The Wyrley and Essington Canal (and links)
Virtual Walks Too far away to visit? Don't want to go out today? I've done it for you.
Warning! - The following access details were correct at the time of my walk - but may have now changed.
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---- view more photos in my flickr albums Wyrley and Essington Canal and Hatherton Canal ---- |
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Virtual
Walks-7 Pelsall Junction to Lord Hayes Branch (Jan
2014 onward) Wyrley and Essington Canal and Onward along the Hatherton Canal (under restoration) to its Junction of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal |
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Visit the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust web site to find out about the Trust that was formed in 1988 and is a registered charity. It campaigns for the restoration of the "Lichfield Canal" (as the closed section of the W&E between Ogley and Huddlesford is now called) and also the Hatherton Canal through the Cannock / A5 area. It promotes the restoration as public amenities for boating, angling, walking, cycling etc. and raises funds to carry out physical restoration work. | |||||
Distance is for the original canal
measured from Wolverhampton. Miles and furlongs - don't
have a clue? Those were the measurements when the canals
were built. In metric a mile is 1.61 kilometres. A
furlong is an eigth of a mile or 200 metres. The other distances are from Hatherton Junction used for the route when restored and realigned in places by LHCRT. |
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Friar
Bridge - at the start of Cannock Extension branch. Taken looking North from Pelsall Junction - 17/1/2014. Access from Pelsall North Common.
The sign indicates what was the plan for connecting a
restored Hatherton Branch Canal to the W&E. Location - https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.63838&mlon=-1.97263#map=18/52.63838/-1.97263 |
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W270 -
Pelsall Junction - 12
miles 7¼ furlongs from Horseley Fields Junction,
Wolverhampton. Taken looking North from Pelsall Junction - 17/1/2014. Access from Pelsall North Common and the Cannock
Extension branch via footbridge. Left onward towards Wolverhampton and the Lord Hayes Branch 12 miles and 7¼ furlongs from Horseley Fields
Junction |
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W280 - Pelsall Works Bridge 12 miles 4¼ furlongs from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton. Location - https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.63667&mlon=-1.97988#map=18/52.63668/-1.97988 Taken looking West - 17/1/2014. |
The bridge is dated "1824" NOTE - the sign on the other side of the bridge reads
- Taken looking West - 17/1/2014. |
The plaque from the Pelsall Millenium - 1994 Taken looking West - 17/1/2014. |
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W290/H020
- Fishley Junction of the Wyrley and Essington Canal with the Lord Hayes (or Hay's) Branch - 12 miles ¾ furlong from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton. also 7 miles from Hatherton Junction Location - https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.63619&mlon=-1.98886#map=18/52.63619/-1.98886 The turn into the (currently infilled) Lord Hayes Branch is on the right of the photo. Taken looking SouthWest - 17/1/2014. The plan for connecting a restored Hatherton Branch
Canal to the W&E was to be via the Cannock Extension
branch. ( See Virtual Walks-6 ). |
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W300/H010
- Fishley Junction Bridge (Fishley
Roving Bridge)- 12 miles ½ furlong from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton. Location - https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.63580&mlon=-1.98887#map=18/52.63580/-1.98887 Taken looking SouthWest - 17/1/2014. Access to the (currently infilled) Lord Hayes Branch (to the right of the photo) via the footbridge. |
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W290/H020Fishley
Junction to the closed Lord Hayes (or
Hay's) Branch Canal - 12 miles ¾ furlong from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton. also 7 miles from Hatherton Junction https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.63619&mlon=-1.98886#map=18/52.63619/-1.98886 Taken looking NorthWest - 17/1/2014. Access to the (currently infilled) Lord Hayes Branch via the footbridge (out of shot to the left of the photo). A footpath follows the line of the canal.
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Warning!
- This route has been long derelict.
Remember that this route should not be thought of as a
public right of way. Most importantly, note that breaking a leg in the middle of nowhere is hazardous to health. |
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Fishley No.
1 Bridge - ¾ furlong
from Fishley Junction Location - https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.63655&mlon=-1.99115#map=18/52.63655/-1.99115 Taken looking NorthEast - 17/1/2014. |
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Lords
Hayes Branch/Hatherton Canal Junction - ¾ furlong farther on from Fishley No. 1 Bridge Taken looking NorthWest from Fishley No. 1 Bridge - 17/1/2014. Although overgrown the line of the canal is still traceable. After another ¾ furlong farther on from Fishley No. 1 Bridge a new section of canal will be cut on the right bank of the Lords Hayes Branch leading eventually to Hatherton Junction at Calf Heath on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The outline of the expected work is detailed below ... |
HATHERTON CANAL - NEW
SECTION A large part of the next section of the canal will be new cut due to infilling, housing, industrial development and the M6 & M6 Toll motorways. The line should take the following route........ |
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Warning!
- Some of this route has been long
derelict. Remember that this route should not be thought
of as a public right of way. Most importantly, note that breaking a leg in the middle of nowhere is hazardous to health. |
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Collery Lock (Lock 17) | ||
Golfer's Lock (Lock 16)- (near Cadman's Lane) | ||
Washbrook Lock (Lock 15) - (near Cadman's Lane) | ||
Cadman's Lock (Lock 14) - (near Cadman's Lane) | ||
Pylon Lock (Lock 13) - (near Cadman's Lane) | ||
Dark Lane Lock (Lock 12) | ||
Gorsey Lane Bridge - (Gains Lane/Gorsey Lane) | ||
Lift Bridge (Near Gains Lane) | ||
Lift Bridge (Farm Track) | ||
Gains Lock (Lock 11) | ||
Holford Lock (Lock 10) | ||
Lift Bridge (Holford) | ||
Watling Street Lock (Lock 9) | ||
Watling Street Tunnel | ||
Lift Bridge (near A5) | ||
Streetway Lock (Lock 8) | ||
Lift Bridge | ||
David Suchet Tunnel (A5/A34 roundabout) | ||
Churchbridge Lock (Lock 7) | ||
Walsall Road Culvert - For emergency access to the M6 Toll | ||
Railway Tunnel | ||
Resevoir Lock (Lock 6) | ||
M6 Toll Tunnel | ||
Walkmill Lane Bridge | ||
Severn Trent Water Pipe Crossing | ||
H300/CB340 Lock 5 - Joveys Lock - 8ft. 10in.
