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Canals of Birmingham

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
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Interesting stuff. I think some of the boat people came from the land. The advances in farm machinery probably resulted in less labour being required. The dam material is a good find. I read somewhere though that the whip was not for whipping the horse. It was for making a loud noise that could be heard a mile away. A signalling system to advise of the approaching boat especially when rounding a curve. The whip was specially designed and the tip probably broke the sound barrier. I forget what the whip was called. A "smack whip" ? You can see them on some Roman pictures.
A bull whip is another name they are just for making noise that an animal would move away from. You can see the key in the brick siding under the bridge where the wooden piling would slide in. The pieces are tapered to fit at the ends. The wood is thicker in the middle to withstand the pressure load at midspan the lower piece being heavier loaded. They must have used this to hold the water back at the bridge just west of the Northfield bend when they moved the canal over to clear the rail road. Remember the canal disaster. I wonder if it was this kind of thing that collapsed. Seems to me you would have to put oakum in between the pieces and wedge the whole thing down. Could be that the sides of the canal had become tapered inwards at the top. So that trimming the length of the pieces to go by the entrance of the key made them only just long enough at the bottom where the most pressure is. Just may not have been enough.
 
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Rupert all my time on the cut I never saw a whip so I cannot really comment about it only what I have read
This photo is on a few of the boards and Gas St but heavily cropped so here is the full photo.. the boats being unloaded at LMS Wharf at Albion Railway Basin which is of the Newhall Branch Canal (just below Farmers Bridge Locks ) I have the Newhall Branch I cannot find it on the map I have... on the pic at Gas St it is Cambrian Wharf
Few observations on the pic.....Drum of Ovaltine...the old fire can on the dock......The man working the crane on the left
 
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Absolutely stunning photograph Cromwell. You really get the flavour of things at the wharf from that. Looks like general cargo. Come to think of it I don't believe that I have ever seen a load in a canal boat before that was not coal or coke. They were always tented so that the load could not be seen. I wonder what the wheels were; factory belting wheels maybe. Wonder what the date was 30s maybe. The quality seems very good.
 
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Rupert, they are factory belting wheels and I will put a better pic on tomorrow (Replace that one for a larger one) as I made a mistake reducing it to much.
Another small thing I picked up on was a boat was not towed from the front as it would go straight into the bank but if you look at old photo's they were towed from about a quarter of the way down from the bow and the towrope was attached to a small mast( I will see if I can sort a pic out)
This pic just shows you how Brindley designed his locks the way he did
some say a fatal mistake others say brilliant .....argument for and against
The Narrow boat just fitted inside a lock so minimum water would be used to operate the lock........
 
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Now here is a puzzle for you......on the Farmers Bridge Section of the canal heading out of town where the canal goes under Summers Row ...I took the following pics of underneath the bridge
on the towpath side they have iron grilled gates but not on the other side
what was they made for..........
I know in the war one or two tunnels were made in the bridges for firemens access so they could use canal water but not this many...does anyone know ? and its not for the horses as how would they have got over the other side
 
Glad to see you have put a little light on my darkness John........
batteries were running low and I had no candles
Only just noticed how low the Gate is ....so you would have to duck which seems strange
 
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One of the rarest type locks on the Birmingham navigation system was the Guillotine Lock, the two photo’s 1920’s show here where taken at Lifford Lane on the Stratford on Avon Canal (see map) the narrow boat shown…… the rudder could be fixed at the back or front so it could go back from where it started from without turning round.
The Guillotine lock was designed to stop one canal from taking another canals water but since nationalization there was no point so became obsolete, I think the Ironwork is still their at Lifford Lane as it was left for historical interest and would like to see a photo if some one can take a snap ……if not I will a bit later down the line
Just walking up towards Brum along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from the site of the Guillotine you will soon come to Breedon Cross bridge (see last photo) just note how close the railway on the far left was close to the canal…note the railway carriages …..today there is a wall that cuts it off
 
As requested Graham ....photo of the guillotine lock at Lifford Lane on the Birmingham -Stratford Canal.Will attempt to clean it up a bit in Photoshop later ,see if I can remove some of the art-work.

