Kymer's Canal
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Visit websiteThomas Kymer began mining at Pwll y Llygod and Great Forest (near Carway) in 1760, and sought Parliamentary approval to construct a canal at his own expense in early 1766. The Act of Parliament was granted on 19 February 1766. The canal was to run from his coal pits at Pwll y Llygod on the banks of the Gwendraeth Fawr river to Ythyn Frenig, about half a mile to the west of Kidwelly, where he built a dock on the southern bank of the Gwendraeth Fach river. The Act included powers to divert the course of the Gwendraeth Fawr from Pwll y Llygod to Pont Spwdwr, where the Kidwelly to Llanelli turnpike road crossed the river. The canal was built and operational by May 1768. As built, the canal was about 4.9km (3 m.) long. From the wharf, a tramway crossed the Gwendraeth Fawr to connect with the coal pits.
The canal served the mines well for almost 30 years. However, the dock and river were affected by silting. A new channel across the sands was created in 1797, but this too was affected by silting and by 1809 navigation to Kymer's Dock was becoming dangerous.
A series of meetings took place in 1811, to consider how the situation could be improved. Two engineers, Edward Martin and David Davies, proposed an extension of the canal to the top of the Gwendraeth valley, with another across Pinged Marsh which would terminate at Llanelli, passing through Pembrey, in addition to improving access to the harbour. This was adopted, and an Act of Parliament passed on 20 June 1812 created The Kidwelly and Llanelli Canal and Tramroad Company.
There are two scheduled Ancient Monuments on Kymer's canal, one a stone tramroad bridge over the Gwendraeth River, and the other Glastony aqueduct crossing the same river with six low arches.
By road: The Kidwelly Industrial Museum is a short distance off the A484.
The aqueduct and bridge are off the B4317, but the help of a local map is recommended.
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