(2.7m) 2 miles and 3¾ furlongs or 2m 669yd from Hatherton Junction (use pointer ---- 52.6766, -2.0450 in https://www.google.co.uk/maps ) |
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H310/CB350
Lock 4 - Wedges Mill Lock - 8ft. 6in. (2.6m) 2 miles and 1½ furlongs or 2m 299yd or 3.49km from Hatherton Junction (Use pointer ---- 52.6781, -2.0495in https://www.google.co.uk/maps ) At the site of Wedges Mill Bridge crossing the A4601 Wolverhampton Road. Looking east at the back of the Linkway Retail Park. Lock 4 - Wedges Mill Lock to take the canal down under the bridge would have been over the photographer's right shoulder. The line of the canal back to Churchbridge would have followed the footprint of the building to the right. Taken looking east from the A4601 Wolverhampton
Road - 18/2/2016. |
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H320/CB360
Bridge 9 - Wedges Mill Bridge 2 miles and 1¼ furlongs or 2m 246yd or 3.44km from Hatherton Junction (Use pointer ---- 52.6781, -2.0498in https://www.google.co.uk/maps ) https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.67820&mlon=-2.04983#map=17/52.67819/-2.04984 Wedges Mill Bridge under the A4601 Wolverhampton Road. Taken looking north along the A4601 Wolverhampton
Road towards the A5 - 18/2/2016. |
The next section follows the original line and access to the towpath is available from here (Roman Way) to Scrawpers End Bridge, Oak Lane. | ||
Taken looking West toward
Hatherton Junction - 21/3/2015. |
H330 Cherry Tree Bridge (Bridge No. 8) 2 miles or 1m 1690yd or 3.15km from Hatherton Junction. https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.67878&mlon=-2.05398#map=17/52.67878/-2.05397 Access (for pedestrians ONLY) via the Roman Way Hotel on the A5 West of Cannock. |
Taken looking East back
toward Churchbridge - 21/3/2015. |
H340
Meadow Lock (Lock 3) 1 mile and 4¾ furlongs or 1m 1197yd or 2.7km from Hatherton Junction. Looking west |
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H350
Bridge No 7 (demolished) - Bridge narrows will remain. 1 mile and 4¼ furlongs or 1m 880yd or 2.41km from Hatherton Junction. Looking west |
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H360
Catch Bridge or Cats Bridge - (Catsbridge Lane) 1 mile and 3 furlongs or 1m 634yd or 2.19km from Hatherton Junction. Looking west |
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H370
Cross Bridge (Four Crosses Lane) 1 mile and 1 furlong or 0m 1494yd or 1.37km from Hatherton Junction. Looking west |
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H380
Saredon Mill Bridge 7 furlongs or 1m 158yd or 1.75km from Hatherton Junction. Looking west |
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Taken looking
SouthWest toward Hatherton Junction - 21/3/2015. |
H390 Scrawpers End Bridge (Bridge No. 3) 5¼ furlongs or 0m 1151yd or 1.05km from Hatherton Junction. Access from Oak Lane NOTE low headroom under the bridge! Looking west |
A feeder channel runs to the Gailey reservoirs. Taken looking NorthWest just before Scrawpers End
Bridge - 21/3/2015. |
The final section follows the original line to Hatherton Junction. | ||
H400 M6
Tunnel (north-east end) 4furlongs or 0m 864yd or 0.79km from Hatherton Junction. Looking west |
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H410 M6 Tunnel (south-west end) | ||
Dog Lock - (New Lock 2) | ||
H430 Dog Bridge (Bridge No. 2) Site of Dog Bridge that took Straight Mile over the canal. The original canal channel to Hatherton Junction (still in water) is arrowed. 3¼ furlongs or 0m 720yd or 0.66km from Hatherton Junction. Looking west |
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H440 Calf Heath Locks (lock 2) -
Lock to be used as narrows with no drop 1½ furlongs or 0m 344yd or 0.31km from Hatherton Junction. Location - https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.67544&mlon=-2.09410#map=17/52.67544/-2.09411 Photo to the left from 9 September 2015 (looking north-east) Photo to the right from 28 September 1982 (looking south-west) |
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H450
Calf Heath Locks (lock 1) ¾ furlongs or 0m 158yd or 0.14km from Hatherton Junction. Taken from Junction Bridge, Kings Road - looking east. |
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H460
Junction Bridge, Kings Road (Bridge No. 1) ½ furlongs or 0m 88yd or 0.08km from Hatherton Junction. Looking north-east |
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H470 Hatherton Junction -
Junction of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
and the Hatherton Canal (under restoration) To the left is the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Gailey and onward. In the center is the Hatherton Canal. To the right is the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal to Autherley and onward (under Calf Heath Marina Bridge). location - https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=52.67432&mlon=-2.09806#map=17/52.67432/-2.09805 |
V1.5 - 29 October 2021 ---- recommended resolution (1366 x 768)
© David Hodgkinson 2000-2021. All rights reserved.