2.4 Exploring the Wednesbury Oak Loop

In this video Andy Tidy goes in search of the Wednesbury Oak Loop on the Birmingham Canal Navigations , discovering the missing miles of canal between Bloomfield Junction and Deepfields Junction in the Bradley / Coseley area of The Black Country. Along the way we visit the Ocker Hill Branch and find out about John "Iron Mad" Wilkinson. This is the fourth of six videos in the second series of Canal Hunter looking for the lost section of canal between Oldbury and Wolverhampton.

[@dennisporter753]

Thanks for another great episode!

[@harrysaunders6180]

Thank you for taking the time and effort in producing this series. The only things missing are the sights, sounds and smells of all those long forgotten industries which provided employment for hundreds of thousands of people.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

If I had access to a time machine I think I would head over to Tipton.

[@harrysaunders6180]

We seem to expunge history with indecent haste in this country. It is almost as if we are embarrassed by our heritage.@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57

[@stevechilds1547]

To be fair, with the wind in the right direction, we get the (lovely) smell from the Black Country Museum occasionally along the existing canal stretch by Dudley Street!

[@JohnBCN]

Thanks very much for this series. As it happens I was in the area today and walked from Caggy’s to the Coseley tunnel and back. The area of Bloomfield junction was bare gravelly hardcore, unlike the thin grass and weeds either side. I was able to see an iron girder which must have been the base of the railway bridge over the now filled-in canal.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

There is always a bit more to discover!

[@andrewpitt7773]

Super video and thank you. As someone who. lives in Bradley, I found this very interesting and learnt a lot about my local area and its past.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

i am glad you enjoyed it - it was one of the more challenging routes to recreate.

[@nicholasjones7645]

Many thanks I’d never have known these things ever existed thanks to you well done sir

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Happy to help

[@stephenbowker824]

Enjoying the series so much. NB Fiddlesticks 👍🖐

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you like them! They are a pleasure to make.

[@nedseagoon5101]

Fascinating! Thank you. My local area. I knew there were filled in canals around and about, but never knew exactly where.

[@keithhaynes9462]

Nice Bonk oss

[@dudleyblokerave]

I always thought that route was an old rail line. Nice to find the truth!

[@colinracheljustpootling7468]

Very interesting series. So sad a lot has now been filled in and lost to housing. It’s also sad to see so much rubbish in and by the canal.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

The rubbish is pretty bad in places, but as you will see in the next episode, the Gospel Oak Branch is in great condition.

[@adjo82]

Someone as sad as me lol. The amount of times I study google maps following old rail lines and canals is unreal. 😂

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Sounds very normal to me!

[@helentart1980]

My ancestors were the Roses iron makers of wednesbury.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its good to know where you come from!

[@andrewriley1664]

Great vlog! Is vlogger 'Let's Explore' paying homage to Alfred Hitchcock with his fleeting appearances?

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

That or Stephen Spielberg!