Canals of Birmingham

[Covroad]

Fellows,Morton, and Clayton of Fazeley Street, building dated 1935, and some associated links of company hisTory.

https://www.canaljunction.com/craft/fellowsmortonclayton.htm

NarrowBoat Magazine: The Cargoes of Fellows, Morton & Clayton

Alan Faulkner and Chris M. Jones look at the large variety of goods transported by one of the largest carriers in canal history, which included everything from coal to car chassis

narrowboatmagazine.com

 

[Covroad]

Gas St basin 1992
Source historicengland.org.uk

 

[Covroad]

The ramp down to the canal of Gas St (number 16) adjacent cast arch bridge

 

[mw0njm.]

1933.... Construction of the coal unloading area outside Nechells Princes Power Station showing the large Telpher installation for unloading canal barges and the rail coal tipping facilities in the distance

Robert Ferris .warwickshirerailways

 

[Rainmann]

Re: Canals of Brum

Crommie, nice pictures. I'm glad you use the word "barge" O0 - I was corrected by some knowall on another website for not calling the powered boat a narrow boat and the motorless thing that it tows a butty.

Anyway, that's bye-the-bye, this is a great topic as I've always been fascinated by the cuts around Brum. Besides Black Patch Park, the cut and the railway bank were my favourite hang-outs as a child... still are if I get the chance.

As kids one of our favourite tricks (cruel, I know and we deserved to be thrashed for it) was firing a catpult at the towing 'oss ass, from a bridge to see if we could make him bolt. Another was emptying cans of water from the bridge onto the bargee steering at the back. Many's the time I've escaped by the skin of my teeth from being battered with a long barge-pole when the enraged bloke came after us. I was quick in those days.

Here are a couple of photos of my own, which, understandably, are not quite as old as yours.

This Bride & Groom must have shared our interest in the cut to have their wedding pictures taken there in 1992...

Then there's this barking bargee...

(sorry if I've posted that one before) :-\

This was taken from Newhall Street with the old Science Museum (remember that) on the right...

Of course things have changed over the years since the 'oss drawn days...

Wonder what the old bargees would make of all this trendy stuff...

Ö​

Thanks for the memory jogging post. Ray

 

[Covroad]

Some more pictures of the canals and the areas upgraded for entertainment, and commercial use.
The Maillbox , with residential narrow boats , and pics of access to NIA , etc the third picture is a lovely view of the canal infrastructure.
source historicengland.org.uk

 

[Covroad]

Typhoon Wharf Fazeley Street , overgrown imagine how many cases of tea the canal and working boats moved by water in its heyday

Source historicengland.org.uk

 

[Covroad]

The old banana wharf and swinging lock gate (Fyffes) Fazeley Street
Source historicengland.org.uk

 

[Nick Phillips]

The old banana wharf and swinging lock gate (Fyffes) Fazeley Street
Source historicengland.org.uk

I know this spot well opposite is a " stop lock " many people look at having no idea what it was for.
Do you know why it was called a "Banana wharf?"

Nick Phillips.

 

[mikejee]

Because they unloaded bananas there There seems to have been a lot of banana business in birmingham,. There was a banana warehouse in Digbeth area and warehouses under moor st station dealt with bananas. ?It has been stated that HP sauce used bananas in their recipe,(though whether that is true now with the move abroad I do not know)

 

[Covroad]

I know this spot well opposite is a " stop lock " many people look at having no idea what it was for.
Do you know why it was called a "Banana wharf?"

Nick Phillips.

Hello,
My understanding was there was a warehouse there for Bananas, I am researching Fyffse location in Birmingham, will update when I get more info.

 

[mikejee]

There is a thread concerning them, though it is a bit bitty

Banana Warehouses & Ovens

This thread was created from posts on other threads about the bull ring banana houses. many memories flooding back to my nipper I have got memorys of the old banana ware house ;i think it was mr jacksons ware house ; can you recall the name have a nice day every body...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[Covroad]

There is a thread concerning them, though it is a bit bitty

Banana Warehouses & Ovens

This thread was created from posts on other threads about the bull ring banana houses. many memories flooding back to my nipper I have got memorys of the old banana ware house ;i think it was mr jacksons ware house ; can you recall the name have a nice day every body...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

Hello,
Just had a quick look at the thread , it jogged my memory re the fruit and veg wholesalers in the town, and given me some areas to research.
Thank you

 

[Brummie a long time ago]

The old banana wharf and swinging lock gate (Fyffes) Fazeley Street
Source historicengland.org.uk

I lived almost opposite in Fazeley Street in the 50s. Barn Street was just about opposite, and I was a few doors away. The waste bin on the post on the left edge was almost the corner with Barn Street.

