Canals of Birmingham

[Ray T]

Might not have remembered this precisely, but didn't a prisoner escape along there - possibly 1960s I think.

It wasn't my dad, he was in there in the 50s!

 

[mikejee]

Below is a plan from 2021. It seems to be shown in very faint lines. Next to it are some circular structures. So could these be sewage treatment items, an dmean that, for now anyway sewage treated /not treated is discharged there. Just a suggestion

 

[Pedrocut]

A wharf is indicated on the 1890 Map and perhaps it was a wharf used to supply the Asylum/ Prison. Looking at the Google 3D the tunnel is bigger than I had imagined.

 

[Pedrocut]

Might not have remembered this precisely, but didn't a prisoner escape along there - possibly 1960s I think.

A bit of history ! The place shown on the Google picture above at Winson Green Prison seems to be known as "Wilson's Corner" where Charles Wilson, Great Train Robber made his escape in 1964 on August 12 at 3.20 am. He had served 4 months and was recaptured in Jan 1968 in Canada.

 

[Pedrocut]

In November 1971 two boys noticed a rope hanging from the Prison wall near to where Wilson had escaped. They notified the Gate and it was found that two prisoners had escaped. The boys escaped without giving their names !

 

[A Sparks]

The Roundhouse is open for visitors during Heritage Week...

Volunteers keen to showcase landmark Birmingham building

Special tours are being offered around The Roundhouse in Birmingham during the heritage week.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Richard Dye]

The Roundhouse is open for visitors during Heritage Week...

Volunteers keen to showcase landmark Birmingham building

Special tours are being offered around The Roundhouse in Birmingham during the heritage week.

www.bbc.co.uk

Such a wonderful part of Birminghams heritage, why is it only open so infrequently?

 

[A Sparks]

Such a wonderful part of Birminghams heritage, why is it only open so infrequently?

I can't answer that I'm afraid, I live in London now!
It looks a great place, I'm ashamed to say I was not aware of it when I lived in Brum although, as the young lady who had worked at the Crescent Theatre also said in the clip, I knew some of the area around.

 

[Richard Dye]

I can't answer that I'm afraid, I live in London now!
It looks a great place, I'm ashamed to say I was not aware of it when I lived in Brum although, as the young lady who had worked at the Crescent Theatre also said in the clip, I knew some of the area around.

Thank you, I never knew about it and always thought I was pretty connected when I lived there! It must have been one of those places on a hidden path.

 

[Pedrocut]

A walk from Spaghetti to Bordesley Junction.

 

[Richard Dye]

A walk from Spaghetti to Bordesley Junction.

So much history made on that canal! Magnificent considering the machanisatiimon of the time!

 

[Pedrocut]

Webbyswalks starts the Stratford Canal from King’s Norton Junction to Shirley Drawbridge.

 

[Morturn]

I poped out to have a look at Typoo Basin at the end of the Grand Union Canal yesterday.

 

[A Sparks]

Great photo!

 

[Vivienne14]

Beautiful industrial ! Love it. Colours are superb.

 

[Richard Dye]

I poped out to have a look at Typoo Basin at the end of the Grand Union Canal yesterday.

View attachment 196684

Wonderful blend of old and new! Great photo Mort….

 

[Curly]

I poped out to have a look at Typoo Basin at the end of the Grand Union Canal yesterday.

View attachment 196684

Quite atmospheric, apart from the graffiti

 

[Pedrocut]

Typhoo Tea teeters on the brink of administration

The loss-making firm is attempting a turnaround amid a break-in and fire at its former factory.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[A Sparks]

Some news today regarding the Midlands canal system....

West Midlands canal routes set to become 'nature havens'

About seven miles of canals in Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and the Black Country are being enhanced.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[paul stacey]

That photo #1840, is brilliant, Mort, so atmospheric and alluring. !! I agree with Richard, old and modern in one shot !!

 

[Morturn]

That photo #1840, is brilliant, Mort, so atmospheric and alluring. !! I agree with Richard, old and modern in one shot !!

Thank you, thats kind of you to say so.

 

[Martyn]

I poped out to have a look at Typoo Basin at the end of the Grand Union Canal yesterday.

A very nice picture but you might be doing the area a disservice by referring to it as the 'Typoo' Basin, it's not as bad as all that

 

[Pedrocut]

 

[cookie273uk]

Canals were a favourite subject of mine, here is one of Gas ST basin I painted many many years ago. Eric

 

[paul stacey]

Yes, and very true, to life Eric, as I remember it!!

 

[Colroy07]

Canal Query.

Midlands Outdoors Youtube channel shows a video of Soho Loop and poses the question. What was this canal tunnel used for? The screenshot and the OS Map from 1890 show the position next to Winson Green prison.

View attachment 194610View attachment 194611

 

[Colroy07]

I believe before the prison was there that area was called Birmingham heath. But Isaac Hawker built his glass house just of the main canal as seen in the pictures.

 

[DavidGrain]

As I understand it Winson Green was a grassy area of Birmingham Heath. Over the years Birmingham Council built many institutional buildings there. Prison, Workhouse (which became the hospital), a mental hospital, a smallpox isolation hospital.

 

[Colroy07]

I think that was true it was a heath that went across to soho and there was some posh houses spread across Birmingham heath. Late 1700 s that’s when the glass housee was built then demolished to build the workhouse in the 1800s. There are some picture taken late 1900 when they dug the old mill quite detailed.

 

[Lloyd]

I believe before the prison was there that area was called Birmingham heath. But Isaac Hawker built his glass house just of the main canal as seen in the pictures.

Heath Street is a clue.