Boundary Edition 206 Post Autumn 2014

I was joined by Ivor Chambers & Brian Ward to meet four representatives from CRT to discuss the reed infestation on the Old . There was Ian Lane, Acting Area Manager, Ian Derby, Maintenance Manager, Paul Wilkinson Senior Ecologist and Alex May, Environmental Scientist. Because of the known toxins in the water the cost of dredging out the reeds would be financially prohibitive at pre- sent but various considerations are being made. Brenda Ward, Chairman The Journal of the Canal Navigations Society Free to members 50p when sold bcnsociety.com Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206

Council - 2013 - 2014 President : David Smith Vice-Presidents : Martin O’Keeffe, Ron Cousens, Phil Clayton, Cllr. David Sparks, Rob Starkey,

Chairman & Boundary Post Editor BRENDA WARD Press & Publicity: [email protected] 0121 355 6351 Kath O’’Keeffe [email protected] Vice Chair & Rally Organiser BARRIE JOHNSON 0121 422 4373 Sales: [email protected] REBECCA SMITH KEARY [email protected] 01562 850234 Treasurer: DAVE DENT Health & Safety 38 Greenland Mews, London, SE8 5JW ARTHUR FARGE tel: 0121 745 4266 020 8691 9190 [email protected] email: [email protected]

Secretary: & Planning Officer Supporting members to Council IVOR CAPLAN tel: 07778685764 [email protected] Talks and Presentations PHIL CLAYTON 07890921413 Membership [email protected] ALAN VENESS tel: 0121 355 4732 43 Pilkington Ave, Sutton Coldfield, B72 Work Party Administrator 1LA email: [email protected] Michael Smith-Keary 01562 850234 [email protected] Work Party Co-ordinator: MIKE ROLFE 07763 171735 BCNS Explorer Cruise Stuart & Marie Sherratt 07510167288 Social Secretary & web man: [email protected] CHARLEY JOHNSTON 07825816623 [email protected] BCNS 24 Hour Challenge Roy Kenn 01922 428644 Buildings & Heritage John Carrington BOB BROOMHALL 07531328929 [email protected] [email protected] Fundraiser: Youth Liaison Officer MIKE BUTLER KATE SELF tel: 01299 879923 [email protected] 07929401682 Officicial Photographer Archives & Heritage Boats Kevin Maslin IVOR CHAMBERS tel: 0121 707 1690 [email protected] Press & Publicity Assistant Martin O’Keeffe Member without portfolio PETER BEST 0121 454 8391

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Contents BCNS Social Meetings Page are held on the first Thursday in the month start at 7-30pm Council Details 2 Titford Pumphouse Engine Street Oldbury B69 4NL Editorial 3 All Welcome! Chairman’s notes 4 Atlas & Malus 5 December 5th - Christmas Social at The Court of Requests Oldbury Walking the BCN 6 By my calculation this is my 39th copy of Tickets from Charlie Johnston and at the Bonfire Rally Society’s Artifacts 8 Boundary Post! I may be celebrating a ruby 2015 Events 9 anniversary next edition! Should it be red/ January 8th - Della Sadler-Moore -Care on the Cut - Sister Mary and Britain from Above 10 read!! Boaters Health Park Head 12 CRT Environmental Report 14 The amount of time I have spent on this February 5th - Keith Eley - A History Lesson? Ray Shill Tibbington Canal 15 journal is uncountable as my husband will Email list 18 tell you and it hasn’t been without it’s March 5th - Brian Dakin - From the Coal’ole - A journey through AGM Notice 19 problems - crashing computers, printers Black Country Life in story & song by Billy Spakemon BCN 1960’s 20 that go bump, programmes that become Book Reviews 22 April 2nd - Chris Allen - Pumping Engines incompatible with computers and printers Walking forgotten BCN 23 to name just a few. Generally I would say I Otters in the BCN? 25 really enjoy editing Boundary Post. It New Members & Geoff Peakman 26 2014 Dates for your Diary involves me with so many people & has Winter Stoppages on BCN 27 certainly increased my knowledge. Work Party Report 28 Stourbridge Navigation Trust Open Weekend - October 17th /18th Talks by Phil Clayton 29 This time it has some good photos from Contact: [email protected] Social Meetings 30 members. I know we have many members who live away from the Midlands and some who are unfamiliar with much of the Allen Annual Social Meeting at Titford Pump House November 22nd - contact - [email protected] BCN never mind it’s history so I hope this Next Boundary Journal supplies some knowledge of the past as well as the present. Post AGM & Editor welcomes any Bob May gave the Society his photo interesting and collection and the magazine “Narrowboat” Bonfire Rally relevant information relating to edited by Hugh Potter is featuring some of the BCN in the form of news them in his autumn copy. Look out for it. 31st October items, You will notice that Ray Shill is back after & photographs, letters, notes or a short break - busy writing more books! articles to be sent by Also Andy Tidy is continuing with much 1st November December 1st enthusiasm his series on walking the other 60 miles. Email: [email protected] The opinions and views expressed in Boundary Post are not necessarily the views of either the Society or its Officials. Thank you to all who contribute to make The BCN Society, a Company Limited by Guarantee, is a registered charity (1091760) first formed in 1968, which exists to conserve, improve Address: 9 Wylde Green Road, and encourage a wide range of interests in the 100 mile network of Birmingham & Black Country waterways known as the Birmingham Canal this such an interesting Society Journal. Navigations. Boundary Post is the journal of the BCNS and is issued quarterly. Readers are invited to submit items of news, general or histori- Sutton Coldfield B72 1HB cal interest to: Brenda The Editor, Brenda Ward. 9 Wylde Green Road, Sutton Coldfield B72 1HB Tel: 01213556351 tel: 0121 355 6351 email: [email protected] Mobile: 07961177553

