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Part Six
In 1983 the BCN Society, under the then Chairman John Phillips, undertook to signpost the main junctions. The first post was erected on the island at Old Turn Junction (then known as Farmers Bridge Junction but we won't go into all that again!) on May 21 st, 1983 and was soon followed by many others. The most recent was at Horseley Fields in Wolverhampton, which appeared in the summer of 2004. The BCNS's Explorer Scheme was set up to encourage people to visit those junctions which have, over the years, been graced with the slender signposts erected by the Society.
This series of articles intends to have a fresh look at the junctions, see what has changed in the intervening years and, hopefully, to encourage others to go out and become Explorers themselves. The scheme is still in operation and details are available from the coordinator, Phil Clayton, address:-211 Marsh Lane, Wolverhampton WV10 6SA.
The junctions were all numbered in the BCNS Signpost Trail booklet published and this series will follow that order.
See below at the foot of this article a copy of the information minus photographs and original contained in the booklet. This is just one idea of how to see all the junctions, half the fun is working out your own route. So if you wish to start you have something to go on with.... Web Ed
Use the Photo Gallery in Views around the BCN to see the area described after reading
Pudding Green Junction
The Black Country is full of names to conjure with! Pudding Green became a junction in 1829 when the New Main Line of Thomas Telford cut across a loop of the Wednesbury Old cut. It actually became canal crossroads for the southern part of the loop, which became known as the Izon Old Turn, survived to serve works until 1954
The junction stands in an area formerly dominated by extractive industries for the Albion Blue Brick and Tile Works and Hamblet's Blue Brick works both stood nearby while the various shafts of the Brandon Colliery lay to the south. Hamblet's brickworks were established in 1851 and part of the tramway which connected the marlhole with the works was on an incline. The firm operated a large fleet of canal boats. Only the bridge marking the end of Hamblet's basin remains of all this activity.
A meccano-like lattice work bridge spans the end of the Wednesbury cut while the Main Line is crossed by the modern concrete Albion Bridge fifty yards towards Tipton. The BCN Society signpost, No. 12 in the "Signpost Trail" stands on the south side of the Main Line.
It was first erected in 1984 and was sponsored by the Society and British Waterways. Unfortunately the original post was stolen and had to be replaced. This was effected in 1991 with sponsership from Sandwell MBC.
For the boater coming off the Wednesbury Old cut, Pudding Green always comes with a sense of relief, especially if the whole of the Walsall Canal has been followed to get to it.
Here we turn towards Birmingham and follow the improved section of the Wednesbury Old Canal for a half mile until the traveller has a choice of routes towards the city....
Bromford Junction
Two fine Horseley Iron Works bridges span the canals at the junction. The one over the Wednesbury Canal is dated 1829 while its companion over thwe New Main Line was cast in 1848.
Bromford Stop, just west of the junction, was an island toll office. A cast iron BWB boundary post lurks in the grass, standing in front of a low wall built of circular retort bricks used in the chemical works locally for the manufacture of phosphorous. Has anyone seen any other BWB boundary posts? This is the only one I know of. The BCNS signpost, No 13, was stolen, like the one at Pudding Green, and replaced in 1991. The current one was sponsered by Sandwell MBS.
Thank you Phil for this very interesting series. If you have not completed The BCN Explorer do give it a go. You don't need a boat! You can walk, cycle, get around the BCN in whatever way you like just get to all the signposts! You'll know the BCN after that!"
Give Phil a ring he'll sort it out with you. telephone: 01902 780920.....B.P Ed
For those interested below is a copy (minus Photographs and a map) of the text of the Signpost Trail.It has been altered slightly as the original document is a few years old now.... Web Ed
Signpost Trail
Introduction
In 1983 the B.C.N.S under the guidance of John Phillips, Chairman at the time, undertook to Signpost the junctions of the BCN. Being a very complicated system, many boaters and walkers tended to stick to the Main Line to avoid getting lost. It was felt that given an indication of their destination they would be encouraged to explore the little used branches and loops which are a feature of the BCN.
This booklet issued by the Society is designed to show you some of the signposts, via Kevin Maslins first class photographs, at the same time give you some ideas for cruising, with a route round the BCN designed to take in the whole system. Perforce some parts are repeated, but you can pick up the route where ever you join the system.
All the signposts, a list appears on the reverse of the fold out map, were manufactured originally by the Royal Label Factory (Ceased trading in 2001, patterns now held by another company) and in 1983 cost around £400 each, paid for mainly by the BCNS with the occasional Sponsor. (We wish they cost that much today, ie double that and add a bit more). Typically they stand 14 feet above ground level, with a steel post and aluminium cast arms.
