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In 1983 the BCN Society, under the then Chairman John Phillips, undertook to signpost the main junctions. The first post was erected on the island at Old Turn Junction (then known as Farmers Bridge Junction but we won't go into all that again!) on May 21 st, 1983 and was soon followed by many others. The most recent was at Horseley Fields in Wolverhampton, which appeared in the summer of 2004. The BCNS's Explorer Scheme was set up to encourage people to visit those junctions which have, over the years, been graced with the slender signposts erected by the Society.
This series of articles intends to have a fresh look at the junctions, see what has changed in the intervening years and, hopefully, to encourage others to go out and become Explorers themselves. The scheme is still in operation and details are available from the coordinator, Phil Clayton, address:-211 Marsh Lane, Wolverhampton WV10 6SA.
The junctions were all numbered in the BCNS Signpost Trail booklet published and this series will follow that order.
See below at the foot of this article a copy of the information minus photographs and original contained in the booklet. This is just one idea of how to see all the junctions, half the fun is working out your own route. So if you wish to start you have something to go on with.... Web Ed
There could hardly be a greater contrast between early and late navigations than this place where the Daw End Branch of about 1802 was joined by the 1847 Rushall Canal. The near half century between the two canals was a period when civil engineering, given an enormous impetus by the beginning of the railway era, developed to a degree undreamt of by Brindley, Brawn and others inland waterways pioneers. Meandering contour canal meets straight railway age cut head on and the latter immediately falls through two of the nine locks which take it down to the Tame Valley.
The Daw End Branch curves off south eastwards at the junction but does not extend to its former length. It terminated in the limestone works of Hay Head opened at first to provide flux for the iron furnaces and later developed for cement making when it was found to have good adhesive properties. It was much used as a base for the then fashionable stucco used to cover brickwork of a dubious quality and also found favour with canal companies for its water resistance .The Hay Head works continued in operation until about eighty years ago. The canal east of Longwood Road was cut off from the rest when Hay Head bridge was rebuilt in the 1930's. It now forms the centre piece of the Hay Head Wood Local Nature Reserve. There are but scant remains of the buildings by the wharf and the whole area is now very pleasant woodland.
The remains of the arm, as far as the former Hay Head bridge, now form the Longwood Boat Club's moorings. The club, founded in 1970 also makes use of some of the buildings by the junction at the head of the locks where there is also a BCN cottage numbered 93. For boaters there are BW rubbish disposal and sanitary facilities.
After our tour around the northern sections of the BCN we return to the heart of the system to find BCN Society Sign Post no 11 at.....
Also written as Riders Green, this is where the Wednesbury Old Canal was joined by the first stretch of the Walsall Canal in 1786.
The Act of Parliament of 1768, which provided for the building of the canal from Birmingham to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal also stipulated the branches to Wednesbury and Ocker Hill. The Wednesbury Old Canal opened between there and Paradise Street, Birmingham, on November, 6th. 1769. The price of coal from the Wednesbury pits dropped from between 15 and 18 shillings a ton wholesale to 4 shillings. Such was the importance of the coal trade that the branch to "Wednesbury Holloway" was completed before the rest of the main canal was proceeded with. In its heyday Ryders Green was the start of several miles of canals. The Balls Hill Branch was the name given latterly to the northern part of the Wednesbury Old cut and this meandered around Swan Village and Golds Hill to end at Balls Hill Basin by Hill Top.
The Ridgeacre Branch of 1827, which itself was joined by the Dartford, Jesson and Halford branches left the Old canal in the shadow of Swan Village gas works.
Although some extremities were lost during the abandonments of the 1950's and 60's, the remainder of the Ridgeacre Branch was the subject of much time, money and effort on the part of the local authority and volunteers who cleared the branch and the GWR interchange basin at Swan Village. As has been chronicled elsewhere, this was ultimately to no avail as most of the rest went in 1992 when, despite heroic efforts by the then BCNS Chairman David Smith in particular, short term economic considerations led to its closure for the Black Country Spine Road.