30 3 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 For something a little different this BCNS Talks and Presentations year the Society have decided to Chairman’s encourage members to bring their By Phil Clayton boats out in April to “do the loops & List of current items Report Smethwick Locks” and include non boating members to join them. See Phil Clayton does the talks for our Society and would like you to know the various details of this and other events next talks he does. We know how entertaining he is and turns even the most unlikely After three years as Chairman of year on page on page 9. I shall email subject into an interesting experience. His musical “Birmingham Lads” BCNS I have decided to pass the job out later with further details & entry is especially well worth listening and watching those of you who were at our last on to someone else. form. Summer Rally at Titford will know what I mean. Give him a call - details below.

Joeys, Joshers and James – A Birmingham Miscellany - covering the I have found it a very rewarding Along with the usual happenings that occur during the year with the Society beginnings, growth, working years, decline and revival of the B.C.N. together with position and it enabled me to meet so the work of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Society. many lovely people. If I could have we do get some unusual - a book was found someone to edit Boundary Post dropped through our letter box the The Caledonian Canal – the story of Scotland’s major waterway. I may have continued but I’ll stick with other week called “History of the Boundary Post for at least the next Titford Family” with a letter wondering Down the Fens – a voyage into East Anglia including rivers Nene, Great Ouse if it may be possible that there was a and Cam and the mysterious Middle Levels. Cruising, history and natural history. year unless there is an enthusiast “would be editor” feeling the need. connection. Any ideas? Curious Cuts – looking at some of the has-beens, never-weres, oddities and eccentricities of the waterways. Now to things the Society has been Phoenix has recently been painted & doing. This time of the year is we are now awaiting the signwriting to A Northerner on Northern Waters – Liverpool to Ripon and points in between. be done then we will have a very generally quiet until September Meanderings – Walking, Cruising and Musing along British Rivers – this ties in comes then it’s almost every smart work boat. This takes me to the thought of work party volunteers. We with my book, “Headwaters, Walking to British River Sources”, pub. Frances weekend that we are involved in Lincoln, 2012. something. Black Country Boating will be organising a social to interact Festival & Park Head are the main with CRT officers to help with Walking in the Past : Ramblings through History – a look at our past, from two this year. Thank you to Barrie & information needed for volunteering Stone Age Tracks, Roman Ways, Packhorse Routes, Turnpike Roads to the his team & Eileen on the Jeans along this will be emailed out later. Also a present through a walker’s eyes, with several Snickets and Blind Alleys thrown in. with Beccy on Sales. The Society Thank You evening social will take place early next year for all volunteers Mountain Days in Britain – walking and wanderings in the high places. depends greatly on these two stalls to give us so much needed income. We we hope you can all be there. If you Birmingham Lads – a live musical, with accompanying visual presentation, on the are a Society with many assets all of are not a work party volunteer why rise, success, decline and revival of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. The show which need care and in some cases not give it a try. See details from Mike comprises a selection of original songs as well as traditional boaters’ ditties and much funding. Rolfe on page 28. favourites, illustrated with many historic photographs from the Bob May Collection. (© The B.C.N.Society) Atlas & Malus are probably our Finally I would like to wish Bob biggest expense this year but we are Broomhall a good recovery from his Having entertained Canal Societies, IWA Local Branches, WI Groups, U3A, schools, liaising well with Coombeswood recent health problems. As I write this Local History Societies and Rotary Groups, Phil’s Talks and Presentations can be Canal Trust the co-owners of the he is really poorly. Our thoughts go to adapted to any particular age or interest group and time span. boats and look forward to some his wife Joan too as it’s the nearest & interesting times with the boats in the dearest that suffer just as much. For further details, why not give him a ring? 01902 780920 07890 921413 near future. Good Luck Bob!! or e-mail - [email protected]

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August 30th Our annual Clean up held before the Tipton Community Rally. Atlas & Malus Work Party Stuart, Phil and I took Phoenix along to Tipton, going down via Caggy's to top Paul Smith has worked hard in his first year managing Report up with diesel. Atlas & Malus, two working boats owned by the by Mike Rolfe Reaching our destination, we were Society along with the Coombeswood Canal Trust. meet by the usual Tipton crew Their activities have almost come to an end with the already busy litter picking, weeding and Bonfire Rally the last of the season. There are some July 26th hedge cutting. interesting plans for next year and if you would like to This Work party was held at the be involved, even occasionally, contact Paul. Pump House on a rather warm July day. Also in attendance was Bittel plus but- Barrie, Stuart, Geoff Winslow and I cut ty, steered as usual by Steve back some over hanging vegetation Bingham. A lunch was laid on this year Here's everyone who's helped me with A&M this summer. along the pontoon running along the Tat in the 'Fountain' by Owen St. bridge, Bank Branch, and loaded it in to Crow. and very nice it was. Paul Cardy, John Carrington, Jeff Carter, Mel Carter, Charley Johnston, Steve There were some nice blackberries on King, Michael Payne, Allan Richards, Tony Robinson, Mike Rolfe, Kevin Sea- offer at the Pump House end of the By mid afternoon Phoenix had quite a bridge, Jim Shead, Adrian Smith, John Worall and of course Ivor Chambers. pontoon! Crow was then unloaded of pile of black bags full of rubbish in it's this and some previously loaded hold, so Stuart and I headed back to branches, before being drained of rain the Pumphouse for unloading, taking Atlas & Malus have had a busy summer. After leaving Kingswood junction we water and put back in it's usual mooring the quicker route via the Old Main line. headed down the Hatton flight to Warwick, giving the crew an opportunity to run place. the pair breasted up. Leaving A&M at the excellent moorings in the Saltisford arm Future Work Parties for a week we retraced our steps and returned to Kingswood. We then continued along the Grand Union through Knowle and briefly back to BCN waters before Due to the heat on this warm day, we October 25th Pre Bonfire Clean up heading along the Birmingham & Fazeley canal. Turning left at Fazeley we called a finish at 3 pm and departed for around Smethwick Top . 10am moored A&M at Streethay Wharf for a few weeks to let them and the crew have a home with maybe a pint on the way. start. well earned rest! October 30th/November 2nd Bonfire

