2.3 The Toll End Communication Canal near Tipton

In this video Andy Tidy seeks out the lost remains of the Toll End Communication Canal and Haines Branches near Tipton in the Black Country. It is the third episode of the second series which searches for "The other 60 miles" of lost canals which used to link into the existing 100 miles of the Birmingham Canal Navigations in the centre of England. The exploration is supported by many maps and old photos.

[@dennisporter753]

Another great episode.. the old iron bridges are very beautiful, so much detail too!Cheers Andy

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

These early ones shot on my old i-phone are a bit rough, especially the sound. This improved as I got to grips with the GoPro!

[@petersilvester1315]

Andy - several years late, I have discovered your videos, and I'll work my way through over time. Fascinating. I've just watched the Toll End Communication Canal - the only canal in Britain with a name almost as long as the actual canal! Well, there's one other, the Wardle Canal, but of course it's not in the BCN. And now, on to another video..... Peter, Audlem Mill

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you are enjoying them Peter. It was great to catch up in the summer. I think that the quality improves over time, as does my collection of supporting archive photos.

[@caractacusbrittania7442]

Opposite the cemetery, the old canal still stood up until the very early seventies. When the canal was filled in and a huge civil engineering project took place From Aston street to upper church Lane, as a 14 year old, the digger drivers and excavators used to let me sift through the metres deep sludge they used to pull out. I had hundreds of broken clay pipes Probably from barges, hundreds of various victoriana bottles, pot lids, Buckles, and even the old stock of a carved shotgun. Spent all my spare time following the ground workers spoil heaps.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Sounds like a teenage heaven.

[@nedseagoon5101]

Fascinating! My local area where I spent my first 25 years. In fact, my Dad is buried in the ‘dead centre’ cemetery.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I get the feeling that I see Tipton and the surrounds from a completely different perspective to most people. I can drive through without saying "a canal went there".

[@Remote-Origin]

I have now got to the stage of watching your series with iPad and maps and canal books open and ready! Many thanks for an ongoing excellent series!

[@garrystacey7018]

Very interesting video thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@llessibm]

Another fact packed and very interesting vlog - thanks

[@dudleyblokerave]

Great video. I know the area well and it's good to discover the history of things.

[@Tinhare]

Very interesting. Thanks again.

[@martinmessiah7130]

This is industrial archeology at its best .

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its a fascinating area.

[@annie2950]

Really interesting. Thanks

[@dudleyblokerave]

My new favourite channel!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you are enjoying them - tracking these abandoned waterways down is a gae for the winter when the undergrowth dies down. I am starting to gather material for next season looking the Wyrley and Essington.

[@petercurrell9344]

In the late 60s we went up Haynes branch with Ken Dunham and Peter Freakly remember the aquadict even turned at a junction we renamed the local area manager the Phampton Stammer.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its hard to image it in a usable condition.

[@egparis18]

In the name Toll End, 'Toll' rhymes with 'dole', not with 'doll'. I spent the first 18 years of my life in Tipton and my family still lives there.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

You are, of course, dead right - in the last three years I have leant how to pronounce lots of places like Bradley (not like Mr Wiggins) and Weoley Castle which is what kids do on bikes.....

[@egparis18]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 😉

[@320ifq]

I knew there was some coal in Birmingham and assumed most materials were brought in by boat. Thanks for filling in a big gap in my knowledge.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

You are vey welcome - the coal measures were vast

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

You are very welcome.

[@stephenbowker824]

Thanks for your efforts I have to dub you the thinking mans Robbie Cummings wish I had a tv documentary company 👍👍👍🖐. NB Fiddlesticks

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Thats very flattering Stephen - and it puts me in mind of Nigella Lawson who, if I remember correctly, was voted the Thinking Mans Crumpet! ;-)

[@JohnBCN]

Very pleased to see more information about the BCN lost canals. I tried to follow many of these ten years ago on foot. Now it would be much easier with GPS. Looking forward to a video on the Horseley bridges. Do you mean the NORTH side of the New Main Line for the entrance to the Dixons Branch (at 9m50)?

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I guess I probably do mean north, the main line is heading north west at that point rather than north which is how I tend to think of it when travelling.

[@bulldogmagneteers8672]

Great video M8 can you help me where I can find old bottles

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Sorry - no idea

[@Joe-pz9no]

Really, really annoying vocal splicing. 😠😠😠

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

really really bad memory for dates.....