More Canal traces

Saturday, 09 January 2010 12:39

Traces at Old Turn Junction and the Brimingham and Fazeley Canal

The junction name has changed over the years. It was once Deep Cuttings Junction, then it became Farmer's Bridge Junction but it is now most commonly known as Old Turn Junction.

On the corner of the Junction: The Malt House

The Birmingham Brewery Company stood here, alongside the malthouse supplying the grain for the beer. The arched towpath bridge is over the remains of the old Brewery Basin.

Brewery Basin entrance

Further along towards Brindley Place, the Brewmasters House stands above the canal, by Brewmasters Bridge.

Brewmasters Bridge: House just seen on right of photo

The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal once began at Farmer's Bridge Top Lock and The Newhall Branch began at Old Turn Junction.

The Newhall Branch Canal now terminates at the end of Cambrian Wharf, by Farmer's Bridge Top Lock. At the end of the Wharf, as it narrows, you can try to imagine the Branch stretching away under the snow!

The Branch, once the largest in Birmingham, is now under Great Charles Street but led to the main coal wharf near Newhall Street. It was finally filled in around the 1950s and a pedestrian walk created.

Off loading on the Newhall Branch in the 1930s

The Elkington Factory, where electroplating was invented and patented, stood on the Newhall Branch. The canal split the factory in two and can just been seen here indicated by the 1.

photo, courtesy of Bob Miles Canal walks

Charlotte Street Basins were private basins. Under the towpath bridge, below Farmer's Bridge Lock 7, was the entrance to one of the basins. It is now bricked up. You can just see it on the right of the next picture. Compare the scene with the old photo (looking the other way)!

The Whitmore Arm (owned by William Whitmore, a foundry owner) was a private Branch Canal at the foot of Newhall Hill. The sand was dug and then transported  to the main canal via this arm, to be used in building and moulds for metal foundries. The remains can be seen above Lock 8.

Towpath Bridge over entrance to Whitmore Arm

One of these sandpits was unearthed on the corner of Newhall Street and George Street in 2001. It is probably the one that the Whitmore Arm serviced. Bob Miles Walks website provides more information and photos about the Great George Street Sandpit and the Whitmore Arm.

Stub of the Whitmore Arm below towpath bridge

William Whitmore was involved in the building of the Stratford Canal and may well have sent his cast iron fittings via canal from his foundry on the Arm.