Traffic Jam, Monmouthshire-Brecon Canal, Crown Bridge, Sebastopol, Pontypool 5 September 2020
A convoy of boats on their way to Bridge 46 (Bevan’s Lane) in a protest to the council about the state of the canal below Bridge 46, to Five Locks, Pontnewydd. Despite dredging earlier this year, this stretch has become choked with weed, and unnavigable. From Bridge 47 to Five Locks, maintenance of the canal falls to Torfaen County Borough Council. Unfortunately, the lead boat, the “Widget” fouled her prop on some wire discarded in the canal, blocking the procession while attempts were made to clear it.
It reminded me of the urban myth of how Sebastopol got its name; the story went that bargees would get “tanked up” at the Crown pub here, then fight each other for precedence through the bridge. On one occasion, a veteran of the Crimean War exclaimed he had not seen such fighting since he was at Sebastopol. The truth is of course, that it was merely named in honour of the famous battle.
Traffic Jam, Monmouthshire-Brecon Canal, Crown Bridge, Sebastopol, Pontypool 5 September 2020
A convoy of boats on their way to Bridge 46 (Bevan’s Lane) in a protest to the council about the state of the canal below Bridge 46, to Five Locks, Pontnewydd. Despite dredging earlier this year, this stretch has become choked with weed, and unnavigable. From Bridge 47 to Five Locks, maintenance of the canal falls to Torfaen County Borough Council. Unfortunately, the lead boat, the “Widget” fouled her prop on some wire discarded in the canal, blocking the procession while attempts were made to clear it.
It reminded me of the urban myth of how Sebastopol got its name; the story went that bargees would get “tanked up” at the Crown pub here, then fight each other for precedence through the bridge. On one occasion, a veteran of the Crimean War exclaimed he had not seen such fighting since he was at Sebastopol. The truth is of course, that it was merely named in honour of the famous battle.