BRING ON THE BIG GUNS

In 1966, Cliff Sherwood and myself were driving up Factory Road in Tipton when we saw a plume of smoke rising from the rear of the Tipton gauging station.  Stopping to investigate Cliff parked up and we entered the yard to be met by two British Waterways blokes who were having a bonfire and burning all the paperwork from the gauging station.  When asked what they were doing they said “clearing the building”.  Cliff enquired “what are you doing with them” pointing to a set of BCN registers stacked next to the bonfire ready to be consumed by flame.  “Burnin em” was the reply, “why dun ya want em, cuz if yow do then tek em”  We proceeded to load the fullscap sized books into the rear of his van, in all over 160 volumes containing 200 boats in each.  These were taken to Cliffs house and unloaded, after which Cliff promised me when he had finished with them they would be mine.

50 Years later at Parkhead boat rally, cliff spoke to me and said “I have something for you, you’ll have to come down to Greensforge and collect it.  A few weeks later saw Dawn and I visiting Cliff and Barbara and loading the boxed 160 volumes into Dawns car, along with a gauging stick I gave Cliff in 1968, for them to be transferred to our summer house.  Since then I have set about producing a searchable electronic data base of the registers which, when finished will be donated the Dudley Tunnel Trust’s Hub along with the original registers. So far I have transferred about 4000 boats in 12 months, so yes it is a big job but I feel worth while.

