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Canals of Birmingham

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Astoness said:
oh i would love to do it janet...trouble is although my head tells me i can my knees just would not cope with that distance unless of course i could use my mobility scooter and looking at some of the lovely photos a scooter would not be practical... :( but thanks for the link

lyn
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I Know what you mean Lyn, my legs are also not what they were, already had one knee replaced twice, and the other needs doing. However I retire this year and may do this walk in stages next summer.
 
W.H.Keys, who dealt with tar and tar distillates, had allowed some tar to drain into the canal. Even as late as then, safety measures were not anything like today.
 
Tinpot said:
When I was a student at Birmingham College of Art in the 60's we did a project on Canal Art. My friend and I took the Midland Red buses out to the canal side museum at Braunston to see their collection. I don't know if it still exists?
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Yes, the Canal Museum is still there...

If you are still interested in the subject, this is a good book. ("this" is a link...click on it...)

A bit technical, but very, very interesting...
 
A Sparks said:
Wasn't sure whether to put this in the Black Country history thread but it is applicable to all canals.....interesting clip about traditional canal boat painting.

www.bbc.co.uk

Artist keeps alive craft of decorating narrowboats

Kerri Williams is determined to protect and promote an "endangered" form of painting.
www.bbc.co.uk www.bbc.co.uk
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That artwork is magnificent! I love canal boats but the ladies skills are outstanding!
 
Truly outstanding workmanship, funny as a kid would stand with Dad on bridge Street bridge , watching the highly decorated, barges going up and down to gas Street Basin, with the bargee's shouting to each other, wearing large cloth caps , and bright neck cloths, Dad aldo told me that they had a language which only they could understand, don't know if that was true!!
 
I realize this is not Birmingham history, but shows these events happened elsewhere:

"The Cuyahoga River which flows into Lake Erie – caught fire in 1969 (and) ignited a firestorm of public outrage over the indiscriminate dumping of sewage and industrial chemicals into the Great Lakes...
Mats of dense fecal matter mixed with condoms and other unmentionables joined the oil sludge in a macabre cocktail of toxicity. In 1985, a 23-year-old man died from a rare parasitic waterborne disease (leptospirosis) after falling into the river and swallowing water."

www.environmentalcouncil.org

When Our Rivers Caught Fire

www.environmentalcouncil.org www.environmentalcouncil.org
 
Another canal walk available on Streetview. This time, it's from Lifford Lane to Selly Oak Sainsburys. Quite a variation in scenery, including the Cadbury factory and a section that runs parallel to the railway.

Birmingham, England
maps.app.goo.gl

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
 
Vivienne14 said:
Another canal walk available on Streetview. This time, it's from Lifford Lane to Selly Oak Sainsburys. Quite a variation in scenery, including the Cadbury factory and a section that runs parallel to the railway.

Birmingham, England
maps.app.goo.gl

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
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A beautiful walk! Thank you…..
 
apologies for going " off piste" I noticed a mention about the Dudley canal tunnel in this thread , last week I went for a walk from Brierley Hill waterfront to the canal tunnel mouth , plenty of industrial archeology remaining , here are a few pictures at Blowers Green of the pump house, Viaduct and tunnel mouth
blowers green.jpgviaduct.jpgcanal tunnel.jpg
 
The brick viaduct at Parkhead replaced a an earlier timber structure built to the design of i K Brunel. but made under the supervision of his successor, John Fowler CE. The modern image shows work being done on the viaduct for the Metro Extension to Brierley Hill
 
SteveBhx said:
apologies for going " off piste" I noticed a mention about the Dudley canal tunnel in this thread , last week I went for a walk from Brierley Hill waterfront to the canal tunnel mouth , plenty of industrial archeology remaining , here are a few pictures at Blowers Green of the pump house, Viaduct and tunnel mouth
View attachment 189457View attachment 189458View attachment 189459
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The construction of yesteryear never ceases to amaze me. Functional & true eye candy! And there were not ICE's or EV insight to help! Sorry off topic!
 
maggieanne said:
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
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Hi I have a Charlotte Knight who married a Thomas Worley but there was a Nimrod Worley who was a witness at my Gt Gt Grandad Knights marriage in 1898 - have not worked out yet who he was
 
To appreciate the history and importance of canals in Birmingham, last year I cycled along the towing path between Wolverhampton and Birmingham then from Birmingham to Worcester. I called the ride 'Navigating the Stourport Ring by Bicycle' which may bring back memories to members of this forum. If clicking on this link doesn't take you to my website and that story you may have to cut and paste the link into your browser: www.harlechjoe.wordpress.com.
 
Im not sure. All my notes for these photos 50 odd years ago were lost in a sewage flood. there is a very poorly exposed photo later on the roll that clearly shows a canal meet of some sort, but not certain it was taken at the same time
 
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