AboutUs
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AboutUs
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| The Shropshire Union Canal Society was formed in 1966 to promote interest in the past, present and future of 158 miles of canal. This embraces the main line of the Shropshire Union Canal from Ellesmere Port to Autherley Junction, including the Middlewich Arm, and the Llangollen Canal. It also includes the Montgomery Canal and the line and remnants of the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal, both of which need significant restoration. These canals, which once formed the Shropshire Union system, are an essential part of our inland waterway network and we believe that they have tremendous social and economic value for the whole community. |
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Waterworld at Lockwind August 2003 |
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By 1968 it had become clear that the Montgomery Canal offered the most promising opportunity for full restoration. However, the current enthusiasm for heritage and for canal restoration was not in evidence in the late 1960s and early 1970s. But by the 1990s attitudes were changing and a new organisation - the Shrewsbury & Newport Canals Trust - was formed in the autumn of 2000 to promote the restoration of the Shrewsbury & Newport Canal. The Society has retained a link with the new Trust, which has a representative on our Council. The Society is a charity and is organised around a Council of trustees who meet regularly throughout the year. Individual members of the Council may have specific responsibilities or may help and support our activities where and when it is needed. News and events are communicated through our bi-monthly magazine - CUTTINGS – which is sent free of charge to all members. The Society's primary objective is to reopen the Montgomery Canal which was abandoned by Act of Parliament in 1944, and nationalised in 1948. In 1987 a further Act of Parliament was passed to enable a full restoration to be undertaken – the very first new Act for the reopening of a waterway. The Society’s volunteers have done a substantial amount of work towards the ultimate goal of reopening the Montgomery Canal to navigation. Working alongside WRG volunteers they initially restored Welshpool Town Lock, which was reopened in 1974. Then the two groups of volunteers started working on different projects. The Society’s volunteers concentrated on rebuilding a series of locks, and Pool Quay Locks were reopened in 1976, Carreghofa Locks in 1986, and Burgedin Locks in 1998. The Society then turned its attention to the Newtown end of the canal and Brynderwen Lock was reopened in 2002 after five years of restoration work. Next, the Society turned its attention to Newhouse Lock which, after virtually a full rebuild, was reopened by Lembit Opik in 2006. |
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Newhouse Lock in 2007 |
| The focus has now returned to the northern end of the Monty, with two projects currently under way. We have partly restored the limestone wharf at Crickheath and will return in due course to rebuild the winding hole and provide access, parking and interpretation features. |
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Working with the Society's digger at Crickheath |
| At present, we are working with British Waterways to restore the length between Redwith Bridge and Prices Bridge so as to extend the currently navigable northern length towards Crickheath and, eventually, Llanymynech. |
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At Redwith Bridge March 2008 |
| But we are not purely a restoration group. In conjunction with British Waterways we have provided a number of visitor mooring sites on each of the canals. Our ongoing enhancement programme has recently seen the extension of facilities, including additional picnic tables and barbecue stands, at the popular Coole Pilate leisure area. |
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Loaded workboat leaving Nantwich March 2008 |
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We seek to include all users of the canals, from the local resident walking a dog to the long distance hiker, and a high proportion of the seats along the towpaths have been sourced from the Society. We will consider any facility which will improve the canal amenities. By joining the Society, you can become part of a vibrant and active group and make a meaningful contribution, through your financial or physical help, to the wellbeing of our waterways. |
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The Annual Dinghy
Dawdle at Carreghofa Locks |
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