Windmill End, but where is the windmill?

Monday, 21 December 2009 17:21

We change canals, yet again!

We were now on the Dudley No. 2 canal; having turned right at Parkhead Junction, we were travelling in the opposite direction for a while. i.e. south and then east towards Windmill End.

It felt a bit like being out in the countryside and the canal curved around Netherton Hill - however, once on the other side there was still light industry for a bit.

St Andrew's Church high on Netherton Hill

This is one of Stephen's churches - our chair repairer, emergency transport and lock wheeler - these multi-talented Vicars! He is one of the wonderful new friends we have made on our travels.

After about half a mile we passed the other end of Two Lock Line - Blackbrook Junction, another junction  with an iron bridge carrying the towpath (like the other end of the Two Lock Line at Woodside).

Blackbrook  Junction

The road that leads to Netherton crosses the canal on an impressive bridge - descriptively named High Bridge (now where have we heard that before?)! It spans a cutting that was once Brewins Tunnel, built in 1828 and opened out 20 years later.

High Bridge

On our right after this was Lodge Farm Reservoir (or Netherton Reservoir), which was once a clay pit. It was converted to a reservoir by the Birmingham Canal Navigation Company (BCN). It now hosts water sports and lots of wildlife! Opposite, the houses close in and there are some impressive gardens.

House with a view over Lodge Farm Reservoir

The canal widens out into Primrose Basin where Lloyds testing centre used to be, testing all the chains and anchors made in the area. There are still steel companies here, one with its own narrowboat.

Primrose Basin

Withymore Island Trust provides permanent moorings in a small arm and on the main line. The arm used to be an interchange station and makes attractive moorings.

Withymore arm

On the main line, I spotted what I think may be a restored Fly Boat - note the pointy bows and stern, built for speed! But it could also be a BCN "tug" or even an ice-breaker - any ideas?

Ahead was the Fox and Goose bridge - for some reason remembered by us both as the bridge before Windmill End - and the hill behind was a reminder that we had the Netherton Tunnel to go through the next day!

This began to look familiar, Windmill End was in sight - is that Stephen on the footbridge - it was!

This is his other Church - St Peter's, Darby End

On the left, the entrance to Bumblehole Branch

This is described as a "lovely urban environment of canalside gardens and houses old and new". At its terminus are moorings and an old-style pub. Perhaps worth exploring, but not for us this time!

We moored on the bollards at the very pleasant visitor moorings beyond the footbridge. There is a lake and a green sward to look out on to one side and houses and a pub on the other.

Come back tomorrow, when we finally cruise the BCN Main Line to arrive where we are at the moment. Then  you will have caught us up and be back in "Epiphany real time!"

Dudley No. 2 Canal, Park Head Junction to Windmill End - 2 hours 4 minutes, 2.41 miles, 0 locks