Bow Knife 5

The Bow Knife - 5

Newsletter of the ‘Duchess Countess’ Packet-boat Trust

Extracts from the Winter 2005 edition

First Season of Business—a Success

So much activity had not been seen at Llanymynech Wharf for many a year as there was over the second weekend in May. On 6th May the Llanymynech Wharf Visitor Centre was opened and the ‘George Watson Buck’ officially named by Owen Paterson, MP for North Shropshire, in the presence of invited guests.

The following day the Centre was open all day. ‘GWB’ was tied up at the Wharf and the public were invited aboard to inspect. Favourable comments were expressed. The volunteers in the Centre did a brisk trade in refreshments and souvenirs as did the organisations running stalls outside. Llanymynech WI baked cakes and helped over the weekend.

This was certainly a good start to our first season. From then until the end of September the Centre was open and manned by volunteers each Sunday afternoon as well as Saturday afternoons during July and August. In spite of the weather not being at its best on many of the days, the number of visitors was encouraging, as were the sales of refreshments and souvenirs.

The success of the 2004 season has been entirely due to the unstinting enthusiasm of 30 plus volunteers, most of whom have been involved in running the Centre and offering a warm welcome to our visitors, talking about the canal and heritage area — and introducing our ultimate goal to re-create the Packet-boat ‘Duchess Countess’.

Restoration at last!

At long last the A483 bridge over the canal at Llanymynech is being strengthened. The timber supports are being removed and a new deck and parapets built. Subject to permission from the authorities, this will enable navigation through the bridge into the SSSI area.

Whilst this work is underway and the canal is drained, a Waterways Recovery Group is rebuilding the stone wall on the towpath side opposite to the Wharf and Visitor Centre, which were restored towards the end of last year and during the early months of 2006.

At the time of writing, all is on schedule for the trip boat ‘George Watson Buck’ to start operating along the short length of canal east of Llanymynech road bridge. Passengers will embark and disembark at the Wharf. Look out for Water World on Midland ITV 1 during January-March.

A short length of the Montgomery Canal is scheduled to be opened over the weekend of 6th May from Llanymynech Wharf eastwards for 600 metres. Winding Holes are to be built at the east end just short of the Pant dry section and it is hoped the second will be just after the re-built A483 road bridge, in Wales.

On the same weekend ‘George Watson Buck’ will be offering trips from the Wharf. This she will continue to do on Sunday and Bank Holiday afternoons as demand dictates. As with the Llanymynech Wharf Visitor Centre (re-opening at Easter) the ‘George Watson Buck’ will be operated and managed by the Packet-boat ‘Duchess Countess’ Trust. The boat and visitor centre will be available for private groups and school parties throughout the week by prior booking.

The Big Beginning

The introduction of the trip boat fully establishes our commitment to the community and tourism in the Llanymynech, Pant and Carreghofa area, it will also enable us to generate some of the match funding for our major objective to re-create the Packet-boat ‘Duchess Countess’. The new ‘Duchess Countess’ “home port” will be Llanymynech, providing an educational and tourist facility. She will also travel further afield from time to time to special events.

Half a Million!

The Llanymynech Heritage Area, which contains one of three historic Hoffmann Kilns remaining in the British Isles, and the only one with a chimney, has secured a £500,000 Lottery grant for renovation and interpretation. The kiln, built in 1898 was the centre of the extensive local lime industry for around a decade.

This unusual kiln, when restored, will increase the attraction of Llanymynech’s industrial history and, together with the canal visitor centre and canal packet boat ‘Duchess Countess’, should combine to draw visitors into the area. When, eventually, the canal re-opens to Llanymynech they should together contribute much to local economic prosperity.