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B.C.N. HIRE BOAT PASSING THROUGH GAS STREET BASIN AND UNDER THE BRIDGE AT THE WORCESTER BAR.

B. C. N.
BIRMINGHAM CANAL NAVIGATIONS.

The canal system in and around the city is most extensive. The surroundings of the waterway system within the city is undergoing restoration.
From Birmingham you can navigate to Liverpool in the north/west, the Humber in the north/east, to London south/east, and Bristol in the south/west. These links were nesessary during the industrial revolution for Birmingham to be able to export its products.
Today the canals serve the city well as a tourist attraction and for a destination for the canal rings.
The area around gas street is well worth visiting, even if you are not interested in canals.

CAMBRIAN WHARF, FARMERS BRIDGE, BIRMINGHAM

This canal is 15 miles long with 38 locks, it can really be considered as a part of the BCN. It runs from the centre of Birmingham via Salford bridge, through the Kingsbury Water Park, eventually joining up with the Coventry Canal at Fazeley. First half of the canal is through the city but it soon becomes rural after Salford.

This site is copyright of Bill Chambers Photographic, no images may be used without prior written permission

THOMAS TELFORD
This portrait of Thomas Telford is on a pub sign at the end of the Pontcysyllte aqueduct on the Llangollan Canal, the reason I put it here is because Telford did so many improvements to the Birmingham canals he deserves a place on the page. Probably his best known enginnering feat was the Wolverhampton line and Galton Road bridge.
In the background of the sign can be seen a painting of his famous aqueduct.

TOLL BOOTH FARMERS BRIDGE

PUB SIGN ON THE MAIN WOLVERHAMPTON LINE

B. C. N.

MOCK BOAT, OPPOSITE SEA LIFE, B,HAM

This mock boat rests on the bottom of a very shallow side pound off the Main Line in the Gas Street complex, it can be viewed from the towpath bridge which leads to the Malt Shovel pub.

B.C.N. MAIN LINE

This working boat is approaching the M5 Motorway bridge, it shows how Telford,s improved main line straightened out the canal, with towpaths on both sides of the cut.

BROMFORD JUNCTION

This is where the Old Line joins the new Main Line, the canal coming under the bridge is from Spon Lane junction. Unusual to find duck weed on this busy canal.

Telford's Stewart Aqueduct, carries the Brindley level over the New BCN Line. At this point the main Wolverhampton to B,ham and the M5 motorway both cross the canals, a complicated transport junction.

SITE OF THE STEWART AQUEDUCT

UNDER SPAGHETTI JUNCTION.
River Rea to the left

SALFORD JUNCTION.
at the side of the M6

CURDSWORTH LOCK & SWIVEL BRIDGE

THE TWO BRIDGES AT DRAYTON MANOR

BIRMINGHAM & FAZELEY CANAL

b.c.n.