Rally. All the usual jobs around the site. In mid August we retraced our steps back through Fazeley to stop at Alvecote November 8th Remove nails from Marina to attend their historic boat gathering, held over the August bank holiday bonfire site. 10am start. weekend A&M were in the company of around 50 other historic boats, a great sight. Mike Rolfe and Stuart Sherratt looking for floating rubbish on A four day trip saw A&M head back to home waters through the many locks of the the canal at Tipton in Curdworth, Minworth, Aston and Farmers Bridge flights, before the lock fee run to readiness for the Tipton Hawne Basin. Community Canal Festival. Once again a big thank you to all who have turned up to help crew on this trip. You can see Phoenix in its Anyone wishing to get involved with these historic boats please email me at fine paint work ready to receive it’s sign writing, all of [email protected] which has been paid for by a generous member of the ……………...Many thanks to Paul and all the volunteers………….... Society 28 5 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 One man’s meat ...... A while ago I heard from Mike Andrews 2014/2015 who said he was walking the BCN tow paths and intended to finish all of them by the time Ray Shill did his walk. He said he would com- Winter plete this task by walking the last bit to finish at at the lock cottage on Deykin Stoppages: Road. Well as good as his word he managed it no trouble & received a well earned Explorer Plaque. Lock 2 & 3 Farmers Bridge B&F From: 10th November 2014 at 07:30 The photo shows Mike Andrews along with To: 23rd November 2014 at 17:00 15 other walkers setting off with Ray on their way down the locks towards Salford Junc- Coseley Cutting Old Main Line From: 10th November 2014 at 07:30 even if they can’t pronounce the To: 13th March 2015 at 17:00 name of that big aqueduct. However they looked utterly shell shocked at Lock 13 Perry Barr Tame Valley the thought of walking in what they Farmers Bridge Locks 1982 From: 10th November 2014 at 07:30 perceive to be a built up area. They To: 21st December 2014 at 17:00 needed to have joined me on my April Going to the pub on a Friday night is walk to see what they were missing. Lock 5 Aston B&F a must. Our lottery syndicate man- The first of the canals in the BCN to From: 24th November 2014 at 07:30 ager/treasurer appears at 9.30 and be built was from Birmingham( Broad To: 21st December 2014 at 17:00 we pay our subscriptions to him, if we Street ) to haven’t already used up the loose (Aldersley). It is a rare treat. It has Lock 13 Farmers Bridge B&F change in our pockets. The drinking 18th century history, coupled with the From: 24th November 2014 at 07:30 is merely incidental !!! In late March, I engineering feats of three great canal To: 21st December 2014 at 17:00 inclusive told the assembled crowd that I builders, delightful, functional intended to walk the navigable canals architecture of the canal furniture Lock 3 Curdworth B&F of the BCN. They all mumbled interspersed with rural sections disparagingly at how lucky I was to be From: 5th January 2015 at 07:30 awash with gorse and the M5 awash To: 1st March 2015 at 17:00 inclusive retired and have the freedom to do with 20th century support pillars. so, as most of them are in their 50’s James Brindley, John Smeaton and Lock 8 Perry Barr Tame Valley and have some way to go to their Thomas Telford may have been the From: 5th January 2015 at 07:30 retirement. When they asked what figureheads rightly subject to public To: 8th February 2015 at 17:00 inclusive the BCN covered, I threw in some acclaim for their designs, but it was names of towns and suburbs where I their lieutenants and itinerant work- was going to walk for their edification. force who in the first instance created Perry Barr Locks 2 - 11 Tame Valley Most of them have walked the the dream of the canal’s promoters From: 9th February 2015 at 07:30 Shroppie in parts and others have and later the improvements to the To: 13th March 2015 at 17:00 inclusive driven their cars to Llangollen and network similar to that mirrored today, enjoyed what the canals have to offer

