Leaving in Light Rain as we Look at Local Landmarks.

 There are a couple of days of rain forecast. Today's was supposed to be light'ish and the wind not too bad so we decided to set off and head somewhere to spend Saturday when the torrential rain and wind is due. Just before we left a hire boat arrived to head down the Farmer's Bridge locks. On of only two moving oats we have seen today.

I am a little offended by the Old Turn 'roundabout' being 'defaced' by the blue advertising hoardings around it. I suppose it is a prime spot to bring the name to the non boating public, but still....

They have got on with the Rond House work and the big picture window means you can glimpse the interior more. I was surprised they got planning to knock holes in the visible exterior, but is good that the building is going to be retained and used.

Phase one of the Port Loop housing project has been sold out it seems. There are three types of houses starting at £430,000, £350,000 and £310,000. The blurb says it is traffic free but it looks like each as a parking place. It also says there is lots of new tow path, there was none before, but you still wont be able to circumnavigate the Icknield Loop by the water. It is a great spot to be though, very close to the city centre, and certainly better than what was there before.

There are lots of these C&RT blue rubbish bins on the New Main Line. They don't seem to be fixed close to easy places to empty them. Maybe they are using a boat to come along and empty them as the come up and down scooping stuff out of the water.

This is the entrance to the Soho Foundry that was the place for the real start of the Industrial Factory as the management techniques and production processes were well ahead of their time. The land was purchased in 1795 by Matthew Boulton and James Watt. The factory opened the following year and was for the building of steam engines. I can't remember ever noticing that there is a horse tunnel into the basin. Looking at all the other ones you pass along the route I didn't see another. The basin has two arms and each is connected with plate railways to move stuff all around the foundry. The engines for the Great Eastern were built here in 1857. Avery, the weighing company, bought the business in 1895, and still own the site.

The Old Main Line leaves the New Main Line at Smethwick Junction to climb up three locks to the old level. The Horseley Fields Iron bridges are so graceful as well as functional. I think they said 1826 on them. The locks going up were paired, but in separate channels until the 1960's

The Engine Arm Bridge was also built at Horseley Fields Works at Tipton in 1825, designed by Thomas Telford to carry water from the reservoir to the upper level. The Smethwick indexing station/toll house was completely covered over as the central arm could be used to gauge the boats. It seems madness to allow these trees to take a foothold as they will quickly break up the brickwork.

The Smethwick pump house is another landmark that you tick off as you pass. One day we will get to pass during an open day and see inside. I saw a kingfisher just at Brasshouse Lane Bridge.

 

Galton Tunnel is newly lined and is soon left behind. There seems to be a heron fishing every few hundred yards. One was in the dry at the mouth of the tunnel but ever watchful.

When Gaulton Bridge was opened in 1829 it was the highest span in the WORLD. Another winder that was created at the Horseley Field Works. Apparently it was named after Samuel Gaulton who was a member of the Lunar Society, a group of industrialists and scientists that met monthly. The other bridge is a rail bridge where you can transfer from the high level line to the low level.

It was quite surreal to see the electronic hoarding above the New Mail Line that goes under the Old Main Line at the Stewart Aqueduct, and above that the M5 on its stilts planted in the canal. It is almost a 'Blade Runner' type scene. That's progress I suppose.

At Dudley Port Junction we hung a left and headed down the Netherton Branch to the tunnel. It is a very picturesque spot with the BCN cottages next to the Tividale Aqueduct where we once again go under the Old Main Line. In the distance is the entrance to the tunnel.

It took us 35 minutes to pass through the Netherton Tunnel and no wonder when you think it is 1.72 miles long. There were just to pedestrians passing to ease the loneliness. I think they were inspecting the east side of the tunnel and towpath. By the time we left the south portal the rain had become wetter!

The Netherton Tunnel canal cuts through the Dudley No2 Canal here at Windmill End Junction. It originally went from right to left. To the left is now the Boshboil Arm that was connected with the Bumble Hole arm that emerged ahead of us. You can just see the Cobb's Engine House on the hill. We stopped at the visitor centre for water and were surprised when the door opened and a volunteer asked if we were okay. They had been litter picking and were just having a cup of tea. It was the first time I can remember no boats being moored here.

The only lock of the day was Blowers Green and Helen came out for some fresh air. There was a faint smell of baking bread from the bakery next to the lock too.

We are now on the Dudley No.1 Canal that went on up the three locks to the south portal of the Dudley Canal Tunnel. It is a lovely quiet spot for a couple of days and worth the trip up, just to say you have done it too. The lock cottage is becoming drowned in ivy it seems. It was being lived in last time we were here, but surely it must now be blocking all the light. I suppose the windows could be clear but I couldn't see them from here.

The rain was a little heavier now, so the camera didn't come out. We tied up on the Waterfront Basin near Merry Hill. If the weather does turn out to be terrible we will be able to get off the boat for a walk around at least. I have really enjoyed today's and have actually seen three kingfishers, the one by Brasshouse Lane Bridge, another by Bromford Junction that stayed with us until Pudding Green Junction.