced profile of the canal channel.

As you continue along the track of the dry section, past arable land, the path is still passable with ease contrary to how it may appear in the photo's.

Morton Farm.
The canal bends to the left at this point before travelling for a short distance parallel to a minor road heading towards Redwith.

Redwith.

At Redwith, the B4396 Llynclys to Knockin road passes over the blockage formed by the dropped Redwith Bridge (Number 83).
A new bridge is to be constructed and the road lifted as part of the planned restoration work now due to commence in November 2000.

On the western side of the dropped bridge number 83, by Redwith Cottage, the dry canal bed is masked by scrub and willow.
It is just possible to trace the site of a small wharf that existed here.

This is the limit for the year 2001 Maesbury to Redwith restoration.