-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
eaceful:maypolebaz
master brummie
We do well for canals here in Cheshire too.
Not far from me are the amazing lock systems at Bunbury and Audlem, not to mention the Anderton boat lift.
The good thing is that tourism has resulted in the canals being kept open, they were badly neglected when I was a kid.
Not far from me are the amazing lock systems at Bunbury and Audlem, not to mention the Anderton boat lift.
The good thing is that tourism has resulted in the canals being kept open, they were badly neglected when I was a kid.
B
BernardR
Guest
Yes Baz the Anderson lift is really amazing, particularly when viewed from the bottom.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
B
BernardR
Guest
Once the Railway companies bought up the canal companies they were starved of investment as they were competitors for trade.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Dave M
Pheasey Born Bumper
ellbrown
ell brown on Flickr
News on the Roundhouse
New lease of life for Birmingham's iconic Roundhouse
New lease of life for Birmingham's iconic Roundhouse
[h=1]New lease of life for Birmingham's iconic Roundhouse[/h]
Public asked to come up with ideas to transform historic city landmark
The Roundhouse, in Sheepcote Street, Birmingham, on the canal which was built 1840 as a mineral and coal wharf for the London & North Western Railway A landmark building at the heart of Birmingham’s canal network will be transformed with the help of local people.
They are being asked to come up with innovative ideas for the future of the iconic Roundhouse.
A consultation process has been launched to explore how the Grade II* listed building could be redeveloped as an urban outdoors hub.
The horseshoe-shaped Roundhouse was built by the Corporation of Birmingham as a mineral and coal wharf in the 1870s and was originally used for stabling and storage.
The Roundhouse, now owned by the Canal & River Trust, could be converted a cycle store and workshop. Other ways of breathing new life into the building which are under consideration would be turning it into a catering facility or a hub for local businesses.
Beccy Speight, Regional Director for the National Trust in Birmingham, said: “The survival of this unusual historic building in such a central location, and in an area that has largely been redeveloped, makes it stand out in a very modern city.
“It tells a fascinating part of Birmingham’s story. It was originally a hub for the distribution of goods and the stabling of horses and there is an exciting opportunity to make it a modern day hub for those who want to actively explore and discover more about their city today. We’d love to help make that happen.”
Simon Salem, Marketing Director for the Canal & River Trust said: “If Birmingham is the nation’s ‘canal capital’ then the Roundhouse would be its city hall.
“This wonderful waterside landmark has been under-used for far too long and we are determined to find a new community use for it which puts it back at the heart of the city’s revitalised waterways.
“The Canal & River Trust and National Trust both want to celebrate, and reconnect people to Birmingham’s rich working heritage and we believe the Roundhouse offers an exciting opportunity for the city.”
For more on the consultation, go to: canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/consultations/current-consultations
Good news Ell. Think the Roundhouse is worthy of a thread of its own. Couldn't find one after an initial search so maybe we could start one up? This is a truly wonderful 1840s industrial building of symmetry and style. I think it's worth a closer look if not already done so on BHF. Shall I start a new thread mods? Or could someone point me in the direction of an existing thread please? Viv.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
Radiorails
master brummie
I agree wholeheartedly. As I do not know what other canal facilities or attractions are close by I find it hard to make a constructive suggestion.
The structure is a remarkable one it seems and given the large re-devopment which has taken place in recent times in Birmingham it is surprising that it still exists. Irrespective of any listing that the old structure may have, it appears that structures that somebody often wants to see gone, often have a habit of catching fire.
I am sure folks who have a deep interest and a love of canals and their history will be making sensible suggestions. There has to be a worthwhile use - hopefully an informative, combining a flavour of its original use and maybe 'hands on' options.
A gift shop and cafeteria style option would be a wasted one in my view.
I agree with Mike that this is such an important topic, relating specifically to the history of Birmingham, that it does need its own thread.
