Not Quite there but heading in the right direction…

Birmingham and Black Country commuters cannot have failed to notice one of BW’s more recent initiatives in signing almost all of the BCN canals at convenient roadside crossings. Although impressive you might consider this to be long over due, as even the most seemingly insignificant of rivers have been adequately marked for a number of years. No doubt you too will have vivid memories of studying a BCN map for the very first time and wondering where the heck you were supposed to start. Maybe then, you will sympathise with the awesome prospect faced by every newcomer to this richly diverse area. Thankfully there are some excellent publications to help in your deliberations, but when out on ‘the track’ a set of waypoints are most definitely a useful aid to confirming your actual location. The BCN Society recognised this fact back in the early 80’s and, hence, you now see direction signposts at almost every live junction of the system. You’ll notice I say ‘almost’ because the task is not yet complete. Now, I have no idea whether the original 1983 project set out to be fully comprehensive or was simply envisaged as an adequate means of guiding travellers around the system, but there can be little doubt that it has fulfilled its original purpose, perhaps beyond all expectation. A recent chance conversation on the subject has prompted me to take stock of the situation, to ponder a few idiosyncrasies, to look at recent developments and to consider how the current arrangements could be perhaps be enhanced. The following locations were initially identified as suitable for the signpost treatment:

Farmer’s Bridge, Aston, Salford, Rotten Park, Hockley Port / Soho, Winson Green, Smethwick, Spon Lane, Oldbury Locks, Bradeshall, Albion, Tipton, Tipton Factory, Deepfields, Horseley Fields, Pudding Green, Bromford, Ryders Green, Dudley Port, Windmill End, Parkhead, Tame Valley, Rushall, Birchills, Pelsall and Catshill.

Of these 26, just Horseley Fields has yet to come to fruition, although the required parts are in storage and Jeff Barley tells me this is prominently on the ‘ to do ‘ list. Consequently the junction of the Main Line and Wyrley & Essington canals remains marked with an ageing British Waterways Board signpost, which although functional, has seen better days. For various reasons there have been some fairly recent additions to the collection at what might, at the outset of the project, have been considered unusual locations. In 1991, for instance, post was placed to mark the junction of the Old Main Line and the Engine Branch; initially worthwhile in terms of promoting the Society’s work in the Smethwick area, but also as a fitting tribute to the late Rev. Tom Hodgson.

Of course the junction of the Canal, Branch and Town Arm of Walsall wouldn’t have been particularly worthy of recognition in 1983 as the route to the centre itself was unnavigable at that time, but it’s a slightly different story nowadays so a ‘Walsall Junction’ signpost seems highly appropriate.

Even more recently, what many of us have known for years as ‘Proof House ‘ Junction, has found its true direction at last; a local industry sponsored venture in the guise of ‘Digbeth’ Junction. For whatever reason, the same generous benefactors decided that the adjacent terminal basins be renamed after a well-known brand of tea. Evidently, even for the sake of historical accuracy one must never look a gift horse in the mouth, but as Jeff himself conjectured, “who are we to argue with the money men?”

Elsewhere on the BCN, Ogley Junction post was erected just last year in support of a certain high profile restoration scheme. Deservedly so, but this spot has always marked the union of the Wyrley & Essington Main Line and its Anglesey Branch and therefore, for the sake of completeness, perhaps ought to have been considered as part of the original signposting programme.

Speaking of which, there remain certain pieces of the jigsaw that have yet to fall into place. All but one concern the Birmingham ‘loops’, basically the intersections created when Telford cut a straight line to Brum, bisecting Brindley’s generous curves in no less than five locations. Now, whilst the western extremity of the Soho Loop (Winson Green Junction) and the watery crossroads marking its eastern link with the western end of the Ickield Port Loop and Main Line (Rotten Park Junction) are adequately posted, it would appear that the “Brummagem” end of the Icknield Port Loop (Sandy Turn) was ignored, whilst the Oozells Street Loop missed the boat completely. I sincerely hope you were able to follow that! Although long out of print but even now regarded as the ‘BCN bible’ in some quarters, the IWA’s ‘Blue Book’ gives the correct nomenclature for the St Vincent Street end of Oozells as ‘ Ladywood’ Junction. But the remaining City Centre canal junctions are, in themselves, a historically infuriating dilemma.

The junction at the centre of the conundrum originally went by the name of ‘Farmers Bridge ‘Junction. On recognising that this was not perhaps strictly correct, the Society initiated its change to ‘Old Turn’ Junction in 1993 to help publicise its 25th anniversary. At least this now also tied in with the existing wall plaque at the same location.

All very well and good, but a few problems and some doubt remain. First of all, surely the meeting of the Fazeley Canal and the former Newhall Branch (the truncated stub now known as Cambrian Wharf) is Farmers Bridge Junction? Secondly, as a consequence, the mileage shown to Farmers Bridge Junction on the finger of the Aston Junction post would be incorrect. Finally, although just a matter of yards away from the island that marks the centre of the known canal universe, the junction created by the intersection of the Old and New lines at the eastern end of the Oozells Street Loop remains unrecognised.

Obviously I don’t need to spell out the solution in terms of physical work but, for what it’s worth , I’d suggest another little renaming ceremony might be appropriate. I’ll leave you to debate that one for yourselves, but may I introduce the name of ‘Deep cutting’ as an additional complication..?

Let’s now take a look at recent developments together with a few general observations for those who like to keep up with such things…

During a recent hike along the Old Main Line I noticed, to my dismay that the Oldbury Locks Junction signpost had completely vanished. It wouldn’t be for the first time in its history but my fears were allayed by our chairman who pointed out that contractors, whilst working on the M5 motorway repairs, had damaged the original post and they had agreed to replace the damage. It is to be hoped that all three dedication plaques would have been salvaged and will be re-used.

Tame Valley and Deep field’s signposts, both with a somewhat chequered history of theft and vandalism, have been safely relocated. The former now sits happily behind a security fence within the confines of British Waterways Ocker Hill yard and the latter is now sited on the opposite bank of the Main Line at Coseley, thus hopefully ruling out casual vandal attacks.

I thought I was seeing double at Salford Junction, but it appears an almost identical style signpost has been erected on the towpath side, although I’m unclear as to who is responsible. Despite being sited at what was originally feared would be an unsuitable location for our BCNS post, it still stands unblemished, but will not curry favour with many boaters as distances are shown in kilometres and at least one of the destinations shown is inaccessible by water.

I’ve often wondered why the signpost at the entrance to Hockley Port has never been identified on its roundel (polo) in common with all the others in the series. Originally the junction of the main line with what Richard Dean’s map refers to as the Soho Branch; I’ve always known it as either “Hockley Port” or “Soho” Junction but would welcome definitive suggestions.

Finally, Ryders Green Junction signpost continues to display Black Lake as the terminal destination of the Wednesbury Old Canal, despite the closure of the Ridgeacre Branch almost ten years ago.

Quite honestly it doesn’t seem that long since we made our last ever visit by boat, but I reckon we should let this one stand, both for the sake of nostalgia and as a poignant mark of respect.