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From our Membership Secre- with the hard shoulder of the motor- The Shropshire Union canal and the Welcome tary, ways being upgraded to maximise the are strikingly Alan Veness movement of traffic. Nevertheless similar with deep cuttings and hefty New He would like to welcome the how significant are the differences in earth banks. Construction methods following new members and equipment over the two centuries, were rapidly changing and the hope they will join us in the with the spade, barrow and plank of necessity to follow contours as the Judith Hurst - Birmingham the 1770’s to the ubiquitous JCB and earlier canals did became irrelevant. heavy CAT earthmovers that created However the Tame Valley has Judy & Rob Hodge - Pelsall the motorway network. something to offer and on a grand Anthony Snowdon - Coseley Other canals of the BCN built roughly scale. A row of giant electricity pylons Mariel Bishop - Birmingham at the same time in the late 1700’s follow the canal never quite sure show opposing characteristics. The which side of the cut they wish to be Philip & Ann Wild - Dudley Wyrley & Essington meanders from secured. In fairness the Shroppie has Keith & Gillian Astley - East Grinstead Wolverhampton to Brownhills as it its Shelmore embankment rising David Caunt - Dudley achieved its objective of a course of nearly 60 ft for around one mile but its close proximity to colliery outposts great height is hidden in the Current membership: whilst venturing today through accompanying woods near Gnosall. peaceful oases such as Rough Wood My friends need to get out more and 513 Memberships, which includes 6 Corporate and 815 and Pelsall Common. The glory at the heritage of the BCN. I individual members. Birmingham and Fazeley canal suspect a list of real ale pubs on or however, did its best to emulate a near the BCN network would support Geoff Peakman R.I.P roman road once it had escaped from my case. I have now walked the en- Geoff was an electrician by trade, he the B’ham plateau and the 24 locks tire BCN where towpaths allow spent half of his working life with Birmid of the Farmers Bridge and Aston (without resorting to alcohol) relying Sadly Geoff died on Qualcast ; redundancy intervened and he flights .The reason for the directness, almost exclusively on National st the 1 September spent the other half employed as an is that its purpose was to join with the Express buses and trams to get to 2014 aged 71. He electrical maintenance engineer, until he Trent and Mersey canal at Fradley and from the canals in question and was a long and retired, at Birmingham ICC. Geoff’s trait near Lichfield via the have a large bank of photographs of active member of the was that he was meticulous in everything BCNS and until he did that gained him the respect of to open an improved trade link with bridges, locks and anything else of recently served on others and a firm favourite to get the the East Midlands. interest so I have become an official the committee as electrical jobs around the yard. anorak. I hope with my Social Secretary. enhanced knowledge and Geoff’s early interest Geoff attended many of the boat rallies feel of the system I can in the canal around the Black Country, particularly the persuade them to rethink system resulted in BCNS rallies, BCBF and Stourbridge at their position away which his attendance records were from their previous the purchase of a narrowboat originally named exceptional. He particularly liked to enter stance of ...... is Taurus. This was about the time he met the boat handling competitions which Barbara, whom he married; they have a brought out his competitive spirit. another man’s poison. daughter Alison and both were doted upon. His Geoff will be sorely missed by his family boat remained his pride and joy and underwent and friends just for being the person he Ray’s walk took the walkers various changes to include a lengthening which was: - private, unassuming, dedicated along the canal to Salford was carried out at `the Allen’s yard’. At this and loyal. Junction under the M6 inter- juncture the boat was renamed `Alison’ which change (Spaghetti Junction) re-affirmed his pride for his daughter. Arthur Farge then up Aston Locks. 26 7 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206

Society’s Artefacts Otters in the BCN?

Ivor Chambers has been responsible for our Society’s Artifacts for a few years now This seemed unlikely to me but it may be possible. & is keen to share them with our members so if you have an interest in any of our Sometime in June a member sent the following information and Paul items Ivor will be pleased to show you at a time convenient to you both. Wilkinson CRT Senior Ecologist responded.

Member and visitors who have recently inches. There are 68 volumes which cov- "Are there Otters on the BCN? I'm sure I saw one by Smethwick Junction. attended any of the meeting or talks at er a period of time from 19 January 1875 Something definitely swam across the cut in front of the boat yesterday with just the pump house will have seen the the last entry was on the 5 April 1962. it's head out of the water. collection of artefacts displayed on the One entry records, on the 7 I've seen a Mink before (not on the BCN) and it was black I think. What I saw walls of the meeting room, such as January 1959 the cabin boat type motor yesterday was a lot lighter, a sort of brown/grey colour." bridge name plates, collection of old lock “Sunshine” was gauged at Tipton, one keys or old tools, just to name a few but ton weights were added, the amount of It is possible. with the mild winter, a lot of our mammals are up in numbers also the society own a number of books , dry side was measured, in this case 36, 6 including signs of otters and this could be one exploring new territory. Mink magazines, ledgers and a number of inches light also the draught 14. 87 inches do come in other colours too, but that is rare and they are usually the typical photos which have been donated in the was recorded finishing with 33 tons on dark brown. Otters have huge territories, 20 -40KM and sometimes get last few years. board ¾ inch dry side and 50.62 inches pushed into new areas as they will fight, so yes, could have been. draught.The boat was then issued with a The society hold in safe storage a full set BCN gauging number 2387 in this case, Paul Wilkinson CRT Senior Ecologist of BCN gauging record books, these the amount of equipment was recorded measure just over A4 size 8 x 13 such as 4 beams, floor shuts, 4 planks, side cloths, 2 stands, cratch, pump, engine and 50 gallons of fuel, other information was entered the owners name and address.

We also own a large book “Table of Distances” (shown left) which covers the whole BCN system giving the distance in miles and furlongs along any canal of the BCN. of bridges, wharfs and any basins that went off that canal, which make very interesting reading.

