Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, the BCNS

Junctions of the BCN.....Phil Clayton

Part Seventreen

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

Use the Photo Gallery in Views around the BCN to see the area described after reading

Black Delph Junction

When great engineering fathers and sons are called to mind the names of Brunel and Stephenson are likely to be recalled. Fewer people have heard of the Dadfords, both named Thomas, but the two canals which meet here were built by them, the Stoubridge by the son and the Dudley by the father.

The Stourbridge Canal, which remained independant till Nationalisation,and the Dudley No.1, which was taken over by the BCN in 1846, were both opened in 1779 and met end on at Black Delph. The unction is unmarked and hardly noticed, lying as it does below the bottom lock and under the concrete bridge carrying Delph Road, but it does mark one of the tremini of the BCN and it stands in an area of great canal interest.
Visitors to the Delph are in for a degree of numerical bafflement. Known as the Nine Locks there are in fact eight because seven of the original flight were reconstructed as six. The pub at the bottom is known as the 'Tenth Lock'. All very confusing, especially when one is over the eight.

The locks carry the date of rebuilding, 1858, carved into the cills and take the canal up to the 443 foot level. Weirs on the side ponds produce an attractive waterslide effect when in use and can be spectacular in wet weather. The course of the former flight can be followed and information boards explain the history of the area. Last July (2008) the Society celebrated the 150th anniversary of the works, including the Delph rebuild, in fine style. As well as the 'Tenth Lock', several other worthwhile pubs are in the vicinity, including that real ale mecca, 'The Vine' aka the 'Bull and Bladder', just up Delph Road. A good place to revisit, for how use doth breed a habit in a man!

A claustrophobic cruise through the narrow confines of Dudley Tunnel will bring the traveller back to the Old Main line at Tipton, the heart of the BCN system and a place once full of canal junctions.

Tipton Junction

Not to be confused with the nearby Tipton Factory Junction, this is where the old Birmingham Canal of 1770 was joined eight years later by Lord Ward's Canal.
This stretch, between the Dudley Tunnel's Tipton portal and the main line is also called the Tipton Approach Canal. Before the tunnel was built, Lord Ward's Canal was less than half a mile long and ended with a 266 yard tunnel into the subterranean limestone quarries under Castle Hill. With the construction of the Stourbridge and Dudley cuts on the far side of the ridge, the idea of a link was mooted in 1780 but such was the obvious cost and difficulties of the scheme that nothing was done until the threat of the Thames and Severn Canal taking trade forced the issue and the Act for building the Dudley Tunnel was passed in 1785.
With its opening in June 1792, four years late, Tipton Junction suddenly became a very busy place.

The narrows marks the position of a stop lock which maintained the level of the Dudley Canal six inches higher than that of the Birmingham cut in order not to prejudice the older concern's water.
The Signpost was installed in 1987 and sponsored by the BCN Society.
Heading towards Tipton and passing a smart and rather sympathetic new development on the site of Round's Timber Yard, the canal passes under Tipton Green Bridge with its BCN house and the site of a toll office to where the canal broadens out at Tipton Green with its park and statue. This was once the site of a junction for here the Tipton Green Branch of 1805 left the main line and took a course now followed by a footpath through the houses. It eventually joined with the Toll End Branch and fell through ten locks to the Walsall Canal. The Tipton end was closed in 1960 and the locks filled in though the second chamber is still visible and used by the path.
Opposite the site of Tipton Green junction stands the staue commemorating William Perry, the 'Tipton Slasher'. Born by the cut in 1819, he was a boatman like his father and his early experiences in punch ups by the locks must have stood him in good stead for he became a star bare fisted pugilist. His career lasted from 1835 till 1857 during which time Perry picked up a lot of prize money from his illegal bouts. A hundred pounds came his way in 1850 and a hundred and fifty in his penultimate pugilistic year.
Easy come, easy go: the Slasher eventually reverted to his former occupation as a boatman. He ended up in Wolverhampton and, a revered sporting hero, was given a beer and tobacco annuity. His headquarters was in the 'Fountain Inn' in Owen Street, where a flotilla of Wolverhampton Boat Club members were wont to drop in for second Tipton Three after descending the locks on their way to the Bonfire Rally!.

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

Signpost Trail

Introduction

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 Ł400 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.