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Why are the Titford locks called 'the Crow'?


Andrew Denny

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I don't know the origin of the name, but I remember back in the early-mid 70s folk referring to the former branch which went off on the towpath side half way up the flight as the 'Jim Crow Arm'.

 

I have no idea whether there is any connection with the US use of the term.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws

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The nickname of “The Crow” comes from Jim Crow, the owner of the chemical works, which had its own branch that had a junction midway in the flight. 

 

Jim Crow's company was Albright & Wilson (a company who manufactured phosphorous for the production of match heads)

 

http://www.whatliesbeneathrattlechainlagoon.org.uk/?page_id=2533

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19 hours ago, max's son said:

The nickname of “The Crow” comes from Jim Crow, the owner of the chemical works, which had its own branch that had a junction midway in the flight. 

 

Jim Crow's company was Albright & Wilson (a company who manufactured phosphorous for the production of match heads)

 

http://www.whatliesbeneathrattlechainlagoon.org.uk/?page_id=2533

We moored at Titford for 12 years & this is exactly what we were told/read.

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22 hours ago, max's son said:

The nickname of “The Crow” comes from Jim Crow, the owner of the chemical works, which had its own branch that had a junction midway in the flight. 

 

Jim Crow's company was Albright & Wilson (a company who manufactured phosphorous for the production of match heads)

 

http://www.whatliesbeneathrattlechainlagoon.org.uk/?page_id=2533

Max's Son, thanks! I've seen the rattlechain lagoon blog in the past, but a search for 'jim crow' didn't turn that up. But now I've found albright, it's a good shortcut. Graces's Guide's page on the history of Albright & Wilson doesn't mention Crow, although I came across an ancestry site that lists a 'David Crow Albright', born c.1869, so perhaps the original James Crow would have been earlier? (I doubt he would appear as 'Jim' in the written records, but I might be wrong. 

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Albright_and_Wilson

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On 15/04/2020 at 12:49, David Mack said:

I don't know the origin of the name, but I remember back in the early-mid 70s folk referring to the former branch which went off on the towpath side half way up the flight as the 'Jim Crow Arm'.

 

I have no idea whether there is any connection with the US use of the term.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws

A couple of photos of the remains of the arm taken this time last year

 

The remains of the  bridge that took the railway into Albright & Wilson and once to a station at Oldbury

 

154 Tititord Canal 12th April 2019.JPG

 

Looking back towards the entrance off he flight, the bridge carries the towpath

 

156 Tititord Canal 12th April 2019.JPG

Edited by Tim Lewis
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On 15/04/2020 at 12:49, max's son said:

Jim Crow's company was Albright & Wilson (a company who manufactured phosphorous for the production of match heads)

I used to buy my dry ice from Albright & Wilson :)

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