Plaque Honour For Canal Pioneer Thomas Dadford Jr

The name Thomas Dadford Jr. may not be on everyone’s lips, but you will surely have heard of him if you move in engineering circles. The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Wales Cymru, together with the Monmouthshire Brecon and Abergavenny Canals Trust and the Fourteen Locks Canals Trust, obviously think highly enough of him that they have unveiled a plaque in his honour. He is seen as the man who revolutionised the science of canal building, and once the facts are examined, it is hard to argue with that assertion.

A recent ceremony resulted in a panel being unveiled  near the Fourteen Locks Canal Centre, which is by Rogerstone, Newport,  followed by a rededication ceremony of his grave at St Teilo's Church in Llanarth. So what is there to learn about the man himself?

Thomas Dadford masterminded canals across Britain

Let’s start off with the fact that Dadford masterminded the construction of the Monmouthshire and Brecknock and Abergavenny canals, neither of these being built through the easiest of terrain, as witnessed by the massive embankment carrying the canal over the river Clydach at Gilwern.

Dadford lived from 1760 - 1801 and is buried near Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. He was born in Wolverhampton, and started his high profile engineering career aged just 16. He was appointed engineer of the Monmouthshire canal in 1792, at the age of just 32. This canal includes the flight of 14 locks and a four-arch aqueduct over the river Usk. Three years later,  in 1795, he commenced work on the Brecknock and Abergavenny canal, which included the canal over the river Clydach at Gilwern, as previously mentioned.
Geoff Ogden, chairman of ICE Wales Cymru, said: "We are recognising one of the early canal pioneers whose expertise revolutionised the science of civil engineering."

The original Monmouthshire canal was authorised by Parliament in 1792 and ceased being used as a commercial waterway in 1930. However, because of the canal's historical importance,  it is now protected by Welsh historical environment body Cadw, being recognised  as an ancient monument. Upon his death in 1801, Thomas Dadford Jr. was buried in Abergavenny.