If any of our society members wish to donate any canal books or old documents for the safe keeping or members wish to view any of these books, please contact:

IVOR CHAMBERS tel: 0121 707 1690 [email protected]

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Areas to follow and humps in the roads 2015 Dates for Events on or near the BCN where the road bridges used to be there is plenty to see. Sometimes, you are even April 11th - BCNS - Spring Cruise – contact - [email protected] rewarded by an isolated road bridge or a pipe bridge lurking furtively at the side of a April 17th/19th – BCN Clean Up – contact - [email protected] car park. May 1st to 4th - WB&DCS - Droitwich Festival The route can be identified by a linear contact [email protected] strip of open grassland as it crosses the th th sites of Dingle Lane Bridge and Monmer May 9 /10 – Coombeswood Canal Trust Open Day Bridge. The canal is then lost beneath contact - [email protected] lorry parks and industry for three quarters of a mile and a diversion through Ashmore May 8th to 15th – BCNS Explorer Cruise Lake Industrial Park is needed before the contact Stuart Sherratt - [email protected] line is reacquired at Springbank Bridge, May 15th to 17th BCNS - Summer Boat Gathering Titford which still carries Sharesacre Street over the infilled channel. contact [email protected]

May 15th to 17th WB&DCS - Alvechurch Beer Festival contact - [email protected] junction with June 12th to 14th Longwood Boat Club Boat Gathering contact - to be announced

Lane Bridge, a stretch which used to th contain two locks. The next three quarters June 28 Sunday – Brownhills Canal Festival – contact to be announced of a mile is open land but runs through July 10th to 12th WB&DCS - Junction Festival cuttings and can be a bit boggy. The section includes collapsed bridges at contact - [email protected]

Farm Bridge, Wolverhampton Road August 1st/2nd possible Wednesbury Community Canal Festival Bridge and finally the still standing parapet contact to be announced of Hopyard Bridge. The line of the canal is then buried beneath the grounds of Coun- September 11th to 13th BCBF at Netherton. Contact - [email protected] ty Bridge Primary School before it is com- and www.bcbf.com pletely severed by the new cutting con- taining the Black Country Spine Road. September 11th – 18th BCNS Summer Explorer Cruise The tail end of the Bentley Canal ends contact - [email protected] with more a whimper than a flourish. The canal bed had been turned into allotments September 19th / 20th Tipton Community Canal Festival

behind Wrexham Avenue, at the end of th th which is a path leading to the Rea September 19 /20 LHCRT - Huddlesford Heritage Gathering Aqueduct. This provides access to the contact [email protected] website: www.lhcrt.org.uk Anson Arm and so to the reeded up Spring Bank Bridge junction of the Bentley Canal, still October 17th & 18th Stourbridge Navigation Trust Open Weekend

spanned by a lonely pipe bridge behind October 31st BCNS Bonfire Rally - contact - [email protected] the Showcase Cinema at J10 of From now on the channel plays hide and seek, mostly hidden but emerging at the the M6. Looks like a busy year again!! If there are any more that I have missed road crossings at Sandbeds Bridge which carried Charles St and Clarke’s then do please let me know. Editor.

24 9 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Historic Photos of the BCN Exploring the Forgotten Corners of the BCN Britain from Above By Andy Tidy

8. Bentley Canal

In this edition Andy Tidy explores the course of the 1843 Bentley Canal, a route which connected the Wolverhampton Level via the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Junction to the Anson Arm on the , before it was progressively abandoned in the 1960’s.

This is quite an extensive route at 3.5 miles long and therefore represents a significant walk. I completed the route by bicycle one frosty morning when the ground was hard, but an alternative would be to use two cars The start of Andy’s walk as it would have and position one at the far end. looked in 1975

Photo by kind permission of Britain from kindBritainAbove of permission from Photoby Birmingham Ladywood,Canal and1938 environs, Birmingham A good place to start is at Wednesfield Junction which retains its neat iron roving bridge and a small basin next to the drainage stream cut into its base. The site Chris Hubbard was one of the many who attended this interesting talk and he ex- Nickleodeon Pub which ends with the of the junction is close to the Tata Steel plains here the project and the benefits that members of the public can derive from entrance to the top lock. Looking at it today plant and if you ask the security guard this wonderful collection of aerial photographs of the UK. Of course Martin’s main it’s hard to believe that this was the entrance nicely they will let you look into the grounds interest was of the canal but that’s not all you can find on this amazing web site. to a bustling canal which descended through where you will find a perfectly restored 10 locks to reach the Walsall Canal. classic hump backed canal bridge. The Several BCNS members joined the the period from 1919 to 1953. These Bentley Canal was almost dead straight and audience at Birmingham Library on 31st are considered the most valuable Only 20 years ago a walk on the route would this very tangible remains provides a pointer have revealed crumbling lock chambers and July for a fascinating presentation on historically out of a total of more than to the canal bed which can be found a reedy channel, but a massive retail the Britain from Above aerial one million images extending up to continuing in the undergrowth of Fibbersley regeneration scheme in the 1990’s swept Nature Reserve to the site of Fly Bridge.. photograph archive. This illustrates the 2006. Aerofilms was started by former the top four locks away, locks which were changing landscape and industry of WW1 pilots who made a somewhat navigable into the 1960’s. With a bit of Generally the line of the Bentley Canal re- many parts of Britain over much of the hazardous business of photographing searching the Neachells Road Bridge can still mains visible and is easy to follow on well last century. the landscape, especially in the early be found, still carrying the road over a dry made cycle tracks, but you have to be careful years with little regulation of flying. canal channel. Press on a bit further, not to be misled by the abandoned railways The session started with an introduction crossing the sites two more and you arrive at which cross the area. These can easily be by Aisha Hamis of English Heritage: she Martin O’Keeffe then looked at the Neachells Branch Junction, built to serve the mistaken for canals and you find yourself on described how they were nearing the BCN in particular and how the Neachells and Merrils Hall Collieries. The an incline or an impossibly narrow embank- end of a four year project to conserve, collection can help those with an half mile line of the Neachells Arm can be ment trying hard to convince yourself that it is digitise and make freely available to the historic interest to visualise the canals traced as a winding band of open space, and a plausible canal route. Built remains are few public on the web some 95,000 images as they were before closures and half way along the channel is apparent with a and far between, but with linear open public from the Aerofilms collection covering redevelopment has swept away so 10 23 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206

