Pontymoile Basin

Pontymoile Basin is a mooring point and canal junction on the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal.

Location

The basin lies on the Pontypool stretch of the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in the Pontypool suburb of Pontymoile in the historical county of Monmouthshire in south east Wales, now part of Torfaen.

History

Originally a toll point, the canal narrows significantly as it approaches the basin. There is an old tollhouse on the bank called Junction Cottage, built in 1814. The basin itself is a large expanse of water adjacent to the canal. It is used for turning narrowboats and filling up with water.

Pontmoile Basin was the site of the junction with the 3 mile Monmouthshire Canal to Pontnewynydd, containing 11 locks. This spur was fed from tramways carrying coal and iron down the valley. The junction was enacted in 1797 and completed in 1812. [Eastern Valley: The Story of Torfaen. Chris Barber. Blorenge Books. ISBN 1-872730-23-X] The spur was problematic due to water supply issues, and it was overtaken by rail when the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company drained it and reused the bed for their railway line in 1854, though it had seen decline prior to that date. Today traces of both canal and railway have disappeared under the reshaped A472 road.

Visitor attraction

Today the basin is something of a visitor attraction. Narrow boats and cruisers can be seen along the private stretch of moorings and day boat hire was introduced in 2007. The boats can be hired for full days or half days. There is a small café which was itself formerly a canal boat. There is a picnic area and several amenities (toilets, car park, etc.) that one would expect for such a place.

The basin is located just five minutes' walk away from Pontypool Park and is a handy stopping point for boats en route to Goetre Wharf.

References