Dianna1964
New Member
Hi
Im Looking for any information or old photos of Tunnel Cottages Masshouse Lane Kings Norton
Im Looking for any information or old photos of Tunnel Cottages Masshouse Lane Kings Norton
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Tunnel Cottages Kings Norton
- Thread starter Dianna1964
- Start date
Unusual name for the cottages. Can anyone help Dianna with this query please ? Viv.
They are still there, at least they were a couple of years ago. I think there were two cottages that sat just above the southern portal of Wasthill Tunnel on the Worcester and Birmingham canal on Wasthill Lane just before the junction with Lea End lane. Not really sure what they were there for, maybe the canal either the construction of the tunnel or they housed legging teams for the narrow boats
knobbydave
master brummie
The last time I went through the tunnel in 2010, the kids from above waited until the barge came out (they can hear it) and then they threw stones at it trying to break the windows and hit the 'tiller man - me' (is that the right word). The canal is in a deep cutting at this point and there's nowhere to hide! I remember the cottages when I was a boy - we used to cycle out to the tunnel and play on the top near the air shaft - sorry, no pictures though
I recall there have been a few incidents in Wasthill Tunnel, a canoeist aparanlty drowned. There was also a collapse in the 70's, some BW workers were repairng the brickwork when one of the construction shafts caved in on them.
I have travelled thought it myself in 1966 on a narrow boat call Adder. I recall one of the air shafts had loads of water pouring down and the engine of our boat was bringing the soot of the roof
I have travelled thought it myself in 1966 on a narrow boat call Adder. I recall one of the air shafts had loads of water pouring down and the engine of our boat was bringing the soot of the roof
Dianna1964
New Member
Thank you for all the responses. The cottages are still standing as I live in one. Apart from what’s been posted there doesn’t seem to be any history that goes back any further. The tunnel I know was built in 1797 and apparently the houses went up soon after. I’m just intrigued what the area around the cottages looked like and the cottage itself. Can’t seem to get any history about it at all. Thank you all though for the information
There is quite a lot of information on the building of the building of the tunnel in "The Worcester & Birmingham Canal " by Rev. Alan White (where it is named as the West Hill tunnel). In 1816 it was decided to build stables at both ends of the tunnel . Then, in 1976 it was decided to replace the "legging" that had been used to drive boats through the tunnel (and the others on the canal) by tugs. At first the tugmen were housed in rented houses in Tardibigge and Kings Norton, but in 1878 a terrace of split level cottages were built at Tardibigge, and "two pairs of semi-detached cottages at the north end of the West Hill tunnel, one pair on the hill above the portal , the other above the cutting by the Masshouse lane/Primrose hill high bridge"
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
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Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
Taking Mike's picture and the corresponding Google 3D it looks like the cottages shown still exist, but not in Masshouse Lane.
In the 1911 census the addresses go down Masshouse Lane and come to Tunnel End and on to West Hill Cottages. Around the southern end of the tunnel is Wast Hills, so no wonder there is confusion about the name.
(The cottages in the picture can be seen on the bottom right of the map put up by Janice. They man be the Tunnel End address mentioned in the 1911 census?)
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oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Reference information in post#10 regarding cottages built at each end of the tunnel there is an aerial photo (date 1946) of the cottage at the south end. The canal is left of the cottage and the tunnel (underground) to the right.
image from 'britainfromabove'
A similar view today but trees partially mask the cottage.
A close-up view of 'Tunnel House Cottage' appears in the following link. See the nameplate on the building.
image from 'britainfromabove'
A similar view today but trees partially mask the cottage.
A close-up view of 'Tunnel House Cottage' appears in the following link. See the nameplate on the building.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
Reference information in post#10 regarding cottages built at each end of the tunnel there is an aerial photo (date 1946) of the cottage at the south end. The canal is left of the cottage and the tunnel (underground) to the right.
View attachment 140401
image from 'britainfromabove'
A similar view today but trees partially mask the cottage.
View attachment 140402
A close-up view of 'Tunnel House Cottage' appears in the following link. See the nameplate on the building.
Thanks OldM, here is the 1880s map and the present view together. The remains of the old building on the right can still be seen opposite Tunnel House Cottage.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
This is interesting, did Albert actually move to King’s Norton to pull the narrow boats through the Wast Hill Tunnel?
In the 1911 census Asenath Jane Boulton was a Card Box maker and 30 years old. Working in a chocolate and cocoa factory. She was living with her father Alfred Boulton who was 62 and a steam tug engine driver, Canal Co. Worker. His address is given as (Machine House) Worcester Wharf, Bridge St, Birmingham.
The thread starts by mentioning Tunnel Cottages in Masshouse Lane, just where are they in Masshouse Lane?