BCN REG No	DATE GAUGED	OWNER/ OPERATOR	ADDRESS	TYPE BOAT	NAME	LENGTH	BEAM	TONS MAX
16185	29.04.1898	A E HARLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD	MARY ANNE	76'-6"	7'-7"	50
16181	27.04.1898	A E HORLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD	ELSIE MAY	77'-10"	7'-7 1/2"	50
19639	20.02.1905	A HORTON	W’TON	CAB WOOD	CYRIE	75'-3"	7'-6"	49
906	3.09.1924	A J BAUGH	W’TON	CAB WOOD	MAMY	79'-2"	7'-8"	49
343	28.07.1922	ALBION COAL CO	W’TON	CAB WOOD	CAMBRIA	76'-10"	7'-8 1/4"	47
23250	13.09.1920	B & H SMITH	W’TON	CAB WOOD	PEACE	78'-0"	7'-6 3/4"	44
395	25.08.1922	CHARLES INGLES	HORSELEY FIELDS	CAB WOOD	VIOLETTA	77'-3"	7'-8"	48T
17498	29.10.1900	D A WRIGHT	DEEPFIELDS	OPEN WOOD		76'-2"	7'-7 1/2"	53
445	2.10.1922	D BAKER & SONS	BRADLEY	CAB WOOD		82'-4"	7'-7 1/2"	50
1876	13.09.1935	D BAKER & SONS	W’TON	CAB WOOD		88'-10"	7'-9 1/2"	61
678	22.06.1923	D STEVENS & SON	DEEPFIELDS	CAB WOOD	JACK	80'-7"	7'-8 1/4"	51
757	5.11.1923	D STEVENS & SON	DEEPFIELDS	CAB WOOD	MAYFLOWER	82'-6"	7'-8 1/4"	51
856	12.05.1924	D STEVENS & SON	DEEPFIELDS	CAB WOOD		82'-2"	7'-8 1/2"	51
933	8.10.1924	E DYKE	LANESFIELD	CAB WOOD	HORACE	82'-4"	7'-8"	51
1713	1.02.1932	E J THOMAS	ETTINGSHALL	CAB WOOD	QUEENIE	87'-7"	7'-9"	57
1736	19.08.1932	E PROBERT & SONS LTD	MILLFIELDS	CAB WOOD	PROMPT	87'-8"	7'-10 1/2"	59
1416	20.08.1928	E PROBERT & SONS LTD	MILLFIELDS	CAB WOOD	PROSPERITY	85'-4"	7'-8 1/2"	52
1663	24.03.1931	E THOMAS	WALSALL	CAB WOOD	RAY	97'-11"	7'-9"	56
1591	26.04.1930	E W REED	DUDLEY PORT	CAB WOOD		83'-0"	7'-9"	50
19481	14.10.1904	EVERALL & HILL	W’TON	OPEN WOOD		77'-6"	7'-7"	50
23306	22.11.1920	EVERALL & HILL	W’TON	CAB BWOOD		77'-4"	7'-6 3/4"	47
14531	23.08.1895	EVERALL HILL	W’TON	OPEN WOOD		76'-6"	7'-5 1/2"	47
14594	7.10.1895	EVERALL HILL	W’TON	CAB WOOD		77'-3"	7'-7 1/4"	50
1537	2.12.1929	F ROBINSON	W’TON	CAB WOOD	GEORGE HARRY	79'-7"	7'-8 1/2"	52
1535	26.11.1929	F ROBINSON	W’TON	CAB WOOD	SEGRAVE	83'-1"	7'-9"	50
159	30.01.1922	FANSHAW & PINSON	W’TON	CAB WOOD	ANNIE	75'-7"	7'-6 1/2"	49
1446	29.11.1928	FANSHAW & PINSON	W’TON	CAB WOOD	BONZO	76'-5"	7'-6 1/2"	50
1758	28.04.1933	FANSHAW & PINSON	W’TON	CAB WOOD	SHEILA	85'-10"	7'-8"	55
348	31.07.1922	GEORGE & MATTHEWS	W’TON	CAB WOOD	FLORENCE	79'-4"	7'-7 1/4"	47
16216	23.05.1898	GODDARD & CO	W’TON	CAB WOOD	TAMOSHANTER	75'-6"	7'-6 1/2"	48
18079	28.02.1902	H ROBINSON	W’TON	CAB WOOD	GEORGE HENRY	83'-0"	7'-8"	53
1741	16.09.1932	H TURTON	MONMORE GREEN	CAB WOOD	ADELINE	87'-4"	7'-9 1/2"	56
16391	23.09.1898	HADLEY & KNOWLES	OLDBURY	OPEN WOOD		76'-8"	7'-6"	49
1725	27.06.1932	J & E TAYLOR	HORSELEY FIELDS	CAB WOOD		85'-5"	7'-8 1/2"	52
19441	21.09.1904	J BEDDOWS & SON	ALDRIDGE	OPEN WOOD		80'-0"	7'-8"	53
14768	3.01.1896	J BEDDOWS & SON	WALSALL	OPEN WOOD		77'-7"	7'-9"	48
1982	24.09.1937	J FOULKES	WEDNESFIELD	CAB WOOD	JOE	88'-0"	7'-9"	58
1801	25.04.1934	J FOULKES	WEDNESFIELD	CAB WOOD	RON		7'-8 1/4"	58
1801	25.04.1934	J FOULKS	WEDNESFIELD	CAB WOOD	RON	88'-0"	7'-8 1/4"	58
1772	21.08.1933	J FOULKS	WENDESFIELD	CAB WOOD	TONY	87'-6"	7'-8 1/2"	57
882	16.07.1924	J GRIFFITHS & CO	WALSALL	OPEN WOOD	JACK	75'-1"	7'-5"	46
19443	22.09.1904	J H PEARSON	NETHERTON	OPEN WOOD		75'-2"	7'-6 1/2"	46
19456	27.09.1904	J H PEARSON	NETHERTON	OPEN WOOD		77'-0"	7'-6"	46
17573	7.01.1901	J HELLS & SON	W’TON	CAB WOOD	GEORGE	79'-4"	7'-7"	52
16453	11.11.1898	J JENKS & SON	W’TON	OPEN WOOD		75'-6"	7'-4 1/2"	43
942	17.10.1924	J JONES Ltd	ETTINGSHALL	CAB WOOD	ELIZABETH	82'-8"	7'-7 3/4"	51
14487	7.08.1895	J PICKERING	W’TON	CAB WOOD	GERTRUDE	77'-7"	7'-6 1/2"	51
777	19.12.1923	J TURTON	OCKER HILL	CAB WOOD	MARJORIE	78'-8"	7'-8 1/2"	48
