The cut between the Mail Box and the locks of the B&FC
is probably Britains most famous canal precinct, the
mix of new & old stimulates just about every emotion in the visitor.
In the centre of the length and adjacent to the old W&B Canal Company Head Office
(the large white building) the canal opens out into
a very wide pool, in the centre of which sits
‘The Worcester Bar’
Not a drinking hole but a physical separation built between the
Worcester & Birmingham Canal (W&BC)
and the Birmingham Canal Navigation (BCN).
When the W&BC was started in 1794 the BCN refused to let them
connect to the BCN for fear that all their water would run down to the R Severn.
Thus all goods had to be unloaded from one boat, passed over the bar and then reloaded
into a second boat. After some time a stop lock was built to let boats pass.
The lock gates have now been removed, but the bar can
still be seen & now provides foot access to numerous
moored boats many of them traditional craft.
This short arm one of two, ran under Gas Street and the W&BC office in
the background to join the canal on the W&BC side of the Bar.
It has been restored but is now only a quiet picnic spot for office workers. The building
on the right was once a foundary and the location would definately not have been so idillic.
This is the entry to the second arm which joined the canal on the BCN side of the
bar just where the footbridge can be seen passing over the old stop lock.
Note: the Red hatch in the wall. Most canal bridges in the
Birmingham area had them added during WWII so that fire hoses
could be dropped into canals to aid fighting fires caused by air raids.
Surviving canal buildings between ‘The Stop’ and Broad Street tunnel
l
Broad Street Tunnel ‘The Stop’ is in the background.
As you pass through the old lock, check out the little toll keepers pay window in the centre
of the projecting observation bay of the toll house.
The new regenerated area coming up to Brindley Place.
The Malt Shovel, overlooking Old Turn Junction which leads
to the Birmingham & Fazeley locks on the left.
Very early start at Farmers lock No1 on the B&FC
The locks were all in very good condition.
Lock No 4 on the edge of the Jewellery Quarter.
The moorings at Lk 2 are the best for visiting the Jewellery Quarter.
Don’t miss the pen museum.
As all the locks are so close together, the side ponds have to
be adjacent to the locks and in many locations new high rise
buildings have been built out over the water, this makes
the descent even more like a canyoning adventure.
The atmosphere in the lock flight is tremendous as it drops the 80ft in less than a mile
but this morning it was the day of the Eclipse
so all the buildings had a red hue to add to the spectacle.
One of the old arms leading into the Jewellery Quarter with a new office access bridge over.
Taken at about 9 o’clock in the morning when some of the lights went out! All very eerie.
Coming out of the shadows.
This original lock & bridge, illustrates just how narrow the original line was.
Then back into the dark this time under Snow Hill Railway Station.
At the foot of Farmers Bridge Flight and the sun is out again.
The short level length brings us to Aston Junction.
Lock No1 on the Aston flight has a lovely old turnover bridge to
enable towing horses to pass over the canal and on up the B&FC or
down from Birmingham and under the bridge to continue down the
B&FC without the need for the horse to be separated from the tow line.
A beautiful piece of practical symmetry.
Many of the bridges on the Aston flight are 1960s boring & do little to
enhance the prospect of the 11 lock drop down a further 70ft.
Note the modern adaption of the fire hose access door.
But Thimble Mill Lane Br is an exception.
It would seem that the construction of the new road bridge required
the destruction of the old lock No 23 tail bridge.
It would also appear that the canal was still being used by horse boats at
the time, as provision was made for the tow rope to pass under the tail bridge.
Again a lovely piece of simple but practical symmetry,
built by an unknown engineer of the 20th century
with 20th century materials
to do an 18th century job.
Try doing this with Lime Mortar.
Note: The steps on the fixed side which accommodate
the gate beam and provide a leg up for the boatman.
Rope slot.
Good moorings and Services are provided just below Lock No 24
so a good place to stop before an ascent.
Salford junction is right under the M6 and is a tight blind turn, this area is something of
a wasteland but its ugliness is soon overshadowed by what at first glance appears to be
a Swiss road avalanche shelter , just a little lost.
One can only ponder at what vital industrial process
had to take place in this spot above the canal, to justify the
expense of creating such a monumental space.
The industrial nature of the canal continues through Minworth Locks to
Minworth Green Br, where it suddenly morphs into a rural landscape almost devoid of hedge and tree.
The new landscape is very exposed to the elements and the locks are very inconveniently
spaced so we were very pleased to be enveloped in the peaceful Cudworth Cutting
where we moored for the night. The trip having taking us 7 hours.
Cudworth Br gives access to a small Post Office and village shop.
Summation:-
Apart from the last section this must be one of the most interesting sections of canal in the UK.