A winding hole at the end of the stub at least gives Ryders Green the status of a junction once more but navigation along the short remaining stretch is frowned upon as it tends to raise to the surface stuff which should be left on the bottom.
Robinson's Chemical Works, which stands by the junction, is one of the factories on the BCN which has taken its canal side location to heart with a good deal of landscaping and tree planting. It was founded in 1869 as a tar and ammonia works, handily located just down the canal from the massive Swan Village gas works which had begun production forty years earlier.
The Eight Locks pub which overlooks the junction on Ryders Green Road may or may not be open. It seems to have led a somewhat chequered existance in the past decade or so as the industries and the people who worked in them have changed or gone. The then landlord was standing on the bridge quite surprised to see a boat at half past eleven one Saturday night. We all bemoaned the fact that we hadn't got there an hour earlier which we might have done if we hadn't had to spend an hour filling the pounds ! On another occasion we arrived there at lunchtime with half of Stafford Boat Club. A new landlord and lady had just taken over and admitted "We've only got one beer on". Luckily it was Speckled Hen and so a good time was had by all.
A half mile or so of real Black Country canal takes the traveller to the New Main Line at the next junction.........
Thank you Phil for this very interesting series. If you have not completed The BCN Explorer do give it a go. You don't need a boat! You can walk, cycle, get around the BCN in whatever way you like just get to all the signposts! You'll know the BCN after that!" Give Phil a ring he'll sort it out with you. telephone: 01902 780920.....B.P Ed
For those interested below is a copy (minus Photographs and a map) of the text of the Signpost Trail.It has been altered slightly as the original document is a few years old now.... Web Ed
In 1983 the B.C.N.S under the guidance of John Phillips, Chairman at the time, undertook to Signpost the junctions of the BCN. Being a very complicated system, many boaters and walkers tended to stick to the Main Line to avoid getting lost. It was felt that given an indication of their destination they would be encouraged to explore the little used branches and loops which are a feature of the BCN.
This booklet issued by the Society is designed to show you some of the signposts, via Kevin Maslins first class photographs, at the same time give you some ideas for cruising, with a route round the BCN designed to take in the whole system. Perforce some parts are repeated, but you can pick up the route where ever you join the system.
All the signposts, a list appears on the reverse of the fold out map, were manufactured originally by the Royal Label Factory (Ceased trading in 2001, patterns now held by another company) and in 1983 cost around £400 each, paid for mainly by the BCNS with the occasional Sponsor. (We wish they cost that much today, ie double that and add a bit more). Typically they stand 14 feet above ground level, with a steel post and aluminium cast arms.
A few practical words about the use of the guide, junctions are given Way Point numbers. Distance/Locks/Time are shown, for example as 1/8/3. (parts of a mile are treated as decimals ie half a mile= 0.5) Followed by some relevant remarks. OPTIONS, if taken, will push you down some arms or take you to the joining extremities of the system. The only real answer is GO AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
Finally it is recommended that you use this booklet in conjunction with a BCN guide , like Pearson's BCN Canal Companion or the many others to give you in depth information.
