It is wrong to state all West Midland canals were built as narrow waterways. The Worcester and Birmingham from Worcester Bar to Tardebigge was built a a barge canal, as was the Stratford-upon- Avon canal from Kings Norton to Hockley Heath was also broad and the original stop at Lifford had mitred gates.
The Worcester and Birmingham Canal was narrowed on a section south of Granville Street to allow the construction of the West Suburban Railway.
I have only come across one barge registered to John Wall, carrier, for use on these canals.
The Ashby Canal was also built as a wide canal as there were plans to link with the Trent. The junction with the Coventry Canal permitted only narrow boats.
The Grand Union scheme to widen the locks and canal from Braunston through Napton, Warwick, Knowle and Hatton reached Tyseley and finished above the locks at Camp Hill and was essentially done in the early 1930's.
The Birmingham Canal Navigation was improved and widened to suit trade and the locks were always narrow. There were some "out of gauge " boats called Hampton Boats. These were longer than a lock chamber and brought coal from the mines on Cannock Chase to Walsall and Wolverhampton.