Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
columns and walls. The complexity reaches its zenith as the M5 passes over the main railway
line, which passes over the Old Main Loop Line, which in turn passes over the New Main
Line on the Steward Aqueduct. (The aqueduct would probably have been more of an honour
to BCNS committee member Stewart if the name had been spelled correctly.) Telford's 2.1 m
iron-trough aqueduct of 1826-1828 is now a listed structure.
Spon Lane Wharf and Junction are now beneath the motorway. Spon Lane Locks Branch
provides a connection down to the New Main Line through Spon Lane Locks, the remaining
bottom three from the six that descended from the original summit and probably the oldest
working locks in Britain. Top Lock has a split cantilevered bridge through which ropes could
be passed without towing horses being unhitched.
The site of one of Britain's greatest concentrations of canal architecture, the cutting
between Sandwell and Smethwick has been designated the Galton Valley Canal Heritage
Area. Chance's former glassworks on the right were founded in 1824 and include a number
of listed buildings. Chance pioneered sheet glass, produced optical glass for lighthouses after
1838 and made the glass for the Crystal Palace in 1851, before going on to manufacture mi-
croscope lenses, rangefinders, telescopes and searchlights.
Looking back on the left side the prominent feature is the listed small timber belltower of
1847 on the seven-storey offices of Archibald Kenrick & Sons, who have made ironmongery
since 1791. George Salter, manufacturers of such things as spring balances, weighing equip-
ment and steam locomotive safety valves, sited their foundry beside Top Lock.
Eventually the M5 turns away and the canal enters a deep cutting below the original sum-
mit. Until they were dismantled in 2006, colliery loading chutes were notable on the left
bank. Built in around 1930, they were fed by a narrow tramway from the Sandwell Park and
Jubilee collieries, but were later replaced by conveyors. While boats were being loaded, boat-
men and horses sheltered in a brick building, the ruins of which still stand on the opposite
bank.
Built in 1791 and a scheduled ancient monument, Summit Bridge is a great brick arch with
an unusual sloping parapet wall. The concentric arches reduce towards Galton Tunnel, which
has a towpath and passes under the A4168 Telford Way. Samuel Galton was a BCNS com-
mittee member, self-educated in the sciences and the owner of a gun foundry.
Smethwick New Pumping Station was built in 1892 and had two steam engines to pump
water from the New Main Line to the Old Main Loop Line in order to replace water lost
by boats locking down at Spon Lane and Smethwick. Intended to supersede the Smethwick
Engine, it ceased operation in the 1920s although a diesel engine was installed for fire fight-
ing during the Second World War. It is a restored listed building, now used as a museum.
