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39549

The Worcester and Birmingham Canal in Birmingham, West Midlands.

The canal starts in Worcester, as an 'offshoot' of the River Severn (just after the river lock) and ends in Gas Street Basin in Birmingham. It is 29 miles long. There are 58 locks in total on the canal, including the 30 Tardebigge Locks, one of the largest lock flights in Europe. The canal climbs 428 feet from Worcester to Birmingham.

The parliamentary bill permitting its construction was passed in 1791 empowering the company to raise £180,000, through 1,800 shares at a cost of £100 each. It also allowed them to raise a further £70,000, if needed, amongst themselves or by the mortgage of tolls and rates. The Act also permitted the company to allow landowners on the line to build wharfs and wharfhouse, and if they refuse to, the company are allowed to if needed. A further Act of Parliament authorised the raising of £149,929 amongst themselves or through the creation of new shares. However, the company were unable to raise the full amount of money authorised by the second Act, and so another was passed allowing them to raise £49,680. Another Act was passed to obtain more money in 1808. This Act empowered the company to raise £168,000 through the creation of 4,200 shares at £40 each.

A final Act was passed in 1815 after the company had purchased land for reservoirs, which was not permitted in the previous Acts. The Act permitted the company to sell the land and to pay a debt of £29,096 (£1,880,000 as of 2014), to the treasurers by September 29, 1815 as well, otherwise it would be taken out of the proceeds raised from selling the land.

The canal was surveyed by Josiah Clowes and John Snape. Its engineers changed often, and included Thomas Cartwright, John Woodhouse and William Crosley.

Construction of a barge-width canal began in 1792 from the Birmingham end, but progressed slowly. Selly Oak was reached in October 1795 and Kings Norton Junction by May 1796, meeting the new Stratford-upon-Avon Canal which had by then reached Hockley Heath. By March 1797 the 2726-yard Wasthill Tunnel was open and the canal was trading to Hopwood. In 1807 the canal reached Tardebigge without the use of locks. From Worcester Bar to Tardebigge top lock, the canal is at the 453 ft Birmingham Level. The cost of building 14-foot locks was too great so the 56 locks down to Worcester were built to the narrow 7-foot specification, with the final two locks connecting to the Severn in Worcester being 14-foot to allow river craft access to Diglis Basin.

The final 16 miles was opened in December 1815. Plans to construct basins at Lowesmoor and Diglis were carried out eventually. A major user of the canal was the Cadbury chocolate factories at Bournville and Blackpole, Worcester.

Information Source:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_and_Birmingham_Canal

Taken in: UK / England / Brum (show map)

Taken on: September 8, 2014

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Birmingham

West Midlands

England

English

United Kingdom

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Worcester and Birmingham Canal

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Josiah Clowes

John Snape

Thomas Cartwright

John Woodhouse

William Crosley « less

Sets appears in: • West Midlands • Worcester and Birmingham Canal more » • Eastside • Birmingham « less

Groups appears in: • The Midlands • Reflections more » • Midlanders • Water... Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks • Birmingham • canals • Travel Photography • City • Birmingham: It's Not Shit • Locks and canals • Waterscapes • Birmingham Canals • IMAGE`S OF BUILDINGS - OLD AND NEW • Concrete Birmingham • West Midlands • Brick & Stone Architecture • city & the streets • "Unlimited Photos: No Rules" • View of Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Birmingham. • Buildings of Birmingham (the original) • Canals and Waterways of Great Britain • City Scapes & Street • Engineering as Art • Birmingham Post and Mail • Anything you would show your Grandparents. • * World Waterscapes (NO Black&White Photos) • Captured Waterscapes • Britain's Canal Networks • Summer's shots • PBWA - Photography By Wandering About • CANALMANIA • Anything Reflected • The Very Great Outdoors • Birmingham : A Walk Around Town • Flickr Photo Album Unlimited & Instant Posting • (1A1) BEAUTIFUL CANAL, LOCKS, BRIDGES,AND AQUEDUCTS. • (A) BEAUTIFUL PLACE « less

Camera: Nikon D7100, f/8.0, 1/250 sec, 18mm (=27mm), ISO 160 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Nikon D7100
Aperture:	f/8.0
Exposure Time:	0.004 sec (1/250)
Focal Length:	18mm (35mm equivalent: 27mm)
ISO:	160
Exposure Bias:	+0.209 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Not Defined
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Windows Photo Editor 10.0.10011.16384
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