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
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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