23270	15.10.1920	J TURTON	TIPTON	CAB WOOD	PROSPERITY	78'-10"	7'-8"	48
699	30.07.1923	J TURTON	TIPTON	CAB WOOD		83'-6"	7'-8 3/4"	52
19635	15.02.1905	J W SHEPHERD & SON	W’TON	CAB WOOD		76'-8"	7'-6 1/2"	49
134	14.11.1921	J WELLINGS	MILLFIELDS	CAB WOOD	JACK	79'-10"	7'-7 1/4"	49
886	21.07.1924	J YATES	PELSALL	CAB WOOD	HORACE	81'-9"	7'-8 1/2"	50
795	16.01.1924	J YATES	PELSALL	CAB WOOD	JESSIE	82'-8"	7'-8 3/4"	53
1413	25.07.1928	J YATES	PELSALL	CAB WOOD	LITTLE BILL	84'-10"	7'-8 1/2"	52
1503	11.07.1929	J YATES	PELSALL	CAB WOOD	RUBY	84'-7"	7'-9"	50
1605	28.05.1930	JONES & COWELL	ETTINGSHALL	CAB WOOD	SANUEL	85'-7"	7'-8 1/2"	53
1420	27.08.1928	JONES & POWELL	ETTINGSHALL WHARF	CAB WOOD	BEATRICE LILY	81'-9"	7'-8"	52
1840	1.02.1935	JONES & POWELL	ETTINGSHALL	CAB WOOD	EDNA IRENE	86'-8"	7'-8 1/2"	58
1720	20.05.1932	JONES & POWELL	MILLFIELDS	CAB WOOD	IRIS MOREEN	86'-2"	7'-8 1/4"	57
1745	31.10.1932	K TURTON	HEATH TOWN	CAB WOOD		86'-8"	7'-10 3/4"	58
16541	18.01.1899	M A HARLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD		79'-1"	7'-7 3/4"	51
19417	9.09.1904	MARY A HARLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD		77'-0"	7'-6 1/2"	48
657	9.05.1923	N BENNETT	MILLFIELDS	CAB WOOD	DAISY	78'-7"	7'-5 3/4"	47
16268	27.06.1898	NAKER & SONS	HIGHFIELDS	CAB WOOD	DOLLY	80'-4"	7'-7 3/4"	53
23309	29.11.1920	OAKLEY & Co	W’TON	CAB WOOD	CLIFTON	77'-7"	7'-6 1/"	45
23375	23.02.1921	OAKLEY & Co	W’TON	CAB WOOD	ERIC	77'-6"	7'-7"	45
18081	28.02.1902	OAKLEY & Co	W’TON	CAB WOOD	PERSEVERANCE	77'-6"	7'-4 1/2"	49
16275	15.06.1898	P WARD LTD	PUMPHOUSE WORKS	OPEN WOOD		79'-6"	7'-3 3/4"	50
1623	27.07.1930	S EVANS & SONS	W’TON	CAB WOOD	HANNAH.  E	86'-0"	7'-8"	55
16259	17.06.1898	S JONES JNR	W’TON	CAB WOOD	WILLIAM	77'-6"	7'-5 1/2"	50
151	13.01.1922	SOUTH COALING Co	W’TON	CAB WOOD	MARIE ROBERTS	79'-2"	7'-7"	48
1778	9.10.1933	T HICKENBOTTOM & SONS	WEDNESBURY	CAB WOOD	BETTY	84'-5"	7'-10 1/4"	55
1777	29.09.1933	T HICKENBOTTOM & SONS	WEDNESBURY	CAB WOOD		84'-7"	7'-8 1/2"	53
1952	16.04.1937	T HICKENBOTTOM & SONS LTD	WEDNESBURY	CAB WOOD	THOMAS SIDNEY	80'-9"	7'-8"	49
15857	4.10.1897	T HOPE & CO	W’TON	CAB WOOD	MARY	75'-11"	7'-6 1/2"	46
19564	30.12.1904	THOS INGLES	W’TON	OPEN WOOD	QUEENIE	77'-0"	7'-7 1/2"	50
1746	25.1.1933	W ELWELL & SONS	TIPTON	CAB WOOD	IVY	88'-9"	7'-10"	58
1793	7.02.1934	W ELWELL & SONS	TIPTON	CAB WOOD	MR PERKINS	86'-4"	7'-8 1/2"	57
1770	19.07.1933	W ELWELL & SONS	TIPTON	CAB WOOD	UNCLE JIM	84'-0"	7'-8 1/4"	54
15993	31.12.1897	W H HARLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD	JESSE	79'-3"	7'-7 1/2"	51
749	22.10.1923	W J WEBBERLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD		84'-6"	7'-8 3/4"	51
1672	13.05.1931	W J WEBBERLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD		86'-2"	7'-9"	56
1804	16.05.1934	W J WEBBERLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD		88'-0"	7'-8 1/2"	57
19696	3.03.1905	W J WEBBERLEY	W’TON	OPEN WOOD		80'-0"	7'-8"	51
567	31.01.1923	W T WEBBERLEY	W’TON	OPEN WOOD		80'-6"	7'-9 1/2"	51
1804	16.05.1934	W T WEBBERLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD		88'-0"	7'-8 1/2"	57
17586	23.01.1901	W WEBBERLEY	W’TON	CAB WOOD		81'-2"	7'-7 3/4"	53
986	29.12.1924	WULFRUNA COAL CO	W’TON	CAB WOOD	AMY	82'-11"	7'-8"	50
782	28.12.1923	WULFRUNA COAL CO	W’TON	CAB WOOD	ARGO	76'-4"	7'-6 1/4"	44
1751	24.02.1933	WULFRUNA COAL CO	W’TON	CAB WOOD	IRIS MOREEN	88'-0"	7'-9 1/2"	58
781	28.12.1923	WULFRUNA COAL CO	W’TON	CAB WOOD		77'-1"	7'-6 1/2"	44
1696	18.09.1931	E THOMAS	WALSALL	CAB WOOD	MARGE	88'-0"	7'-10"	59
16249	13.06.1898	ALBION COAL CO	W’TON	CAB WOOD	COLUMBIA	77'-8"	7'-7 1/2"	50

