Heartland

Certainly more cyclists using the appropriate cycle paths and designated routes helps to take them out of the drivers seat. All that is asked is that behave responsibly. The main complaint in the various submissions on this website and elsewhere, is that there are those that do not behave sensibly or with due consideration for others. What is required is that more cycle paths are created. Not all canal towpaths are suited to cyclist use. For many years, the use of cycles on towpaths was restricted, or not permitted. Imagine the problems caused should a speeding cyclist meet a horse on a narrow towpath- and I do wonder how the Horse Boats cope these days!

Yes Longford was the first junction and the Oxford Canal ran parallel with the Coventry from Hawkesbury. Map evidence shows a simple junction there. The main buildings were placed beside the stop lock. Canal carriers used Longford Junction to access the warehouses at Coventry Basin, eg Pickfords. The newer junction at Hawkesbury was useful for craft such as coal boats wishing to avoid the extended mileage.

Harry will be greatly missed- another sad loss.

The long Car Dyke that unites the Nene, Welland and Witham is often credited as a Roman canal and is essentially used for drainage. Although there is evidence of navigation, at least along part of the route, following archeological investigations along the route. The main issue is that there are changes of levels in certain spots that lead to the general queries about navigation. Yet there is a subject that has not been followed up and that is how the Romans dealt with the change of levels. A similar situation occurred on the Foss Dyke at Torksey, here a link was required with the Trent, but how DID the Romans do it?

There were a succession of engineers that were involved with the Trent and Mersey after the time of James Brindley and Hugh Henshall. Thomas Dadford had an input at the time the Coventry was made to Fradley. John Rennie was engineer on various projects until his death. Thomas Telford was involved with the design and construction of the new Harecastle Tunnel and then there was Trubshaw who appears to have supervised the various lock reconstruction schemes in Cheshire. Sadly T & M records are missing and secondary sources have to be relied upon.

It has been discussed before, but pairing of the locks was deemed important for the trade and began around the time the new Harecastle Tunnel was opened. There were plans for further improvement as discussed in my book Silent Highways, sadly these were not carried out. Thurlwood Lock was a BW improvement.

BCN No 4 district was the Walsall District, so I presume the name is correct.

The Moor Lane destructor- I remember this working and the Salvage Carts there. It was possible to see this building from the top deck of a No 11 bus. As stated Birmingham Corporation had a number of day boats. It is quite possible the records of their building exist in Birmingham Library Archives. Wolverhampton Corporation also had salvage boats which can be traced through records at Wolverhampton Archives near the Wolves Ground. The movement of night soil was a primary function of the salvage boats. They then moved ashes from the destructors in Birmingham such at Rotten Park Street, Banbury Street and Moor Lane.

Local Archives have limited finances, and so deposits may take time to be catalogued. It may rake years to do this, in fact. Yet the collection may be relatively safe. Transport Societies also have important collections, and to dismiss this option may not be the best. Yet the publication of images remains the best, as such images reach the general public and help show the diverse nature of transport.

Don't forget the rivers some might find muskets, swords, coins and arrowheads there- and perhaps others have. There were fording places where road traffic passed and was a location noted for loss.

There is a useful post on the Birmingham History Forum http://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/cadbury-canal-boat-history.49106/ BOURNVILLE III is shown to be built by F C Perry of Wolverhampton

Yes, Cyclists were just an example... others include motorists who park their car on the pavement---- the list could be quite long !

The tribal practices of the troglodytes appear to include throwing metal objects into the cut. May be C & RT should reclaim the material placed on the bank. There must be a scrap value

I feel as if the this word should be included in the English language. The definition of this term being: "A selfish person, act or action, which specifically relates to self interest and completely disregards the needs or requirements of people, regulations or rules." Certain cyclists are guilty of this transgression when they: (a) cycle along a towpath at speed (b) cycle in narrow places where dismounting would be a benefit to others (c) the wearing of a digital recording device whilst on the towpath as there is no likelihood of being knocked of their bicycle through the action of a motorist, but every likelihood of supporting their actions, however wrong, when challenged by walkers or boaters (d) expecting walkers and boaters to move out their path so that they can cycle uninterupted (e) the neglect of having a bell or other warning device (f) wearing items such as head cams that restrict their ability to perceive the action of others on the towpath

Yes, that is particularly annoying if it difficult to get off to work the lock and fishermen are on the mooring stage.