Brindley's Backwaters, the Wednesbury Old Canal

8.5: Canal Hunter tracks down the line of James Brindley's original Birmingham Canal as it turns off the mainline canal and onto the Wednesbury Old Canal backwater. A case study in urban canal decay with lots of archive photos of how it used to look.
#canals #narrowboats #birmingham #history #bcn

[@colinness375]

Thanks, Andy. Your efforts are really appreciated.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Thanks Colin - I enjoy making them.

[@nathancole3350]

Another excellent video Andy. Good to meet you the other day and thanks for adding the photo of me out on the bike

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I did promise! It was lovely to see you.

[@nathancole3350]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 added a link to your channel and to the video on my Strava feed. Hopefully getting you some traffic to your excellent channel

[@christinegibbins6105]

Many thanks Andy, fascinating.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you enjoyed it Christine

[@peterfisher6348]

When I kayaked the ridgacre branch march/April 2022 (twice pulling the boat out of the water in each direction, all the way to black lake) a Swan (cygnet) flew and landed/crashed/bounced on the Swan branded fridge freezer, right on the Swan logo, that still floats amongst the reeds in the middle of the canal at what you now highlight as Swan Bridge junction (video at 9minutes)! You could not make it up!

[@gospelman7222]

Your videos just get better every week, Andy. Thanks for uploading and well done!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I do my best! I have now caught up so future episodes are weather window dependent.

[@neilrose8618]

Exellent Andy the last few weeks ive been working helping land and water dredging the canals at blowers green pumphouse and bumblehole junction and nature park , taking the dredgings to Stampford .. shame the less know are left to silt and clog up ,Neil

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its a shame to see the branch silt up.

[@jeffhill3043]

Andy What a shame I did not view your vlog a year ago. Relying on an old map, I tried to cruise down the Ridgeacre Arm from Ryders Green and realised with horror that the canal ran out. In fading light we managed to tow and pole the boat back to the junction with a badly fouled prop. What a shame that the blockage prevents access to another watered section and a winding hole. More research next time. Jeff

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its been a slow death for the arm. I am glad I made it to the new road about 15 years ago but now I could just about walk across it!

[@wordsleydave]

Fascinating .... I've always wondered how this part of the canal network used to be (I grew up around Great Bridge area 70's).

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you enjoyed the trip into the past Dave.

[@wordsleydave]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 I did and do ...keep em up Andy.

[@jhareng]

Used to play around the canals, got to them side of river Tame side of the old Barclays till 75. All built on decades ago by Black Country New Road, used to be branches off Walsall cut leading to many off shoots docking points/dead ends where 4 barges each had their own loading bays. My grand lived in Slater St.

[@glyn829]

Always put time aside to watch your films so interesting 👍 gosh the canal is so overgrown in places .. great film thanks Glyn

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@iantaf5559]

Many thanks for another fine piece of research, Andy. Looking forward to the next one.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Oddly, I always enjoy planning the next one one too!

[@deborahfigueiredo8731]

Another great video. Always really enjoy these. Thanks for making them.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Glad you like them!

[@henryharesdene4164]

It's only when you've given up' boating that you realise how much of the canal system that you've not cruised ! (I mean the still navigal parts. Suc is life. Andy, your flims - especially whe viewed in full screen soften the blow slightly... Thus very many thanks!

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

There are end sections I have missed all over the place. One day I will have to go back and complete them. Glad you enjoy the videos.

[@1961Jezza]

Another great episode Andy very interesting and all sections of local canal to me, looking forward to the next installment.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its an obscure but interesting area - glad you are enjoying the series.

[@ruthbrierley1798]

I love these videos - I try to imagine the Black Country, and Birmingham, as my industrial ancestors would have seen them. Regret that I didn't ask the right sorts of questions to the older members of my family whilst they were still with us.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

You and me both Ruth - there is so much I should have asked my grandfather about the agriculture of North Norfolk.

[@floatingonairandwater]

This forlorn arm is almost the only part of the BCN that i haven’t explored yet, though I’ve gone through the junction on the Walsall branch often. Despite how it is I’m definitely going to check it out soon. Thanks Andy

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

I will finish the Balls Hill Branch next week.

[@stewartjohnking]

Greatly enjoy these videos Andy. Just wondered if there was a map you could recommend to help follow the places you are describing. I usually get out The Other Sixty Miles and open an OS app. Is there anything better?

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Two suggestions Stewart - Richard Deans Historical map of the BCN or the side by side mapping facility from the National Library of Scotland.maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/side-by-side/#zoom=17.2&lat=52.49790&lon=-1.95210&layers=168&right=BingHyb

[@denesydenham1627]

Great video Andy. See you've mastered that drone.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Its been a bit of a process and I am a bit amazed I have never lost it!

[@JJB10]

Andy, hope you don’t mind my asking but I’ve seen your jumper/hoody on your videos “it ay a canal, it’s a cut” can I ask where you got that from? Thanks again for another awesome history lesson

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

Jon It was a gift several years ago but I think it came from here: www.blackcountrytshirts.com/product-tag/hoodie/

[@JJB10]

@@lifeat2.3milesanhour57 fabulous, thank you so much!

[@denesydenham1627]

The old Brindley canal at 10:23. There is a circular feature just to the right of the canal. Anyone got any idea what that is. Thanks.

[@lifeat2.3milesanhour57]

What a perceptive spot! I have often wondered about it - it was there 100 years ago and its still there today. These days its a cooling pond but my guess is it started life as a settling pool.