bradshaw_locks_title.gif (8637 bytes)

Note: de Salis did not include the rise or fall of the locks – I have added these from Nicholson1 or Beavon2, but they are incomplete.

(d) Locks

 

  

Main Line (No 10a 1).
1 to 3

Tipton Factory

Rise from Birmingham

20’ 0"
4 to 24

Wolverhampton

Fall from Birmingham

Old Main Loop Line from Smethwick Junction to Tipton Factory Junction
(No. 10c1).
1 to 3 Smethwick Rise from Smethwick Junction 20’ 0"

Spon Lane Locks Branch (No. 10c3).
1 to 3 Spon Lane Fall from Spon Lane Junction 20’ 0"

Titford Canal (No. 10c4)
1 to 6 Oldbury Rise from Oldbury Locks Junction 38’ 0"

Gower Branch (No. 10d).
1 to 3 Brades Hall Fall from Brades Hall Junction 20’ 0"

Dudley Canal – Line No.1 (No. 10f1)
1 to 3 Parkhead Fall from Tipton 20’ 0"
4 Blowers Green
5 to 12 Delph

Two Lock Line Canal (No. 10g)
Two locks Rise from Woodside Junction to Blackbrook Junction

Bradley Canal (No. 10h)
1 to 9 Bradley Fall from Bradley Locks Junction

Tipton Green and Toll End Communication (No. 10 i)
1 to 3 Tipton Green
4 to 10 Toll End Fall from Tipton Green Junction

Walsall Canal (No. 10k1)
1 to 8 Riders Green Fall from Riders Green Junction 45’ 0"

Walsall Branch Canal (No. 10 l)
1 to 8 Walsall Fall from Birchills Junction 65’ 0"

Bentley Canal (No. 10m1)
1 to 6 Bentley 1st flight Fall from Wednesfield Junction
7 to 10 Bentley 2nd flight

Tame Valley Canal (No. 10n)
1 to 7 Perry Barr 1st flight Fall from junction with Walsall Canal
8 to 11 Perry Barr 2nd flight 106’ 0"
12 & 13 Perry Barr 3rd flight

Rushall Canal (No. 10 o).
1 & 2 Rushall 1st flight Fall from Longwood Junction 65’ 0"
3 to 9 Rushall 2nd flight

Birmingham and Fazeley Canal (No. 10p1).
1 to 13 Farmers Bridge Fall from Farmers Bridge 81’ 0"
14 to 24 Aston 70’ 0"
25 to 27 Minworth 16’ 8"
28 to 38 Curdworth 76’ 4"

Digbeth Branch Canal (No. 10p3).
1 to 6 Ashted Fall from Aston Junction 36’ 0"

Wyrley and Essington Canal (No. 10q1).
1 to 8 Ogley 1st flight Fall from Horseley Fields Junction
9 to 12 Ogley 2nd flight
13 to 18 Ogley 3rd flight
19 Ogley 4th flight
20 to 23 Ogley 5th flight
24 to 28 Ogley 6th flight
29 & 30 Ogley 7th flight

Sneyd and Wyrley Bank Branch Canal (No. 10q2).
1 to 5 Sneyd Rise from Sneyd Junction

Churchbridge Branch Canal (No. 10s).
1 to 13 Churchbridge Fall from Rumour Hill Junction

 

(e) Maximum size of vessels that can use the navigation.

Ft

In
Length

71

6
Width

7

1½
Draught

3

6
Headroom.- The standard headroom is 8ft 6in., but this is subject by temporary reduction to 6ft. 6in. in consequence of subsidences due to mining operations. The lowest headroom is that through Dudley Tunnel, which is 5ft. 9in.

 

                                                                (I) Tunnels.

Main Line (No. l0al).

Ft.

In.
Coseley-
Length - 360 yards
Minimum height above water level

15

3
Minimum width at water level

15

9
Minimum width at water level, including both towing-paths

24

9

Towing-path both sides; boats enter from either end at any time.

Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal (No. l0e).
Netherton-
Length - 3027 yards
Minimum height above water level

15

9
Minimum width at water level

17

0
Minimum width at water level, including both towing-paths

27

0

Towing-path both sides; boats enter from either end at any time.
The tunnel is lighted by gas lamps.

Dudley Canal-Line No 1 (No. l0f1).
Dudley-
Length - 3172 yards
Minimum height above water level

5

9
Minimum width at water level

8

5

No towing-path; boats "legged" through.
Boats enter from Tipton end at 5-0 a.m., 11-0 a.m., and 5-0 p.m., and from Parkhead end at 8-0 a.m. and 2-0 p.m.

Dudley Canal-Line No.2 (No. 10f2).
Gosty Hill-
Length 557 yards
Minimum height above water level

7

4
Minimum width at water level

8

1

No towing-path; boats "legged" through.
Lappal-
Length - 3795 yards
Minimum height above water level

6

0
Minimum width at water level

7

9
No towing-path; boats "legged" through, assisted by flushing - see Section 5, Tunnels. Boats enter from Lappal Wharf end at 4-0 a.m., 10-0 a.m., 4-0 p.m., and 10-0 p.m., and from Selly Oak end at 7-0 a.m., 1-0 p.m., and 7-0 p.m..

 

(g) Towing-path.

There is a towing-path throughout the navigation, except through certain of the tunnels enumerated above.

(i) Types of vessels using the navigation.

Narrow boats. In addition to the ordinary narrow boats, there are a large number of open narrow boats without cabins in use for local traffic, which are termed "day boats."

 

 

Bibliography:

    1   Nicholson's Guide to the Waterways: 5 vols. British Waterways Board.

    2   Beavon JRG, Along the Birmingham Canals - A boating and walking guide. Tetradon Publications 1981.

  

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Rod Beavon  17 Dean's Yard  London  SW1P 3PB

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