Wyrley and Essington Canal (BCN)

Description: Runs from Horseley Fields Junction, on the BCN Main Line, to the Junction with the Anglesey Branch.

History: Originally the canal carried on from Anglesey Junction, past Lichfield, to join the Coventry Canal at Huddlesford. The canal was opened throughout in 1797.
For more details see the History page

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations

Navigation Authority: Head Office: British Waterways, MD's Office: Southern Waterways, General Manager: Central Shires Waterways, Peel's Wharf, Lichfield Street, Fazeley, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3QZ : Telephone 01827 252000 : Fax 01827 288071 :

Related Books

• The Canals of the West Midlands (2nd Ed) by Charles Hadfield , 352 pages, Published by Augustus M Kelley 1 1969

• The Missing Links (Part 10) featuring David Suchet , Released in : 2001 1 hour 7 minutes approx., Produced by Laurence Hogg Productions Presented and narrated by David Suchet, this film tracks the progress of restoration of the Lichfield and Hatherton canals and the history of the waterways which linked with them to form the northern waters of the BCN Available on tape and DVD.

• Last Coal Run from Anglesey Released in : 2002 35 minutes approx., Produced by IA Recordings A re-enactment of the last coal run in the 1960s. Available on tape.

• Lichfield & Hatherton Canal Restoration Trust : Campaigns for the restoration of the Lichfield Canal, and the Hatherton Canal through Cannock.

• 21st August 1996

• Cruising Times

Wyrley and Essington Canal (BCN): Table of distances			Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Horseley Fields	Junction with BCN Main Line		0.0	0	N	SO924985	139
Heath Town Wharf			.9	0	N	SO932996	139
Wednesfield Junction	Junction with the Bentley Canal		1.3	0	N	SO937999	139
Sneyd Junction	Junction with the closed Sneyd and Wyrley Branch Canal.		6.3	0	N	SJ985019	139
Birchills Junction	Junction with Walsall Branch Canal		8.0	0	N	SK002000	139
Lord Hay's Canal Branch (closed)	Junction north of Little Bloxwich.		11.9	0	N	SK008042	139
Pelsall Junction	Junction with Cannock Extension Canal (BCN)		12.9	0	N	SK019043	139
Catshill Junction	Junction with Daw End Branch Canal (BCN)		15.4	0	N	SK049047	139
Junction with Anglesey Branch	Junction with Anglesey Branch		16.4	0	N	SK057059	139

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

Walsall Canal

Description: Runs from Ryders Green Junction on the Wednesbury Old Canal to Walsall.

History: Started in 1786 as a branch from the Birmingham canal and reached Walsall in 1799.
For more details see the History page

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations

Navigation Authority: Head Office: British Waterways, MD's Office: Southern Waterways, General Manager: Central Shires Waterways, Peel's Wharf, Lichfield Street, Fazeley, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3QZ : Telephone 01827 252000 : Fax 01827 288071 :

Related Books

• The Canals of the West Midlands (2nd Ed) by Charles Hadfield , 352 pages, Published by Augustus M Kelley 1 1969

Related Videos

• BCN - Part 7 Canals of Walsall 50 minutes approx., Produced by Laurence Hogg Productions Walsall is surrounded by canals. This video looks at how they contributed to trade in the town, where they went and in the case of canals no longer in water, what remains today. A look is taken at the background of the site, which was Ken Keay's boat dock, and to Birchills Canal Museum Available on tape and DVD.

• The Canals of Wallsall 50 minutes approx., Produced by Laurence Hogg Productions The canals of Walsall and the surrounding area, their trade and history is covered in archive and present day images. Available on tape.

Related Cruising Logs

• 7th July 1995

Lock Sizes and maximum craft dimensions: Length 70 foot, beam 7 foot. NOTE: For more details of maximum lock and craft sizes and the basis of these figures see Craft and Lock Sizes Page

Walsall Canal: Table of distances			Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
Riders Green Junction	Junction with Wednesbury Old Canal (BCN)		0.0	0	N	SO985917	139
Riders Green Locks (Bottom)	Lock No 8 at Great Bridge and junction with Haines Branch.		.8	8	N	SO978927	139
Junction with Danks Branch (closed)			1.0	8	N	SO977930	139
Lower Ocker Branch (closed)			1.3	8	N	SO977932	139
Tame Valley Junction	Junction with Tame Valley Canal		1.4	8	N	SO976936	139
Gospel Oak Branch (closed)			2.0	8	N	SO975946	139
Moorcroft Junction	Junction with the derelict Bradley Branch Canal		2.4	8	N	SO973951	139
Bilston Branch (closed)			3.3	8	N	SO965968	139
Willenhall Branch (closed)			3.5	8	N
Bug Hole Wharfe			4.3	8	N
Darlaston Green Wharf			4.8	8	N
Anson Branch			5.1	8	N	SO986977	139
Walsall Junction	Junction with Walsall Branch Canal		6.9	8	N	SP005986	139
Walsall Public Wharf	End of canal		7.0	8	N	SP009986	139

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

 

Wednesbury Oak Loop Line

Description: Only part of the original Loop survives.

Waterway Group: This waterway is part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations

Navigation Authority: Head Office: British Waterways, MD's Office: Southern Waterways, General Manager: Central Shires Waterways, Peel's Wharf, Lichfield Street, Fazeley, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3QZ : Telephone 01827 252000 : Fax 01827 288071 :

Wednesbury Oak Loop Line: Table of distances			Miles	Locks	Navigable (N)	Grid ref	OS Map No
British Waterways Workshops			0.0	0	N	SO959943	139
Pothouse Bridge Wharf			.6	0	N	SO957957	139
Capponfield			1.0	0	N	SO950956	139
Deepfields Junction	Junction with BCN Main Line		1.9	0	N	SO939949	139

NOTE: N and U in the Navigable column above indicates that the node is navigable or unnavigable. If a D appears here it means that navigation is difficult or restricted to smaller craft.

 

 

Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.