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Canals of Birmingham

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
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Broad Street Tunnel closing from 2nd January until Spring 2019. For 10 weeks. For the Westside Metro Extension.

Gas Street Basin to Broad Street Tunnel.



Towards Brindleyplace. Headroom still an issue for me down here, have to keep ducking, if I don't duck I hit my head!



This bit near Brindleyplace is a bit higher.



Over the Brindleyplace Bridge, think the ICC public walkway was closed for a private event, so over to the Broad Street steps.



Steps to the left.

 
A look at the Broad Street Tunnel now that the Midland Metro Alliance had closed it.

First up on Broad Street with signs all over the road.



Almost forgot to have a look at this end at Brindleyplace.



Got to Gas Street Basin via the first entrance on Gas Street.

From the Footbridge at Worcester Bar.









Will be a long way around for boat users. And what of those tourist narrowboats, they would be stuck, or would have to go out of Birmingham the long way round!
 
paul stacey said:
Dos't seem to be anything that is sacred anymore, no historical, artifact or item that wont be vanalised, anymore, there seems less and less understanding of our history and culture that wont be ridiculed and sneered at, or lambasted. Paul
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I should think at least most of these graffiti artists are recent school-leavers out of work. It would be very constructive, in my view, for the jobcentres to give them an appreciation of our old canals by allotting them work training in restoring and maintaining them. And removing any graffiti they might come across.

Regards, Ray T.
 
The naming of Broad Street tunnel is of interest as it used to be longer. The original turnpike bridge, is the narrower structure. It marked the boundary between Broad Street (Easy Row) and Broad Street (Islington). When the road was widened there was a corresponding wider span. This second bridge itself replaced a towpath turnover bridge. Then the Church of the Messiah was built over the canal by the local contractors Branson & Gwyther, and opened for services in 1862. The church and widened road bridge created Broad Street Tunnel. Another later overhang structure was the building made on the Gas Street Basin side.
 
I was not certain to post this to the Trams or the Canal so I posted here, I was taking photos today on the cut as they have blocked to have a look a the soil for the tram extension, when I saw that the Commemorative plate was missing when and where did it go? will it be found at the bottom of the cut? it would have been hard to remove this will help to place were it was, I have posted a number of photos of the cut today
https://flic.kr/p/2cCru5K
 
No one on the Canal & River Trust Twitter team could answer why one tunnel was lower than the other! When I tweeted my previous photos last month! Thanks Heartland. Always had to duck when walking through it, the roof is too low!
 
Another look at the Broad Street Tunnel from Gas Street Basin. Seems to be mostly on the other side of the tunnel near Brindleyplace. Above the tunnel it is planned that a Black Sabbath Bench will be installed. The Ozzy Osbourne star has been moved. I think all four stars of the Black Sabbath members will go in front of the bench!

 
Some photos of Gas Street Basin from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal looking quite empty! Nobody on the towpath, no boats moored either!





 
Salvage Turn Bridge near The Cube is closed.







Diversion on foot via The Cube, Commercial Street and Granville Street, then down the steps to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Or Holliday Street and Waterfront Walk.





 
Digbeth Branch Canal iced over / frozen.

Digbeth Junction near Fazeley Street.



Cyclists beyond the Curzon Street Tunnel near the Ashted Bottom Lock.

 
I was informed that horses were considered more important than wives (women).
If a horse and woman fell in the cut then it was the horse that was rescued in the first instance. This was, apparently, on the basis that horses cost money to buy, women did not!
 
A day boatman's daughter (a family member) told me that. However, in her fathers favour he did forbid her from frequenting the cut as it was not the place for a young unmarried woman in his opinion. Her father was not cruel to his horses and anyone who was was soon given their marching orders, after all they were essential to him enabling him to run his six boats. They all had Old Testament names.
 
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Sadly the threat of losing your job didn't deter everyone, as evident by the many court cases.
 
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Service boats on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal near the Tindal Bridge. Carrying materials like the ones used to block off the Broad Street Tunnel.

 
52 Gas Street seen in the brilliant sunshine and shadows. Built around 1876. First used as a Gun factory, later Stables for the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Now a bar, lounge and eaterie!





 
Maintenance at Cambrian Wharf / Farmers Bridge Locks of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. Probably ahead of an open day. Where they might replace one of the lock gates?

 
New Locks for Old Locks, at Farmers Bridge Lock One and Two, Birmingham and Fazeley Canal Open Weekeend 22 to the 24 Feb 2019 they are having an open day this weekend they are allowing the public to go down inside the lock this is a view of the two old lock they are not that old
https://flic.kr/p/SG51d5
 
Radiorails said:
I was informed that horses were considered more important than wives (women).
If a horse and woman fell in the cut then it was the horse that was rescued in the first instance. This was, apparently, on the basis that horses cost money to buy, women did not!
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1550590610727.png
 
ellbrown said:
52 Gas Street seen in the brilliant sunshine and shadows. Built around 1876. First used as a Gun factory, later Stables for the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Now a bar, lounge and eaterie!





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Isn't that the back of the building where the Opposite Lock and The Factory clubs were?
 
The upper part of the building looks pretty grim, derelict or fire damages almost.
The shadows do make it look somewhat ship-shape. Good photo.
 
I noticed when I emerged from the Snow Hill Bridge near Old Snow Hill (where I got off), that they have dammed the side of the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal near the site of Honduras Wharf. Demolition for the Snow Hill Wharf residential site near Shadwell Street. Canal water was a different colour.

 
there was a barge/narrow boat grave yard at saltley by the station.in the 50s.boats were sunk there why i never found out.
wooden boats were left along the cut.we made a den in the cabin of one of the boats, name was comet. it was a ts element owned boat. The only probs we encounter'd was a lock keeper by the power station.he was a nasty piece of work.apart from him all the folks that used the canal was great. there was fish in there too. last time i saw the same waterway in 1990 it was filthy oily and stunk of diesel.
 
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