We were politely asked to leave our berth at the Black Country Museum this morning as they were having a delivery of equipment for the new Dudley Canal Tunnel and Limestone Caverns Trust visitor centre. We didn't go far as we moored up between the bridges at Tipton to do a little shopping. We were next to a little park where there is a statue of William Perry, better known as the 'Tipton Slasher'! William was the pugilistic World Champion 1850 to 1857. He was born on a canal boat and used to fight for the right to be first down the Factory Locks nearby. His boxing headquarters were at the Fountains Inn next to the park. When he retired he ran a pub but died of alcoholism. Unusually his remains were removed from the church where he was buried in Dudley and interned under the statue.
Willaim Perry. The Tipton Slasher 1819 - 1880.
Pugilist Champion of the World 1850-1857
This is the Malthouse Stables at Tipton that were built in the early 19th Century. There was room for 14 horses on the ground floor and feed ect on the second floor. It is now an Activity Centre.
The old guaging dock at the top of Factory Locks where the connection to the New Main Line drops down three locks. You can see the arches where the boats were taken in to check there ballast and loaded weight so that they could be easily checked for charges at the toll islands around the BCN.
Helen getting busy at the first lock of the day. Tipton Green was also the site of a battle during the English Civil War in 1644 when the Royalist arrived to relieve the siege of the Earl of Denbigh at the Castle at Dudley. The King's forces won on this occasion.
Some may not believe me but the waters on this apart of the BCN are extremely clear and the growth on the top lock gate show that. It shows the single gate and the cill protector.
This is the new main line and shows how it managed to cut seven miles of the distance by canal from Birmingham to Wolverhampton by 7 miles! Thomas Telford was able to use more modern structural techniques to build cuttings and embankments to build in straight lines.
The Old Main Line wound along the contours and crossed the New Line in several places the low bridge here is the Old Main Line crossing. The one above is the M5.
This is the deep Galton Cutting. Above is the Old Line and between is an island of green.
The cuttings were spanned by many large bridges with Galton Bridge built by Thomas Telford in 1829 being one of the finest. The nearest bridge has a station on it and in the distance can be seen Galton Tunnel.
With having the two canal levels close a pumping station was installed to pump water up to the higher pound. It is the New Smethwick Pumping Station and was opened in 1892. It housed a steam beam engine and ran until 1920. It reopened in 1980 and regularly is open to the public when in steam.
The bridge over the New Main Line carries the Engine Arm that connects with the Old Main Line at the top of Smethwick locks. The Arm was a feeder for the canal at first. We were lucky enough to have a boat going over as we passed. The other side of the bridge is a toll island and gauging dock.
The gauging and toll island had narrow passages on either side so that waybills etc could be checked as boats passed in a two way manner. If there was a doubt about the correct loading the boat would be directed through the centre channel that can be seen between the two jettys. This was covered and here the gauge of the height of the gunwhale above the water line could be taken at the four corners. they would be averaged and then compared with the tables to get the correct charges. The commodity carried also varied the tolls.
The roving bridge marks the Soho Loop that was once the old route of the canal until cut off by the Telford built canal. In 1795 on the banks of the canal down that loop the Soho Foundry was built by Matthew Boulton and James Watt to build steam engines. They built the engine used in the pumping station earlier. It was one of the first factories as each operation was broken down to smaller tasks. The engines for Brunel's 'Great Eastern' ship were also built there. The foundry was taken over in 1895 by W & T. Avery Co who still make weighing equipment there.
As we approached Old Turn Junction we passed north end of Oozells Loop, another bight of the old main line that remains after being dissected by the new canal. The loop creates a little island that seems to be popular for apartments.
We went to see if there was any room at Cambrian Wharf but there was non. After winding we headed back to the south end of the Oozells Loop and moored up there with the Barclaycard Arena in the background. It isn't a bad spot here as it isn't on the walking routes so is quiet. I think we will go and check out the Fiddle and Bone pub tonight.
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