Restoration and reminders of bygone days on the "Monty"

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Restoration and reminders of bygone days on the "Monty"

Saturday, 03 April 2010 20:00

Leaving the Weston Branch behind

We turned right under Lockgate Bridge 71

Why bridge number 71? The Montgomery Canal was once part of the Ellesmere Canal and built to transport limestone for agricultural purposes. Consequently, the bridge numbers continued from what is now the Llangollen Main Line. From Frankton Junction, the bridge numbers on the main line going towards Llangollen begin at 1 (although our Nicholson shows bridge 1 as bridge 70).

Graham Palmer Lock was constructed during the restoration of the Montgomery Canal. This shallow lock was necessary to compensate for the subsidence of the canal since construction two hundred years ago. It is named after the founder of the Waterways Recovery Group ("Wrgies") Graham Palmer who was an enthusiastic supporter of the restoration. There is a stone memorial beside the lock. It has seen better days as you can see from these photos.

May 2005 March 2010

Perry Aqueduct was another restoration project and the steel trough replaces the old stone aqueduct which had been demolished. Moorings either side of the aqueduct means a narrowboat crew can stop to have a good look at the aqueduct from below! (We'll hope to do that on the way back, weather permitting)

On Perry Aqueduct

A large breach (1936) on the east bank, just north of the aqueduct was the major factor in the closure and final demise of the Monty in 1944. Pete's Montgomery photos show the area before the restoration in the 90's - clickety click

The swing bridge (73) however was not restored. It was by the Woodhouse Estate belonging to one of the original members of the Ellesmere Canal Committee in the 1700s. Apparently the Rev. John Robert Lloyd had the canal diverted to pass Woodhouse (unauthorised), but it was subsequently restored to the planned route.

Looking back at site of old swing bridge

Rednal Basin was once a transhipment basin between canal and rail. The old Bone Works Arm that led to it housed a bone works for production of bone meal for agriculture. The towpath swing bridge at the entrance was still working when restoration took place.

Swing Bridge at entrance

After the Rail Bridge a very attractive "Monty" sight awaited us: Heath Houses. At the Packet Station and wharf (on the right, below) passengers used to "tranship" from the Shrewsbury and Chester Railway to and from the Newton Fly-boats.

Wharf, Packet Station and rail bridge

A closer look at the restored packet station shows the goods lifting arm still in place and photos of the restoration are once again on Pete's website - clickety click

Packet Station