Full Report for Listed Buildings
The list description is not intended to be a complete inventory of what is listed: it is principally intended to aid identification. By law, the definition of a listed building includes the entire building (i) and any structure or object that is fixed to the said building and ancillary to it and (ii) any other structure or object that forms part of the land and has done so since before 1 July 1948, and was within the curtilage of the building, and ancillary to it, on the date on which said building was first included in the list, or on 1 January 1969, whichever was later.
Summary Description
Reference Number
21114
Building Number
Grade
II
Status
Designated
Date of Designation
17/12/1998
Date of Amendment
17/12/1998
Name of Property
Ashford Tunnel S Portal (Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal)
Address
Location
Unitary Authority
Powys
Community
Talybont-on-Usk
Town
Locality
Llanddetti
Easting
312405
Northing
221449
Street Side
Location
Adjacent to the B4558, NE of Ashford Cottage.
Description
Broad Class
Transport
Period
History
Tunnel is 375yds (343m) long and is the only tunnel on the canal. The Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal was promoted in 1792 to connect the upper Usk valley with the Monmouthshire Canal at Pontymoile and from there to the sea at Newport. First section, between Gilwern and Talybont, was cut between 1797 and 1799, with upper section between Talybont and Brecon opened in 1800, both sections engineered by Thomas Dadford. Lower section between Gilwern and Pontymoile completed 1812 and engineered by William Crosley. Linked to tramroads, the canal was an important artery for trade in iron, lime and coal. In 1865 the Brecknock and Abergavenny and the Monmouthshire Canals merged to become the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, which was later incorporated into the Great Western Railway. Last toll was taken in 1933. Restoration of canal began 1964. Tunnel was re-opened after repair 1985.
Exterior
Small round arched portal of rubble sandstone with deep voussoirs and keystone, end piers, flat coping, no parapet. The canal narrows to single barge width at entrance. No towpath in tunnel, the boats were shafted through; path continues along top.
Interior
Reason for designation
Listed for the special interest of the Ashford Tunnel as one of the original engineered structures on the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal.
Group value with Ashford and Ashford Cottage.
Cadw : Full Report for Listed Buildings [ Records 1 of 1 ]
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