Wolverhampton

Today's Canal - Birmingham Main Line

Today was dry but very overcast and the wind was still fairly strong. Sunny spells were alasall too rare. Hence, photos are all rather unspectacular!

This is the shopping trolley we spotted last night. We took care not to reverse over it when moving away from our overnight mooring!

We only aimed to get as far as the top of the 21 locks today so were in no hurry to leave. It was 10:30 by the time we eventually untied.

Just before the junction with the Old Main Line there is a narrow section. Older maps show this as a lock, presumably a stop lock to control the flow of water between the original canal companies.

After re-tracing our route from yesterday for the short distance to Tipton Factory Junction, we could look back at the site of our traumatic experience (most of which happened one lock down from this top lock)

Just after the junction is the entrance to what was the factory site that gives the junction and locks their names. Just beyond the access bridge were several basins and extensive railway sidings that allowed transhipments between the adjacent railway and canal boats.

A little further and there is a large former industrial site which we have watched for several years. For a long time little happened but when we passed two years ago (see) a lot of earth moving was being done as initial groundworks were underway in advance of a large housing estate. Today, the building is well advanced and, as usual, started at the far side and is gradually advancing on the more sellable canal-side plots. Let's hope that more attractive railings are installed before anyone moves in.

Someone seems to have discovered the hard way that riding on water is nit usually successful - let's  hope they were able to leap off before landing in the canal!

The land either side (east, west, north an south) of Ten Score Bridge was once the very productive collieries of  Spring Vale. Without old maps to tell the story, it is far from obvious that a canal branch once ran from here right into the middle of them. Later, the ones on the other side were connected to the main rail line  by a branch over the canal.

These narrows at Rough Hills were not a lock but a gauging station where the amount of goods carried was recorded and later charged tolls. Just as this photo was being taken we came to an almost dead stop and so an investigation down the weed hatch was organised. In fact nothing was found on the prop - whatever may have just fallen off but as we then made slow progress for a little while it was probably only that some serious dredging is needed.

Chillington Iro Company built in the early 19C a basin and transhipment yard for transporting the products from their nearby foundries. The company became bankrupt in 1885 and the facility was snapped up by the LNWR but used to transfer goods onto the railway. The crane is a listed building.

We continued into Wolverhampton and paused a short while at Broad Street to fill up the water tank - we had taken a washing machine load out whilst on the way here. Finally, we moved to moor just above the locks, ready for a start down the 21 in the morning, although Mike has a medical appointment, by phone, at 9! (He had received a date early May but at a time when he should be on a zoom-based training session. He rang and was told that they could offer an alternative of 24 Aril or 28 May - you mean tomorrow? Yes, please! It is only a check up) Time n ow for lunch and then we later made a rather unsuccessful trip to Sainsbury. Late afternoon a couple of other boats also moored nearby.

5.9 Miles - 0 Locks