In all, from about 1898 to 1956, there were probably about 32,000 boats registered and gauged at one of the two weigh stations either at Smethwick or Tipton, these were all plying their trade around or through the BCN.  Apart from long distance boats owned by such companies as Fellows Morton & Clayton limited, Severn & canal carrying company, Chester & Liverpool Lighterage Company Limited, Shropshire Union  etc,  the rest were a combination of cabined and open iron day boats, open and cabined ‘Joey’ boats and a collection of ‘other’ craft.  I know sometimes I am accused of banging on and being a little anal but I like things right.  Too many people these days call all BCN day boats ‘Joey’s’ which is wrong.  Joeys are wooden and are named after a well known BCN boat builder who had several yards around the BCN, Joe Worsey. Any other open boats on the BCN are ‘day boats’.

 Joey boat Queen Mary

An un named Day boat

 These were mainly averaging about 71’-0” long and an average of 7’1 ½” wide with a gauged capacity of 40tons with less than an inch free board, in fact very, very few were actually 70’ by 7’, the accepted ‘standard for narrow boats, however things were different for the coal loading facilities and factories that were situated on the 473’ W’TON level of close on 50 miles of lock free canal.  As a result of this a special breed of boat was developed to work this canal.  As the only restrictions were the width of bridge ‘oles and stops and the width/length of the junctions that had to be negotiated then a much longer and wider boat was built by the boat builders on this canal known as ‘Ampton Wharf Boats.  These averaged about 85 ‘-0” by 7’-9”and could carry 50+tons.  Due to their size, these boats could only be gauged at Tipton gauging station. Here I have included some of the details of these craft which I have recorded so far..

One particular Ampton boat owned by E W Reed of Dudley Port, was sold to some enthusiasts who did not understand the boats design.  It was duly pumped up and towed to take it to its new home.  Unfortunately when they got it to the top of the 21 at Wolverhampton, they discovered it did not fit and so I believe it was then scrapped and cut up and burned, which in itself was a great pity as at the time it was in quite good condition and in more understanding hands would probably still been with us as the only remaining example of this unique craft as there are no viable survivors.

  The only survivors I am aware of are the sunken remains in the arm alongside Wulfruna coal company’s wharf in Wolverhampton

 and at the Black country museum alongside the lime kilns, all well past their preservation dates. (Sunken on the left in this photo)

So there you have it, Ampton wharf boats.

So till next time,

‘don’t bang ‘em about’

Blossom

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO BLOSSOM.

I was recently linked through Facebook by a good friend of mine, Martin Catterall of coalboat Halsall which trades around the Four Counties Ring, to the Canalworld.net forums where someone was asking ‘what ever happened to Blossom and his blogging?’