| CANAL or CANAL JUNCTION | WAY POINT | MILES/LOCKS/TIME | REMARKS |
| Digbeth Branch Canal: Bordesley Junction | 1 | Start really on the Grand Union, but it feels and looks like the BCN | |
| to Aston Junc | 2 | 1/6/2 | Via Digbeth Junction and thro Ashted tunnel |
| Birmingham & Fazeley Canal | |||
| Aston Junc | 2 | ||
| to Salford Junc | 3 | 1.75/11/3 | Spaghetti Junction from a different viewpoint |
| Tame Valley Canal | |||
| Salford Junc | 3 | ||
| to Rushall Junc | 4 | 5/13/5 | Locks & Motorways |
| to Tame Valley Junc | 5 | 3.5/0/1 | Cuttings & Banks |
| Walsall Canal | |||
| Tame Valley Junc | 5 | ||
| to Walsall Junction | 6 | 5.5/0/2 | Into Town Arm,Art Gallery,Wharf P.H |
| Walsall Junction | 6 | Visit Leather Museum | |
| to Birchills Junc | 7 | 1/8/3 | Ditto |
| Wyrley & Essington | |||
| Birchills Junc | 7 | ||
| to Pelsall Junc | 8 | 5/0/2 | Old Colliery Country |
| OPTION at Pelsall Jcn Cruise Cannock Extension to Norton Canes Docks. Wind at North end. Return distance approx 3.5 miles. | |||
| to Catshill Junc | 9 | 2.75/0/1 | Useful Supermarket Brownhills |
| OPTION at Catshill Jcn. Cruise Anglesey Branch to Chasewater. Wind at North end. Return distance approx 4 miles. | |||
| Daw End Branch | |||
| Catshill Junc | 9 | ||
| to Longwood Junc | 10 | 5.25/0/2 | Urban Contour Canal |
| Rushall Canal | |||
| Longwood Junc | 10 | Boat Services | |
| to Rushall Junc | 4 | 2.75/9/4 | |
| Tame Valley Canal | |||
| Rushall Junc | 4 | ||
| Tame Valley Canal | 5 | 3.5/0/1 | Crosses Motorway and railways on aqueducts on your second trip along this section. |
| Walsall Canal | |||
| Tame Valley Junc | 5 | ||
| to Ryders Green Junc | 11 | 1.5/8/3 | Shops at Locks 8-7 |
| OPTION Cruise to End of Ridgacre Branch. Canal used to go to Black Lake. Winding Hole now just before New road that cuts across canal ending navigation. Opposite road canal continues past Pub etc. Good walk to see rest of canal. New Metro line with station (Black Lake) crosses cut off section of canal. Total distance cruise and walk approx 3 miles from Ryders Green. | |||
| Wednesbury Old Canal | Ryders Green Junc | 11 | |
| to Pudding Green Junc | 12 | 1.25/0/1 | Heavy Industry |
| New Main Line Canal | |||
| Pudding Green Junc | 12 | ||
| to Bromford Junc | 13 | .75/0/.5 | |
| to Smethwick Junc | 14 | 2.25/0/1 | Take the low road from Bromford not Spon Lane Locks |
| Old Main Loop Line Canal | |||
| Smethwick Junc | 14 | ||
| to Engine Branch Junc | 15 | .5/3/1 | Cross the Aqueduct and cruise to the end of the Engine Arm. Winding Hole at end plus services. |
| to Spon Lane Junc | 16 | 1.5/0/1 | Note Bridge and Tunnel |
| to Oldbury Locks Junc | 17 | 1/0/1 | Follow motorway |
| Oldbury Locks Junc | 17 | OPTION Join the Titford Canal to the Pools. 2 miles, 6 locks approx time about 5hrs back to junction. Pumphouse has services and moorings. | |
| to Brades Hall Junc | 18 | 1.25/0/1 | Oldbury Town centre on your right. Large Supermarket |
| Brades Hall Junc | 18 | ||
| Gower Branch | |||
| to Albion Junc New Main Line Canal | 19 | 0.5/3/1 | Via only Staircase lock on BCN |
| to Dudley Port Junc | 20 | 1/0/2 | |
| to Windmill End | 21 | 3/0/1 | Under Old Main Line then into Netherton Tunnel |
| Dudley No 2 Canal | |||
| Windmill End Junc | 21 | Pubs Abound | |
| OPTION (and again you should take)from Windmill down to Hawne Basin and return, thro Gosty Hill Tunnel, twice, and to Coombeswood Canal Trust (AWACC member). Approx 6 miles allow 3hrs. An over night stop?, visting boats are always welcome to stop overnight in the basin. Longer stops by appointment only. | |||
| to Park Head Junc | 22 | 3/0/1 | |
| Dudley No 1 Canal | |||
| Park Head Junc | 22 | ||
| to Delph Top Lock | 23 | 2/2/2 | See Merry Hill, Shop, wind and return to Park Head. |
