Birmingham Canal Navigations Society, the BCNS

Junctions of the BCN.....Phil Clayton

Part Two

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 21st, 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

Aston Junction

The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal which opened in 1789 descended from the town centre by Farmers Bridge locks to Primrose Hill and then by the eleven Aston locks down to Salford Bridge wheere it swung off to the east. Ten years later it was joined at the top of the lower flight by the BCN's Digbeth Branch and Aston Junction was created. The Ordnance Survey map of 1834 shows the junction to be virtually on the edge of the town with open land falling away to the north through Nechells Park and Aston Park to the small settlements around Aston and Gravelly Hill. How things have changed! The original brick bridge by Aston top lock just below the junction must be the oldest remaining structure in a part of the city which seemsto be in the constant throes of rebuilding. High tech offices, complete with portholes and looking like parts which have fallen off 1930's ocean liners overlook the junction and a walk up from the towpath onto the expressway is like entering a different world.

A Horseley Ironworks bridge at the junction needs reading twice ! The open space next to the Aston Science Park was the site of the lock keeper's house and toll office. The amount of former usage of these stretches of canal can be seen on nearby bridges where the round copings have been worn virtually flat by grit laden ropes. The BCNS Signpost, erected in 1990 and sponsored by Birmingham City Council, is waypoint number 2 and to find number 3 it is only necessary to go down the Aston flight.

Salford Junction

Salford Junction is a good place as any on the BCN to study bridges. There are two aqueducts over the Tame, a cast iron towpath bridge over the Saltley Cut and a concrete one oiver the Birmingham & Fazeley, the Salford road bridge carrying the Lichfield Road over the river and the stilted motorway viaducts. In fact the Salford BCNS signpost stands in an area reminiscent of a four dimensional chess game. Canals cross rivers, motorways criss-cross each other above the waters and time weaves its spell through the lot of them. Stand on the Birmingham and Warwick Canal's aqueduct over the Tame and look across at the Birmingham and Fazeley's squat earlier version and then look up at Spahetti Junction and you'll see what I mean. This is not the place to come for peace and quiet, for wheels thud on the road above, buses whine over Salford Bridge and planes scream overhead, but it is a place to marvel at engineering ingenuity and consider that although we certainly move quicker now we move less in rhythem with the world.

Salford became a double junction in 1844 when both the Birmingham and Warwick Junction and the Tame Valley canals joined the Birmingham and Fazeley. Here were the boatyards of T & S Element and the boatbuilding yeard of Spencer, Abbott and Company but no trace remains of either. We cruised past here once when the fire brigade were practising with their hoses. We thought we were going to get a freee boat wash but the idea was turned down!

Rushall Junction

BCNS Junction Signpost No 4 stands at the meeting place of the Rushall Canal with the Tame Valley cut at a rather sharp turn - for eastbound navigators coming off the Rushall at least. Also known as Newton Junction after a settlement half a mile from the south, which was a hamlet in 1847 and part of Birmingham's outer fringes now. When the junction was made in that year the two canals met in the middle of countryside. It stands off the exposed coalfield and so the environs of the junction have not been mined or quarried or churned about as has happened around so many other BCN junctions. However the rural quietude of the area has disappeared in the last forty years with the coming of the M5 and M6 motorways and the steady encroachment of suburbia. Only local road and bridge names echo the past with Daffodilly Farm and Daisy Bank, Hill Farm and Yewtree Farm all noted nearby.

A pair of black and white cast bridges grace the junction, standing in elegant contrast to the concrete slab architecture of the motorway above. The base of a toll island stands just on the west side of the junction. The cut goes off directly and purposefully towards its various destinations. Northwards, after diving immediately under the M6, it emerges, shallow and clear, in an area of sports grounds and open land to pursue its course to Longwood.

The south-east bound Tame Valley Canal runs through deep cuttings and over high embankments and aqueducts to Perry Barr locks and Salford Junction while westwards a matter of three and a half miles leads the traveller to the Walsall Canal. We travelled this way with Stafford Boat Club and collected so much tat from the weed hatches that we almost organised an impromptu boat deck sale!

Tame Valley Junction

The surroundings of the junction were, up till a few years ago less than impressive, a landscape of abandoned industry and derelict land, of graffiti covered bridges and fly tipping. Mind, this was also the case at the turn of the last century when the junction stood in an area of abandoned coal pits, tocky banks, old clay pits and swags. The Toll End Furnaces had already blown out as had ones at nearby Goldshill which had a long history of iron making. The land just south west of the junction was being picked over again by the Crown Brick Works. Now the Lower Ocker Hill Branch with its former coal wharf has been converted to residential moorings, a new BW Offices has come - and gone (It's currently occupied by the Century Group) and there is one litter strewn swag left. The whole scene is overshadowed by the Black Country Spine Road and a couple of the huge distribution warehouses which have trailed in its wake. In June, 1993, we passed this way a couple of times. Once was on the Dudley Canal Trust tug 'Bittell' and we got stuck on object or objects unknown right in the middle of the Walsall Canal not a hundred yards from the junction.We were there for a couple of hours until the BW hit squad came and winched us off. The other time we cycled past while the junction was stanked off for the groundworks for the road bridge over the Tamwe Valley Canal. At one time the junction was overlooked by the cooling towers of the Ocker Hill Power Station until they were demolished on a summer Sunday morning in 1985.

The Junction was opened in 1844 but the canal which it brought to join the Walsall cut here had been thought about years before. As early as 1807 John Rennie had been commissioned by thr BCN to make a survey of the whole canal with a mind to improvements. James Watt and Samuel Galton Jnr.studied his report and came to the conclusion that a canal linking the Walsall cut with Salford Bridge would help to solve the Company's pressing water supply problems but might not be a commercial success. There was a lot of opposition from landowners, millowners and the local canals and so the idea was dropped. During the thirty years that followed traffic increased so much that the Farmer's Bridge flight in Birmingham had become a bottleneck even though they were open twenty four hours a day and on Sundays. There were often as many as twenty boats at each end. Various schemes were hatched to resolve this difficulty including a parallel set of locks. This was thought to be prohibitively expensive when the plan mooted in 1830 because the land was so built up and by 1839 the cost of doubling the locks had risen to Ł200,000. The Committee therefore decided to look again at the earlier scheme and work commenced in the middle of 1839, the canal being opened on 14th February 1844.

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 orginally 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 aluminuim 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 Pearsons 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.