Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
23
Worcester & Birmingham Canal
Distance
48km from the Birmingham Canal Navigations to the River Severn
Highlights
Tardebigge lock flight
The Mailbox and the Cube
Navigation Authority
Canal & River Trust
Canal Society
Worcester, Birmingham & Droitwich Canals
Society
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
139 Birmingham & Wolverhampton
150 Worcester & the Malverns
Gas Street Basin in the centre of Birmingham might be considered the central point of the
British canal network. This was certainly the case in 1791 when the Worcester & Birming-
ham Canal Act was passed. The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Company obtained an
injunction to prevent the Worcester & Birmingham coming within 2.1m of the Birmingham
Canal Navigations, resulting in the Worcester Bar, over which goods had to be manhandled
in an effort to prevent loss of business and water to the new canal. When the Worcester &
Birmingham was opened to traffic in 1815, a stop lock was opened through the bar and this
provides a route through with a footbridge over the top.
The Worcester & Birmingham was acquired by the Sharpness New Docks Company in
1874, nationalised in 1948 and kept in use by Cadburys until 1964.
