Cheshire cat Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 While travelling through Birmingham, Dudley etc I couldn't help wondering about all the abandoned arms and wharfs. Is there such a thing as a definitive guide to Birmingham's canal. I remember, probably 20 years ago the landlord of The Dog and Doublet at Bodymoor Heath showing me an Atlas of the UK rail system as it was in Victorian times. Is there anything similar for the BCN? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 Andy Tidy has done quite a bit of research for one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearley Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 (edited) You need the Blue Book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birmingham-Canal-Navigations-cruising-Walking/dp/B00I3O0YYC If you can't find a copy then someone on here has a pdf version. Edited August 16, 2019 by pearley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 All the open ones in 1969 in bold, the disused branches and arms in light. I have seen another one, older, with the older disused arms and wharves in red. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stilllearning Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 18 minutes ago, Cheshire cat said: While travelling through Birmingham, Dudley etc I couldn't help wondering about all the abandoned arms and wharfs. Is there such a thing as a definitive guide to Birmingham's canal. I remember, probably 20 years ago the landlord of The Dog and Doublet at Bodymoor Heath showing me an Atlas of the UK rail system as it was in Victorian times. Is there anything similar for the BCN? There is L.A. Edwards “Inland Waterways of Great Britain”. The Miscellaneous Waterways section at the back lists an awful lots of tiny arms and canals that no longer exist. The photo is from the main section of the book, on the BCN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearley Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 (edited) If you want real detail then I can recommend the Alan Godfrey reprints of OS maps from around 1900. Roughly 1/2500 scale. Waterstones in Birmingham keep quite a few as does the Ian Allan shop near New Street Station. Beware though you can get a bit obsessed and want to collect the lot, about 34 to cover all the BCN, at £3 a time. I started with the Round Oak one as I wanted to see how the canal had been moved to accommodate Merryhill shopping centre, then the lovely colour one of Birmingham City Centre. After the BCN I then went into other interesting canal areas around the country. I'm waiting for them to reprint Burton on Trent so I can look at the brewery railway system and Wigan to show the coal and iron industry along the Wigan 21. I can also recommend 'The Industrial Canal - The Railway Interchange Trade' by Tom Foxon, published by Heartland Press, which has much detail of many of the basins including maps/plans of several. The section on Hockley Port is extremely interesting. And Jeannette has just pointed out this https://bcnsociety.com/canal-hunter/ Edited August 16, 2019 by pearley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-M Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 Have a read of http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/p/bcn-backwaters.html?m=1 There is reference to the Other Sixty Miles book which is a good reference if you can find a copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beerbeerbeerbeerbeer Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 (edited) 22 minutes ago, Rob-M said: Have a read of http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/p/bcn-backwaters.html?m=1 There is reference to the Other Sixty Miles book which is a good reference if you can find a copy. I bought one from the BCNS 5 or 6 years ago. If the OP is lucky they may have some left. Worth asking. In fact I bought 3, we’d just finished the BCN challenge in 2013(?), so. I got one for myself and another 2 as a thank you gift for the crew. Might have been a fiver each, can’t remember. Edited August 16, 2019 by Goliath Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 On line, National Library of Scotland have their excellent old maps of much of the UK, including a side by side comparison with the current one. For example, Gas Street Basin, around a century ago and now. Jen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephenA Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 1 hour ago, pearley said: . Beware though you can get a bit obsessed and want to collect the lot, about 34 to cover all the BCN, at £3 a time. I started with the Round Oak one as I wanted to see how the canal had been moved to accommodate Merryhill shopping centre, then the lovely colour one of Birmingham City Centre. After the BCN I then went into other interesting canal areas around the country. I'm waiting for them to reprint Burton on Trent so I can look at the brewery railway system and Wigan to show the coal and iron industry along the Wigan 21. You can always use side by side maps https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=53.5534&lon=-2.5957&layers=171&right=BingHyb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham_Robinson Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 Historical Map series No.2 Canals of Birmingham and the Black Country.............covers the lot all on one map. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire cat Posted August 16, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 Thankyou everyone. There is a lot to go at there. I think I was hoping for something along the lines of "The Blue Book". I shall endeavor to track down a copy. The other suggestions look promising too. I was already aware of the National Library of Scotland's map collection. I have spent hours pouring over their maps of our village. It really was 100 years ago whereas now it is just another suburb. