 Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead. |
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Description: A 39.5 mile and 26 lock canal linking the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Autherley to the Ellesmere & Chester Canal at Nantwich. Now part of the Shropshire Union Main Line.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1826, completed in 1835.
See Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals for more information.
Birmingham & Liverpool Junction Canal
1824 | Around this time he was involved in proposing a Birmingham to Liverpool Railway which would have followed a similar line to the canal, but the railway did not gain enough support. | |
1824 | Around this time he was involved in proposing a Birmingham to Liverpool Railway which would have followed a similar line to the canal, but the railway did not gain enough support. | |
Summer 1824 | He proposes the idea of a new canal from the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Autherley to the Ellesmere & Chester Canal at Nantwich. | |
1826 | Authorised by an Act. | |
1826 | Appointed the engineer for the canal which was started at his suggestion. | |
1826 | Appointed resident engineer. | |
May 1826 | The Act is passed for the canal for which he is the engineer. | |
1834 | Was called in to help Telford with the Shelmore Embankment which was causing problems and delaying the completion of the canal. It was not completed until March 1835. | |
1834 | He was having problems with the construction of the Shelmore embankment and called in William Cubitt to assist. | |
1835 | Completed. | |
February 1843 | Together with the canal superintendent, Samual Skey, he carried out experiments on the canal with steam tugs towing narrowboats. They reported that "the expense of moving trains of boats by steam power is ... likely to be less than horse power". | |
Description: The river Burry and its continuation the Loughor, together with the Lliedi, were deepened and made navigable under an Act of 1815. Traffic probably ceased soon after the opening of the railway and floating dock in 1833.
See Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals for more information.
1815 | The river Burry and its continuation the Loughor, together with the Lliedi, were deepened and made navigable under an Act of 1815. | |
1833 | Traffic probably ceased soon after the opening of the railway and floating dock in 1833. | |
Description: A proposal for a canal from Bury to join the Rochdale Canal at Sladen, near Littleborough. This was later extended to run to Sowerby Bridge.
History: Surveyed in 1792 but never authorised or built.
1792 | He surveyed an extension to the proposed canal from Sladen to Sowerby Bridge which included a 8,428 yard tunnel to the Calder near Halifax. He estimated the cost as £190,291. | |
Early 1792 | Surveyed the line of the proposed canal. |
Description: A proposed waterway between Bristol and Taunton that was later to become the Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.
History: The company followed from the Bristol & Western Canal project which was started in 1792 and became the Bristol & Taunton Canal in 1810. An Act was passed in 1811 but little or no work followed. In 1824 the company was reconstructed Bridgwater & Taunton Canal.
Autumn 1793 | He checked the Bristol & Western Canal Line. | |
1810 | He surveyed the route and estimated the cost as £410,896. |
Description: A proposal for a 40 mile canal from the Avon at Morgasn's Pill, Bristol to Taunton.
History: First proposed and surveyed in 1792. Never authorised or built.
1792 | He surveyed the line of the proposed canal with William White. | |
1792 | He surveyed the line of the proposed canal with John Longbotham. |
Description: A 2.5 mile narrow canal with 6 locks from the Tame Valley Canal at Salford Junction to Bordesley Junction. Now part of the Grand Union Main Line.
History: Authorised by an Act of 1840 and opened in 1844.
1830 | He was appointed engineeer. | |
1836 | He surveyed a line for the canal from the Birmingham Canal and Worcester & Birmingham Canal to the Warwick & Birmingham Canal and then to Aston Locks. | |
1840 | Authorised by an Act. | |
1840 | He was appointed engineer for the building of the 2 mile 5 furlong canal with 6 locks. | |
1844 | Opened. | |
1985 | The Warwick Canals by Alan H Faulkner , Published by Railway and Canal Historical Society - Canal history. | |
Description: The canal is being restored but the top five miles of the canal bed (to Basingstoke Wharf) have been sold.
History: Promoted by an Act of 1778. Opened in 1794. Original company wound-up in 1869. Winding-up order found to be invalid in 1910.
See Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals for more information.