much of the past. The collection a detailed description added to it. comprises oblique views of the sub- Martin has himself located and ject - often multiple images as the tagged as “BCN” more than 600 plane circled – and Martin took us images, although pictures are still through several examples where he being added and there may be more compared the aerial views with yet to be discovered – not to mention The Earl of Dudley’s Railway historic maps of the location and the rest of the network. There by Ned Williams, 157 pp, 2 maps, 194 b&w pictures from towpath level. In some appears to be little control over the illustrations, The History Press, Stroud, cases he suggested that these may use of Keywords so there are a vari- 2014, ISBN 9 078 0 7524 9308 4 available be the only photographic record of ety of terms and spellings in use for www.thehistorypress.co.uk, £11.99 parts of the network, which otherwise similar features. are now recorded only in old maps. With a wealth of interesting photographs Both speakers emphasised the im- Ned Williams charts the history of the Earl Cataloguing and labelling the portance of Registering to use the of Dudley’s Railway, sometimes also known including Agenoria which has survived to the photographs is an ongoing process in website, which then allows full as the Pensnett Railway. Following the present day and can still be seen in York which the public is encouraged to get access to the collection for browsing, opening of the Dudley and Stourbridge Railway Museum. The Earl’s Railway also involved. Each photograph can have to participate in the tagging and canals in 1779 and the building of a small carried passengers in the 1920’s and 30’s to one or more Keywords (Tags) which identification process or download furnace in 1784 the Earl’s mining and iron fetes at Himley Park. There is little left to see describe the scene in general terms, low resolution copies for personal working interests in the Brierley Hill/Park now of the Earl’s Railway, with the demise of such as “BCN”, “Birmingham” or non-commercial use. Head area were greatly extended. By steel working in the 1970’ the “Canal” and these are listed and can 1820 with further development of collieries railway’s usefulness came to an end. The be searched for on the website. With- If you have not already discovered it, and iron workings it was agreed that the author’s wonderful collection of images helps in each image Pins can be placed on then do take time to explore this Earl’s agent would build a railway to facili- to fill the void, with its pictures of the specific features, for instance a bridge fascinating archive at: tate the movement of minerals between engines and their crews: of loco building, name, boat yard or factory and www.britainfromabove.org.uk Baggeridge Colliery and the Round Oak plate- laying, the permanent way and the Iron Works. Construction of locomotives at signalling equipment to recall the system that Stourbridge, to serve the railway, began in once worked its way over this part of South 1827 and many fine engines where built Staffordshire.

Thomas goes to his last mooring place.

BCN Society member Roy Hallam was the owner of Thomas, a very special whippet who wrote in many editions of Boundary Post telling us about the good pubs around the BCN where he felt welcome and the beer & pork scratchings were the best.

Those of you who knew him will be sorry to hear that Thomas is no longer with Roy as he was so seriously ill that the vet had to do the unmentionable. He was indeed a very exceptional dog & will be missed by all of us.

22 11 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Mike Rolfe & Park Head Locks 1991

They say “Life is full of Surprises” well Mike Rolfe has been our Work Party Co- ordinator for quite some time now & up until very recently he communicated via mobile phone as he had no internet connection - well now he has and we are learning a great deal about Mike that we didn’t know before. Mike sent me a few photos of Park Head Locks with the following message:

In December 1991 I visited Park- head locks, which were closed at the time due to work being car- ried out in . This was before the second re-opening of the tunnel in 1992. I took the following pictures on slide film, since copied on to digital.

If I remember rightly, the railway viaduct was closed by this time, so it was possible to climb up and get a good view. The scene looks Netherton Hill in the distance with Blowers Green quite different now. Mike Rolfe Pump House, HQ of Trust and Steve Bingham’s house on the right of the photo.

Steve King wrote: A great article on Alfred Perhaps Nick Wolfe the present owner of Matty in the Summer edition M.B. Aldgate will recognise if it is indeed the of “Narrowboat” magazine boat in question. got me to dig out some photos I took in the late ‘60’s which may be of interest to the readers of “Boundary Post”. The first four show “Stratford” and a day Photos above show the area from various boat turning out of the Gow- viewpoints; top left further back than the first er Branch onto the New Mail view, bottom left shows top lock with railway Line and passing where we viaduct and the photo above shows the were moored to head to the closed up portal of the Dudley Tunnel. waste dump. The last two

are another “pair?” which I know there are many of our members who could tell us more about this and for sure Vic passed shortly after. I think Smallshire would tell us all about it if he this might have been were here - Oh we shall miss him!!! the motor “Aldgate”.

12 21 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Vic Smallshire R.I.P. Stratford & Aldgate in the 1960’s Many of you will have known Vic or known of him. He was a “shining light” in the 60s when Dudley Tunnel was closed & he thought it should be open. Thoughout his life his involvement with the waterways was so dedicated. He was Chairman of Dudley Canal Trust for more years than I know of and continued to be so up to his death on 14th September. He will be missed by many not just as a particularly nice man but as a great waterways enthusiast.

Jackie Day R.I.P.

