Wednesbury Old Canal on the way to Birmingham

Tuesday, 16 February 2010 17:00

The Wednesbury Old Canal meets the Walsall Canal at Ryder's Junction

The Wednesbury Old Canal now terminates just beyond Swan Bridge. Here the Ridgeacre Branch is culverted under the A41 but is in water for most of its original length and used for recreation.

Details of the Wednesbury Old Canal and a map of nearby canals can be found here - clickey click

The canal holds the distinction of being part of the first phase of the Birmingham Canals. It was completed and delivering coal to Birmingham by November 1769. This was before the Birmingham Canal (Old Main Line) had reached Wolverhampton.

Originally it started at Spon Lane Junction (on the Old Main Line, Wolverhampton Level) and descended the three locks. It then followed what is now the Birmingham New Main Line and then went NW to the coal fields. Telford's New Main Line cut the Wednesbury Old Canal, forming what is now Pudding Green Junction.

We didn't turn left down towards Swan Bridge, fortunately!

We later learned from Charles and Dolores of Nb Felonious Mongoose that the bit to Swan Bridge is extremely weedy and shallow. They had to reverse out as they were unable to turn even in the first winding hole.

From Ryder's Green Junction, we carried on on the SE section of the Wednesbury Old Canal. It is mainly industrial and once past Belper Bridge the canal becomes shallow, narrow and weedy.

Belper Bridge

Narrow and shallow and we disturbed the seagulls!

This looked like an old wharf to me

Once there were brickworks not far away - Hamblets Brickworks and Albion Blue Brick and Tile Works - I wonder if this was a wharf for their use. Izon Bridge, carrying Albion Road, is near the end of the Canal.

Izon Bridge

Pudding Green Junction with the Main Line was once a cross roads with the southern loop of the Wednesbury Old Canal, when it was still in operation (until 1954). The junction was then known as Izon Old Turn.

Turning left at Pudding Green Junction we were on familiar territory! As we have done this section of the Birmingham Main Line before, I will not repeat myself, but highlight a few things that I did not notice the first time!

Spon Lane Locks at Bromford Junction

These locks were where the Wednesbury Old Arm originally came down from the Wolverhampton Level. 

Smethwick Galton Bridge Station is high above the canal and is a modern Italianate style building with lines on two levels. Apparently it is worth a visit if you are a "railway buff"!

Station buildings from the canal

Talking trains - I managed to catch a few on camera as they shot past us on the rail lines. There was -

Cross Country 125 at the M6 Bridge and Stewart Aqueduct

Diesel Train crossing the railway bridge after Rabone Lane Bridge

Nearer Birmingham a diesel train crossing the entrance to the Soho Loop

Other unusual things spotted included -

This strange looking box before Rabone Road Bridge is a "boat counter", I think

Attractive fence decorations high above us in the section between Lee Bridge and Rotton Park Junction

Finally, we knew we were approaching Birmingham City Centre when in the distance we saw the Heritage Trip Boat turning into Icknield Port Loop. Would we beat it to the other end of the loop?

Rotton Park Junction

Right is to Icknield Port and left is to Winson Green on the Soho Loop and yes, we did beat the trip boat as here it is just arriving at the other end of Icknield Port Loop!

Trip Boat full of passengers - it is half-term here!

So, after calling in at Sherbourne Wharf for diesel, coal, waterways mags, meanwhile chatting to Charles and Dolores, we moored up in our favourite place: the other end of the Oozells Loop at Brindleyplace moorings.

The area is much busier than when we were here before - more narrowboats and definitely more people.

Wednesbury Old Canal, Ryder's Green Junction to Brindleyplace, Oozells Loop Birmingham Main Line

2 hours 27 minutes, 6.06 miles, 0 locks