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Swansea Canal, photograph
William Walker with his barge and barge horse on the Swansea Canal, probably near Pantyffynon, about 1914. The barge is 65 feet long, nearly eight feet wide, and is fully loaded with over 20 tons of pitprops. Upright timbers have been positioned along the sides of the barge to increase the carrying capacity of the barge when carrying lightweight goods. The barge has just left a lock and is heading down the canal toward Pontardawe. William owned his own barge, as did his sons, and he took his horse home to his stable on Richardson Street Trebanos after each day's work. This is the only known photograph of a bargeman, and a working barge and horse on the Swansea Canal ever recorded and published.