make it into a historic museum i say some think along the lines of the black county feel there used to be boat peope houses and a little shop at gas street basin
they was true boat people in those days when we was little kids exploring the cannals the yard and premised are big enough and bring in a shire horse into the stable
its a pity old charlie the giant shire horse is not around today he was a character and show all the regatta of the cannal boat men and women and kids how they used to lived display all the artifacts of the yester year cannals they used they could have a boat tripp up to the cannal feeder where the cannal locks ae and the lock keepers house whom was a little guy called ralph been there all is life in the little gate keepers ouse get the trip and travell down to what they call even today the cannal feeder
which where it get diverted three ways you could if is house is still standing turn it into a litle tea room and buns or a glas a wine with may be a table or two
placed out side ralph started young for the water board and had is famiy there he would be listed in the water boards records when ralph got to the age and the cannals was dwindling and those big locks got to much for him he retired he was a little chap in height and a big arched back walked with a stoop and wore glases
he came to work at our local just up from winson green prison the pub called the smiths arms and later was renamed the old smithy arms which still stands there today
and my old friends and of cause everybodys friend today tommi iomie black sabbart and the gang quite often along with old pat roach from time to time
ralph done the stints thee for a year or two ; ralph could tel you aot more iknow he had a son but just cannot think of his name or wherehe would be today
ralph knew all he boat people by names he worked it 24 hours a day when we was kids we used to cal him and clamber on to the gates but he would come a running and shout at us eiher him or big charlie he big grey shire horse wa alwys stomping around in he stable s yard loose if he seen us he used to charge us
many times when we used to dragg the cut along the ledsam street and betwen monument rd bridge old charlie ued to drag the old coal or what ever he may have to delivese us at at the last moment if i wasnot concertateing onwhether the bage coming he almost trampled over me as i was pulling somthink out of the cut by old clarkies scrap yard the others shouted to me run bu then i turned his head and long legs nearly got me as i turned to run i fell over the other scrap piles i pulled out
and my heart was in my litle mouth but hats what i think that could be done i also know that his sort of mobility of orniments are in great demand
the fact of hireing boats would not be a good idea knowing the area as well buld and turn one of the bulding into aboat peoles house and put he caol by the cut see
people repairng the boats and decoating there coal shoval s and water jugs display painting a giuded tour around go hrough the feeder locks up to gaulty bridge
show picture of yester years on the walls display there art work there is still old boat peoples sibbling around today andfrom he black count whom still do abit
make it an exibition ; up to old ralph house at the feeder is quite a big open space its a double lock if i reember correctly pasing bellis morgans tereis quite alot to tale in
at theside of the locks traveling up from the court house to the old feeder get out and walk up the embankment is ducting whith water flowing into the cannal quite deep
even thou its narrow w used to dare each other to try and jmp across it one or two did do it i myself was chicken co i cannot swim ;
there is the railway enthiusics where they used store the rail coaches and goods yard i surpose i could go on but i will not make it the water waysmuseum
it would have alot going for it i say as a kid and his mery men spent hundreds of hors up and down thm cannalson foot for decades best wishes astonian;;
they was true boat people in those days when we was little kids exploring the cannals the yard and premised are big enough and bring in a shire horse into the stable
its a pity old charlie the giant shire horse is not around today he was a character and show all the regatta of the cannal boat men and women and kids how they used to lived display all the artifacts of the yester year cannals they used they could have a boat tripp up to the cannal feeder where the cannal locks ae and the lock keepers house whom was a little guy called ralph been there all is life in the little gate keepers ouse get the trip and travell down to what they call even today the cannal feeder
which where it get diverted three ways you could if is house is still standing turn it into a litle tea room and buns or a glas a wine with may be a table or two
placed out side ralph started young for the water board and had is famiy there he would be listed in the water boards records when ralph got to the age and the cannals was dwindling and those big locks got to much for him he retired he was a little chap in height and a big arched back walked with a stoop and wore glases
he came to work at our local just up from winson green prison the pub called the smiths arms and later was renamed the old smithy arms which still stands there today
and my old friends and of cause everybodys friend today tommi iomie black sabbart and the gang quite often along with old pat roach from time to time
ralph done the stints thee for a year or two ; ralph could tel you aot more iknow he had a son but just cannot think of his name or wherehe would be today
ralph knew all he boat people by names he worked it 24 hours a day when we was kids we used to cal him and clamber on to the gates but he would come a running and shout at us eiher him or big charlie he big grey shire horse wa alwys stomping around in he stable s yard loose if he seen us he used to charge us
many times when we used to dragg the cut along the ledsam street and betwen monument rd bridge old charlie ued to drag the old coal or what ever he may have to delivese us at at the last moment if i wasnot concertateing onwhether the bage coming he almost trampled over me as i was pulling somthink out of the cut by old clarkies scrap yard the others shouted to me run bu then i turned his head and long legs nearly got me as i turned to run i fell over the other scrap piles i pulled out
and my heart was in my litle mouth but hats what i think that could be done i also know that his sort of mobility of orniments are in great demand
the fact of hireing boats would not be a good idea knowing the area as well buld and turn one of the bulding into aboat peoles house and put he caol by the cut see
people repairng the boats and decoating there coal shoval s and water jugs display painting a giuded tour around go hrough the feeder locks up to gaulty bridge
show picture of yester years on the walls display there art work there is still old boat peoples sibbling around today andfrom he black count whom still do abit
make it an exibition ; up to old ralph house at the feeder is quite a big open space its a double lock if i reember correctly pasing bellis morgans tereis quite alot to tale in
at theside of the locks traveling up from the court house to the old feeder get out and walk up the embankment is ducting whith water flowing into the cannal quite deep
even thou its narrow w used to dare each other to try and jmp across it one or two did do it i myself was chicken co i cannot swim ;
there is the railway enthiusics where they used store the rail coaches and goods yard i surpose i could go on but i will not make it the water waysmuseum
it would have alot going for it i say as a kid and his mery men spent hundreds of hors up and down thm cannalson foot for decades best wishes astonian;;
Being a particularly significant building in the history of Birmingham and it's canals a new thread has been started for comments specifically about the Roundhouse. Please see the new thread here:
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=43549
Wonder if a moderator could transfer the recent posts about the Roundhouse to the new thread please. ( Sorry to add to your burden). Then we'll have all comments about its future use in one place. Many thanks.
