Throughout Queen Victoria's reign transport in rural areas depended on the horse. The wealthy could travel in their own carriages while others could pay to travel on the stage coaches. Few working people could afford this and so they could only travel as far as they could walk.

The canal down the Usk valley and its tramroad links up the Clydach valley were what enabled the heavier industries of coal and iron to prosper and the farmers benefitted by being able to ship their produce down the canal to further markets.

By the end of the period rail was king and Crickhowell suffered by not having a direct line through the valley with its own station.

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