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
Brecknock Museum & Art Gallery

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

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

Advert from Sutton's Directory.
Powys County Archives