Jackie was a lively lady, wife of Kevin Day both being members of BCNS. They were also keen members of Tamworth Cruising Club and for the past year moored their boat on the Dudley Canal at Withymoor. Jackie was taken ill at last years Pelsall Rally. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Kate Self who runs Slow Boat as a Youth Project for The IKON Gallery is Just recently Steve King, a newly rejoined member sent these super photos taken in relinquishing her post and begins work on 1st October for Multistory in West Brom. the 1960’s. Not only are they interesting for the boats that appear on them but the long Kate has agreed to stay with BCNS Council & I’m sure will be involved in various gone industry at the side of the Gower branch with the railway that connected to the ways. We hope to link up with the next person who will be taking over the Youth Main Line on the other side of Project but in the mean time we will be liaising with Phil Lea who is the helmsman the canal. There are some of for Slow Boat. our members that will tell us more about these boats and places and I look forward to printing it next time. Allen Register Social

The Allen Register will again be holding its autumn social get together at Titford Pumphouse on Saturday 22nd November 2014 from 11am until late afternoon. BCN Society members, who may not be register members, but have an interest in Allen boats are welcome to join us on the 22nd and perhaps even join the register (there is a nominal membership fee). Hopefully during the afternoon we will show some pictures relating to Allen boats. Teas & coffees will be available along with lunch for which donations are welcome. Contact:- Martin: [email protected]

20 13 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Notice of the Society AGM CRT Alex May, Environmental Scientist Birmingham Canal Navigations Society Company Limited by Guarantee no: 04306537 Registered Charity no: 1091760

During my visit to discuss Annual General Meeting 2014-09-21 the state of the Wednesbury Old Canal’s reed problem I To be held in the Marquee at the Bonfire Rally took this photo and spoke to 7.00pm Friday 31st October Alex about the toxins that leaked into the canals at various places. This pipe Venue: Smethwick Enterprise Centre, Rolfe Street, Smethwick B66 2AR appeared to be discharging something that was deadly Agenda to the plants around the 1. Apologies for absence outfall and I asked Alex what can is being done about it. 2. Approval of the minutes of the 2013 AGM She was very enthusiastic 3. Matters arising from the minutes and explained that there was 4. Chairman’s report a project to prevent this 5. Treasurer’s report happening as she explains below: Approval of the Draft Annual Accounts 6. Accept the resignation of those Council Members who are standing down. 7. Election Council Members Earlier in the year, we recruited volunteers in the Midlands to survey sections of 8. Presentation of 24 Hour Challenge Award selected canals and look for outfalls (pipes and drains which discharge into the 9. Any other business relevant to the Annual General Meeting that has been canal), note their characteristics (including whether or not there are any signs of submitted, in writing, to the Hon. Secretary at least 7 days before the pollution), plot a grid reference and take a photo. While many discharges are meeting licensed and the flows are accommodated, unlicensed flows present a significant 10. Close of meeting. issue for the environmental and hydrological management of our network and as such both the environment and water management teams have a keen interest. Photos were taken of every outfall and any evidence of pollution Mr I H Caplan, Hon Secretary BCNS, 105 Trefoil Gardens, Stourbridge, observed was noted by the volunteers. In some of the more urban and DY8 4DY email: [email protected] industrialised areas, unregistered discharges from scrap yards and industrial estates were recorded and evidence of oil was seen, (and we are working with the Please contact Ivor preferably by email if you are interested in being elected Environment Agency to resolve these issues). Our colleagues in our Utilities team to Council or wish to nominate someone, obviously subject to their will start setting up agreements for those surface water discharges which currently agreement. do not have one, generating income, and the Environment team will start to look into the discharges which have been identified by the volunteers on their surveys as If you are able to attend the AGM please bring this copy of the agenda with needing further investigation. As a continuation of this project, we’re hoping to raise you as there will only be a limited number of copies available at the meeting. awareness of pollution prevention with riparian land owners who discharge surface water into our canals using the Yellowfish initiative which simply involves painting a yellow fish on any drains which discharge to a canal or river and promotes ‘only rain down the drain’.

