How many locks on the BCN

[Capt Ahab]

OK - a mental challenge whilst we wait for spring to make an appearance.

 

How many locks were / are there on the BCN?

 

The current number should be easy but how many have been lost(excluding stop locks whith no fall)?

 

Off the top of my head:

 

Bentley 10, Sneyd 5, Essington Locks 5, Slough 1, Ogley 30, Toll End 9, Bradley 9, Old Delph 9, Two Locks 2, Gibsons 1, Smethwich old summit 6, Smethwick duplicates 3, Gospel Oak (Dumaresq) 2

 

That is a tally of 82 so far and I am sure I have missed some?

 

As for the current tally:

 

Wolverhampton 21, Rushall 9, Perry Barr 13, Aston 11, Farmers Bridge 13, Ashted 6, Smethwick 3, Ryders Green 8, Walsall 8, Spon 3, Brades 3, Factory 3, Titford 6, Parkhead 4, Delph 8, Birmingham and Fazeley 15

 

That makes 134 operational locks?

[the grinch]

camp hill? don't forget 1 lock has gone and 1 new lock has been built (although in Birmingham not actually part of the BCN)

dudley canal 2 locks branch

gower branch 3 locks (edit to say you have them as brades )

Edited March 15, 2013 by hamsterfan

[springy]

Churchbridge (13)

 

 

 

 

springy

 

 

[alan_fincher]

camp hill? don't forget 1 lock has gone and 1 new lock has been built

Doesn't that also apply at Curdworth?

 

Does Camp Hill count as BCN though, I'm no expert, but probably not?

Edited March 15, 2013 by alan_fincher

[Laurence Hogg]

This is near impossible to answer correctly as there is doubt and confusion over some early canals. The branch to Lower Gornal (Foxyards) which has almost entirely dissapeared is one of the problem areas, there were also branches which were private with locks, ie Slough arm and some factory arms. the Wolverhampton 21 which started as 20, also some stop locks held back a differing level, ie Wyrley & Essington stop at Horseley Fields & the Gas St stop lock too. A maximum possible number may be a better view.

[David Mack]

Strictly the BCN also includes the Birmingham and Fazeley and the Coventry route from Fazeley to Whittington.

 

And the three lost locks at Tipton Green.

 

Camp Hill don't count - they're on the GU.

[the grinch]

Churchbridge (13)

 

 

 

 

springy

 

what about the other 8 locks of the Hatherton canal?

 

Doesn't that also apply at Curdworth?

 

Does Camp Hill count as BCN though, I'm no expert, but probably not?

 

think our posts crossed as i'd already said they aren't technically BCN even though they are in Birmingham.

[springy]

what about the other 8 locks of the Hatherton canal?

 

I think they were S&W, bradshaws shows Churchbridge Jcn, at the bottom

 

of the flight as BCN junction with the hatherton branch (end on jcn)

 

 

 

 

springy

Edited March 15, 2013 by springy

[the grinch]

toll end locks are only 7 not 9 the other 3 are the tipton green locks that Dave Mack has added

 

I think they were S&W, bradshaws shows Churchbridge Jcn, at the bottom

 

of the flight as BCN junction with the hatherton branch (end on jcn)

 

 

 

 

springy

 

yes i've just looked it up and they were the S&W and BCN joined forces to build churchbridge.

[magpie patrick]

One amendment, I seem to recall that Delph top and bottom locks are original and the middle 6 replaced 7 rather than 8 replaced 9.

 

Also, thinking about it, Blowers Green, or Parkhead number four, was two separate locks at one time.

 

The list of current locks also misses of Ashted locks on the Digbeth Branch I think. ETA, I'm wrong, just seen in the list.

 

Also ETA, wasn't there a lock somewhere on the branch towards central Birmingham from the BCN side of Worcester Bar?

Edited March 16, 2013 by magpie patrick

[Capt Ahab]

Churchbridge (13)

 

 

 

 

springy

I thought about Churchbridge flight and wasnt sure if they were part of the BCN or the Hatherton Canal - edited to add that I see the Churchbridge flight is in Badshaws as BCN - so thats another 13!

Edited March 16, 2013 by Capt Ahab

[Heartland]

Laurence has a point about historical research, although with Foxyards, T think it is clear, there were four, three are shown on an Earl of Dudley lease which was reproduced on p 63 of Silent Highways and there was also the junction lock that appears on other maps. i also list the locks of all private branches on this page,including the staircase pair at Bradley Marr, which is not mentioned in the foregoing notes.

 

Robinsons Tar works branch perhaps needs further investigation as to the type of lock there. Bromford Ironworks also had a lock to reach an upper level.

 

As to John Rennies canal the Tipton Green & Toll End Communication, one lock on the Tipton Green End was moved to accomodate the new Island Line. lock 6 on the Toll End Communication was subsequently removed.

