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Canals of Birmingham

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
  • Start date Start date
I remember visiting Tipton, in the 50's, and standing with my dad near the canal bridge, watching the barges and butties, coming by, with the ladies in headscarves, steering them and the men standing on the tarpaulin sheets on the butties with poles. There were many of them to going up and down. I remember the gaudy painted pieces on the barges, and the washing lines, full of clothes blowing along the barges deck. Seems an eternity now, but still very vivid, another world long gone, dad said they had their own language, that land people, could not understand!!!!
 
DavidGrain said:
This photo shows how many canal basins, arms etc there were in the area now covered by Centenary Square, Baskerville House, ICC and the Library
Click to expand...
it certainly does david..i have always thought this photo is wonderful...thank goodness we have them

lyn
 
Below is a photo of vehicles assembled on Worcester Wharf. I am guessing that the photo may have been taken from about the position of the red arrow on the e1880s map, though the photo would seem to come from around the time of WW1. On two of the vehicles company names can be read .
On the horse drawn cart can be seen J.Graham & Sons No.8. This (from 1913 Kellys) would be Thomas James Graham & Sons, cement & plaster manufacturers, dealers in hair, lathes, whiting, salt bath bricks, hardeners' potting sands, glass sands etc, and hired sack contractors; Worcester Wharf, Bridge St.
On the nearest motor vehicle can be read Greave. this would be Greaves, Bull & Lakin Ltd, cement manufacturers, Worcester Wharf, Bridge St


Worcester Wharf off Broad Street in 1920.jpgWorcester Wharf 1880s.jpg
 
The picture appears on Flickr with the following description.

Worcester Wharf Birmingham 1920

This is a scene at Worcester Wharf in Birmingham. Worcester Wharf was of Bridge Street which is off Broad Street in central Birmingham, the wharf was part of the Gas Street basin complex but on the Suffolk Street side. The scene is a line up of vehicles but not I suspect a staged affair, the two vehicles in the middle OM 8088 and OM 8089 are the same make (Leyland) but both are work stained, the nearest has rather staid solid wheels the other more rakish spoked wheels, both lorries work for Greaves Portland Cement and the nearest carries the lettering T.J. Graham Alcester Wharf. The more distant lorry (OP 3175) is a Dennis. The horses and carts also belong to T.J.Graham and Sons.
The lettering Greaves Portland Cement is interesting in so much as there was a cement Works at Greaves Sidings on the main line between Leamington Spa and Banbury until the 1990's.
Copyright Unknown Geoff Dowling collection
 
A cannot see where it might say "Alcester Wharf " on the vehicle. The 1921 Kellys still gives the address as Worcester Wharf
 
Just a couple of pictures starting with a map showing the corner of Broad street and easy row before memorial hall and after. Ignore blue circle obviously.
 

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Photo 3, as above post 1873, shews the laying of drainage/sewer I think. I though it might be laying a tramway but these seems to be a tram tack in existence and the excavation would appear somewhat deeper.
 
Going back to the beginning of Birmingham canals the Birmingham and Warwickshire Archaeological Society say…

“Birmingham, already a considerable manufacturing centre, must have felt keenly the evils resulting from bad roads and the want of some better means of transport than the slow and uncertain waggons and pack-horses in use at the time. On January 26th, I767, a meeting of the inhabitants was convened by the Constables, Churchwardens, and Overseers for the purpose of considering a scheme for cutting a canal from Birmingham through the South Staffordshire coalfield to communicate with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The meeting unanimously decided to have a survey made, and Brindley was asked to undertake the work.

Brindley reported to a meeting held on the 4th June, 1767, and submitted alternative plans. The proposal adopted was one for a canal from a point near New Hall, over Birmingham Heath, by Smethwick, Oldbury, Tipton Green, and Bilston, to join the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Autherley, near Wolverhampton. There were to be two branches, one from Oldbury by Grits Green to Wednesbury Holloway, and the other from Toll End to Ocker Hill to communicate with the mines. A plan of this survey is preserved at the Canal Office.

The cost was originally estimated at £30,000, but an amended estimate of £50,000 was issued in July, and the actual cost of construction was about £70,000. Application was made to Parliament for the necessary powers and the Bill received the Royal Assent on the 26th July, 1768.”
 
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