As can be seen from the above photo taken very recently on the parade at Etruria, nothing has happened to me personally but something in my life has changed.  I’ve retired and now I spend far more time on the boat and have little time for blogging especially as I do not have the knowledge or equipment to do it on the move.  So to set the record straight and to set aside any concerns I thought I would start blogging again as and when I can.  I do not know how often this will be for as I have said I spend far more time on the boat for example I have been on Darley from the middle of March up until now, only spending the odd few days back at home with Dawn as she has not retired yet. We have been to Etruria, Bugsworth basins, Lymm, Middlewich, Barbridge, Chester and presently Audlem.

So till the next blog

Don’t bang ‘em about

Blossom.

IT'S A COLD WIND THAT BLOWS NO GOOD!.

Well what a day!  As Dawn works on a Saturday, except when were off boating of cause, it is the only day I get to have a little lie in as I usually stay in bed until Dawn leaves for work so I don’t get under her feet while she is getting ready.  Well today Dawn had a hospital appointment at 8.00am for a MRI scan to  find out what is wrong with her shoulder after slipping off Mike Askin’s boat Victoria at Alvecote last year.  This meant getting up at 6.30am and driving over to Rowley Hall, Stafford.  By 9.00am I was back at home loading a few things in the car and heading off down to Darley for a full days indulgence with the intention of pumping out the rain water and lighting the range to air the cabin.  When I got there  I unlocked and went in the back cabin to light the fire only to find that I had left the box of firelighters at home and that there was only one fire lighter, no paper and no kindling in the coal box.  I grabbed some sticks out of a bag in the hold that I had chopped last year only to find they were damp, but not put off I set a fire with them and the one fire lighter.  I lit the firelighter and the sticks smouldered away then finally went out so I temporarily gave up on that one.  Next I thought I would start the engine so I could switch the pump on. I pressed the button and --gerdunk---geeerrrrrrdunk ---gerrrrrrrrrrrrduuuuuuuuuunk.  The battery was flat.  This had me quite perplexed as when I left the boat a few weeks ago the battery was charged and I have a small solar panel that usually trickles a charge into the battery.  Not to be out beaten I got the starting handle out but after several failed attempts to hand start the Petter I gave up.  Right plan B.  I got back in the car and came home for the firelighters, the generator and the battery charger.  I dragged the generator out ready to put in the car when I thought I had better check that it would start as it has been stood for three years.  I screwed the lid off the petrol tank to be greeted by a dry tank, oh sh*t I thought and so went down the garden shed to get the petrol can.  After a quick trip up to our local garage, I returned armed with fuel which was quickly poured into the tank.  Choke on, generator on, and a few slow pulls on the starting cord to get everything moving, then I went for it and after about the fourth pull – yes your right—the starter cord snapped.  Back down the garden shed to retrieve my socket set and I set about removing the starting assemble, which came off quite easily as it’s only three bolts.  As I pulled the unit off the end of the engine, I felt a sudden whirring vibration in my hand as the return spring unwound, 2^nd oh sh*t.  I’ll sort that in a minute, first I need to find some replacement cord after a rummage round the shed, I came across a length of 6mm  polypropylene cord, although too large I thought if I unravelled it I could use one of the three strands.  So that was what I did and after sitting on the cold concrete floor for 15 minutes I was winding the spring back up and re-fitting the starting unit.  Attempt number two followed a similar course of action with the cord snapping on about the fourth attempt.  Next, armed with a pen knife I went into the summer house and cut the starting cord off another broken generator.  Eventually after over an hour , I was loading the generator, the battery charger and the fire starters into the boot and was off.  When I got back to the moorings, Chris Shenton, who is on the next mooring, had arrived and after greetings he asked why I needed the generator and I explained my flat battery and my inability to hand crank the engine and knock the de-compressors down at the same time.  “Mines flat as well” “Don’t bother getting that out of your car, we’ll have a go between us” and so we both disappeared into the engine ‘ole but even with the two of us, we could not get up enough speed  and momentum to start her (3^rd oh sh*t)  “Don’t worry Bloss, I go over Anglo Welsh and borrow a battery”  and so he did which resulted in the engine starting after only a couple of revolutions. Next we put the battery on his boat and that too sparked into life.  God bless ya Chris always there to help, cheers.  Next the range.  After taking all the blackened sticks and coal out of the fire box, I re-set the fire with some more fire lighters and after ten minutes it was roaring away and warming the back cabin up for even with several layers of clothing on, the wind was quite raw and the cold had started to bite.  Right, I thought, pump the rainwater out of the hold.  Climbed down into the hold to switch the bilge pump on and it was at this point that the 4^th oh sh*t could be heard, as even though the pump was not running, the switch was in the on position.  When I went down Darley last time I had pumped the water out and when it was all out I had stopped the engine, locked up and gone home.  The battery was flat because I had left the pump on which had run dry and burnt it out! Oh sh*t, sh*t, sh*t, oh sh*t.  I disappeared into the warmth of the back cabin and set about polishing all the fixed brass, as I had removed all the loose brass last time I was down. After this I tatted in the warmth of the engine ‘ole filling the stern tube greaser and generally cleaning. By the time I had finished this it was getting on for 4.00pm and time to be heading off home as we were having the eldest granddaughter to stop tonight. So maybe a few more sh*ts there, so, as always, till next tme