A few practical words about the use of the guide, junctions are given Way Point numbers. Distance/Locks/Time are shown, for example as 1/8/3. (parts of a mile are treated as decimals ie half a mile= 0.5) Followed by some relevant remarks. OPTIONS, if taken, will push you down some arms or take you to the joining extremities of the system. The only real answer is GO AND SEE FOR YOURSELF
Finally it is recommended that you use this booklet in conjunction with a BCN guide , like Pearson's BCN Canal Companion or the many others to give you in depth information.
| CANAL or CANAL JUNCTION | WAY POINT | MILES/LOCKS/TIME | REMARKS |
| Digbeth Branch Canal: Bordesley Junction | 1 | Start really on the Grand Union, but it feels and looks like the BCN | |
| to Aston Junc | 2 | 1/6/2 | Via Digbeth Junction and thro Ashted tunnel |
| Birmingham & Fazeley Canal | |||
| Aston Junc | 2 | ||
| to Salford Junc | 3 | 1.75/11/3 | Spaghetti Junction from a different viewpoint |
| Tame Valley Canal | |||
| Salford Junc | 3 | ||
| to Rushall Junc | 4 | 5/13/5 | Locks & Motorways |
| to Tame Valley Junc | 5 | 3.5/0/1 | Cuttings & Banks |
| Walsall Canal | |||
| Tame Valley Junc | 5 | ||
| to Walsall Junction | 6 | 5.5/0/2 | Into Town Arm,Art Gallery,Wharf P.H |
| Walsall Junction | 6 | Visit Leather Museum | |
| to Birchills Junc | 7 | 1/8/3 | Ditto |
| Wyrley & Essington | |||
| Birchills Junc | 7 | ||
| to Pelsall Junc | 8 | 5/0/2 | Old Colliery Country |
| OPTION at Pelsall Jcn Cruise Cannock Extension to Norton Canes Docks. Wind at North end. Return distance approx 3.5 miles. | |||
| to Catshill Junc | 9 | 2.75/0/1 | Useful Supermarket Brownhills |
| OPTION at Catshill Jcn. Cruise Anglesey Branch to Chasewater. Wind at North end. Return distance approx 4 miles. | |||
| Daw End Branch | |||
| Catshill Junc | 9 | ||
| to Longwood Junc | 10 | 5.25/0/2 | Urban Contour Canal |
| Rushall Canal | |||
| Longwood Junc | 10 | Boat Services | |
| to Rushall Junc | 4 | 2.75/9/4 | |
| Tame Valley Canal | |||
| Rushall Junc | 4 | ||
| Tame Valley Canal | 5 | 3.5/0/1 | Crosses Motorway and railways on aqueducts on your second trip along this section. |
| Walsall Canal | |||
| Tame Valley Junc | 5 | ||
| to Ryders Green Junc | 11 | 1.5/8/3 | Shops at Locks 8-7 |
| OPTION Cruise to End of Ridgacre Branch. Canal used to go to Black Lake. Winding Hole now just before New road that cuts across canal ending navigation. Opposite road canal continues past Pub etc. Good walk to see rest of canal. New Metro line with station (Black Lake) crosses cut off section of canal. Total distance cruise and walk approx 3 miles from Ryders Green. | |||
| Wednesbury Old Canal | Ryders Green Junc | 11 | |
| to Pudding Green Junc | 12 | 1.25/0/1 | Heavy Industry |
| New Main Line Canal | |||
| Pudding Green Junc | 12 | ||
| to Bromford Junc | 13 | .75/0/.5 | |
| to Smethwick Junc | 14 | 2.25/0/1 | Take the low road from Bromford not Spon Lane Locks |
| Old Main Loop Line Canal | |||
| Smethwick Junc | 14 | ||
| to Engine Branch Junc | 15 | .5/3/1 | Cross the Aqueduct and cruise to the end of the Engine Arm. Winding Hole at end plus services. |
| to Spon Lane Junc | 16 | 1.5/0/1 | Note Bridge and Tunnel |
| to Oldbury Locks Junc | 17 | 1/0/1 | Follow motorway |
| Oldbury Locks Junc | 17 | OPTION Join the Titford Canal to the Pools. 2 miles, 6 locks approx time about 5hrs back to junction. Pumphouse has services and moorings. | |
| to Brades Hall Junc | 18 | 1.25/0/1 | Oldbury Town centre on your right. Large Supermarket |
| Brades Hall Junc | 18 | ||
| Gower Branch | |||
| to Albion Junc New Main Line Canal | 19 | 0.5/3/1 | Via only Staircase lock on BCN |
| to Dudley Port Junc | 20 | 1/0/2 | |
| to Windmill End | 21 | 3/0/1 | Under Old Main Line then into Netherton Tunnel |
| Dudley No 2 Canal | |||
| Windmill End Junc | 21 | Pubs Abound | |
| OPTION (and again you should take)from Windmill down to Hawne Basin and return, thro Gosty Hill Tunnel, twice, and to Coombeswood Canal Trust (AWACC member). Approx 6 miles allow 3hrs. An over night stop?, visting boats are always welcome to stop overnight in the basin. Longer stops by appointment only. | |||