 

On the Bradley locks branch, 4 locks of the original private branch became the bottom 3 with the making of the Bradley Locks.

 

Smethwick Summit lost 6 top locks, but gained 3 with the duplication at the Smethwick End

 

Then there is Gibsons Lock and how deep it was!

 

It is quite a detailed story looking the BCN locks and the private branches that linked with them

 

Ray Shill

[Capt Ahab]

Aargh - I hadnt allowed for the demolished and rebuilt in a slightly different place locks! I think I will count the replacements as extant.

I have Curdworth included in the Birmingham and Fazeley.

 

This is near impossible to answer correctly as there is doubt and confusion over some early canals. The branch to Lower Gornal (Foxyards) which has almost entirely dissapeared is one of the problem areas, there were also branches which were private with locks, ie Slough arm and some factory arms. the Wolverhampton 21 which started as 20, also some stop locks held back a differing level, ie Wyrley & Essington stop at Horseley Fields & the Gas St stop lock too. A maximum possible number may be a better view.

Wise words Laurence!

[magpie patrick]

I have Curdworth included in the Birmingham and Fazeley.

 

 

In which case you've counted both the demolished top lock and the new one

 

And go on Ray/Heartlnad, how deep WAS Gibson's lock. I won't be able to sleep

[Capt Ahab]

One amendment, I seem to recall that Delph top and bottom locks are original and the middle 6 replaced 7 rather than 8 replaced 9.

 

Also, thinking about it, Blowers Green, or Parkhead number four, was two separate locks at one time.

 

The list of current locks also misses of Ashted locks on the Digbeth Branch I think. ETA, I'm wrong, just seen in the list.

 

Also ETA, wasn't there a lock somewhere on the branch towards central Birmingham from the BCN side of Worcester Bar?

Patrick - I remembered the Blowers Green two into one as I fell asleep last night. The one in Birmingham was Gibsons under the new Library.

[FadeToScarlet]

I think "sufficient" might be the most accurate answer

[Capt Ahab]

Thanks for all your input - much appreciated.

 

Without relisting them my final tally of lost locks is in excess of 105!

[MartinClark]

Essington Locks 5,

 

Essington Locks were never part of the BCN. Essington Locks Branch was abandoned before the BCN took over the Wyrley & Essington.

[Odana]

Is this the ultimate bcn challenge?

[RLWP]

Is this the ultimate bcn challenge?

 

Sort of BCN Challenge for Geeks? No messing about in boats but an exhaustive expedition through the archives

 

How will we score it?

 

Richard

[alan_fincher]

Is this the ultimate bcn challenge?

 

Sort of BCN Challenge for Geeks? No messing about in boats but an exhaustive expedition through the archives

Ah but a "virtual BCN", isn't really giving you the experience though is it.....

 

I mean, you would get to miss out on the real delights.....

 

[ChimneyChain]

What is the BCN challenge please, I've heard the term before but don't know what' goes on or the object of it. Thank you

 

Darren

[alan_fincher]

What is the BCN challenge please, I've heard the term before but don't know what' goes on or the object of it. Thank you

 

Darren

Google is your friend....

 

Linky

[ChimneyChain]

Thanks Alan. Definitely led a sheltered life down here in little old Uxbridge.

 

Darren

[Heartland]

Gibsons Lock- Birmingham Archeology did when they excavated the site for the new Library gave some rough depths in their reports of the excavated basin at metres above sea level, If I converted correctly the lock was between 8 and 9ft, some have suggested that it was much deeper.

 

I see that Curdworth Lock move for the Birmingham Northern Relief Road (M6 Toll) has been mentioned and David Brown has reminded me that there were plans to duplicate Farmers Bridge, but planned locks are perhaps out of this discussion.

 

Another discussion is how old are the locks. And how old is the oldest as the canal company reconstructed and rebuilt locks from time to time. The BCN rebuilt most of the Wyrley& Essington Locks, but those who are restoring this waterway have found lower down in thev chamber original hand made bricks. The oldest locks on the BCN would be the filled in Smethwick 3 and Spon Lane, but how much of Spon Lane locks are original is a matter for CRT to investigate, I presume. These were ready for traffic in 1769, whilst the original Wolverhampton Flight (20) were 1771/2 vintage.

 

Similar discussions might be applied to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal where Compton Lock is usually quoted as the oldest lock, even though the notebooks of Mr Green would suugest some of those below Compton were constructed a little earlier. It is a matter of understanding that in building the canal water was taken down with the contractors boats assisting the movement of spoil. Whilst there was a water supply above Compton, Greens notebooks show that digging out that part was subsequent to making the canal south of Compton and it is likely that locks like Wightwick, or were finished earlier.

 

Ray Shill