The "Old" Thirteen

Sunday, 07 March 2010 13:00

Otherwise known as Farmer's Bridge Locks - our ascent into Birmingham

The final leg of our journey into Birmingham, this time, was via the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal from Aston Junction and up the thirteen Farmer's Bridge Locks.

This flight is the "old" thirteen as opposed to the "new" thirteen on the Tame Valley Canal, which were built to relieve congestion on the old flight. The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal runs all the way to the Coventry Canal at Fazeley Junction. To the old boatmen Fazeley was the end of the BCN, but more recently Aston Junction is seen as the end of the Navigations.

We entered the Birmingham and Fazeley at Aston Junction, bearing left under the Aston Road Bridge which carries the very busy A38 (M).

Aston Locks to the right

After the bridge are the remains of entrances to St Stephen's Arm.

As we neared Lancaster Street Bridge, the entrance to City Arm is also visible on the right (above).

The remains of old wharves and industry line most of this section and in between Lancaster Street and Barker Bridges is this interesting shaped warehouse.

What was it used for?

Barker Bridge (1842) has a fire gate one side, but the other side is very ornate

Now we were approaching the Farmer's Bridge Flight. We recognised the entrance to the bottom lock from our walk down the flight back in the snowy, iced-in days of January.

Snow Hill Road Bridge

It seemed strange to be ascending the flight and not see ice around! It was also great to see the locks from a "boater's eye view" rather than from a walker's! So here is a quick trip up the locks from Epiphany - more detailed photos from our walk down are here - clickety click

In the bottom lock (13) with Snow Hill Rail Bridge and Livery Street Bridge ahead

Approaching Lock 10 under Brindley House

The towpath beside this lock and Lock 9 is still in what looks like the original state. It is cobbled and rough and it is wise to look out for speeding cyclists who seem to like the thrill and challenge of the humps and bumps! This is despite a notice at the top of the locks and on Newhall Street Bridge telling them to dismount for the locks. Hmm ....

This Stygian gloom is what awaits in Lock 9, under Newhall Street Bridge

Once out in the open again I was looking out for things I missed on our walk in January. The Whitmore Arm was a private arm, built in 1808 to the sand quarries in the high ground near what is now George Street.

I wondered if this warehouse is a remnant of this Arm as it appears to be on the line of the canal. Does the pile of sand beside it have significance?!

Derelict warehouse between Locks 7 and 8

The entrance to Charlotte Street Basin could be almost unnoticed, as the modern foot bridge above takes the eye away from the canal. This time I was determined to get a photo! This basin served the timber works of Joseph Shipton.

Entrance to Charlotte Street Basin above Lock 7

Many of the weirs in the flight are hidden but at a couple of the locks it is possible to see the distinctive semi circular weir - particularly as the sound of water rushing down them begins as the above lock is emptied!

Semi circular weir at Lock 6

So we were almost there and felt very much "at home" as we came up the final locks to Cambrian Wharf. With the sun blazing down, the view from Lock 4 has to be entitled "the end is NIA" (say it quickly, not pronouncing the initials!)

View from Lock 4 - Cambrian Wharf flats tower over everything

Mooring in one of our favourite places we were all set for the weekend!