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Ahab Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 2 hours ago, ditchcrawler said: Andy Tidy has done quite a bit of research for one. Get a copy of Richard Deans Birmingham Canals map. Or have a look at the videos which are linked into the BCNS website: https://bcnsociety.com/canal-hunter/ 2 hours ago, pearley said: You need the Blue Book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birmingham-Canal-Navigations-cruising-Walking/dp/B00I3O0YYC If you can't find a copy then someone on here has a pdf version. They appear on e-bay from time to time at about £15. Try and get a copy where the canals have been coloured in blue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pearley Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 (edited) 47 minutes ago, StephenA said: You can always use side by side maps https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=16&lat=53.5534&lon=-2.5957&layers=171&right=BingHyb I am currently using a Samsung tablet. Has a hissy fit with that. 5 minutes ago, Capt Ahab said: Get a copy of Richard Deans Birmingham Canals map. Or have a look at the videos which are linked into the BCNS website: https://bcnsociety.com/canal-hunter/ They appear on e-bay from time to time at about £15. Try and get a copy where the canals have been coloured in blue. Ah but the colouring was applied by the owner of said book using a crayon AFAIK At least that's how mine was coloured in. Edited August 16, 2019 by pearley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john6767 Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 The other sixty miles” is worth getting a copy of. Try Audlem Mill https://www.canalbookshop.co.uk/bcn & w midlands 1.html also worth taking a look and Andy Tidy’s youtube channel for his canal hunter series Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt Ahab Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 24 minutes ago, pearley said: I am currently using a Samsung tablet. Has a hissy fit with that. Ah but the colouring was applied by the owner of said book using a crayon AFAIK At least that's how mine was coloured in. Mine way pre crayoned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 2 hours ago, Rob-M said: Have a read of http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/p/bcn-backwaters.html?m=1 There is reference to the Other Sixty Miles book which is a good reference if you can find a copy. That is Andy Tidy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-M Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 4 minutes ago, ditchcrawler said: That is Andy Tidy I know, that is why I linked to his blog. There is an old thread regarding the Blue Book... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Todd Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 4 hours ago, pearley said: You need the Blue Book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birmingham-Canal-Navigations-cruising-Walking/dp/B00I3O0YYC If you can't find a copy then someone on here has a pdf version. Except that mine is red. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 4 hours ago, pearley said: If you want real detail then I can recommend the Alan Godfrey reprints of OS maps from around 1900. Roughly 1/2500 scale. Waterstones in Birmingham keep quite a few as does the Ian Allan shop near New Street Station. Beware though you can get a bit obsessed and want to collect the lot, about 34 to cover all the BCN, at £3 a time. I started with the Round Oak one as I wanted to see how the canal had been moved to accommodate Merryhill shopping centre, then the lovely colour one of Birmingham City Centre. After the BCN I then went into other interesting canal areas around the country. I'm waiting for them to reprint Burton on Trent so I can look at the brewery railway system and Wigan to show the coal and iron industry along the Wigan 21. I can also recommend 'The Industrial Canal - The Railway Interchange Trade' by Tom Foxon, published by Heartland Press, which has much detail of many of the basins including maps/plans of several. The section on Hockley Port is extremely interesting. And Jeannette has just pointed out this https://bcnsociety.com/canal-hunter/ I'm glad it's not just me needs an anorak...even when its not raining.? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bearwood Boster Posted August 16, 2019 Report Share Posted August 16, 2019 5 hours ago, pearley said: You need the Blue Book. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Birmingham-Canal-Navigations-cruising-Walking/dp/B00I3O0YYC If you can't find a copy then someone on here has a pdf version. I've got a second hand blue book which I got from a canal weekend/ event.Well worth tracking down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
droshky Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 13 hours ago, The Bearwood Boster said: I've got a second hand blue book which I got from a canal weekend/ event.Well worth tracking down. Hi. An actual copy, eh? We are coming into Brum for our first tour of the canals, hoping to moor in the Uni area on Tuesday night. I wonder if I could cycle over to you (if you're at home base!) and make a copy at some local establishment? Cheeky, I know. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bearwood Boster Posted August 17, 2019 Report Share Posted August 17, 2019 4 hours ago, droshky said: Hi. An actual copy, eh? We are coming into Brum for our first tour of the canals, hoping to moor in the Uni area on Tuesday night. I wonder if I could cycle over to you (if you're at home base!) and make a copy at some local establishment? Cheeky, I know. Dave I'm afraid we're out cruising ourselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heartland Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 The Industrial Canal books were produced by myself. I also did a series of articles for Boundary Post to looked at some of the branches and byeways. Also, like what has already been said the Richard Dean maps do show the many basins and arms in detaill The Andy Tidy work has been to update the Other Sixty Miles produced many years ago and the Black Country Society also produced a version of that some years ago. Following the arms and branches can be a complex study. For there were those branches, such as the Foxyards Canal, which are lost through later changes and developments. Trying to follow the BCN through the original course at the Brades in Oldbury is also difficult to see, as it the original routes between Pudding Green and Ryders Green. if you have any particular questions, i will do my best to answer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hastings Posted August 18, 2019 Report Share Posted August 18, 2019 On 16/08/2019 at 19:49, Cheshire cat said: Thankyou everyone. There is a lot to go at there. I think I was hoping for something along the lines of "The Blue Book". I shall endeavor to track down a copy. The other suggestions look promising too. I was already aware of the National Library of Scotland's map collection. I have spent hours pouring over their maps of our village. It really was 100 years ago whereas now it is just another suburb. We have a couple of copies of the "Blue Book", and The Other Sixty Miles, at Audlem Mill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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