Birmingham Canal Navigations - The Canals of The BCN

The Canals of The BCN

• BCN Main Line (originally known as the Birmingham Canal) from Aldersley Junction (north of Wolverhampton) to Gas Street Basin (at the Worcester Bar in central Birmingham), using some of the Old Main Line canal.
  • Old Main Line, originally terminating in Birmingham at two wharfs now built upon: Old Wharf (adjacent to Gas Street Basin) and Newhall Wharf.
  • New Main Line, a revised route for the Birmingham Canal, double towpathed, largely progressing in straight lines using cuttings and tunnels.
• Bentley Canal (abandoned)
• Birmingham and Fazeley Canal (from Old Turn Junction (by the National Indoor Arena), eastwards to the Coventry Canal at Fazeley Junction, and thence north-west as far as bridge 78.)
  • Digbeth Branch Canal
• Bradley Locks Branch
• Dudley Canal
  • Bumble Hole Branch Canal (part of a bypassed loop)
  • Dudley Canal Line No 1 (see also Dudley Tunnel)
  • Dudley Canal Line No 2 (about half dewatered; see also Lapal Tunnel; Netherton Reservoir)
  • The Two Locks Line (infilled)
• The Engine Arm
• Gower Branch Canal - linking the Birmingham and Wolverhampton levels, via three locks, at Tividale.
• Icknield Port Loop (part of the Old Main Line cut off by Telford's improvements, now serving as a feeder from Edgbaston Reservoir)
• Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal
• Rushall Canal
• Soho Loop (an old circuitous route cut off by Telford's improvements, originally with a branch, the Soho Branch to Soho Wharf, serving the Soho Manufactory)
• Spon Lane Locks Branch (between Bromford Junction and Spon Lane Junction on the Old Main Line - 3 locks, part of the original Wednesbury Canal, not to be confused with Spon Lane Branch, another name for Tat Bank Branch on the Titford Canal)
• Titford Canal
• Tame Valley Canal (a later canal cutting off some northern meanders)
• Walsall Canal (a more modern canal connecting the main line with Walsall and forming a big northern loop with the Wyrley and Essington Canal)
  • Anson Branch
  • Walsall Branch Canal (Town Branch)
• Wednesbury Oak Loop (part of the original Old Main Line, now incomplete)
• Wednesbury Old Canal - part of the original Wednesbury Canal
  • Ridgacre Branch
• Wyrley and Essington Canal (bought by the Birmingham Canal Navigations in 1840)
  • Anglesey Branch
  • Birchills Branch
  • Cannock Extension Canal
  • Daw End Branch Canal
  • Lord Hay's Branch (Lords Hayes Branch) (abandoned)