The Worcester and Birmingham Canal, some thirty miles long, was
created from 1791, when it was authorised by Act of Parliament, to
1815 when it was completed 24 years later. Although intended as a
broad canal for barges and having five broad tunnels, it was
eventually completed with narrow locks due to financial
difficulties. From Gas Street Basin at the Birmingham end it passes
through the suburbs of Edgbaston, Selly Oak and Kings Norton, then
through the long West Hill Tunnel and via Hopwood and Alvechurch
through countryside to Tardebigge, all this section being on the
Birmingham Level. Then it descends in stages via fifty-six narrow
locks and two barge locks to the River Severn at Diglis via Stoke
Prior, Hanbury Wharf, Dunhampstead, Oddingley, Tibberton, Blackpole
and the eastern suburbs of Worcester City. The earlier chapters of
this book trace in detail the successive stages reached in making
the canal and the reservoirs needed to safeguard the water supplies
of millowners, the financial and other problems faced, and the saga
of the Tardebigge Boat Lifi. Later chapters cover the history of
the canal following its completion, its use for both commercial and
pleasure purposes, its administration and management, its upkeep
and maintenance, its involvement with railways, and the various
industries and amenities which were established beside it, Three of
the final chapters feature past and present places and items of
interest located along the canal from Birmingham to Worcester. Of
special interest throughout is the impact the canal had upon the
lives of countless people, those involved in its construction,
those who lived and worked on the boats, those who were employed by
the Canal Company as engineers, lock-keepers and maintenance men,
people who worked in canalside factories, shops, public house,
boatyards, and on wharves, and those concerned for the welfare of
canal boat families and their animals.
General
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