Canals

The physical features of the Rhondda Valleys discouraged the construction of canals as there would have been the necessity of construction far too many locks in relation tom the mileage. Clause 57 of the Glamorgan Canal Navigation Act stated

... that any proprietor of any mine lying within four miles of any part of the canal may make lateral cuts or railways across the grounds of any other person fore the value of the land so taken.'...

Two of the early owners of the Glamorgan Canal Company were Dr. Richard Griffiths and Jeremiah Homfray and they realised that it would be an easy matter to link up any mining enterprise begun in the Lower Rhondda to the canal at Treforest by a few miles of tramroad.

In September 1809 the first tramroad was completed from Hafod Level to the canal. In 1810 Walter Coffin completed a tramroad which connected Dinas Levels to the canal. The coal was conveyed in small trams, each carrying about 2.5 tons [2540 kilograms]. A team of 4 horses could draw about 15 trams with ease [a total of about 37.5 tons or 38,100 kilograms].

Prior to the opening of the Taff Vale Railway to Eirw in 1841, the Dinas Tramroad served a twofold purpose. It primary use was the conveyance of coal to the barges on the Glamorgan Canal. On the return, empty, journey was used to conveyed goods and provision into the Lower Rhondda.