The Grace Darling - Swansea Canal Song
by Robert Blackford (2022)
In 1918 as the guns were ablaze,
A vessel was built to work in this place
Of coal mines and copper and rolling tinplate
The barge was a darling and her name was Grace
Chorus :
The old tow boat, the old tow boat
Bill Barnes was the owner and Ginny his horse
Together they ferried the barge on its course
From Clydach to Glais, from village to town
They carried the men to melt copper down
Chorus
As profits were made and as Grace worked the cut
The world was evolving and change was afoot
The canal was abandoned, as factories shut
Replaced by the railways, they filled in the cut
Chorus
Today Bill and Ginny are no longer here
A century later we still hold them dear
We sing of their tale and have painted a wall
So folk here in Swansea remember them all
Chorus
The old tow boat
This song was written by Robert Blackford for the 225th Anniversary of the Swansea Canal in 2023.
“The Swansea Canal was a canal constructed by the Swansea Canal Navigation Company between 1794 and 1798,
running for 16.5 miles (26.6 km) from Swansea to Hen Neuadd, Abercraf in South Wales. It was steeply graded, and 36
locks were needed to enable it to rise 373 feet (114 m) over its length. The main cargoes were coal, iron and steel,
and the enterprise was profitable.
Sold to the Great Western Railway in 1873, it continued to make a profit until 1895. A period of decline followed,
with the last commercial traffic using the waterway in 1931. Subsequently, parts of it were closed and filled in under
a succession of owners, but around 5 miles (8.0 km) remain in water. The Swansea Canal Society, formed in 1981, is
actively involved in plans for its restoration.” - Wikipedia
The Grace Darling - Swansea Canal Song
by Robert Blackford (2022)
In 1918 as the guns were ablaze,
A vessel was built to work in this place
Of coal mines and copper and rolling tinplate.
The barge was a darling and her name was Grace.
Chorus :
The old tow boat, the old tow boat
Bill Barnes was the owner and Ginny his horse
Together they ferried the barge on its course
From Clydach to Glais, from village to town
They carried the men to melt copper down
Chorus
As profits were made and as Grace worked the cut
The world was evolving and change was afoot
The canal was abandoned, as factories shut
Replaced by the railways, they filled in the cut
Chorus
Today Bill and Ginny are no longer here
A century later we still hold them dear
We sing of their tale and have painted a wall
So folk here in Swansea remember them all
Chorus
The old tow boat
This song was written by Robert Blackford for the 225th
Anniversary of the Swansea Canal in 2023.
“The Swansea Canal was a canal constructed by the Swansea Canal
Navigation Company between 1794 and 1798, running for 16.5 miles
(26.6 km) from Swansea to Hen Neuadd, Abercraf in South Wales. It
was steeply graded, and 36 locks were needed to enable it to rise
373 feet (114 m) over its length. The main cargoes were coal, iron
and steel, and the enterprise was profitable.
Sold to the Great Western Railway in 1873, it continued to make a
profit until 1895. A period of decline followed, with the last
commercial traffic using the waterway in 1931. Subsequently, parts
of it were closed and filled in under a succession of owners, but
around 5 miles (8.0 km) remain in water. The Swansea Canal Society,
formed in 1981, is actively involved in plans for its restoration.” -
Wikipedia