MrDGWalters

Just an update regarding the Pumping Station at Sneyd Reservoir... I visited family down in Devon last week and was speaking to somebody whom used live on the Mossley Estate and vividly remembered the canal and reservoir circa 1950's/1960's. We got chatting about the locks and the landmarks that have made this stretch of the W&E so mysterious. We quickly got onto the subject of the Pumping Station and it was a complete surprise when I was told that there was much more to the building back in the mid/late 50's through to the early 60's. I was told that the building looked more like an house and had walls coming off the main back wall we have seen in the earlier picture posted here on the forums. This would make sense as the picture posted here reveals several little notches and holes where there would have quite rightly been partitioning walls coming forward. I was also told that that there were several arch shapes that looked like they could have been fireplaces. Sadly there were no photographs to back this up but I was told that they knew the residents in the nearby houses (which are still near to the road on Vernon Way - I think there are two; white in render colour) and would have definitely had photographs of the area. Not entirely sure these residents would be living here now though. One last discussion raised the subject of Sneyd House (the old BCN offices). The person told me that they once found some letters in the derelict building which were addressed to a woman and made references to meeting up somewhere (basically love letters) - again sadly, they never kept them. It was an interesting conversation and good to hear that the Pumping Station could be remembered in a much different way than I can remember in the 1980's. David.

Tony, No, I didnt get chance unfortunately. I will check and see if these are still available to purchase. If you check out the new digitised archive at the Canal River Trust there are some photos related to Sneyd: http://collections.canalrivertrust.org.uk/results David.

Hi Tony, I am not sure if I do remember the sluice to be honest Tony, I don't think my memory serves me that well. Are there any more pics of the 'Castle' or 'Lions Den' in the pipeline? Really enjoying the posts. Thanks, David.

Fantastic! Passed this lock everyday for 5 years on my way to and from School David.

Just a little excited...

Hi all, Are there any more updates on this topic? I was really interested in seeing those pictures of the Pumping/Valve House that Ray Shill said he had copies of. David.

I remember vividly crawling down the overflow tunnel to the edge of the reservoir as a young child, don't think I'd like to attempt it now though! What has happened to all of the photos of the pumphouse, didn't somebody say they had some copies to post on here? Great pics Tony, I have some similar snaps from last year. I still think the previous 'old' photo was part of the pumphouse, I remember that little section of wall...I can see how folks that walked the route in the 60's and 70's missed the pumphouse as it was clearly hidden by trees!

Another great find Tony, is this by the pumphouse? Trying to picture it at the moment. Thanks, David. Hold on Tony, this is part of the pumphouse I think. David.

I see what you mean now, I think it would be too far over for it to be in line with the canal but I could be wrong. Is this an image that Ray sent you? I may have a walk over there again today and take some shots as I still live in Bloxwich. David.

Hi Tony, Another good photo although I can't quite remember that brickwork, I do remember there being some kind of concrete pad near the pylon. I remember the feeder, it was a dip from the top.of the embankment to the path around the reservoir and it ran from the Pump House in the direction of the upper locks. I couldn't see Sneyd House on the photo - does this refer to the old BCN buildig.? Thanks, David.

Are these scans of original photos of the pump house and other structures? If so I would very much like to see them being a Bloxwich local for the last 40 year's. Thanks, David.

Tony, that picture is absolutely amazing. It is incredible how the landscape has changed and agreed it does look like a postcard compared to 70s and 80s. I am trying to get my head around this, presumably the photo was taken from the bank of the reservoir? This must be lock number 4 and further on would have been the top lock number 5? Thank you so much for posting this, a great snapshot of Bloxwich history. David. Ps I have shown my Father the photo and he remembers it as Giles but said he thought the building was white and faced the canal side.

Now that is fantastic news, I am really looking forward to seeing that image. I would be confident to say that it would probably be the earliest photographic evidence anybody has in their private collection. Not sure I would want to go into the Sneyd Inn nowadays, it would be like stepping into the Cantina at Mos Eisley (Star Wars) Thanks, a very interesting piece of historical information. David.

Yes, I used to play in the Lions Den too (overflow) during the late 70s, early 80s. Great pic, thanks for posting. Do you have any of the Fort or what we called The Castle (valve/pumphouse)? David.