Viv.
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=43549
Wonder if a moderator could transfer the recent posts about the Roundhouse to the new thread please. ( Sorry to add to your burden). Then we'll have all comments about its future use in one place. Many thanks.
Viv.
Mind you you have to be correct in your chosen topic
Think of any road congestion around there with the selected remnants of those up market property's they do notlietofuss going. On
Especially with patrons coming and going all day after all. It was the noise debatement officers from the council
It was the people from across the red whom complained about the old bone and fiddle noise of there customers car parking and banking of
The doors they got the partition it was okay if they was in there themselves with friends it was OK to bang car doors
So the council want to look at them selves on the noise issues and parking across the way in light thorn avenue as its been a major problem
They get when they come how from home all down to the bottom of light thorn avenue my brother had to get the police to tow them away
Many times office workers comeatnie in the morning and park out side some ones drive and there garages they are fed up with them
Think of any road congestion around there with the selected remnants of those up market property's they do notlietofuss going. On
Especially with patrons coming and going all day after all. It was the noise debatement officers from the council
It was the people from across the red whom complained about the old bone and fiddle noise of there customers car parking and banking of
The doors they got the partition it was okay if they was in there themselves with friends it was OK to bang car doors
So the council want to look at them selves on the noise issues and parking across the way in light thorn avenue as its been a major problem
They get when they come how from home all down to the bottom of light thorn avenue my brother had to get the police to tow them away
Many times office workers comeatnie in the morning and park out side some ones drive and there garages they are fed up with them
ellbrown
ell brown on Flickr
20 old photos of Birmingham's canals
20 atmospheric pictures that capture the Golden Age of Birmingham's waterways
20 atmospheric pictures that capture the Golden Age of Birmingham's waterways
Birmingham’s canals provided the vital veins and arteries of the Industrial Revolution and here are 20 nostalgic pictures that show the city's waterways in bygone times
The Lifford Canal, near Oldbury, on an unspecified date Birmingham’s canals provided the vital veins and arteries when the city was the heart of the Industrial Revolution.
Britain's booming age of industry needed an economic and reliable way to transport goods and commodities in large quantities.
The new canal system was both the cause and the effect of the rapid industrialisation of the Midlands and the north.
The period between the 1770s and the 1830s is often referred to as the Golden Age of British canals.
With new plans unveiled by the Canal & River Trust to redevelop Birmingham’s iconic Roundhouse, we have delved into our archives to bring you 20 amazing pictures that capture the bygone era of the Birmingham waterways.
The first canal to be built in the area was the Birmingham Canal, which was constructed from 1768 to 1772 under the supervision of James Brindley from what was then the edge of Birmingham. The canal terminated at Old Wharf, near Bridge Street.
The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, connecting Birmingham and Tamworth, followed in 1784 and the combined network b became known as Birmingham Canal Navigations from 1794.
The Worcester & Birmingham Canal opened between Birmingham and Selly Oak in 1795 and finally reached Worcester in 1815.
The Birmingham Canal main line met the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Gas Street Basin. The two waterways, run by different companies, were at first separated by a barrier known as the Worcester Bar - which still exists today - but later on that was opened up with a lock and tolls so that boats could use both waterways.
