The Brecon & Abergavenny canal connects Brecon with the Monmouthshire Canal, some 33 miles [53km] to the south east, and was built between 1793 and 1812. It was once a very important means of carrying heavy and bulky goods for industry and agriculture. Heavily loaded barges towed by horses moved huge quantities of coal, iron, limestone and timber during much of the early part of the 19th century, until the new steam railways took away most of the canal trade. The Monmouthshire Canal continued to Newport.