| 7/27/9 | OPTION continue on to Stourbridge Canal, dirverting up the Town Arm to Stourbridge and joining the Staffs and Worcs Canal at Stourton. Then return to Park Head Junc. | ||
| to Tipton Junc | 24 | 3/3/3 | Assume Dudley Tunnel open and your boat can pass under gauge at mouth. |
| 7.5/3/3 | OPTION and the more likely route. If tunnel unnavigable you will have to return to Dudley Port Junc via Netherton Tunnel and then to Tipton via Factory Locks or return via Gower Branch to Bradeshall Junction and then to Tipton Junc. Which ever way at Tipton Junc follow sign for Stourbridge and end up in Black Country Museum. Allow a full day at Museum. | ||
| Old Main Line Canal | |||
| Tipton Junc | 24 | ||
| to Factory Junc | 25 | 1/0/.5 | |
| to Deepfields Junc | 26 | 1.5/0/1 | Thro Coseley Tunnel |
| 2/0/2 | OPTION from Deepfields cruise to Bradley BW Workshops along Wednesbury Oak Loop Line. Wind and return to Deepfields. | ||
| to Horseley Fields Junc | 27 | 3/0/1 | Pass Chillington Wharf an Interchange basin still in water with shed still over basin |
| OPTION continue from Horseley Fields to Wolverhampton down the 21 locks to Aldersley Junction on the Staffs & Worcs. Then return back up the locks again to Horseley. Hard work but you will travel through an area twice with countryside to main line railways and everything between, architecturally, industrially and archeologically. | |||
| Wyrley & Essington Canal or the Curly Wyrley | |||
| Horseley Fields Junction | 27 | ||
| to Birchills Junc | 7 | 7/0/2 | Services at Sneyd. At first straight but soon after Wednesfield lives up to it name |
| Walsall Canal | |||
| Birchills Junc | 7 | Large Supermarket nearby on site of old Power Station at Reedswood | |
| to Walsall Junction | 6 | 1/8/3 | Past site of boatmans mission at top lock.Services |
| to Tame Valley Junc | 5 | 7/0/2 | Thro old indusrial area and new spine roads |
| to Ryders Green Junc again | 11 | 1/8/2 | |
| to Pudding Green Junc again | 12 | 1.25/0/3 | You are by know a real BCN Veteran. Join the Main Line and head towards Birmingham and Bromford Junc again |
| Main Line Canal to Bromford Junc | 13 | .75/0/1 | OPTION at Bromford go up the Spon Lane locks only to wind at the top and return to Bromford. Only if you must do every lock flight. |
| to Smethwick Junc again | 14 | 2.25/0/1 | Galton Tunnel under Engine Arm Aqueduct |
| to Western End Soho loop: Winson Green Junction | 30 | 1/0/.45 | OPTION cruise Soho Loop past Winson Green Prison and Hockley Port( Entire loop given Waypoint 28) |
| to Rotten Park Junction | 31 | .75/0/.05 | Canal between Junctions straight as a die. |
| OPTION cruise Icknield Port Loop past Rotten Park reservoir to Sandy Turn a junction with the Main Line having niether a signpost or waypoint number.(Entire Loop given Waypoint 29) | |||
| to Old Turn Junction | 32 | 1.25/0/2 | Thro the bit of modern Brum you see on the posters |
| OPTION cruise Oozell Street Loop between towering apartment blocks back to Ladywood Junction (again no sign or waypoint) | |||
| OPTION cruise thro brum with all off the new sites and bits of old brum still left. Gas Street Basin is on your right, a shadow of its former self with only a small community of boats left. Wind on the sharp bend as you enter the Worcs and B'ham canal.(BBC Studios over look this area in Mail Box Complex) Return to Old Turn. | |||
| Birmingham and Fazeley Canal | |||
| Old Turn Junction | 32 | ||
| to Aston Junction | 2 | 1.5/13/4 | Drops down between buildings and the tall ex GPO tower |
| From Aston either return to Bordesley Junction via Ashted Locks or proceed down the Aston Flight of locks, both routes covered before. YOU HAVE RETURN TO WHERE YOU STARTED AND HAVE CRUISED THE BCN. |