The Cannock Extension Canal - a branch of the Wyrley and Essington Canal

Tuesday, 09 February 2010 19:12

The Cannock Extension Canal is only very short!

Before I finally get to yesterdays journey, I must just blog about this Wyrley and Essington Branch. Once upon a time it was going to have a new lease of life as the Hatherton Canal Restoration was coming to the old coal basins (Grove Basins). The preferred route has now changed and will be joining the Wyrley and Essington Main Line via Lord Hays old Branch near Fishley Lane Bridge.

The derelict Lord Hay Branch is beyond this bridge!

At Pelsall Junction, after the above Bridge, the Cannock Extension Canal leaves northwards. The Junction signpost still indicates the now superseded restoration plans - Shouldn't BW or the Lichfield and Hatherton Trust be changing this?

Junction signpost

The 1863 canal is now only is 1.8 miles long. Originally it was over 5 miles long extending to Rumer Hill Junction (or Churchbridge Junction), where it met the branch to the original Hatherton Canal (see Captain Ahab's Watery Tales for details) and then went on to Hednesford Basin. Hednesford was a colliery town and the Basin and Canal were very busy at the height of the mining years.

Pelsall Junction

The section north of the A5 (Watling Street) suffered serious subsidence and was finally abandoned in 1963. The remaining section is very straight and turning onto it we could almost see the end.

Turning onto the Cannock Extension Canal

Beside the first Bridge there are a couple of canal cottages - this one is being revamped.

The canal continues through countryside, with some private fishing ponds alongside the towpath

Grove Basins, or Brownhills Colliery Basins, are now used as moorings for narrowboats. It may seem a natural junction to use but local land owners had environmental concerns causing the change of plans for the Hatherton Canal restoration.

Colliery Basins

Beyond Pelsall Road Bridge are two boatyards

There are some very nice narrowboats moored here, many of them built by the well known Norton Canes Boatbuilders, one of the boatyards.

Norton Canes sign

Moored boats

We liked the sign writing

There are a few boats here that have been around a long time too and it is obviously a working boatyard.

We approached the end of the navigation, avoiding damaging the new boat that was being worked on! There are boats moored right up to the end, and the A5 can be seen rushing by.

New boat ahead across canal

Head of navigation

We had to reverse to wind and the new boat was moved so we could do so! Returning down the Branch we returned to the Main Line of the Wyrley and Essington Canal to continue our journey to Anglesey Basin.