Heartland

Josiah Clowes died long before 1971 and in this case his death led to the appointment of Thomas Telford the images used are from the Waterways Archive. This aqueduct was in tact after the canal closure and shows the skill of Clowes, another aqueduct nearby was demolished by a flood which led Telford to be associated with the reconstruction.

And now another image to ponder on this was an aqueduct built to the design of Josiah Clowes and that design also deserves comment as to the sloping side and if that was done through a consideration as to rivers in floods

Regarding the Titanic Lift Bridge, Lincoln This image shows that structure

In suspect that it was space considerations that led to the building of Titanic Bridge at Lincoln over the Witham This had a road and single rail track access to the Titanic Works of Clayton Wagon which in 1928 became Clayton Dewandre Ltd where vacuum brakes were made for the motor industry. Like many British Industries that works closed and was considered for housing. In 2024 the future of the Titanic Bridge (which seems to have been altered) was placed in doubt and it was closed off to all. As to the present state may be those who traverse the Witham can comment.

This notice regarding the Bridgewater Canal deserves comment as to why ?

Some interesting images I should point out that the lift bridge at the Black Country Museum came from Factory GWR Interchange Basin At Royston on the Barnsley Canal there was a lift bridge which was taken down in 1975 This image is from the Waterways Archive and the RCHS also has images.

And now another subject to ponder on. The Mersey was an important trading route Warrington and Manchester. At Runcorn there were connections made with the Bridgewater Canal and the Runcorn & Latchford Canal. Crossing the river by railway at Runcorn was achieved by the LNWR line to Liverpool and before the present road bridge which is alongside the railway there was a transporter bridge.

Are the Welsh Government at fault for not protecting the canal which provides revenue for the area? The long term use of the river as a supply for two independent waterways would have had parliamentary approval when each received their act, so how can a greedy privatised water company keen to get as much as possible for its shareholders change that state of affairs!

The Mayor of Walsall cut the tape to open the Walsall Canal at 11.17 am on 5th June 2025 and boats proceeded to Walsall Basin, BBC Radio West Midland was there and Noddy Holder phoned into the station to say it was now open and with a choir at Walsall Basin every body could hear the noise!

You will have to remember that when the canal is opened to Walsall on Thursday WE means I in Walsall speak

If you think the Hawkesbury Turn is tight ever consider the original junction at Longford !

Well River Raver needs to correct the spelling for Worsley and the electric tug does look like the Harecastle Tunnel, and on fact the second period when an overhead wire tug was employed.

That image does raise certain questions But the Hennibique system of concrete reinforced bridges was developed by a french engineer who gave his name to the method and which was commenced in 1892. Concrete was used earlier, I have a note that the London & Birmingham Viaduct over the River Rea in Birmingham had a concrete base.

Of Course there was also Paddington Basin And on that theme how many Red Bull Wharves where there?

Oh gawd Wast Hill was actually West Hill on the maps, so was it Brummy speak or spake to say Wast our kid? As to naming the Tunnels, West Hill tunnel when the Warwickshire Photo survey was made in the early 1900 was called Kings Norton and I suppose as the Worcester & Birmingham Canal was separate to the Stratford Upon Avon Canal the same naming of each tunnel can be made. It is very much like railway stations having the same name when original railway companies were created and often the name changed with the merging together to identify stations. For example with the LMS the LNWR Brownhills Station became Brownhills High Street and the Midland Station became Brownhills Watling Street in 1924 and in 1950 the GWR Station at Great Bridge became Great Bridge South and the former LMS station at Great Bridge became Great Bridge North. With the new metro line it will be of interest to see that the metro stop at Great Bridge will be called

As the owner was 5239 may be the last post is correct, I went past with Lisa on the previous Thursday but boat was secure The first part of the line here formed part of the 1769 original route as built for Brindley under the supervision of Samuel Simcox when Brindley ha other projects to pursue. James Brindley returned to ensure the Paradise Street Branch was built and I suppose the Deep Cutting is one of the earlier terms for the junction. Later when it was a cross roads there were two names applied mainly it would seem as to which way the boat may turn, and the same applied at Eyre Street where the Icknield Port Line and Winson Green Loop crossed the new route of Telford. And now something else to ponder on as this CRT 1911 image of a concrete bridge on the Bridgewater Canal and as to whether this was an early use of this type of concrete, but what was the first for a canal bridge.

Another topic to get on with. On the BCN in Birmingham there is a canal cross roads at Famers Bridge Junction, three parts of the junction were completed by the time the canal was completed from Birmingham to Aldersley but the fourth part had to wait until Thomas Telford improved the canal more than 50 years later.

Brunel made a few mistakes himself and perhaps was not the "great" engineer that some have it be With the Walsall Canal the CRT on local radio announced the opening will be next week.

No answers then for this piece of the Ashton Canal The power station was Stuart Street Power Station Manchester which received coal at one time by a underground tunnel from a nearby colliery When pulled down the space was "recycled as a Velodrome

Seems like that might be worth chasing up Spraying concrete was an option but with the bridge 18 the seems to be no evidence of it being used there although a section of canal nearby was improved.

Did billh have any work with the locomotives on the restoration? And as to the view much has been written about the Power Station but perhaps more could be said. It closed in 1975 and the land was literally recycled.

There were coal pits near the canal and Adlington Basin on the left had a link with an tramroad at one time it would appear, Adlington Basin (Cheshire) was developed later as a marina, but I suspect that the cement was there to assist with strengthening the towpath. Perhaps serious comments might be needed.

There are often times when a subject illustration raises a question as to what is shown. In this case the image is from 1961 at bridge 18 on the Macclesfield Canal with a BW workboat beside the towpath and an explanation is sought as to what id happening here? And no it is was not a samosa making facility!

Another interesting piece of information And now with this picture there is a mill building and concrete cooling towers in the background

my use of the word cement was as a verb not as a noun but this discussion has developed better it would seem