Re-Building Birmingham's Lost Canal - The LAPAL!

If you like the sound of what they are doing at the Lapal Canal Trust, you can donate to their plight here: www.lapalcanal...
This week we explore the Dudley No.2 Canal and its rather terrifying Tunnels. We also meet up with Hugh form The Lapal Canal Trust. There is a lot to see here from Dudley all the way down to Selly Oak where we bumped into Hugh. Join us as we walk much of its length.
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[@pwhitewick]

We had a great afternoon with Hugh and much fun was had, hence the amusing end!.... Go support the trust here: www.lapalcanal.co.uk/

[@BillySugger1965]

Fascinating. James Brindley the canal builder lived in one half of Turnhurst Hall in what is now Stoke-on-Trent. There he experimented with model locks in the grounds to perfect his designs. My forebears of the Cole family lived in the other half, and also farmed there. The hall was demolished in the 1920s due to mining subsidence, and The Brindley Lock pub now stands on the site. My great grandfather John Hilditch Cole was born at Turnhurst Hall. He became agent and gentleman mining engineer for Robert Heath & Sons and reputedly knew Staffordshire better below ground than above.

[@dlittlester]

Good on you for your history, Mark.

[@hughhumphreys5592]

Hi, I'm Hugh from the Lapal Canal Trust, huge thanks from the Trust to Paul an Rebecca for an excellent presentation. Quality and colours of the pictures are amazing, wish we could do as well, very clear and stable, it's difficult to believe it's a hand held camera. Love the ending, despite my appearance it's not a mess - great expression on your face! You did a marvellous job of editing and managed to pack in a lot of information in the time available, it will be featured at our AGM. We are very grateful for the huge interest, not only interest but 25 new donors have contributed over £500 to date. Please come back when you have time and see the rest of the route.

[@pwhitewick]

Huuuugh. Thank you, that's great news!.... thanks for your lovely comments, we really wanted to keep that snippet at the end in (I hope you don't mind), twas fun. We are hoping for another 12k views over the next two months on this so perhaps a little more by way of donations to come. Take care.

[@hughhumphreys5592]

@@pwhitewick The snippet was fun - one of the best bits! I'll let you know in two months how we got on with the donations

[@Simon_Nonymous]

Lovely. As long as we have people like Rebecca, Paul and Hugh in the world looking after our heritage, I'll keep getting up in the morning.

[@edwardgeorgen]

Just made a donation to the Canal Trust from Western Kentucky. Keep up your work Paul and Rebecca! I wish we had such transport history here. I hope to get to Britain some day and ride on the heritage rails and walk along the canals as much as I can fit in!

[@pwhitewick]

Wow, thank you!

[@johndell3642]

During the 1960s I used to play in what was part of the tunnel! - The brick quarry next to Stonehouse lane had been dug down to the level of the tunnel. Most of the tunnel bricks had been robbed out but at the Western end, you could look into the tunnel through a portcullis-like metal gate. Water used to pool just in front of the tunnel and you could catch sticklebacks and tadpoles there. The brick quarry was used as a refuse dump by the council and then covered over to now be "Old Quarry Park". I just hope the council's engineers did a good job of capping the tunnel entrance. I would hate to think there was a long length of tunnel filled with methane from all that refuse, waiting for a spark!

[@andrewfanner2245]

It was once said of the engine in that building that if it missed a beat so did the hearts of many huindreds of wives in the area. Lovely shots of the Engine House. The whole area was riddled with intermixed canals and railways, much is gone but enough remains to get an idea of the complexity of it all, canal basins had railway sidings and sidings had canal basins. Facinating area to explore and on such a lovely day too.

[@aliendon73]

Great video as always Paul & Rebecca, you were in my old stomping ground. There is another section of disused canal in Weoley Castle behind the houses in Reservoir Rd. My late grandmother told me about it and showed me pictures, this is how she explained why there are newts in residence in her garden with no water in the area.

[@nikt6374]

Thanks for a great film and some fine drone filming to, plus, Rebecca looked lovely in her leather skirt!

[@suzyqualcast6269]

Remindful, in the beginning, of the Magpie Mine engine house up in Derbyshire.

[@LeiceExplore]

Lovely video once again. Cheers.

[@denisecosta3275]

Thank you Sir for all the info and work you do. Amazing video guys

[@Bobrogers99]

I marvel at the skill and labor required to construct those very long tunnels before the advent of modern machinery. The results were not only functional but also beautiful! Well worth preserving.

