Map showing canal in Brecon
Ordnance Survey map showing the canal in Brecon
Colour added for emphasis
Powys County Archives

Transport

The Canal in Brecon

The canal in Brecon, completed in 1800, was built in order to lower the price of coal and lime being transported to the town. However, by the end of the nineteenth century only one market boat from Newport was still using it. The railways effectively spelt the end of the commercial use of the canal, although it did continue to be used for recreation.


An outing on the Brecon canal
An outing on the Brecon canal
Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery

The census shows a few people involved with the canal - although one had retired.

1891 Census
4 Mount Street, Brecon
Name Position in
household
Marital
status
Age Occupation Place of Birth English/Welsh
speaker
Edwin Pornell Head M 49 Carpenter Monmouthshire Govilon English
Catherine Pornell Wife M 43   London Limehouse English
James Pornell Son S 21 Surveyor's assistant Brecon English
Thomas Pornell Father Wid 77 Retired boat builder Brecon Llanthew English

Another man who was still working on the canal was David Morgan:

1891 Census
19 John Street, Brecon
Name Position in
household
Marital
status
Age Occupation Place of Birth English/Welsh
speaker
David Morgan Head M 53 Canal boatman Breconshire Brecon Both
Elizabeth Morgan Wife M 56   Radnorshire Glasbury English
Mary A Lane Dau M 25   Breconshire Brecon English
Norah E Lane Grandaughter   4   Breconshire Brecon English

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