The lettering on the building behind me on the white panel was British Waterways at that time, I think it has changed since. I can just about remember looking into the wharf when the gates, behind me, were opened.

Andrew.

 

[Pedrocut]

Park wharf Sallley in 1935.

The Warwick canals by Faulkner, Alan H.

 

[Covroad]

Park wharf Sallley in 1935.

The Warwick canals by Faulkner, Alan H.

View attachment 176792

Fellows,Morton, and Clayton must have been the key player in the canal trade in Birmingham and the greater Midlands area.

 

[Bob Davis]

Fellows,Morton, and Clayton muswesfgt have been the key player in the canal trade in Birmingham and the greater Midlands area.

I thought they were one of the largest barge owners in the country. I am sure they were the principle canal carriers in the West Midlands.
Bob

 

[Richard Dye]

I lived almost opposite in Fazeley Street in the 50s. Barn Street was just about opposite, and I was a few doors away. The waste bin on the post on the left edge was almost the corner with Barn Street.
View attachment 176771
The lettering on the building behind me on the white panel was British Waterways at that time, I think it has changed since. I can just about remember looking into the wharf when the gates, behind me, were opened.

Andrew.

Andrew, you look like a young Wyatt Earp with that long revolver in your hand! looks like you are left-handed, Wyatt would have appreciated that

 

[Pedrocut]

The Warwick canals by Faulkner, Alan H.

“A crowd of boats discharging coal on the BWJC at Nechells generating station in 1932. On the right is the southern entrance to the loop canal serving the station.”

 

[Pedrocut]

Just noticed the picture posted above is 1932, a year before the one posted by Pete, see below.
Taken from a diffent angle.

Post in thread 'Canals of Birmingham'
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/canals-of-birmingham.4054/post-780792

 

[Janet Hunt]

Just found this gem of a PDF download book Called "Birmingham Canal Navigations, Cruising and walking Guide" Dated 1984. Great details and basic drawings.

The file is too large for attaching but you can access it here: https://bcnsociety.com/bcn-resources/

If you navigate down the page displayed "books maps and videos" it shows the PDF blue book that you can view online or download. Also some great pictures on this site. There is a section on guaging on the BCN with a drop down database. I know my great grandfather was a boatman and worked for W Swingler, not certain of the name of his barge

 

[Pedrocut]

The architecture of canals by Pratt, Derek (2005)

“The pumping station at Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick, stands between two canals. The upper one is the winding Birminghan) Old Main Line and the lower one is Telford's dead straight New Main Line.”

 

[Covroad]

The ‘Roving Bridge’ over the Wolverhampton branch line of the canal (just off Fazeley Junction) Sheepcote Street Birmingham

Source Historicengland.org.uk

 

[Covroad]

Farmers Bridge Lock , James Brindley Walk Birmingham, with the cranes that use to load and offload goods and materials when the canals were distribution routes around the UK
Source historicengland.org.uk

 

[Pedrocut]

The Eight Locks.



The architecture of canals, by Pratt, Derek (2005)

 

[Pedrocut]

“Four pairs of British Waterways boats unloading spelter ingots at Tyseley wharf in 1957.”

The Warwick canals by Faulkner, Alan H.

 

[Richard Dye]

The Eight Locks.

View attachment 177000

The architecture of canals, by Pratt, Derek (2005)

What was the drop across the eight locks, does anyone know?

 

[Martyn]

What was the drop across the eight locks, does anyone know?

45ft from the 453ft Birmingham Level to the 408ft Walsall Level

 

[Richard Dye]

45ft from the 453ft Birmingham Level to the 408ft Walsall Level

Thank you!

 

[Pedrocut]

“A stoppage at Olton with a cluster of boats, including a steamer on the left, waiting for repairs to the canal to be combleted.”

The Warwick canals by Faulkner, Alan H.