[@sr6424]

Really interesting video. I remember walking the first bit , Selly Oak to Weoley Castle in the mid 1980s.

[@matthewhaddon599]

Be nice to see the canal restored up to Hawne basin.....it was such a nice place to visit and fish when I was young, but sadly Dudley Council and previous councils have destroyed the canal....

[@pjg_77]

It took nearly 20 years of negotiations to build that new sainsburys. And after watching this it makes sense as to why

[@gotMylky]

Fantastic! Big up Hugh Humphreys OBE!

[@phillunn4691]

Another brilliant video Paul and Rebecca. It’s so interesting and it’s great about the future restoration of that section of canal. Thanks Paul and Rebecca 👍🏼👍🏼

[@pwhitewick]

Many thanks!

[@emilytaffs8822]

It’s lovely to see my local area. Next time you’re up in the Midlands, there is an old canal and old railway basically next to each other in Wednesfield that have both been built on now, but you can still see the start of the old branch of canal. It runs right by my house and we always wondered what the bridge over nothing used to be over.

[@geoffcook1446]

Another delightful video! Thank you

[@pwhitewick]

Our pleasure!

[@Bender24k]

Awesome. I'm very impressed with reviving canals. Your channel defines top content. Thanks!

[@garyhinson3876]

thanks for another great video, and nice to see you in my neck of the woods

[@pwhitewick]

Thanks Gary

[@garyhinson3876]

do i predict a video on the Halesowen Railway coming up ?

[@marieseaward9891]

The black country is so often overlooked... It's a hidden gem

[@LeslieGilpinRailways]

Hard to think you need to pass through Gosty Hill tunnel to get to Hawne Basin and a canaL club there.

[@robinhayhurst5943]

I got the first 'like', comment' and 'view'. My life is complete!

[@madhatter8253]

Congratulations 😊👍

[@andyhill242]

BRUM, my old neck of the woods. Better go click on that link!

[@brianjones2899]

Nice video. Think you "messed" the pumping station water volume figure. If it could manage 1000 m3 per day that would be your quant.

[@briansanderson480]

Walked tnrough it for my 70th birthday people use it as a short cut

[@malcolmone1]

the new junction at Selly oak onto the Worcester canal ,was past by planning i believe ,

[@flyingcod14]

Nice video, just up the road from me.

[@victormccoy1671]

The boats on the canals were narrowboats not barges. A barge would not fit along the canal

[@hairyairey]

You realise that several of us watched this and thought "A parkrun there and back!"

[@goldenaxe1986]

Any update On the Restoration? Was the finance Raised ?

[@ianhill20101]

Rebecca seems amazing your a lucky man to have such a woman.

[@bruceshaw2402]

Netherton is in the black Country not Birmingham it's the place where the chain and anchor for the Titanic were made at Noah Hingley 's .

[@hairyairey]

Birmingham has in fact more canals than Venice

[@JeffinBville]

Underhill ~ tunnel. I thought it a good pun.

[@lewfinnis7795]

As has been pointed out, you really need to know the difference between the Black Country and Birmingham! The accents are different and the Black Country has lots of interesting words and phrases. They would say 'You'm saft' for confusing the areas.

[@pwhitewick]

"As has been pointed out..." And yet here we are.

[@christopherthompson2078]

Hello .not sure if I heard it right .has to be done by 2025 ?Chris x

[@pwhitewick]

Yup spot on Chris.

[@christopherthompson2078]

@@pwhitewick gosh thats amazing.I think it will be done too .Chris x

[@hughhumphreys5592]

Just to clarify its first 400 metres past Sainsbury's, Cost estimate is £2.5m So far, £700k spent on protecting the route, £550 raised from donations, and £724K from the Section 106 agreement if the work starts by 2025. The work needs a new turning area with work costing £290k due to start this October, we need to dig out the rest of the route, lower a 450mm gas main that runs underneath the tow path and build a swing bridge. A bit more than a days work. Amazing that from 1794 to 1798, they built 12 miles of canal with the tallest canal embankments and one of the longest canal tunnels with spades and a wheel barrow.

[@hairyairey]

Some great legs on show there. Rebecca's aren't bad either!🦵🦵🦵🦵

[@CathodeRayNipplez]

Amazing structure and yet today my council struggles with a simple boat ramp.

[@karlbythesea]

Selly Oakkkk

[@richardbutler3413]

Netherton isn’t in Birmingham ….

