The tramway received parliamentary authorisation on 23 May 1818 by the Kington Railway Act 1818 (58 Geo.

The western section from Kington to quarries at Burlingjobb, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of New Radnor opened on 7 August 1820.

[1] For the tramway's opening, an end-on connection was made with the Hay Railway, also a 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) plateway.

This co-operative arrangement allowed the through working of wagons, pulled by horses, along a continuous 36-mile (58 km) line to wharves on the Brecknock and Abergavenny Canal.

The new company used much of the line of the tramway to build its standard-gauge railway, utilising normal rails and steam locomotives, between Eardisley and Kington.