Picture 3 shows the junction of the Birmingham - Worcester Canal with the Stratford Canal....... 5 1/2 miles to Birmingham,keep left,........ 25 1/2 to Stratford,turn right.

Picture 4 shows list of tolls on the Toll House at the junction.

We had a nice walk along the canal this morning,I used to spend many hours,as a young lad on this section of the canal ,teaching maggots to swim on a hook, didn't catch many fish though


Colin
 
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Colin .....I would like to say first thanks a lot for those photo's ...I see their is no trace left of the building on the left..........I have used computer wizardry to square one of the pic's up for easy reading
Makes it all worthwhile if folk are intrested and you have a bit of help ......once again ..Thanks
 
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These three photo’s show you how easy it was to put the covers up and over the cargo that was being carried ……the Narrow boat (Barge) had Three strong pieces of timber (each one called a Beam) across the hold to keep the sides in place, into these was slotted a “Stand” one into each beam (two were used) which were wooden uprights used to support the planks ……..The third Beam supported the mast Box in which a mast was used and could be adjusted in height to get the best level for the horse towing line to tow the boat …all very simple and clever stuff
 
Can anyone point me in the direction of (or were it was )
Draw Bridge Road at Shirley in 1923 on the Birmingham Stratford on Avon Canal
 
Graham,Drawbridge Road runs between Peterbrook Road and Haslucks Green Road its really Majors Green now.Its about 1 mile from where I live.The Drawbridge pub is along side the canal,next to the drawbridge,if you fancy a pint let me know,its changed a bit since this photo.

Colin
 
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Thanks for that Colin, I have been lifted the bridge up a couple of times and knew it was in Shirley but I was going down to Oxford didnt stop at the pub as we were in a hurry, but I will be in their at 12 today
 
Lovely pictures, thank you.
Two years ago i was invited to go for a trip on The Grand Western Horse boat at Tiverton, it goes from Tiverton to Sanford Paverell. It will be a day that i will never forget, beautiful views of the countryside and lots of wildlife, and most important of all tranquillity. it is also used in the summer evenings, where they stop off at one of the bridges and enjoy fish and chips which is brought to them from a local shop owner. If you are ever down this neck of the woods please pay a visit it is well worth it.
 
Well it looks like the old pub in the previous photo's had long gone and a new pub erected in its place........ met Colin ( seen in the first photo with Maureen my wife) while I scrambled over the brambles to take a shot of the bridge from roughly were the others were taken from (but the brambles were to thick) but I did stumble on a Victorian rubbish tip what someone had been digging out......cold windy day but had a great chat with Colin and a few beers.....nice to put faces to names
 
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The old 'pub' was still there in the early fifties when I regularly rode my bike up and down the hills at the Acker Docks down the road from it. It was as I recall run by two elder women and I thought it was more like an outdoor than a proper pub but then, I was a whipper snapper, and not at that time introduced to the joys of a bar .
Can only just believe you have taken the latest shots of the same place, Cromwell. They have ruined the memory by poshing the whole area up like that. Those brambles you struggled with were not there in my day and one could walk on both sides of the cut easily. Will.
 
Another thing Will, is the bridge goes up and down at the touch of a button now .........not like the old days when it was brute force that moved it
 
Blow me they keep fiddling don't they. If it ain't broken why change it.?
Touch of a button eh! Little wonder there are reports of today's people becoming obese.
Still, I wonder if the kids still climb the chains?
Will.
 
Will ,I was telling Graham about the old "outdoor" that was there .I remember it in the late 60's,when as you say it was run by two old ladies.
It was always a last resort if you wanted something when all the other shops were closed,remember Sunday trading rules operated in those days,but they never had much stock,just a couple of bags of sugar,packets of tea,tins of soup and if you wanted cigarettes you had to have what ever they had in stock.
Kids still ride their bikes around the banks by the aqueduct although these days they tend to be motor powered.
The Victorian rubbish tip that Graham refers to,I was told was from
Birmingham and was used as spoil infill on the banking of the canal,this area was very popular a few years ago,with "treasure hunters" and I have seen examples of bottles and pots that have been found here.They have now fenced in the area making access more difficult as Graham found out.
Thanks Graham for the chance to meet you and your wife,as you say its good to put a face to a name,and to those that haven't met Cromwell ,he really is a nice guy.

