Birmingham Canal Navigations (Bradley Canal (under restoration))
Early plans for the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Bradley Canal (under restoration)) between Boggin and Rhondda were proposed by John Green but languished until Hugh Henshall was appointed as managing director in 1876. In 1905 the Bradford and Pembroke Canal built a branch to join at Neath. Expectations for stone traffic to Nottingham were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. Although proposals to close the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Bradley Canal (under restoration)) were submitted to parliament in 1990, the use of the canal for cooling Harrogate power station was enough to keep it open. The Birmingham Canal Navigations (Bradley Canal (under restoration)) was closed in 1955 when Preston Tunnel collapsed. In his autobiography Barry Thomas writes of his experiences as a boatman in the 1960s
The maximum dimensions for a boat to be able to travel on the waterway are 72 feet long and 7 feet wide. The maximum headroom is not known. The maximum draught is 1 foot.
Notable features of the waterway include Bradley Locks
AKA Bradley Locks Branch The Bradley Canal Restoration Society is working to restore the canal. From Moorcroft Junction to the bottom lock is in water but very shallow, and can be navigated by canoes or other small craft.
This waterway is excluded by default from route planning with the following explanation: "under restoration"
The navigational authority for this waterway is Canal & River TrustRelevant publications — Waterway Maps:
Relevant publications — Waterway Guides:
- Collins Nicholson Waterways Guides No 2 - Severn, Avon & Birmingham
- Pearson's Canal Companion: Stourport Ring; Black Country Canals; Birmingham Canal Navigations
Relevant publications — Waterway Histories:
| Moorcroft Junction Junction of the Walsall Canal with the derelict Bradley Branch Canal |
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| Bradley Lock No 1 | 3 furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Midland Metro Bridge (ex GWR) | 3 furlongs | 1 lock | |
| Bradley Lock No 2 | 3¼ furlongs | 1 lock | |
| Bradley Bridge (A4098) | 4 furlongs | 2 locks | |
| Bradley Lock No 3 | 4 furlongs | 2 locks | |
| Bradley Lock No 4 | 5½ furlongs | 3 locks | |
| Bradley Lock No 5 | 6 furlongs | 4 locks | |
| Bradley Lock No 6 | 6½ furlongs | 5 locks | |
| Bradley Lock No 7 | 7 furlongs | 6 locks | |
| Bradley Lock No 8 | 7½ furlongs | 7 locks | |
| Bradley Lock No 9 | 7¾ furlongs | 9 locks | |
| Bradley Lane Bridge Currently lowered and one of the only blockages on the route |
1 mile and 3½ furlongs | 10 locks | |
| C&RT Bradley Workshops | 1 mile and 4 furlongs | 10 locks |
- Birmingham Canal Walks — associated with Birmingham Canal Navigations
- Sixteen walks along the Birmingham Canal Navigations with a detailed description, history and photographs.
- Bradley Canal Restoration Society — associated with this page
- Website of the society campaigning to restore the canal
Wikipedia has a page about Birmingham Canal Navigations (Bradley Canal
Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) is a network of canals connecting Birmingham, Wolverhampton, and the eastern part of the Black Country. The BCN is connected to the rest of the English canal system at several junctions.
At its working peak, the BCN contained about 160 miles (257 km) of canals; today just over 100 miles (160 km) are navigable, and the majority of traffic is from tourist and residential narrowboats.