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
Further info on Alfred shows he was at Kings Norton before the 1911 census. As his daughter Asenath died at the cottages he must kept some connection...
In 1901 Alfred is down at Masshouse Lane, Tunnel cottages, Engine worker
In 1899 Albert is just King's Norton and down as Engine Driver, tug boat barge
In 1881 down as Tunnel End, Steam tug engine Driver.
In 1871 he is Engine Driver in Gloucestershire at age 21
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
I think quite a lot of history has been brought to light about the cottages.
If you look back to Mike’s post number 10, which gives info about the cottages, it can be seen that two pairs of semi-detached cottages were built around 1878. This is about 80 years after the tunnel was built. One pair on the hill above the portal, and the other above the cutting at Masshouse Lane/Primrose Hill at High Bridge. The two pairs can be seen on the map, post 14, from Janice.
Historic England mentions cottages 1 and 2, Masshouse Lane, Kings Norton. It shows them just south of the Tunnel entrance, which would correspond to those seen in Mike’s picture post. The other pair at High Bridge could well be 3 and 4 “Tunnel Cottages.” We can see that Alfred Boulton was living in one of the "Tunnel Cottages" in 1901 with his wife and 8 children, and one of his daughters, Asenath, died there in 1967. There are 3 other “Tunnel Cottages” mentioned in the 1901 census, two tug Steerers and tug driver and their families.
The cottages would be quite remote, and as the occupants were involved with tunnel, their history would be linked to it. There is a lot of history that can be found connected to the Tunnel.
I was working on tunnel at the time of the collapse.
Dianna1964
New Member
Yes these look like our cottages. Would love to know more about the area surrounding too and what it looked like a hundred or so years ago.
maggiebee48
knowlegable brummie
I remember Mrs Chapman and her family. I was friends with her daughter, Jacqueline, born around 1953. I believe there were 5 children altogether, Twins Tony and Theresa who were older than Jaquie, and a little girl called Iola, whom they nicknamed Polie. I'm sure there was an older daughter, too, but I can't remember her name. I stayed at the cottage once. There was no sanitary plumbing, they used an outside privvy which had to be emptied. I think the year would have been about 1960. The address of the cottage then was Tunnel House Cottage, Wast Hills Lane, Hopwood, Near Alvechurch. I often wonder what happened to the Chapmans. They farmed it as a smallholding in the 1960s. The cottage is all boarded up now with security cameras. I wonder who owns it now?
AnnieEliza
New Member
Hello Dianna, I hope you are still on this sight? I have just joined up and posted but not sure if it l landed in your reply box? My great grandmother was living with her family in Tunnel House, Hopwood, Alvechurch according to her marriage cert in 1883. I would love to know more about the cottages and who have lived in them as we are now in Australia it's a pain not being able to travel there to investigate. This is very exciting finding this website. Warm regards, Annie
pjmburns
master brummie
Welcome AnnieEliza
Tunnel House Hopwood is not the same place as the Tunnel Cottages in Kings Norton - although there may be similarities
I think they are at opposite ends of the Wast Hill Tunnel. There is a map here.
canalrivertrust.org.uk
Tunnel House Hopwood is not the same place as the Tunnel Cottages in Kings Norton - although there may be similarities
I think they are at opposite ends of the Wast Hill Tunnel. There is a map here.
Wast Hill Tunnel | Canal & River Trust
The Customer Operations team will be conducting routine maintenance to the North and South Portals of Wast Hill Tunnel, to include the Off-Side which needs to be accessed at the Tunnel Portals. This will mean that the Tunnel for the Duration of the Works will be Non-Navigable, we aim to complete...
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pjmburns
master brummie
More info here
www.geograph.org.uk
Tunnel Cottages, Kings Norton, Birmingham
Tunnel Cottages is a Grade II listed building in Kings Norton, Birmingham, England. See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of this building.
britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
Tunnel House © David Stowell cc-by-sa/2.0
Beside Wast Hills Lane at the top path up from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal by the southern portal of Wast Hill Tunnel. This building would originally have been erected for canal workers.
AnnieEliza
New Member
Hello Janice, Thank you for your reply. Yes I'm aware of that but I am grasping at straws really to find my way. Great to have the map thank you. Hope this finds you well. AnnieWelcome AnnieEliza
Tunnel House Hopwood is not the same place as the Tunnel Cottages in Kings Norton - although there may be similarities
I think they are at opposite ends of the Wast Hill Tunnel. There is a map here.
Wast Hill Tunnel | Canal & River Trust
The Customer Operations team will be conducting routine maintenance to the North and South Portals of Wast Hill Tunnel, to include the Off-Side which needs to be accessed at the Tunnel Portals. This will mean that the Tunnel for the Duration of the Works will be Non-Navigable, we aim to complete...