| to Park Head Junc | 22 | 3/0/1 | |
| Dudley No 1 Canal | |||
| Park Head Junc | 22 | ||
| to Delph Top Lock | 23 | 2/2/2 | See Merry Hill, Shop, wind and return to Park Head. |
| 7/27/9 | OPTION continue on to Stourbridge Canal, dirverting up the Town Arm to Stourbridge and joining the Staffs and Worcs Canal at Stourton. Then return to Park Head Junc. | ||
| to Tipton Junc | 24 | 3/3/3 | Assume Dudley Tunnel open and your boat can pass under gauge at mouth. |
| 7.5/3/3 | OPTION and the more likely route. If tunnel unnavigable you will have to return to Dudley Port Junc via Netherton Tunnel and then to Tipton via Factory Locks or return via Gower Branch to Bradeshall Junction and then to Tipton Junc. Which ever way at Tipton Junc follow sign for Stourbridge and end up in Black Country Museum. Allow a full day at Museum. | ||
| Old Main Line Canal | |||
| Tipton Junc | 24 | ||
| to Factory Junc | 25 | 1/0/.5 | |
| to Deepfields Junc | 26 | 1.5/0/1 | Thro Coseley Tunnel |
| 2/0/2 | OPTION from Deepfields cruise to Bradley BW Workshops along Wednesbury Oak Loop Line. Wind and return to Deepfields. | ||
| to Horseley Fields Junc | 27 | 3/0/1 | Pass Chillington Wharf an Interchange basin still in water with shed still over basin |
| OPTION continue from Horseley Fields to Wolverhampton down the 21 locks to Aldersley Junction on the Staffs & Worcs. Then return back up the locks again to Horseley. Hard work but you will travel through an area twice with countryside to main line railways and everything between, architecturally, industrially and archeologically. | |||
| Wyrley & Essington Canal or the Curly Wyrley | |||
| Horseley Fields Junction | 27 | ||
| to Birchills Junc | 7 | 7/0/2 | Services at Sneyd. At first straight but soon after Wednesfield lives up to it name |
| Walsall Canal | |||
| Birchills Junc | 7 | Large Supermarket nearby on site of old Power Station at Reedswood | |
| to Walsall Junction | 6 | 1/8/3 | Past site of boatmans mission at top lock.Services |
| to Tame Valley Junc | 5 | 7/0/2 | Thro old indusrial area and new spine roads |
| to Ryders Green Junc again | 11 | 1/8/2 | |
| to Pudding Green Junc again | 12 | 1.25/0/3 | You are by know a real BCN Veteran. Join the Main Line and head towards Birmingham and Bromford Junc again |
| Main Line Canal to Bromford Junc | 13 | .75/0/1 | OPTION at Bromford go up the Spon Lane locks only to wind at the top and return to Bromford. Only if you must do every lock flight. |
| to Smethwick Junc again | 14 | 2.25/0/1 | Galton Tunnel under Engine Arm Aqueduct |
| to Western End Soho loop: Winson Green Junction | 30 | 1/0/.45 | OPTION cruise Soho Loop past Winson Green Prison and Hockley Port( Entire loop given Waypoint 28) |
| to Rotten Park Junction | 31 | .75/0/.05 | Canal between Junctions straight as a die. |
| OPTION cruise Icknield Port Loop past Rotten Park reservoir to Sandy Turn a junction with the Main Line having niether a signpost or waypoint number.(Entire Loop given Waypoint 29) | |||
| to Old Turn Junction | 32 | 1.25/0/2 | Thro the bit of modern Brum you see on the posters |
| OPTION cruise Oozell Street Loop between towering apartment blocks back to Ladywood Junction (again no sign or waypoint) | |||
| OPTION cruise thro brum with all off the new sites and bits of old brum still left. Gas Street Basin is on your right, a shadow of its former self with only a small community of boats left. Wind on the sharp bend as you enter the Worcs and B'ham canal.(BBC Studios over look this area in Mail Box Complex) Return to Old Turn. | |||
| Birmingham and Fazeley Canal | |||
| Old Turn Junction | 32 | ||
| to Aston Junction | 2 | 1.5/13/4 | Drops down between buildings and the tall ex GPO tower |
| From Aston either return to Bordesley Junction via Ashted Locks or proceed down the Aston Flight of locks, both routes covered before. YOU HAVE RETURN TO WHERE YOU STARTED AND HAVE CRUISED THE BCN. |