Don’t bang ‘em about

Blossom.

CHRISTMAS QUIZ ANSWERS

Well I’m most disappointed, not one person had a go at my quiz, but as promised here are the answers.

1 The Groveland aqueduct carrying Brindley's old canal over the Netherton Tunnel Branch. Here a two channel stop lock was installed where boats were gauged for tolls, there used to be a toll office on the central island which, like all of them on the BCN, has been demolished.  What is interesting is the small building on the tunnel end of the island and the large pipes connecting it to the upper level.  This used to house a water turbine turned by letting water drop from the old to the new main line, generating electricity for the lighting system through the tunnel, some of the insulators are still in situ through the tunnel.

2 The Northern portal of the 2880 yard Harecastle Old tunnel built between 1770 and 1777 The tunnel suffered subsidence in the early 20th century and was closed after a partial collapse in 1914 Inspections of the disused tunnel continued until the 1960s, but since that time, there has been no attempt to investigate the interior of the tunnel at any significant distance from the portals.

3 BCN Head offices. The 1773 Paradise Street Branch split off the new main line at Old Turn Junction and headed through Broad Street Tunnel, turned left at what is now Gas Street Basin and under Bridge Street to wharves on a pair of long basins.  Known as Paradise Wharf, also called Old Wharf. The Birmingham Canal Company head office was finally built there, opposite the western end of Paradise Street.  These offices were demolished in 1913 and the canal in filled in 1931

4 Latchford canal . This old canal, called the Latchford Canal, went from Runcorn to Warrington. It was completely destroyed by the building of the Manchester Ship Canal in the 1890's. The chemical works shown has also now-disappeared (Wigg works), which made Sulphuric Acid by the lead chamber process.

5 Broad Street bridge Wolverhampton.  This bridge carried the Wolverhampton to Wednesfield Road over the Birmingham Canal, close to the point where the road goes beneath the London Midland Railway line, resulting in the road taking a very steep drop to go under the main railway bridge. While building the Wolverhampton Ring Road it was removed and replaced with a new, wider bridge. The old bridge was removed in the late 1970’s and rebuilt at the Black Country Living Museum.

6 Old Cardiff canal  The route of the canal was a very difficult journey. Merthyr is very much higher than Cardiff, and there are several very steep bits along the way. So that meant that there would have to be a number of locks to lower the level of the water where necessary.  In the one mile between Quakers Yard and Abercynon there were 16 locks, 11 of them in only a quarter of a mile.  By the time a boat reached Tongwynlais, it had passed through 41 locks.  But with all this to build, the canal was completed in 3 ½  years.  It was 25 miles long, had 50 locks and an aqueduct, and was later extended from the town wall in Cardiff down to the shore.

7 Tipton Junction.  The junction where the Dudley canal joins the Old Main line.  A stop lock was installed for gauging and toll purposes (Known locally as Batsons stop) and on the off side a lay bye and wharf, which at the time of the photo was operated by a coal merchant, now fenced in and owned by the oil Company (Batsons) In the 1960’s (photo about 1964) the lay bye was used by the Dudley Canal Tunnel Preservation Society to store their wooden Joey boats used for tripping through the Dudley tunnel to raise preservation funds.

