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Heartland
master brummie
A useful collection of images from various books.
I must take issue with Historic England's reference to Farmers Bridge wharf and although the first development of wharves did happen opposite the junction between the Lock flight and the Newhall Branch, the wharves that developed from Farmers Bridge along the Newhall Branch became known as the Crescent Wharves and were home to several canal carriers depots. Most notable occupants were the Shropshire Union Canal & Railways depot and their successors there, Fellows, Morton & Clayton. The last canal carrier based there made the transition to road haulage, in the 1940's, and the former warehouses were let out for other uses until the 1960's redevelopment of the site.
I must take issue with Historic England's reference to Farmers Bridge wharf and although the first development of wharves did happen opposite the junction between the Lock flight and the Newhall Branch, the wharves that developed from Farmers Bridge along the Newhall Branch became known as the Crescent Wharves and were home to several canal carriers depots. Most notable occupants were the Shropshire Union Canal & Railways depot and their successors there, Fellows, Morton & Clayton. The last canal carrier based there made the transition to road haulage, in the 1940's, and the former warehouses were let out for other uses until the 1960's redevelopment of the site.
DavidGrain
master brummie
When I read you comment about taking issue with a reference to Farmers Bridge, I thought you were going to comment about the confusion about the location of Framers Bridge Junction. For years the junction behind the ICC was described as Farmers Bridge Junction. That was not correct and I blame Bradshaw for this. In my 1904 Bradshaw's Canals and Navigable Rivers this was described as Farmers Bridge Junction but the actual junction was between the Newhall Branch of the BCN and the Birmingham and Fazerley Canal where the old Toll House is at the top of the Farmers Bridge flight of locks.
Question on historic use of canals.
My ancestors emigrated from Birmingham to Australia in 1854, departing from Liverpool. They took their household possessions with them, which I'm guessing they probably sent by barge to the Liverpool docks for loading. Would this have been possible in 1854?
My ancestors emigrated from Birmingham to Australia in 1854, departing from Liverpool. They took their household possessions with them, which I'm guessing they probably sent by barge to the Liverpool docks for loading. Would this have been possible in 1854?
I would imagine so. The Birmingham & Fazley then Trent & Mersey trough Stoke on Trent to the Macclesfield and Peak Forest and Ashton canals get you to Manchester. The Bridgewater canal would then link up with Leigh Branch and the Leeds & Liverpool to finish.
See the CRT map here
See the CRT map here
Lloyd
master brummie
Birmingham to Liverpool journeys were possible by railway in 1854, so it is possible they travelled by train, and their possesions, securely crated, came with them or by goods train. Their things would need to be packed for the sea journey, and it wouldn't make much sense to have to repack them at the port. It seems unusual to me to take all their possessions with them, many emigants sold up before leaving and bought again once in their new home, saving the cost of transport.
I'm curious because there is evidence that they actually crated a prefabricated timber house into their ship so they could assemble it readily upon arrival. So I'm investigating freight options for other belongings as well. If they were able to transport a house, who knows what other belongings they shipped? They certainly weren't travelling light! Cost does not appear to have been a consideration.
As Lloyd mentioned, rail was also an option at that time. I'm trying to get my head around the logistics of two families travelling together, with about 10 children between them, from Birmingham to Liverpool, in 1854. What were their transport options? How much could they potentially take with them? Considering that they travelled to Australia from Liverpool with a prefabricated timber house in the hold of the ship, I wonder whether they might have bought the house in Birmingham then barged it to Liverpool, or perhaps simply bought the house in Liverpool and had it delivered directly to the docks. It certainly would have been an expensive exercise whichever option they took.
I don't know if you have seen these three links:
en.wikipedia.org
www.prefabmuseum.uk
thurstongroup.co.uk
but they might suggest that the hiouses transported was one of Henry Manning's creations
Prefabricated building - Wikipedia
A short history of prefabrication
Prefabrication is a method of producing standardised components off-site in a factory or workshop, that can be fitted together on-site. ...
The History Of Modular Buildings | News | Thurston Group
The history of modular buildings is truly intriguing. 1837 was the first on-record example of a modular building and was only set to rise.
thurstongroup.co.uk
DavidGrain
master brummie
I remember watching a film in which an American western town bought a school mail order and when they built it, it turned out to be a chapel.
Anyway perhaps we should stop as we are going off topic here.
Anyway perhaps we should stop as we are going off topic here.
I've followed up on those prefabricated houses. There are certainly survivors of Henry Manning's creations around Adelaide and elsewhere, so it is quite possible that my ancestors bought a Manning flatpack. Very interesting, thank you.I don't know if you have seen these three links:
Prefabricated building - Wikipedia
A short history of prefabrication
Prefabrication is a method of producing standardised components off-site in a factory or workshop, that can be fitted together on-site. ...but they might suggest that the hiouses transported was one of Henry Manning's creationsThe History Of Modular Buildings | News | Thurston Group
The history of modular buildings is truly intriguing. 1837 was the first on-record example of a modular building and was only set to rise.
Heartland
master brummie
Taking goods by narrowboat from Birmingham was limited to what could be packed into the hold of one or a pair of boats and would have also needed transshipment for carriage across the Mersey to Liverpool Docks. Carriage by train may have been a more practical option. The LNWR, in 1854 provided a service that might have been possible, probably with a partner such as Pickfords or Crowley.