Gas Street Basin was among the Birmingham landmarks that featured in the 1973 film Take Me High, starring Cliff Richard.
Birmingham’s canals played a central role in the children’s TV programme Rosie & Jim - in fact, there had been plans by British Waterways in 1999 for a Rosie & Jim Visitor Centre in the city to promote greater awareness of the historic Birmingham canals.
The canals also featured in teatime soap Crossroads, where the Gas Street Basin was called King’s Oak Canal.
Birmingham’s extensive system of waterways has led to claims that it has more miles of canal than Venice and we looked at whether there was any truth in that and many other local tales in our feature on 21 top myths you've probably heard about Birmingham.
Today, canalside regeneration schemes such as Brindleyplace and the Mailbox have turned the canals into tourist attractions.
In one of the pictures they seem to have got one of the captions wrong as it says "Canal Street and Broad Street on an unspecified date in times gone by". Well, Canal st was off Lancaster St, so could not show canal St and Broad St. Pity as it is quite an interesting photo, shown below.
paul stacey
master brummie
Interesting cart in foreground, seems to be some form of articulated load carrier, with high driving box 0n front, but looks like it is for only one horse.?
I don't know about museums. They may or may not be visited much. Why not refurbish the structure for use of canal boaters...laundry facilities...showers or even a Turkish baths or sauna. Groceries even and stores. Boats have facilities of course, but can only carry so much water. Pump out equipment and a fresh water fill station. Diesel & gas fill pumps and electric plug-ins. It would be a living facility, serving the canals as it always did, which non-boaters could also use. Museums are dead places. If you build it they will come and employment opportunities will result. A lot to like.
In one of the pictures they seem to have got one of the captions wrong as it says "Canal Street and Broad Street on an unspecified date in times gone by". Well, Canal st was off Lancaster St, so could not show canal St and Broad St. Pity as it is quite an interesting photo, shown below.
That's a great photo Mike. I wonder if the building in the background is any help re. the location. It says "Shropshire Union Railways and Canal General Carriers". I think it continues into the building below the chimney as it seems to have the same name too.
Rupert - like the idea very much.
Viv.
DavidGrain
master brummie
They also referred to the Lifford Canal in Oldbury. If they mean the Titford Canal, I don't think any part of it had railway sidings. I think they mean Lifford, Kings Norton.
Last edited:
brummie nick
master brummie
Paul, I think its two separate carts, one hand cart behind the horse drawn cart.
Nick
paul stacey
master brummie
I did think that in the first place Nick, but was't sure, looking again I think you are right, what age would you put cottages? I would hazard a guess at mid 18th C, an absolute corker of a photo though. Paul
maypolebaz
master brummie
They're certainly old buildings, the one with a (skimpy) thatched roof is built of what looks like rough pieces of sandstone.
I'm pretty sure that there's a Crimea cannon at the top of the steps too.
I'm pretty sure that there's a Crimea cannon at the top of the steps too.
paul stacey
master brummie
After the Napoleonic wars, many enemy and our surplus cannons, with cannon balls welded in the ends, appeared on the urban British streets as bars, also later wars , (Crimea), added to these, the style and design of the cottages in # 558 would lend some of them as older than the 18th C, maybe even early 17th.
terryb18
Gone but not forgotten R.I.P.
https://www.cityofwolverhampton.com/localhistory.html
Go to this site and you will see the same pic. It suggests it is in Wolverhampton.
Terry
That would fit with the warehouse. The map below shows Birmingham c 1888, and you can see that the Shropshire Warehouse bis at the end of Canal St. the wording on the Mail photo and the Wolverhampton site are misleading though, as they imply Broad St is in the photo. Canal St became Broad St later. the warehouse with the lettering is still there, as seen in the photo, now "Canal club". Awhile ago it still had canal associated lettering on the wall
Brilliant piece of work! Wolverhampton. None of the current major road system was there back then and everything would have been closer. The wharf basin is still in place. Timber yards had those hand trucks for local delivery. Pushed one of those with my dad from Dartmouth St. to Washwood Heath along Gt. Leister St. with a load of tongue and groove to make a shed. I think that you can see the earlier run of Canal St. if you use the historical slider on GE and even today there are signs of it on the islands in the latest shots. For some reason there is a ramp up the island curb...right in line.
I wonder if the 45 sky view on GE shows the actual old houses in the photo. Anyway it shows where they were.
I wonder if the 45 sky view on GE shows the actual old houses in the photo. Anyway it shows where they were.
