IT WAS a busy end of year for the Shropshire Union Canal Society with work parties, success on the Montgomery Canal and ghostly discoveries on the cut.
A work party in December concentrated on hedge-laying at Crickheath, with volunteers putting in the final few hours of the year – taking the total for the society in 2024 to 5500.
Battling Storm Darragh, the group managed to complete some work. Project manager Tom Fulda said: “Hedge-laying continued towards Schoolhouse Bridge and another team planted hedging whips north of Crickheath Bridge. A further team undertook scrub clearance on the offside bank beyond Schoolhouse Bridge which enabled surveying to take place and levels established – a vital input to the design of this future section.”
He added that recent rain had started to fill restored sections of the canal and that water had now levelled up at Crickheath Tramway Wharf on the Montgomery Canal after a break of more than 90 years.
The Shropshire Union Canal Society has worked tirelessly with the restoration of the canal and recently lifted the top few stop planks that have held back the waters of the Montgomery Canal while work continued to let the last few inches flow in to bring it to a level not seen since around 1934.
Mr Fulda added: “The peace and serenity of the now full Crickheath wharf belies the feverish hours of work that so many volunteers put into arriving at this point, whether it’s those with muddy boots or those in the background making it possible. Only a couple of years ago you could hardly see where the canal was meant to be. It was brought in under budget and with time to spare on the schedule.
“The plan for 2025 is to drive forward towards the recently rebuilt Schoolhouse Bridge and close the Shropshire Gap a little more, encourage local businesses to share in the goodwill that restoration creates and launch a new and exciting relationship with Oswestry Town Museum that will bring the history of this area to life.”
The society has presented the museum with several articles including glassware from local businesses, ceramics and metalwork from both boats and the tramway which were found during the restoration of the Montgomery Canal. One of the finds at Crickheath Tramway Wharf was ironwork from a narrowboat, sunk long ago.
“It turns out that the sunken vessel was, almost certainly, the haunted ghost boat, Usk, which had seen the death of her skipper, George Benbow, in a terrible accident way back in 1887. From that day, boatmen refused to work on board, so she was left to sink at Crickheath. As we bring the waterway back to life, we are also uncovering long-forgotten artefacts which all tell a story and finding these stories will be fascinating – and rewarding.”
Mark Hignett, of Oswestry Town Museum, said: “We have been involved with a huge range of different projects and programmes over the years and we are very excited to get involved with researching the life and times of the local canals in more detail as I’m sure historical treasures will be found and will shine a light on a lost world.”Mr Fulda made a plea for more volunteers to help the society achieve its aims. If you want to know more, please visit: www.shropshireunion.org.uk
