1.5 The Ridgacre Branches

This video is the fifth in the first Canal Hunter series in which Andy Tidy explores the lost sections of canal linked to James Brindley's original Birmingham Canal, now part of the wider Birmingham Canal Navigations.
In this episode we explore the sections east from the top of Ryders Green Locks on the Wednesbury Old Canal including the Ridgacre Arm, the Dartmouth Branch and the Halford Branch.

[@RichardWildman]

Why, either ITV, or the BBC, hasn't provided you a camera crew and producer yet, is beyond me. Wonderful and informative series of content.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Thanks Richard - Its probably all a bit niche but I really . enjoy sharing these odd forgotten corners of the canal system.

[@Pippinjuice]

Thirteen minutes thirty seconds I can hear so many birds, maybe even a kestrel, love your videos, full of knowledge and all the interesting bits that other people might leave out. I appreciate how thorough you are.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I am glad you are enjoying them Lucy 0 a new series s=kicks off in a couple of weeks. Still on the BCN but this time tracing James Brindley's original canal from from Birmingham to Wolverhampton. Lots of lost canals and old photos!

[@worngimimajosplaynholmes6907]

Im 6,000 miles away and couldn't be more intrigued by every last muddy spit of water 💯👍

[@leonbarnfield]

Another Amazing video - i'm learning so much about the canal network in my home town! Thank you for all your research too. :-)

[@MinimalList]

Great video. Fascinating stuff, especially as we are heading that way tomorrow.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I am glad you enjoyed it - home the riders green flight are full of water!

[@dudleyblokerave]

Another great video. Plenty of subject matter in south Dudley, Netherton, Halesowen and Brierly Hill. Stourbridge too.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I have that planned for series four. If you want to see more the material is on my Blog- Captain Ahab's Watery Tales.

[@nickwilcox6587]

Loving this series, thank you so much!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you like them Nick. I am half way through series two and am busy prowling round the backwaters of Tipton.

[@andrewyates2057]

Cycled that canal to work many times thanks for the history lesson about the canal

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its correct as far as I could tell - gad you enjoyed it

[@chrisbates9115]

Great series ! I've been biking around the tow paths with a much better understanding of what I'm seeing - Thanks ! 😊

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Im really glad you are enjoying them Chris. I have to admit that I am enjoying revisiting all the lost sections with the added challenge of trying to make them interesting in a video format.

[@nickcaunt1769]

We used to hire boats (usually the Brumtug(s) ) from Brummagem Boats in the '80s and I'm pretty sure we got a bit over half a mile up towards Ridgacre. The turning point and mooring you showed near the Ridgacre Pub looks a bit familiar. I think that would have been about 1985.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I managed to get my boat to the winding hole in 2008 and I think that 2009 was the last year it was navigable.

[@Hollaraedulioe]

Maybe tiny update, in Mai 2022 we made it up the WOC until almost your camera position at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="380">6:20</a>, where we had to give up. So a good 390m from the junction. As usual, going or better sliding back was a bit more difficult and took us almost a good half an hour before reaching the junction again. Would be nice to see it dredged soem day.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

When the reeded section was passable the stench from the silt was terrible. I hate to think what toxic material is down there! Well done to trying.

[@topfour9160]

Great vid 👍

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Thanks - glad you are enjoying the hunt.

[@SpaceTrain62]

great video Andy- Just wanted you to know i have come across an old colour film of horse drawn canal boats going through the Ryders Green Locks in 1965. Its on Alan Snowdon Archive on KZbin titled Black Country Canal

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Tats a great video clip - I found it in the summer and I want to use bits in a future series about horse boating.

[@Pippinjuice]

I live in Leicestershire and the canal nearest to me is a smal section at moira furnace, it’s disconnected from the Ashby branch of the Trent and Mersey, I live in Ashby and the canal doesn’t really come near us at all anymore! I don’t know if you ever come down the Trent, but I would love for you to make some videos around here! So much to see ❤

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

We do come that way sometimes - so much canal and so little time!

[@Pippinjuice]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 I hope one day the canal will be restored, if it is, my name will be on a brick on a new bridge in measham 🐸 maybe when I’m old enough to retire it can chug past it on my own boat.

[@stephenbowker824]

Really interesting and I have a friend from my business days called Peter Halford. 👍🖐 NB Fiddlesticks

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

And I met one of my best friends Jon Halford from this post!

[@C...G...]

brilliant! :-)