The last of our visits brings history right uptodate. We go to the village of Talybont on Usk. 174227 It is further along the B4558 from Llangynidr towards Brecon. In the very centre of the village it is possible to park on the roadside and pupils can buy ice creams at the post office! There are puplic toilets also alongside the road by the Star Inn alongside the river bridge.
The main feature at Talybont is the flooding described below, however also note: -
- The traces of the old wharfs at the rear of the Travellers Rest, 118224, visible are a couple of towpath side former warehouses, limekilns, the widened turning/mooring area and the start of the Brynoer tramroad which went over a mountain pass to the top of the valleys. Down it came coal from the Brynoer colliery and limestone from the Trevil quarries, both near Rhymney 12 miles away. Back up it went agricultural produce and timber for pit props.
- Above the river the overflow weir, with planks to control the level at one end and a sluice alongside. All designed to control the water level.
- The embankment which carries the canal throught and above the centre of the village.
- The mechanised lift bridge which used to connect the primary school with it's pupils, hence the instructions on the bridge.
However Talybont reached the headlines in December 1994 when after tourential rainfall the side of the embankment collapsed allowing 500,000 gallons of water mud and stones to flood into the village, 15 houses and the star inn were devestated. It took British Waterways four months to repair the canal. Inside the Star Inn is a good display of pictures taken at the time.