1770 | Surveyed a line from Basingstoke to Monkey Island, below Bray on the River Thames. It was to be a 29 mile barge canal that was estimated to cost £51,000. He chose Monkey Island as the point to join the Thames as it was were the proposed Reading to Isleworth canal was to cross the Thames. | |
1778 | Promoted by an Act. | |
1778 | He surveyed the line for the canal Act. | |
1787 | He was appointed engineer and did the final survey. | |
1794 | Opened. | |
1834 | He was the engineer for the London & Sothampton Railway whose new line was to pass under the canal, which would cross on a new aqueduct. | |
1837 | He was appointed engineer to the London & Southampton Railway which ran alongside and across the canal. | |
1869 | Original company wound-up. | |
1910 | The 1869 Winding-up order found to be invalid. | |
1916 | The Basingstoke Canal. By P Bonthron. First published. | |
1991 | Reopened for navigation. | |
Description: A proposed wide canal from the top of Bath Locks on the Kennet & Avon Canal to Bristol. Never built.
History: Surveyed by John Rennie in 1796 and 1810, authorised in 1811. No work was started.
1796 | He surveyed the route as a proposed extension to the Kennet & Avon Canal. | |
8 October 1810 | He reported on his resurvey of the line which was to be 13½ miles and terminate at Old Market Street, Bristol. The cost was estimated at £343,030 including a branch to the Bristol floating harbour. |
Description: Runs for just over a mile from the Junction with the Walsall Canal to the M6 Motorway.
History: Built under the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768 but completed in 1830.
1768 | Authorised under the Birmingham Canal Act. | |
1830 | Completed. | |
Description: Runs from Farmers Bridge, junction with the BCN Main Line, to Whittington Brook, where it joins the detached section of the Coventry Canal.
1784 | He was engineer for the canal. |
Description: Runs from Pelsall Junction on the Wyrley and Essington Canal, north to Norton Canes Docks.
History: The last BCN canal to be built opened around 1858 to 1863.
1858 | The last BCN canal to be built opened around 1858 to 1863. | |
1863 | The last BCN canal to be built opened around 1858 to 1863. | |
Description: A proposed link between the Avon at Bristol and the Thames & Severn Canal near Cirencester.
History: Promoted and surveyed in 1793 but never authorised or built.
1792 | He and Robert Mylne surveyed a line for a canal from Bristol to join the Thames & Severn near Cirencester. | |
1793 | He did a survey for the line of the proposed canal with Richard Hall. |
Description: From Tipton Junction, on the BCN Old Main Line, to Stourbridge Canal.
History: Started in 1776, under the direction of Thomas Dadford Senior, it was extended to the Birmingham Canal via Dudley Tunnel in 1792 (under Act of 1785). From Tipon Junction, through Dudley Tunnel, to Park Head Locks officially closed in 1962. Dudley Canal Tunnel Preservation Society formed on 1 January 1964, and provided boat trips through the tunnel. In January 1972 Dudley Borough Council agree to contribute half the cost of restoring the canal and in September it was offically reopened.
See Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals for more information.
1776 | Started under the direction of Thomas Dadford Senior. | |
June 1776 | Was appointed engineer and surveyor. | |
1783 | He left his post as engineer and surveyor and was afterwards employed on an ad hoc basis. | |
1784 | About this time he and John Snape surveyed the extension of the canal to the Birmingham Canal through Dudley Tunnel. | |
1785 | Act passed to extended to the Birmingham Canal via Dudley Tunnel. | |
1785 | He checked the original survey and was made consulting engineer for the Dudley Tunnel extension. He was told to plan for a commodious basin at Castle Mill were the tunnel was to join Lord Dudley's tunnel. | |
1785 | He, together with John Bull, surveyed the line of the canal. | |
July 1787 | Following some of the contractors work being found unsatisfactory he was paid off as consulting engineer. | |
June 1790 | Appointed engineer under Josiah Clowes. | |
Early June 1790 | Was appointed engineer at one and a half guineas a day with the task of finishing Dudley Tunnel. | |
1792 | Extended to the Birmingham Canal via Dudley Tunnel. | |
1792 | He produced a map showing proposals for the Selly Oak line with a 3,330 yard Lappal Tunnel, a 2,078 yard Netherton Tunnel and a communication to the Birmingham Canal at Oldbury. | |
1800 | Was working as engineer. | |
1962 | From Tipon Junction, through Dudley Tunnel, to Park Head Locks officially closed. | |
1964 | Dudley Canal Tunnel Preservation Society formed on 1 January, and provided boat trips through the tunnel. | |
1972 | In January Dudley Borough Council agree to contribute half the cost of restoring the canal and in September it was offically reopened. | |
1974 | Dudley Canal Tunnel - A Guide Commemorating the Restoration of the Tunnel and the Official Reopening by D A Gittings, Published by Dudley Canal Trust. | |
Description: Runs from Parkhead Junction, with the Dudley Canal Line No 1, to Coombeswood. The canal originally went on to join the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Selly Oak. The closed section contains the 3,795 yard Lappal Tunnel.