As promised, photographs of Sneyd Locks, Bloxwich - now Vernon Way. Bottom Lock Number 1 Lock number 4 by Sneyd Public House Top Lock Number 5 I hereby acknowledge the photographer of these images. These are for historical use only.

Hi Ray, I am particularly interested in the valve house at Sneyd Reservoir, I have enjoyed reading your new book and I would highly recommend it to anybody here on the forums. I obtained some photos last year of some of the locks on the Sneyd branch; bottom lock, fourth lock and top lock prior to them being infilled (circa late 70's). Obtaining photographic evidence of the valve house has proved impossible, visits to the Walsall History Centre, speaking to local historians in and around Bloxwich as well as National Archives presented me with no answers. Lawrence hasbeen very helpful here on the forums, I remember asking him about the subject on eBay of all places as he had videos on the Wyrley and Essington. There are detailed plans stored at Gloucester Heritage Centre for the valve house which I presently have not tapped for information. I grew in the area and would often play around the reservoir with friends, funnily enough most of my friends do not remember the valve house as vividly as me. My memories are generally around the time Sneyd School was being built, so remembering locks 2, 3 and 4 are difficult as well as the drawbridge and original Sneyd cottage, I would only be about 9 years old. My brother in law remembers the lock run and all memorable structures but has no photographic record and the same goes for my father, now 81 years old. The valve house as I have only over the last year known it to be was distinctively an orange brick structure, not what I would really class as a house as there were no visible entrances, it only appeared to be pretty much a wall with arches built into the embankment - I guess maybe it would have been much more of a four walled structure at some point in history but may have been partially demolished during the pre 70's??? I will post what photos I have of the locks in a new reply after this post... Thank you for everybody's interest and help so far on this very difficult piece of historical waterway. David. Need to get the Sneyd lock photos from my harddrive onto my phone so that I can post them - I will do this tomorrow. David.

Has anybody purchased Ray Shill's New book 'Wyrley and Essington Canal Through Time'. I have just placed my order and are looking forward to reading it, I know Ray said he had some photos of the Sneyd Canal and Reservoir, I'm hoping they will be in the book.

Thank you, much appreciated. I am still willing to scan images if needed.

Any new developments on this, I have agreed to scan photos if this would help??? Would really like to see images of the Valve House, I can so vividly picture it in my head - maybe I should do an artists impression and really utilise my skills I have a new message in my inbox but cannot access it... thanks.

I can help to scan the photos if you wish, I have access to some professional equipment as I am a lecturer at a College. I will of course return photos safely and securely if you wish to proceed. David.

I am really enjoying reading this thread after I Googled 'Sneyd Reservoir Valve Pump Engine' (to which I have been Googling for some time now). I think I may have spoken to some of you previously through different pathways - eBay, FlickR etc. I lived on the Mossley Estate from 1972 (the year I was born) and spent many a happy hour playing around the Sneyd Reservoir and Canal, albeit a dangerous place I lived to tell the tale I have very vague memories of the canal before it was filled in and covered with what is now Vernon Way, but I do remember the bottom and top lock plus the strange building (valve house). We used to use the valve house (aptly named 'The Castle') as a HQ when we played tracker or soldiers around the reservoir. It was a red brick structure, very run down at the point when I used to play there and the key feature was the large arch or arches? (can't remember how many arches exactly but I know there was at least one). There was no visible entrance into the valve house you could get to the top by a small path (very steep) and I vaguely remember some steps at one end? At the top of the valve house (I am presuming it was a valve house) there was a circular arrangement that looked like it could have been a chimney or overflow which if you look at the pics at Ahab's and my FlickR pics valve house are those loose remnants that are now strewn around the foliage. The channel or inlet channel or inlet is still at the top of the embankment which I presume allowed water back into the canal? I also remember the original Sneyd Inn which is now replaced with a more modern building. My Father and Brother in Law both remember the canal and reservoir very well but sadly have no photos. My parents moved onto the Mossley in the 1950's and my Brother in Law would remember the canal during the 1960's. It is great to have read some of the posts here and it has actually been the best resource of information about the area I have found so far. I too am hoping to see those pics of the valve house appear here very soon as it will complete or almost complete some of the history I have been trying to gather over the last year or so of the area. Apparently there are plans of the valve house stored at Gloucester Canal Museum, I have had the opportunity to purchase copies of these in the past but may pay a visit instead to see the originals. This is a very exciting thread, let's see if we can unravel the mysteries surrounding this area.