There were celebrations as the final piece of work was completed on a section of the restoration of the Montgomery canal.

Cllr Martin Bennett was happy to be part of the “topping out” ceremony of the  Crickheath Tramway Wharf marking the completion of its restoration.

Cllr Bennett who was representing Oswestry Rural Parish Council expressed his thanks to all of those who took part in the restoration and said: "you've all done very well".

The canal being christened The canal being christened (Image: SUCS)

He congratulated all those involved with particular mention of the Association for Industrial Archaeology, the Shropshire Council Rural prosperity Fund and Oswestry RPC who all made grants to fund the project and the property owners who tolerated the upheaval at the bottom of their gardens.

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According to the Shropshire Union Canal Restoration has been "a long journey, involving the removal of full size trees, lifting the huge coping stones, rebuilding the drystone wall , making new copings to replace those beyond repair and finally resetting the copings precisely to ensure a level finish - all this while dodging lengthy periods of winter flooding".

“The wharf was once part of the raison d'etre of the Montgomery Canal as stone from Llanymynech Hill quarries was brought down by a tramway which ran along the top of the wharf wall,” said Project Manager Tom Fulda.

(Image: SUCS)

“From there it could be easily loaded into waiting narrowboats All this has been done by volunteers, supervised by expert wallers from the Dry Stone Walling Association.”

“Since the Montgomery Canal closed to traffic in 1936 , the stonework has crumbled and vegetation has compromised the integrity of the structure.”

Those in attendance 'christened' the Wharf with a drink of Navigation Pale Ale.

The society added it will “leave it for future generations to admire and learn about our industrial heritage , perhaps one day to find the Charles III 50p coin hidden in the structure as is traditional.”