[@johnroberts3607]

Please not "Barges" the boats that worked this canal were "Narrowboats"

[@R.C.A.F.V.R.]

What the bloody hell did my hearing aid hear right what kind of mess you make up Huge need lessons in p.r.

[@trevorhoward7682]

What a feat of engineering!!! Moving the Netherton Canal Tunnel to South West Birmingham from it's original site west of Brimingham. When did that happen? I'd have thought it would at least have made the Central News bulletins. Yes, I know it's pedantic but, it's not difficult to get things right.

[@pwhitewick]

Yo Trev. Just a quickie. We produce one video per week around a 40 hour full time job. We have 5 kids between us. Each video takes a day to film, around 10-12 hours to edit. We then promote, all whilst looking into the next project, email possible trusts like the lapal. It's quite a commitment but we do feel we offer a decent value to our subscribers, especially when you look at the more popular videos on KZbin. Yes we do indeed make mistakes. I guess if this is the only one you found in this video we are doing well, I know its pedantic to have to highlight all this too you but, it's not difficult to be nice.

[@trevorhoward7682]

@@pwhitewick Wasn't being nasty - just sarcastic. Not the same.

[@pwhitewick]

@@trevorhoward7682 your last sentence doesn't have an ounce of sarcasm.

[@srhprojects]

Guys, I take exception to Netherton Tunnel is in South West Birmingham. Which it is Not. It is not a District of Brum, its in the Black Country, which is North West of Birmigham.

[@TheDiscoz3]

Greater Birmingham then.

[@davidioanhedges]

Birmingham : More Canals than Venice, seems to be very switched on to preservation, as do the companies building there .. the canal preservation trusts are lucky but still need volunteers as enthusiastic as Hugh

[@Randomstuffs261]

Also, Birmingham is just as beautiful as Venice

[@olly5764]

@@Randomstuffs261 as a Wulfrunian, it is my duty to dislike this comment and disagree vigorously! lol

[@Randomstuffs261]

@@olly5764 The billions of people who recognize Birmingham as the most beautiful city on earth will not be disheartened at your mistake of disagreeing with me.

[@olly5764]

@@Randomstuffs261 billions? Maybe 10, and one of them is my mate Alan, and he worries me.

[@mittfh]

Technically, it's the entire Birmingham Canal Navigations that are longer than Venice's canals, so extending quite a bit further than the city itself!

[@18robsmith]

The Netherton tunnel is great fun in a boat, especially when someone is playing "Ride of the Valkyries" from the well deck.

[@malcolmsmith6615]

Having walked the Netherton Tunnel several times, and having boated all of the currently open canals around Birmingham, it was great to see this video and hear the news of the progress with the Lapal canal. I imagine Lapal will not be open until after my boating days are over, but it’s still fantastic to know that it will happen one day. By the way, Gosty Hill is an experience to say the least. The tunnel roof drops down almost to the boat, scraping off the mop and other bits we kept on the boat roof. We had to drive the boat on our knees as we couldn’t stand up or see where we were going; had to use the tunnel walls to steer the boat, scraping noises and all that!

[@stephenphillip5656]

Gosty tunnel sounds like Froghall's (Caldon canal) evil twin! Cousin Tom & I took his boat _Lion_ through Froghall a few years ago. He was kneeling, I was in the bow, nudging. We lost the tiller pin to the tunnel roof but we *did* get through.... just!

[@malcolmsmith6615]

@@stephenphillip5656 Ha yes, I’ve survived Froghall too. Gosty Hill was tight but doable, while Froghall really was ‘touch and go’. Overall, I’d say Froghall is the tightest.

[@1258-Eckhart]

@@malcolmsmith6615 Froghall is "only" 70 m long, Gosty is 510 m!

[@malcolmsmith6615]

@@1258-Eckhart Yes indeed, but Gosty Hill was wide enough throughout. Width is the issue with Froghall. As they say, it’s width not length that’s important to boaters 🤣

[@DadgeCity]

Great to see you here in the West Midlands! We've got enough canal and railway history to keep you busy for a year!

[@JagoHazzard]

The engine house reminds me very much of the ones at the Cornish mines.

[@pwhitewick]

Yes, absolutely. We had the same notion, which reminds me, must get down to Cornwall again soon.

[@RichardWatt]

Hello Jago, nice to see you here too!