14 19 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206

The largest was the Moat Colliery “Gospel Oak Ironworks” were offered Further south of the Old Church was Branches & Byeways which had a large frontage to the for sale in 1892, but were restarted another private basin that served the main canal and the by the Tipton Iron and Steel Compa- Summerhill Ironworks, which were Ray Shill Branch. The Thick Coal seam at this ny who kept them in work until began by Thomas Millington and point was nearly 30ft deep. Like 1900/1901. The sale of 1892 includ- were respectively then worked by T Tibbington Canal elsewhere in the region this coal was ed 24 iron boats. The plant then Millington and Sons, William and Isai- not uniform, but comprised various comprised forges and sheet mills. ah Millington and finally William and Basins sub seams separated by various They were offered for sale again in Millington and Company. This was an partings. These were named, 1901 and from 1902 were finally of- ironworks that specialised in making After a short absence Ray has respectively; Roofs, Top Slipper, fered in a dismantling sale At this boiler plate, but also produced other White Coal, Tow Coal, Brazils, Foot time the site comprised 2 large build- iron. During the busy years of the returned with a detailed article in his Branches & Byeways Coal, Slips, Stone Coal Slipper, ings that stretched from the canal local trade there were 16 puddling Sawyer and Benches. Below the basin to Princes End Road. They furnaces, 4 rollling mills, forge two collection. thick coal, were placed the measures were then pulled down and later the trains and one helve. They made of Lambstone, Heathen Coal, land was used mining purposes. Em- merchant bar iron, plates, strips, an- The old route of the Birmingham Canal passed through Summerhill to Sulphur Coal, Fireclay Coal. Gubbins pire Colliery was established on the gle iron, horse shoe iron, shoe tip & Ball Ironstone and Mealey Grey site of the former ironworks. iron also were boiler makers. Produc- Gospel Oak. This was an area which was extensively mined where both Coal. Moat colliery, in 1818, tion ceased during 1894 and the comprised 171 acres of thick coal. The basin was retaining for the min- works were demolished. Their fleet of coal and ironstone was taken. The ing operations and Tibbington Brick- area was split up into mining estates There were 2 water engines to drain iron and wood canal boats was dis- the mines, railroads, whimseys and works. This brickworks was variously posed of at the same time. each covering acres of land upon described as Tibbington and Princes which shafts were sunk to different gins. Up to 1500 tons of coal were End. The kilns were on the west side Today there is little to see of the ca- seams of coal and ironstone. then produced each week. of the basin and at one time there nal, as it was abandoned by British The towpath ran alongside the east was a large circular Hoffman type Waterways and has been filled in. It This land was later developed as a busy iron manufacturing area. The bank and there were a number of kiln. Tramways brought marl from a used to be an area surrounded by wharves and basins on the opposite pit. Edmund Howl was the owner and canals and now is roads and houses. 1919 distance table lists from Glebefield Bridge to Ocker Hill Bridge side. They included the privately he employed marl getters, male la- The homes on the Moat estate are owned Tibbington Basin which bourers and women slop moulders. locally known as the “Lost City”. It is the following features: served the Tibbington Works, an In 1916 the Howl family formed Tib- said this name is derived from the Pooles iron boat dock ironworks, furnace, brick kiln and bington (1916) Company to work the fact they were once surrounded by BCN Princess End wharf colliery, which was part of the mines and brickworks with a capital the Birmingham Canal.  Tibbington Basin served No 9 colliery Tibbington House estate, the home of £5000. The large kiln had been and Summerhill Colliery of Thomas Smith and his family. been taken down by this date. Hay wharf Thomas built an extensive business Phillips wharf as a coal master. On his death, son BCN Society email list South Staffordshire Mines Drainage Richard acquired an extensive Moat Engine knowledge of the coal and iron As many of you know I hold an email list of Members & Friends of the Society and send out Accommodation Bridge trades and was able to make an information appertaining to the BCN & surrounds that may be of interest as it comes to me, Moat Foundry (Charles Lathe) extensive contribution to the various rather than waiting for Boundary Post to be printed & sent. I’m afraid many of my emails of partnerships that involved Samuel late have been very sad and have dealt with deaths of our members or friends. Let’s hope this Amongst the original large mining Fereday. Richard had married will not be the case for the near future. estate were Glebefield, Gospel Oak, Samuel’s daughter Elizabeth and If you do no receive such emails from me & wish to join this list just send a brief Moat Field, Moat and Tibbington. message to [email protected] strong family ties were maintained 18 15 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 Boundary Post Autumn 2014 Edition 206 between Smith and the Feredays. Richard Smith continued to live at Tipton Tithe Survey Map Tibbington House where he made a Iron and coal working in South home there with his wife Elizabeth Staffordshire often involved and raised a family. Following partnerships and the various Fereday bankruptcy of himself and Samuel partnerships dominated the local Fereday he remained there to sort out industry, with Richard playing an the tangled affairs of the iron integral role. At Tibbington the major companies and earned a wage as estates included Fereday, Turton and engineer and agent. He dealt with Read. John Read operated the various iron works sales including the Gospel Oak ironworks and furnaces Acrefair Ironworks near Ruabon, and also worked the Tibbington which passed to the British Iron mines around the house. An Company in 1825. His address was ironworks and blast furnace was still Tibbington House. erected at Tibbington, which were served by the private basin. Richard Smith then moved abroad building up his experience, before Poor trading in the iron trade from returning to . He was 1810 contributed to Reads appointed agent to the Earl of Dudley bankruptcy and some of Feredays and came to wield enormous other partners were similarly affected. influence on the development of the Eventually both Samuel Fereday and Earl of Dudleys estate at Brierley Hill Richard Smith succumbed to the and elsewhere. He was instrumental receivers demands. The Tibbington in major transport innovation estate was offered for sale in 1817 regarding these properties in both the and the map below showing the basin canal and railway sector. One son Tibbington Works, the blast furnaces Gospel Oak works at Tibbington were and ironworks. had a similar role improving had been removed and part of the site subsequently operated by John & Ed- the Duke of Bridgewater’s would seem to have been occupied by mund Walker. These were the busy operation near the Old Church Iron and Tinplate times of the local trade. John Read’s Manchester. Company premises, which was com- interest in the Gospel Oak and Tibbing-

posed of 2 forges, a sheet mill, 32 ton estates had been taken over by Tibbington furnaces were smelting and heating furnaces an iron Walker family and it was they who con- also known as Old Church, foundry, refinery and smiths shops. Tin tinued to work the mines, and devel- which refers to the church of plate was common before galvanising oped the Tibbington iron & tin plate St John that was the parish was adopted and several works were works for galvanising rolled iron. They church for Tipton, and whose once engaged in this trade throughout retained these premises even after register recorded baptisms, Staffordshire. Old Church works were their main works at Gospel Oak had marriages and deaths from th offered for sale in 1840 and 1841. The closed down and had been demol- the 16 Century New Forge had frontage to the canal ished. The “Tibbington Ironworks” re- It is a feature of Birmingham basin, whilst the Old Forge fronted mained in use and became known as Thomas Smith, of Tibbington House, & the Black Country that sites were re Princes End Road. 8 oak canal boats “Gospel Oak”. These works were sub- was a strict Baptist coal and iron -used and adapted to suit new were mentioned in the May 1841 sale sequently owned by J Harris and J Ev- master. He died in 1808 when he industry. This appears to have notice. ans. An important part of the business owned some 240 acres of thick coal. happened in the case of the was wire drawing. 16 17