8 Kidderminster lock and the  Old canal warehouse, Staffs & Worcester canal, Kidderminster The well-photographed church is beyond, but the point of interest here is the canalside warehouse which has long since been demolished.

9 Bloomfield exchange basins.  The Wednesbury Oak Loop, sometimes known as the Bradley Arm, is part of James Brindley's main line, but became a loop when Thomas Telford's improvements of the 1830s bypassed it by the construction of the Coseley Tunnel. The south-eastern end of the loop was closed and in parts built over, following the designation of the entire loop as "abandoned" in 1954. At Bloomfield Junction the canal split into several basin arms forming the Bloomfield Railway Exchange Basins.

10 Widnes, Runcorn.  Picture shows one of the last commercial boats to be built for British waterways these were of all welded construction.

11 Boatmans Mission Tipton In all, The Seaman’s & Boatman’s Friendly Society had five missions catering for both the Physical as well as the spiritual wellbeing of boat families on the  BCN.  And they put considerable effort into helping the boaters, who were often treated as outcasts in wider society.

12 Litherland canal bridge in Liverpool about 1910. Footbridge over the Leeds & Liverpool Canal at Litherland, Liverpool, Merseyside, England. This Victorian iron foot bridge dates from the 1880s and is also used to carry gas, water and electricity services to the east side of the canal. The bridge is to be demolished in the near future. An attempt save the bridge by a local group was unsuccessful.

13 Aqueduct over GWR at Dudley Port. This blue brick aqueduct was replaced in the late 1960’s.  To the right of the canal bridge can be seen the pre cast concrete trough that was to be craned into position.  This was right next to where I was born and lived as a small child.

14 This is bridge number 208 on the Leeds-Liverpool canal, known as Junction Bridge, Shipley. Just beside it (left of the photo) the canal was linked to the Bradford Canal, a 3.5 mile spur that ran directly into the centre of Bradford. That was closed in 1922 and though there has been talk of reopening it, the plans have not progressed.

15 Factory bridge.  This original bridge carried the A403, Hurst Lane over the canal at Factory Junction.  It was removed and replaced by an unimaginative concrete span when the road was widened.

16 Junction of the W & E  and Bentley canal This branch turned off at what is now known as Wednesfield Junction and went under a cast iron roving bridge. There was a Toll Office before the first lock and the first bridge was New Cross bridge. There were 6 locks in the Wednesfield  section. The Toll Office or Lock House, BCN number 245, appeared to be a bungalow but had a lower storey built in to the bank. The first lock had ground paddles at both ends originally, but was modified at a later date with gate paddles at the lower end. Locks 2 and 3 followed, and lock 4 came after the brick and girder bridge with a lock house number 246. Well Lane bridge was next.

17 The Beehive Pub at Tipton Green Junction by the top of Tipton Green locks.  This was where the Tipton & Toll End Communication canal left the Old Main Line opposite coronation gardens

18 Runcorn locks looking west down the new locks towards the ship canal and Mersey estuary, the old locks lead off to the right

19 Tipton Gauging station.  Located at the side of Factory Three top lock and where boats went to be gauged.  By loading known weights into the boat and taking measurements of dry inches of side, The future cargoes of boats could be calculated by referring to these registers.

20 Hertfordshire, Rickmansworth, old photo of the canal and bridge.  A young boaters child can be seen riding the boat horse along the canal.

21 Tipton Green Locks.  The top two of the Tipton Green three locks.  This is exactly how I remember the BCN as I grew up.  As a child although still in water and everything still in place, I don’t ever recall ever seeing a boat using these locks.

22 ‘Sorry could not resist this one’ The Ohio canal  This canal tunnel is located across the Potomac river from PawPaw, West Virginia. It was cut through over 4,600 feet of mountain. Because of the winding river, it reduced the length of the total canal by over 3 miles.

23Tipton Green toll office and stop. I clearly remember this octagonal toll office at this stop and also remember it being dismantled and taken to the Black Country Museum for re building (though it never has and as there are none left in situ, it is an important piece of BCN history) If passing, you can still see the outline of the octagon in the ground.

Well there you go, hope you enjoyed my bit of fun so till next time,

Don't bang 'em about

Blossom