Tony K

A couple of pictures I took at The Grove last weekend

Not long ago received a mail advising the funeral at St Peter's Church Kinver DY7 6HX 26th May 2016 at 14.30hrs Then Stourbridge Crem

Nice one Andy, I might have to 'borrow' those shots for B O N

The father in law lived at 204 Canal Side Sneyd Junction Bloxwich as his father (also) R J Smith worked for 56 years for the BCN Co and then British Waterways until his retirement in 1962. I've still got his commemorative retirement album from BWB which included this personal message A picture of his (and other colleagues) presentation award taken from the staff magazine....... I wonder where that Walsall District Social Club was located - can anyone enlighten me? Thanks

Only just spotted this Springy !!!! And thanks for the 'work in progress' Zuluru

Thanks Lawrence - I've fished that section several times, I'll have a gander on Google sat

Spotted this postcard, supposedly from the 1950's, but I'm scratching my head as to exactly where the photographer stood....... Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks

Spotted this in a battered copy of the Walsall Observer dated Fri Jan 30 1970 - not the best scan due to the condition of the paper The accompanying article read A Bloxwich councillor is intensifying his effort to get a stretch of canal covered. Walsall Town Council have admitted that it is a health hazard. The canal which lies only a few hundred yards from a school on the Mossley Estate is chocked with debris and filth. Only a few months ago it was the centre of a tussle between Walsall and Cannock local authorities over the technical question of which town owned the rats that were breeding there. Walsall councillor S Wright claims that a pledge was made four years ago that the canal would be culverted. Chief public inspector Mr J P Barton agreed yesterday (Thursday) that there was a health hazard. ‘It is a regular complaint’ he said. ‘We have had to clean it out a number of times, but it has always filled with debris again. We have also treated it for rats, but they keep coming back. It is a nuisance, and one to which we have to give constant attention’. ‘It is a disgusting mess’ said Councillor Wright, who considers that the situation had been badly mishandled. ‘Children could be in serious danger, yet nothing is done’ he went on. ‘We have talked about it and said how bad it is, but the time has come to do something about it’. It was at its worst in summer, when the flowing brown water stagnated and began to smell. If the canal was covered the council would be able to sell the adjoining land to a developer or industrialist. Good building land was going to waste. A spokesman for the Borough Surveyor’s department said the responsibility lay with the British Waterways Board. ‘I think they intend to carry out culverting at some future date and we are going to make some contributions to the cost’ he said. ‘But when they are going to do that, I do not know’ he added. There was no one available at the head office of British Waterways yesterday to comment.

This topic has been quiet for some time.....do anymore historical images lurk anywhere?

Best shout so far Derek

Thanks for relating your discussions David and for the pictures Tarboat Just changing tack slightly, whilst perusing the Essington Branch locks on the 1883 OS map I noticed the word 'magazine' - presumably associated with the nearby coal shafts....? Can anyone enlighten/educate me?

Aok ta Capt

Thanks guys

Coincidentally, whilst fishing on the W & E near the junction of the Extension a couple of months back a small boat with sonar equipment was mapping the canal bed. As I control the fishing rights on the Ext for a sports club we'd welcome 'some dredging' as the shelves are heavily silted in places.

Hiya Springy Sure I'd read somewhere that earlier plans to link up from Grove Marina on The Ext had met with resistance from Wyrley Estates (????)

Did you take any photos of that colliery wall Capt Ahab?

The branch ran from the Wyrley & Essington at Pelsall/Fishley and crossed the A34 north of Bloxwich Ian

1883 OS map 1903 OS map 1921 OS map (revised in 1915 - by which time the pool has 'developed'

The canal finished in the field almost opposite the Masons Andy. There is a small section of what I presume to be the original canal bed (a hollow) almost parallel to the A34 by the pool (which unless the grey cells are going I thought Capt Ahab had included a picture of when he explored the route of the canal)

Looks like it's currently less of a 'scramble through the bramble' following a 'bit of work' on the route of the canal bed.........

Ps - thanks for advising of the transfer of the records

Hi Ray I'll stand corrected, but always believed the wooden walkover bridge in the picture above was the one I've highlighted in red of this cut from the 1883 OS map

This topic hss been quiet for some time.... David have you had the opportunity to visit the Gloucs museum to see the plans of the pump/valve house yet? You also mentioned you had the chance to purchase them once - are they still available to buy?

Some work going on...........

Thanks Ian