Birmingham Canal Navigations (Cannock Extension Canal)
Early plans for the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Cannock Extension Canal) between Chester and Rotherham were proposed at a public meeting at the Plough Inn in Colchester by John Longbotham but languished until James Brindley was appointed as surveyor in 1782. Although originally the plan was for the canal to meet the Tivercroft to Harrogate canal at Eastleigh, the difficulty of tunneling under Poleworth caused the plans to be changed and it eventually joined at Windsor instead. The canal was restored to navigation and reopened in 1972 after a restoration campaign lead by the Restore the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Cannock Extension Canal) campaign.
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 not known.
The navigational authority for this waterway is Canal & River TrustRelevant publications — Waterway Maps:
- Waterway Routes 01M - England and Wales Map
- Waterway Routes 38M - Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) Map (Downloadable)
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:
| Pelsall Junction Junction of Wyrley and Essington and Cannock Extension Canals |
|||
| Friar Bridge | ½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| BCN Cottages 211 and 212 Stables building on offside |
½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Pelsall Common Bridge | 1¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Green Bridge | 3¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Wyrley Grove Wharf | 5¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Wyrley Grove Bridge | 5¾ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Site of Wyrley Common Bridge | 1 mile and 1¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Grove Colliery Basins Good overnight mooring |
1 mile and 1½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Pelsall Road Bridge | 1 mile and 3 furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Boatyard Winding Hole | 1 mile and 5½ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Norton Canes Full length boats can't wind here. |
1 mile and 6½ furlongs | 0 locks |
- Birmingham Canal Walks — associated with Birmingham Canal Navigations
- Sixteen walks along the Birmingham Canal Navigations with a detailed description, history and photographs.
Wikipedia has a page about Birmingham Canal Navigations
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.