[@ReubenAshwell]

The Underhill commentary was brilliant. XD

[@nicholasbuttery511]

The Lapal Tunnel collapsed in 1917 which starts in Woodgate Valley but you would now have to if reopened ? close the M5 and M6 Motorways where it exit`s /enters. The Birmingham - Dudley Canal and overflow Reservoir have since 1937 had houses built either side of the filled in Canal. Where that scholar was pointing at the ornamental Mere was part of the Birmingham Battery factory .It Will never happen !

[@stephensheritagerailwaythe8776]

Great to see you local to me but just a warning my friends we are not in Birmingham we are the black country but moan done out of the way. As you walked through Netherton tunnel you were close to my house as I live on the hill over it.

[@paulkent7400]

Several years ago a group of about 40 of us canoed through the Dudley Tunnel from the museum and then around to the Netherton tunnel and back to the museum. If you want a really claustrophobic tunnel try going through Dudley. The canoe club is called the "Song of The Paddle"

[@eastwoodsadventures]

5 👎 how rude!

[@iannang]

I wish my wife would come out for an afternoon stroll wearing her shiny little leather mini skirt I’m only slightly jealous

[@johncourtneidge]

Magnificent, thank-you. And thanks to Geoff who highlighted your excellent work on his Crystal Palace High Level video. I shall share this with Birmingham friends.

[@nilo70]

Thank you Paul and Rebecca for bringing me along with you guys and enjoying the Beautiful day and very interesting history ! Cheers from California .

[@fordia]

The California area of Birmingham presumably?

[@pwhitewick]

*awaits reply

[@nilo70]

@@pwhitewick No , more like the Beautiful San Joaquin Valley part of California actually.

[@davidioanhedges]

Rebecca : Underhill ... referencing J.R.R. Tolkien ?

[@bostonrailfan2427]

seemed like enjoying a great pun as well 🤣

[@t.vanoosterhout233]

I'm so glad someone else had that same association! Well done indeed!

[@Simon_Nonymous]

Ah... Baggins. How far is that place from where Tolkien lived as a child - it doesn't seem that far.

[@Sim0nTrains]

Around 2:27 you roughly at the disused station of Windmill End Halt which was on the former Blowers Green to Old Hill Line on the The Windmill Branch Line. I have visited that area myself back in late March and it was a lovely area to have something to eat and even looked inside Cobbs Engine House myself. Didn't knew it was there but was intrigued by it. Nice Canal Video and at 6:07 nice to see a Class 323.

[@rosiefay7283]

Is that the Windmill End that gets a name check in Flanders and Swann's Slow Train?

[@Sim0nTrains]

@@rosiefay7283 think it is

[@michaelcampin1464]

"What could possibly go wrong. ....... ." Famous last words. Keep up the good work.

[@robhill4566]

What a conicdence, was having a walk along a short section of the canal at Leasowes yesterday.

[@fredericksaxton3991]

1.6million litres is nearly 400,000 gallons. Umm. per day/week ??

[@pwhitewick]

Ah I think per day... thought I mentioned that... oooops

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Wow its good to see people wanting to make more of historyb

[@scottfw7169]

3795 yards yards? A quick bit of mental math says that's around 2 miles long, around 3 km long. That's more tunnel length than I want to be personally involved with.

[@CharlesTrains99]

Paul and Rebecca, a great video , thanks for sharing with us . With all of the history of canals in Britain you have shown us , I have also been watching " Foxes Afloat " with presenters Colin and Shaun on their Narrow Boat. Their travels gives a good view of the operations of narrow boating on the canals for those of us who have no experience of traveling on a canal.

[@Simon_Nonymous]

you couldn't pick two better channels - but try Cruising the Cut if you need a third.

[@Antonhein]

Two be pedantic, only room for two narrowboats, not barges

[@pwhitewick]

Very true

[@Antonhein]

@@pwhitewick ..... and I must apologise for my typo......... "To be" not "Two be"!

[@Canalsman]

Strictly they are narrow boats, two words rather than one.

[@malcolmfoster2937]

Great video as always, especially as I have also searched for the two portals of the Lapal tunnel, and walked the length of the Worcester & Birmingham. Although I'm not sure the good people of the Black Country would like to hear you say they are in South West Birmingham :-( You might have ended up in the canal. Good job they didn't hear you LOL

[@acousticexplorer108]

Just to clarify,when you say about it taking 25 mins to get through the Gorsty tunnel,o you mean wading or on a boat? Am thinking this might be another location for some echo recordings. Thanks guys! 👍

[@mikkoistanbul1322]

I think you said ‘south east’ when you meant ‘south west’. Later you did the opposite. Also the word ‘three’ doesn’t start with an F.

