Coed y Cwrt

The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal (popularly referred to as the Mon & Brec) was originally two separate canals: the Brecknock & Abergavenny Canal, and the Monmouthshire Canal. The 35-mile navigable section seen today is mostly the former. Following discussions in the 1790s, it was decided to link the two canals at Pontymoile. The Monmouthshire Canal, including a branch from Malpas to Crumlin, was opened in 1799 with the Brecknock & Abergavenny extending from Brecon to Gilwern by 1800, finally reaching Pontymoile by 1812. Though originally constructed to transport coal, lime and agricultural products the canal was used extensively by ironmasters and industrialists as their main transport network, bringing the raw iron ore up the canal from Newport to Llanfoist Wharf and thence by tramroads to the iron works and returning with trams loaded with iron, the finished product. In 1880 the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canals were taken over by the Great Western Railway. Within 35 years, commercial carrying had all but ceased. Throughout the 20th century various parts of the Monmouthshire Canal were filled in for road construction. Both canals were abandoned by the early 1960s but restoration work from Brecon to Pontymoile began in 1968 following vigorous campaigning by canal enthusiasts. Recent developments have included a complete regeneration of the terminus at Brecon, and various works continue to reclaim the navigation between Pontymoile and Newport. The Blaenavon area and a section of the canal were granted World Heritage status in 2000 in recognition of its historical significance. Link Canal and River Trust

Bridge no. 10 on disused section of Crumlin Arm.

Path on north side of canal, Crumlin Arm, from minor road to Pontymister Lane.

Continuation of canal side path ST2589 : Path by canal east of Harry Roberts Bridge.

Disused section of Crumlin Arm.

Elliptical stone arch bridge - no. 10 on Crumlin Arm.

Over the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal.

A short row of houses adjacent to a sawmill. The houses and sawmill are at the end of a steep 65 metre ascent Link from Herbert Avenue.

This is the southern side of T.G. Howell & Sons Ltd sawmills, located at the top of Clifton Street.Link

Pontymason Lane passes from Rogerstone in the City of Newport into Caerphilly County Borough.

The 40mph speed limit along a rural section of Pontymason Lane decreases to 30mph on the approach to a residential area.

A narrow road descends from Pontymason Lane towards the B4591. Signs on the right show No track laying vehicles and a 4 tonnes axle weight limit 200 yards ahead (across a canal bridge). It is a curious feature of British road speed limits that the much wider Pontymason Lane in the foreground has a 30mph speed limit whereas this narrow road, little more than the width of a car, has a speed limit for most vehicles of 60mph...

The bridge over the disused Monmouthshire and Brecon canal (Crumlin Arm) was built in the 1790s, Grade II listed in 1999. It carries a narrow road between Pontymason Lane and the B4591.

The bridge over the disused Monmouthshire and Brecon canal (Crumlin Arm) was built in the 1790s, Grade II listed in 1999. It carries a narrow road between Pontymason Lane and the B4591.

Alongside a narrow road from Pontymason Lane to the B4591, a white pole on the left marks the location of a gas pipeline under the road. The pole shows the phone number to ring before excavating.