Colin
 
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Photo of Toll House (the original) at Farmers Bridge top lock built about 1790, photo taken in 1981
Second Photo (the replica) taken in 2004,the original Toll House was demolished and a replica built in 1990’s
Third Photo taken in 2007
 
The Whitmore Arm was a private wharf just off Farmers Bridge locks (See Map) all trace of it has disappeared and has been filled in except for one building... a warehouse that stood on the edge of the Wharf, I took these photo a few weeks back and it looks like attempts are being made to save it... as all around has been demolished and are awaiting redevelopment
 
Just a few yards down from the Whitmore Arm heading towards where the canal goes under Newhall Street the building on the left is the World famous Ellington's factory (photo 1913) and once home to the Museum of Science and Industry.. now sadly gone and moved to Millennium Point
Second pic is an intresting one as it comes from a newspaper dated 1875
The Sultan of Zanzibar at the Elkington Factory....rare pic
 
Not many people know that when the went to the Science Museum they had to walk over the canal to get their.....as there was no bridge
Take a look at the drawing and the canal flows right through Elkingtons and would pass underneath the feet of those two figures by the 5 window from the left ..........in WW2 it was taken over by Delta Metals who moved to Walsall and in the 1950's this became the Science Museum
 
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MARVELLOUS AS EVER. I'VE A FIERCE COLD AT PRESENT WHICH IS AN INFERNAL OBSTRUCTION.
I NEVER RECALL THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY BEING SO ENORMOUS AND NEO CLASSICAL MAJESTICAL. PERHAPS IT IS MY MISTED EYES BUT I CANNOT SEE THE CANAL THROUGH THE MIDDLE, THOUGH IT MAKES PERFECT SENSE. AS A CHILD I WAS ABLE TO WALK THE BRIDGE AND ALWAYS PAUSED TO VIEW THE CANAL BELOW.
I WONDER WHAT HAPPENED TO MUCH OF THE EXHIBITS IN THE ORIGINAL ON NEWHALL ST. (IT IS AMAZING THE TELECOM TOWER DESCENDS 600' TO A MASSIVE COMPLEX LINKING ASSORTED TUNNELS.)
IT GET THE IMPRESSION THOSE ARCHES OF HIGH FIRE BLUE ENGINEERING BRICK ARE STRUCTURAL BUTRESSING. OF COURSE THE VALIANT FIREMEN WOULD HARDLY NEED SUCH AN ARRAY. IN ANY CASE THOSE ARCHES ARE OF THE VINTAGE, AT LEAST, OF THE BORDESLEY-MOOR STREET VIADUCT.
CLEARLY THAT ILLUMINATED RAILINGED CLOSED PASSAGE HAS BEEN BRICKED IN A LONG TIME AGO. IT WOULD BE WORTH MAKING A DISCREET CUT AND CHIPPING A FEW BRICKS OUT TO SEE WHAT IS YONDER.
THE ROUNDED CORNER BRICKS ARE A WORK OF PRECISION AND ALMOST CERTAINLY NOT AN EMERGENCY RUSH JOB ww 11. INCIDENTALLY ARE THOSE OVERHEAD LIGHTS IN THE ARCHES?
ANYWAY, THAT TUNNEL IS FASCINATING AND THERE WAS A REASON OF MAGNITUDE FOR IT. IT LIKELY WAS A SERVICE INGRESS-EGRESS SERVING A MANUFACTORY. IT LOOKS ABOUT THE RIGHT SIZE. THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN TROLLEYS ON RAIL.
WHAT AN APPALLING STATE OF AFFAIRS TO DEMOLISH THAT WONDERFUL OLD TAVERN RUN BY THE TWO ELDERFOLK LADIES. THE OBTUSENESS TO THE EXTENT OF INCREDULITY IS DUMBFOUNDING. BUT THEN THAT IS MEDIOCRITY. THE WHITE CONTRAPTION IS A TYPICAL PRODUCT OF SUCH LAME MEDIOCRITY.
THE LOCK ON THE STRATFORD STRETCH IS A CHARMER AND THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THE REASON FOR THEM! (INTER WATER MERGING)
PRESUMABLY THE BIG BUILDING ON THE LEFT WOULD BE THE LOCK KEEPER'S ABODE AND TOLL GATHER STATION. WHAT A GLORIOUS PLACE TO LIVE.
INCIDENTALLY, I NOTICE CCTV CAMERAS HIGH UP IN ONE OF THE PICTURES. PRESUMABLY THE OLD SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY MUSEUM IS HQ FOR HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GOING BLEARY EYED WATCHING SCREENS.
WEIRD.
ON THAT SALUTORY NOTE I MUST QUEST ANODYNE UNTIL THIS BLOWS OVER.
INCIDENTALLY, EVENTUALLY IT WOULD BE A STERLING IDEA TO COMPILE ALL THE PICTURES POSSIBLE WITH ACCOMPANYING COMMENTARY AS A SUBDIVISION OF THIS ASTONISHING SITE - IF IT CAN TAKE IT!
THX AGAIN.
 
