Skewen Cutting or Neath Abbey Cutting was created in 1821. During the construction of the deep cutting there were problems with quicksand and part of the canal bed is laid in an inverted arch with vertical walls to seal the troublesome layer off on either side. A high stone causeway carried the Mines Royal Copperworks tramroad over the centre of the cutting.

Source: "A Guide to the Industrial Archaeology of the Swansea Region", Association for Industrial Archaeology, 2nd Edition, 1989

RCAHMW, 12 October 2011.