[@davidjones8680]

The Netherton canal tunnel is most definitely not "in South West Birmingham", but it most definitely is in the Black Country! The engine that was in Cobbs Engine house was removed in 1928 and now resides in the Henry Ford Museum at Detroit, Michigan, USA. David in Dudley.

[@robinhayhurst5943]

I don't understand the people that click on the thumbs down icon. Why?

[@pwhitewick]

All part of the wonderful tapestry

[@Simon_Nonymous]

possibly bots or Stevie Wonder trying his best to be nice.

[@christopher9727]

John 3:16-21 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. Mark 1.15 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

[@cal28kim]

I've worked in the Lapel tunnel entering through the step shaft at the back of the museum a few years ago!! I've got some fantastic pictures.

[@sandihandi7831]

ok, I give up..."waffling"???? What is that? Nice video. Enjoyed it greatly.

[@blackcountrywalker]

The is another group in the area of the Black Country trying to reopen the Bradley Canal too.

[@janinapalmer8368]

Rebecca looked nice today 😁

[@pwhitewick]

She always does.

[@markknight1011]

Have you been through Wast Hills tunnel as well, which links the Birmingham to Worcester branch?

[@davidgrainger5378]

Nehterton is definitely not in South West Birmingham. It is North West OF Birmingham

[@stephenbunn2150]

Please check where you are? It’s not in Birmingham it’s the Black Country 😉

[@rexgeorg7324]

setting a time LIMIT... thats a bit dodgy ..or clever lol

[@pwhitewick]

It's written into the contract I believe. Common place.

[@deanbevilacqua6041]

Love the work guys, keep it up. Some folks cut deeper than the cut itself!

[@bobsrailrelics]

Always good, but being able to see what may be with a canal being restored is brilliant. And Underhill is a good joke ..

[@pjg_77]

I live just by this and only found out about this lost canal about 3/4 years back.

[@geoffers99villa]

My back yard. The nevvy is a brilliant cut through that hill.

[@holyflowerpots1400]

Well well, I was only in that Sainsbury's this morning...

[@pwhitewick]

It's biiiiig

[@StephenWilliams]

Very interesting video, especially as you were in my neck of the woods. Took a narrow boat through Netherton tunnel some years ago and came across a British Waterways boat in there with the occupant fast asleep! Every time I drive down Manor Way, I keep saying to myself that I must try and find the old entrance to Lapal tunnel, so thanks for going there on my behalf!

[@ZPHOENIX27]

Thanks for sharing! I'm almost 100% certain that if I was ever able to get to your 'side of the pond', that I wouldn't ever see a tenth of everything you've shown. I hope you all have a wonderful day and stay safe!!!

[@backcountrymon]

Its in DUDLEY not Birmingham

[@flinthillsmodelrailway]

great video as always

[@EdgyNumber1]

Thanks guys! It's an area that's close to home and I've been watching this WHOLE site develop from chemical infested waste land to the site of the Queen Elizabeth super hospital, a new retail park and a student village, future site for medical R&D - once the lab gets built and of course a recreation area for those that want to use the canal. My main annoyance though is simply that the Battery Retail Park (the one with Poundland in shot) wasn't linked with the newly built retail park with Sainsburys. This was mostly due to Homebase DIY stores refusal to move to another, or replacement, site close by so the retail parks are unnecessarily segregated. To get between the two, I cannot cross the canal as there is simply no access on the other side, necessitating the need to take a long walk around the main road..... or to drive between the two. Still, its a MASSIVE improvement over what came before and civikises an area that once felt like no-mans land.

[@TheAde71]

The lapal railway is worth an explore

[@dlittlester]

Love your videos. Thanks to Geoff for leading me here.

[@midnightwind8067]

What a cool guy, I sure hope they can get the backing .

[@pwhitewick]

Hugh is magnificent. Quite a career I understand

[@davie941]

hi paul and rebbeca , another great video and omg you were so close to where i used to live lol , great shot of the pump house , so nice to see you around my stomping grounds , well done and thank you guys :)

[@michaelcampin1464]

I've been on the Norfolk Broads and am looking forward to boating from Limehouse up the Grand Union

[@HenrysAdventures]

Another great video! I'll look forward to seeing the progress on the restoration of the canal.

[@TrevsTravelsByNarrowboat]

I had heard that they were looking at restoration, I did not realise it was hopefully so close to it happening

[@pwhitewick]

Seems like they have a great team behind it... just need a little bit more cash!!