Cromwell...I have just had a chance to read through the last five pages on the forum re the Canals and the lives of the people who ran the barges
and their families. A totally different life to many others during those years and it's certainly interesting to read about this subject and how, with the coming of the railways, the lifestyle seemingly evaporated and it is only until recently the canals are being cared for again. A lot of money is needed to get the very neglected canal systems back to form.

A few years ago I visited the pub called the "Fiddle & Bone" down by the canal in Brum on Sheepcote Street. It was closed down in 2003 unfortunately.
I was wondering if this building where the pub was had in fact housed
barge horses at one time? I have no idea what happened to that building..
does anyone know?

I was able to take a trip to Gloucester Docks a couple of years ago and spent an interesting afternoon there going through some of the buildings
that have been restored and watching the long boats coming into dock.
The place has an amazing history and I was very pleased to see that
the preservation of this historic area is v ery important to the area.

I found this info on their site. You may already have this
Canal Boat Registers
Gloucestershire Archives GBR L6/13/3/1-6
These volumes record information about each canal boat (mainly narrow boats) registered at Gloucester between 1879 and 1952. The information includes the name of the owner and the name of the master. These boats traded between Gloucester/Sharpness and the industrial towns in the Midlands. There is a personal names index.
BCN Gauging Books
British Waterways Archives, Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks, has a searchable database giving the names of owners of canal (narrow) boats using the Birmingham Canal Navigations from the 1820s to the 1940s (including some based in Gloucestershire).
 
Jennyann, As You have been to Gloucester Docks it just shows what can be done with the old Severn & Canal Carrying Company Warehouses and they can be turned into tourist attractions leaving the outsides of the buildings unaltered and now bringing in a lot of tourist money into Gloucester……it was a great idea turning the warehouses into antique centres with trips on the river with the skipper pointing out its historical past, buildings and boats
The Severn & Canal Boat Carrying Company had barges that in the 1920’s met boats in ports all around the Bristol Channel bringing their cargo to Gloucester to be transferred into Narrow boats to be towed by tug, up to the Midlands right the way into Gas Street Basin some were dropped off at Worcester and towed the rest of the way by horses ……looking back a bit further to the 1790’s when they started to construct towpaths gangs of men use to tow the boats and when horses were introduced riots broke out as the men saw their way of life coming to an end.
The subject is so vast but I am trying just to keep to the Canals of Brum but as we all know one thing leads to another.
Hmld get well soon……like you I am under the weather….but coping
There are lights under the tunnels as well as CCTV (sign of the times) the wall at the back is not a single brick thick for easy knockdown but are built up of a layer of headers then a layer of stretchers so it’s a foot thick wall not made to knock down easy……..you can see as well that the tunnel was built in 3 stages as the road was widened (the far one being the original tunnel or Bridge on how you see it)
Gas Street named after the first Gas works in Brum situated between Gas St and Berkley St 1821
Photo shows going under bridge….the one before Newhall St note the iron corner on the right hand side to protect the brickwork but still groves are worn into it by the towrope
 
Wonderful old 18th century drawing of Cambrian Wharf ( Now Crescent Wharf) at the start of the Newhall Branch Canal
 
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