Titford Canal on the BCN - first the Oldbury Locks

Thursday, 28 January 2010 19:34

The highest canal on the BCN system at 511 feet above sea level

Yesterday we climbed the Oldbury Locks on the Titford Canal. The six locks took us up to the summit level by the Titford Pumphouse. We had a bit of an adventure though and today the canal continued to challenge us!

First, though - the locks!

We arrived to find that all the pounds were empty and so John had to let water down the locks before we could even begin to take Epiphany in them. He walked a good way back and forth doing this and then operating the locks for me! I had to "ginger" Epiphany through the pounds as they were still very shallow.

Epiphany waits at the bottom of the flight

Empty pound above the bottom Lock (6)

In general, the locks are in good condition and fairly easy to use - paddles were greased, gates were not too heavy, despite there being only a single bottom gate.

Bottom Gate of Bottom Lock

They all have sidepounds and, believe it or not, new wooden bollards on the towpath side!

In Lock 2

There are one or two of the original features still present though, as is seen below at Lock 3 - the original strapping bollard at the top. The blocked off arm probably led to a phosphorus plant owned by Jim Crow. This gentleman gave his name to the arm. There is a debate as to whether the other name for the flight - the "Crow" - pre-dated this local benefactor and industrialist.

Looking up the flight from Lock 3

We had a pretty "grey" day, but as you can see from this photo from Lock 5, some interesting skies!

In Lock 5

Lock 6, the Top Lock, is beside Titford Pumphouse

This is the HQ of the BCNS (Birmingham Canal Navigation Society) and also sits alongside the Tatbank Arm (a feeder canal). The history of the Pumphouse makes interesting reading and the BCNS has an article on their web page about it and the Titford Canal. It is worth a read (after you have read this blog of course!) - Clickety Click

We were looking for a mooring - the details from BW are a bit misleading as they just say moorings at "Titford Pumphouse", with facilities. The facilities are actually accessible in the Tatbank Arm, which has permanent moorings for narrowboats.

Moorings on the Tatbank Arm

We reversed down the arm to see if we could moor - but the the BCNS workboat Phoenix was on the mooring outside the Pumphouse and there appeared to be no visitor moorings. A guy on one of the boats said there was a space at the end of the moorings, as a boat was away and he suggested we would be OK there for a night.

This we duly did!

I washed Epiphany down in the afternoon - she was really dirty from the snow and chimney smuts (easy with a water tap so accessible!). John cleared out our bow and made more room for coal!

So today we set off to explore the rest of this short canal - but that is another exciting story - yes really! 

BCN Old Main Line, Oldbury Locks Junction to Tatbank Arm on Titford Canal

1 hour 18 minutes, 0.35 miles, 6 locks