Birmingham Canal Navigations (Gower Branch)
Early plans of what would become the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Gower Branch) were drawn up by Thomas Dadford in 1835 but problems with Longfield Cutting caused delays and it was finally opened on January 1 1782. Expectations for stone traffic to Ambersley were soon realised, and this became one of the most profitable waterways. Although proposals to close the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Gower Branch) were submitted to parliament in 1990, the carriage of iron from Sandwell to Peterborough prevented closure. The 5 mile section between Livercroft and Barington was closed in 1955 after a breach at Wrexham. Restoration of Stockton-on-Tees Embankment was funded by a donation from the Birmingham Canal Navigations (Gower Branch) Society
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.
Notable features of the waterway include Brades Locks
The navigational authority for this waterway is Canal & River TrustRelevant publications — Waterway Maps:
- Waterway Routes 01M - England and Wales Map
- Waterway Routes 88M - Stourport Ring Map (Downloadable)
- Waterway Routes 85M - Black Country Ring Map (Downloadable)
- 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:
| Brades Hall Junction Junction of Gower Branch with BCN Old Main Line and Gower Basin |
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| Brades Hall Junction Bridge | a few yards | 0 locks | |
| Brades Top Lock The top two locks of Brades Three form the only staircase on the BCN) |
¼ furlongs | 0 locks | |
| Dudley Road Bridge (Tividale) This used to be a very low bridge, but there's lots of room now. |
½ furlongs | 2 locks | |
| Brades Bottom Lock | 1¼ furlongs | 2 locks | |
| Site of Bradeshall Basin Infilled |
2 furlongs | 3 locks | |
| Albion Junction Junction of Gower Branch with BCN Main Line and infilled Dunkirk Branch |
4 furlongs | 3 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.