Deepfields

 Today's Canals - Wyrley and Essington, BCN Main Line

There was quite a bit of rain overnight and the last of it was still falling as we awoke. This meant that the towpath was rather muddy, made worse by the occasional scrambler style motorbike going to and from the woods, as well as the usual walkers and cyclists.

It was a bright morning,however, by the time we set off - this lasted well upoto lunch time when the forecast cloud started to gather.

Holy Bank Basin is a short arm that was mainly used for the transfer of coal from a tramway that led down from Holly Bank Colliery, over a mile to the north. It remained in use until the final demise of carrying coat by narrowboats. In 2000 is was closed to boats to allow an experiment on weed control and was reopened a few years later. There are reports that a set of moorings is available at the far end. If only we had known when we passed . . . 

A short arm at Wednesfield retail park is all that is left of this end of the former Bentley Canal.

This steel arch is an attractive addition to the landscape at the site of a former railway bridge. Alas, from this side it looks as if it could do with a good clean.

However, the other side is still shiny so we could take the obligatory selfie.

Another short arm is now managed by Urban Moorings CIC, a group of boaters who are keen to develop moorings in an ecologically friendly way.

At Horseley Fields Junction we emerged onto the much wider and deeper BCN Main Line - at this point it follows the original line, although towards Birmingham much was done later to improve the capacity, including the construction of a separate New Main Line.

Nevertheless, we still managed to collect rubbish on the prop and gradually came almost to a standstill. So, we pulled in to the towpath - not very close and we needed the gang plank to get to and from the bank. It was in any case lunch time so we hammered in puns and Christine readied food whilst Mike tackled the prop. At first he thought it was going to be easy as large amounts of weed were soon being pulled out. Alas, once these were gone he could see that there was a lot of plastic, rope, etc still to be removed. Most came away without too much of a struggle but the last few bits put up quite a fight.

Just as Mike was putting the weed hatch and deck board back in place when he espied a boat pulling up alongside us - it was Pip and Mick on Oleanna. We saw them last at Thrupp but it was only possible then to have a very brief chat. Here, with few boats passing we could chat for very much longer. Altogether, the de-weed and the chat took up a whole hour so we were a bit late with our lunch! The chat only came to an end because eventually another boat arrived, wanting to pass.

In the afternoon we continued our journey. We took this photo not knowing whether it was at all interesting. We later discovered from old maps that it linked the main railway line (still in use) to the Staffordshire Steel and Ingot Iron Works, a huge site that is now largely regenerated into a housing estate and a business park. Later the works became Bilston Steelworks - a photo and the story of its closure in 1979 can be seen here.

We moored upon a designated mooring - with bollards - just after Deepfields Junction.

8.5 Miles - 0 Locks