History: This extension to the Dudley Canal was authorised in 1793 and completed in 1798.
Summer 1785 | He became resident engineer. | |
July 1787 | It was agreed that he would be released from from his bond and that John Pinkerton should pay the company £2,000 by instalments which jessop was to guarantee with others. | |
25 March 1788 | He stood surity for a £4,000 bond which John Pinkerton took as contractor cutting the canal. | |
1792 | Appointed engineer at 3 guineas a day and 4 guineas a journey expenses. | |
1793 | The extension to the Dudley Canal was authorised. | |
1793 | He surveyed the line of the canal. | |
1796 | He is given charge of the works except for Lappal Tunnel and Leasowes Aqueduct, which were being supervised by William Underhill. | |
1796 | He is given charge of the works for Lappal Tunnel and Leasowes Aqueduct. | |
Early 1796 | He was asked to make an inspection of the works following the death of Josiah Clowes and before the appointment of William Underhill as engineer. | |
1798 | This extension to the Dudley Canal was completed. | |
1991 | IWA National Festival at Windmill End. | |
1996 | IWA National Festival at Windmill End. | |
Description: Runs from Aston Junction on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal to Bordesley.
History: Built under the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768 but completed in 1799.
1768 | Built under the Birmingham Canal Act. | |
1799 | Completed. | |
Description: A branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal, running from Catshill Junction to Longwood Junction on the Rushall Canal.
History: Built under the Wyrley & Essington Canal Act of 1792 but completed in 1800.
1792 | Built under the Wyrley & Essington Canal Act. | |
1800 | Completed. | |
Description: Links the BCN Main Line (at Albion Junction) with the Old Main Line Loop (at Brades Hall Junction).
History: Built under the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768 but completed in 1836.
1768 | Authorised under the Birmingham Canal Act. | |
1836 | Brades Hall Locks built with two-rise staircase. | |
1836 | Completed. | |
Description: Runs from Worcester Bar, in the centre of Birmingham, where it joins the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, to Aldersley junction on the Staffordshire and Worcester.
History: From Aldersley to Deepfields Junction was constructed as part of the original Main Line, by Brindley, in 1769. The section beyond Deepfields was built by Telford between 1825 and 1838, reducing the total mileage from 22.5 to just over 15.
4 June 1767 | Following his survey he put forward two possible lines and recommended the route from New-Hall, over Birmingham Heath, through the Smethwick, Oldbury, Tipon Green and Bilston areas to the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The cost was estimated at £50,000. | |
2 March 1768 | Appointed engineer at £200 a year. | |
1769 | From Aldersley to Deepfields Junction was constructed as part of the original Main Line, by Brindley. | |
14 July 1769 | The canal committee observed "That Mr Brindley has frequently passed by, and sometimes come into Town, without giving them an opportunity of meeting to confer with him upon the progress of this undertaking" and "expressing their dissatisfaction at not being able to see him at such times". | |
14 January 1771 | Together with Samuel Simcock he denies that the canal was built with many windings to increase tolls. They said that the canal winding enabled it to serve more people. | |
14 January 1771 | Together with James Brindley he denies that the canal was built with many windings to increase tolls. They said that the canal winding enabled it to serve more people. | |
1824 | He made a survey of the Birmingham canals and recommended the shortening and improving of the line between Birmingham and Smethwick, abolishing the Smethwick summit by a cutting through the hill, a new canal from Tipton to Smethwick on the 453 foot level and a new reservoir at Rotton Park. | |
1825 | The section east of Deepfields was built by Telford between 1825 and 1838, reducing the total mileage from 22.5 to just over 15. | |
1838 | The section east of Deepfields was built by Telford between 1825 and 1838, reducing the total mileage from 22.5 to just over 15. | |
1994 | A Gas Street Trail by Ray Shill, Published by Heartlands Press - Well researched and illustrated guide. | |
Description: Originally about 160 miles of interconnected canals but today only just over a 100 miles are navigable.
