The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Smith Canal

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 01073.0w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : St Thomas
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS6635194722
Site Type (preferred type first) : POST MEDIEVAL Canal

Summary :
The canal is one of the earliest in Wales built in 1783. It passes under the works in a cut and cover tunnel, replacing earlier waggon ways.

Description :
White Rock was established in 1736. The whole site is traversed by Smith's Canal of 1783, which passes under the works in a cut and cover tunnel (1073W) with underground wharves behind the "Great Workhouse".

The canal was built by the coal-owner John Smith in 1783-5, to transport coal from his colliery in Llansamlet to the mouth of the River Tawe. It was a contour canal, three miles long. Two sections are still visible, near Llansamlet Church (between SS 6860 9768 and SS 6935 9788), and through the White Rock copperworks, where it runs partly above ground and partly in a tunnel behind the site of the Great Workhouse. The tunnel section had loading doors to the Great Workhouse.

Sources :
L. Toft , 1964 , Historic Photo Print Smith's Canal
Toft L A , 1990 , A4067/A4217 Cross Valley Link at Pentrechwyth ( © GGAT)
Toft L A , 1991 , A4067/A4217 and Cross Valley Link at Pentrechwyth, Report on Watching Brief. ( © GGAT)
01/map/OS/1882

Events :
E003883 : A4067/A4217 Cross Valley Link at Pentrechwyth (year : 1990)
E007045 : Swansea North Sub-Station, New Overhead Line (VE), Swansea (year : 2010-12)
E008448 : Land South of Samlet Road, Llansamlet, Swansea (year : 2021)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02641w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01046.0w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00841w - 00843w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00432w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01073.0w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00829w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01073w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02642w - 02653w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 02262.0w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 01585w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 10437w

Compiled date :


April 2, 2025, 12:08 pm - HTML file produced from GGAT HER Charitable Trust Ltd. Heathfield House, Heathfield, Swansea SA1 Tel. 01792 655208; Fax 01792 474469 website: www.ggat.org.uk  email: her@ggat.org.uk Registered Charity no. 505609
Data supplied by in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © GGAT HER Charitable Trust, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025).