Assessing what was transported to Australia would depend on what recollections the family has of what came from England. As to the pre-fabricated house, the maker of that house may be a guide. Birmingham might have been a city of many trades, but the cost of such a building needs to be considered as well as the reality of what was conveyed by the ship. There were timber merchants in Birmingham, but it would have been cheaper to buy the material at Liverpool.
Did the family have the finances for such transport costs or is this a memory handed down and embellished?
Later the development of corrugated iron in South Staffordshire became an important export item.
Assessing what was transported to Australia would depend on what recollections the family has of what came from England. As to the pre-fabricated house, the maker of that house may be a guide. Birmingham might have been a city of many trades, but the cost of such a building needs to be considered as well as the reality of what was conveyed by the ship. There were timber merchants in Birmingham, but it would have been cheaper to buy the material at Liverpool.
Did the family have the finances for such transport costs or is this a memory handed down and embellished?
Later the development of corrugated iron in South Staffordshire became an important export item.
Heartland
master brummie
As to Farmers Bridge Junction, there have been recent discussions on the Canal Forum site. The choice of calling the junction by the Indoor Arena as Farmers Bridge is not the best and is one devised in relatively modern time. Distance tables refer to the Junction as Deep Cutting when looking towards Broad Street and Old Turn Junction when considering the Oozells Street Branch.
There appears to have been a strong market for prefabricated "flatpack" houses for settlers in the colonies, with notable examples manufactured specifically for the task in London. It would have been fairly expensive to transport even a small house kit from London to Liverpool, but I don't believe cost would have been a consideration. As you suggest, train may have been a better transport option.
catmum
knowlegable brummie
Hi, I'm researching my husbands family, the Worleys, they married into the knight family but I haven't got much info yet, can you fill in any gaps, I'd appreciate it, thanks, Maggie
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
Article from the Iron Room, Warwick and Birmingham Canal.
theironroom.wordpress.com
On This Day… Navigating the 18th Century
For this week’s blog I decided to return to an ‘On this day….’ format. With this in mind I searched our catalogue for an interesting event occurring on the 6th March at some point in the past. Duri…
theironroom.wordpress.com
Covroad
master brummie
Pictures taken yesterday while walking from Windsor Street to town. Note the obligatory abandoned pushchair of the RHS really frustrates me how canals are treated as a dumping site for unwanted items.
please note no citation to photo as take by me 11/3/2023 @ 13.34 pm hope this satisfies members !!
please note no citation to photo as take by me 11/3/2023 @ 13.34 pm hope this satisfies members !!
Attachments
Covroad
master brummie
I worked on a tunnelling / pipeline project where the pipeline terminated in Southall Gas yard, at the rear of the site was the Grand Union Canal.They have a clear up at the canals near me in London from time to time, all sorts of stuff gets pulled out, it's disgusting what some people will dump in there
Both the client and main works contractor in conjunction with the local authority and local community group cleared overgrown vegetation, dredged a section of the canal , put some ammenity seating in situ / restored footways.
I went back to site some 2 years after to undertake a post construction survey, it was as though the improvements had never been done seating vandalised / burnt, shopping trolleys etc in the canal so sad to see.
Janet Hunt
master brummie
There is a clean up of the Tipton Canal this month by IWA if anyone is interested.
I myself have something else on that weekend, but they do look for volunteers.
waterways.org.uk
I myself have something else on that weekend, but they do look for volunteers.
Birmingham Canals Cleanup 2023
Join our friendly team for a weekend with a difference helping to cleanup the canals of Birmingham on the 25th - 26th March.
waterways.org.uk
Martyn
master brummie
Having walked the entire BCN and Grand Union I can safely say that the Walsall Canal where this clean-up is taking place is the most rubbish strewn on the system. Why people think it's acceptable to dump tyres, kitchen cabinets, fridges, wheelie bins, pallets, traffic cones and, of course, shopping trolleys into the water is confusing to say the least.
Janet Hunt
master brummie
Absolutely, I think it is called laziness, when folks do not dispose of such items responsibly, it is also very selfish and costly to the councils and waterways to put right. Unfortunately there have always been and will always be those who think this is acceptable behaviour.
harlechjoe
knowlegable brummie
Would anyone be able to help me understand whether the rubbish was simply tipped from the rubbish cart into the cargo holds of barges, or whether the rubbish was contained in some way for lifting and shifting?
Lloyd
master brummie
Probably just shovelled in and out. Remember, labour was cheap in those days!
Heartland
master brummie
My understanding as to rubbish, night soil was that it was tipped into the hold of a canal boat (narrowboat) at the various depots near the canal. Night soil from the hold to be placed on the fields was removed in the same way.
Salvage depot procedure did change over time where incinerated dust would be placed in the hold of canal boats
Salvage depot procedure did change over time where incinerated dust would be placed in the hold of canal boats
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
In the 1870s the night soil was carted to various wharfs in the occupation of the Corporation, viz., Holliday Street, Coventry Road, Great Barr Street, and Shadwell Street. A small proportion sent away to the country from a siding on the Midland Railway at Lawley Street.