History: Promoted by Acts of 1768, 1769, 1784, 1785, 1794, 1806, 1811, 1815, and 1818.
See Priestley's Navigable Rivers and Canals for more information.
1767 | Surveyed the line of the canal. | |
1768 | Promoted by Act. | |
1769 | Wednesbury Branch opened. | |
1784 | Promoted by Act. | |
1785 | Promoted by Act. | |
1785 | Around this time he gave the company engineering advice at a time when the junction with the Dudley Canal was being discussed. | |
1794 | Promoted by Act. | |
1804 | He became a member of the canal company committee and remained so for the rest of his life. | |
1806 | Promoted by Act. | |
1811 | Promoted by Act. | |
1815 | Promoted by Act. | |
1818 | Promoted by Act. | |
1824 | Surveyed the line for the new main line, which he recommended should have twin towpaths. | |
1969 | IWA National Rally at Birmingham. | |
1970 | Birmingham Canal Navigations - A Report on the 'Remainder' Waterways Published by British Waterways Board. | |
1973 | The Birmingham Canal Navigations by R May, Published by C R Smith A pictorial record of the BCN. | |
1974 | The Birmingham Canal Navigations, Vol. 1 1768 - 1846 by S R Broadbridge, Published by David & Charles. | |
1981 | The Other Sixty Miles by Richard Chester-Browne, "A survey of the abandoned canals of Birmingham and the Black Country". First published. | |
1998 | The Industrial Canal - Volume 2, The Railway Interchange by Tom Foxon, Published by Heartlands Press concentating on the canal and railway goods interchange in the Birmingham area. | |
Description: Links the BCN Main Line with the Dudley Canal, via Netherton Tunnel.
History: Built to relieve pressure on the Old Dudley Tunnel. The first sod of the Branch was turned by Lord Ward on the last day of 1855. Opened on 20 August 1858.
1855 | The first sod of the Branch was turned by Lord Ward on the last day of 1855. | |
1858 | Opened on 20 August 1858. | |
Description: Part of the original main line. Runs from Smethwick Junction to Tipton Factory Junction, joining back to the present Main line in both places.
History: Engineered by James Brindley and opened in November 1769.
1768 | He and Samuel Simcock worked as James Brindley's assistants on the canal. | |
1768 | He and Robert Whitworth worked as James Brindley's assistants on the canal. | |
1769 | Engineered by James Brindley and opened in November 1769. | |
History: Built under the Wyrley & Essington Canal Act of 1792 but completed in 1847.
1792 | Authorised under the Wyrley & Essington Canal Act. | |
1847 | Completed. | |
Description: Several proposals for navigations around the River Taw Estuary in Devon.
History: The first canal was proposed in 1810 as part of drainage and enclosure works. Other schemes was suggested in 1813, 1821, 1845 and 1850 but only one cut was ever made.
1813 | He suggested that two drainage channels in Braunton Marsh should be connected by a lock so that boats could have access to the north part of the marsh. |
Description: From Oldbury Junction on the BCN Old Main Line to Causeway Green.
History: Built under the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768 but completed in 1837.
Points of Special Interest: At the top of Oldbury locks is Titford pool, the highest Point on the BCN (511 feet).
1768 | Built under the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768 but completed in 1837. | |
1837 | Completed. | |
1978 | IWA National Festival at Titford. | |
1982 | IWA National Festival at Titford. | |
Text and photographs copyright of Jim Shead.
