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BCN 250

Heartland

Heartland

master brummie
Banners are now placed on canal bridges in Birmingham celebrating 250 years of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. In truth the company was first called the Birmingham Canal Navigation. The earliest section to open was in November 1769. Hence the reason for the commemoration. The BCNS Society has events planned and details are available on their website.

The building of this original canal followed much of the present Oozells Loop, Icknield Port Loop, Winson Green Loop, the Walsall Canal and what is left of the Balls Hill Branch. Parts have now gone including the start near Cambrian Wharf and the end at West Bromwich at the Gold Green area, where there were several collieries. This area had also associated with the iron master William Wood and his family, and later had mines worked by William James. The industrial hey-day was when the Bagnall family operated the Goldshill and Gold Green ironworks there.

The significance of this BCN 250, is that it best to regard it as a span of three years. 1769 was when the first part opened, but the task of building the canal went on to September 1772 when the link was made at Aldersley through the original deep lock (20) to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
 
Some useful information there. James Brindley was engineer and he had other engineers to assist on this work. Brindley also had a clerk of works for each and every one of his canal projects and George Holloway was the clerk of works for the BCN as shown.

The BCN Society will have a number of boats on November 2nd 2019 to commemorate this marker in time. And, yes the opening was November 6th, 1769.
 
Popped along to the section between Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street (and a bit beyond).

Got this up so far. Birmingham Roundhouse on Instagram said he is playing John Malcolm a late 1800s Birmingham Corporation vet.

 
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CRT literally moved the goal posts of historical accuracy by having the cavalcade start opposite the Pit Stop on a section of the BCN built after 1769.

Still it was a good day, despite the rain. With some 50 boats attending the event.

The two working boats were key to the event

DSC_0239r.jpg
 
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