The Pembrey Canal.

Thomas Gaunt was extracting iron ore, which would be processed in new furnaces at Pembrey, had obtained Kilrhedyn colliery, and had constructed a harbour on the sands at Pembrey. Rennie and Bankes had dismissed the idea of a connection to this harbour, as it was not felt to be adequate for the likely volumes of coal traffic, but Gaunt was keen for a canal link. Between late 1823 and April 1824 he built two miles of canal, including a lock at Cross Lane cottage. At its northern end it joined the Kidwelly and Llanelli canal at Ty Gwyn, just to the north of the disused Ashburnham canal, and at its southern end, a short tramway linked its terminus to Gaunt's harbour. The Cambrian newspaper carried reports of a ceremonial opening on 30 April 1824, and a formal opening on 26 May.By 1843, the canal had become disused, with traffic going to the Pembrey new harbour instead.

An Act of Parliament dated 10 June 1825 created the New Harbour Company, with powers to build the harbour at Tywyn Bach, on the sands near Pembrey. The Act included powers to build a short section of canal to link with the line of the Kidwelly and Llanelli Canal. The new harbour was completed in 1832. The community of Burry Port did not exist in 1825, and it was not until 1835 that the name of the Company was changed to the Burry Port Company by another Act of Parliament.

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