The Wyrley and Essington Canal

Virtual Walks Too far away to visit? Don't want to go out today? I've done it for you.

Warning! - The following access details were correct at the time of my walk - but may have now changed.

Virtual Walks-4 From Catshill Junction to Walsall Wood (August 2001) Rushall Canal including the Daw End Branch / Longwood Branch
Visit the Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust web site to find out about the Trust that was formed in 1988 and is a registered charity. It campaigns for the restoration of the "Lichfield Canal" (as the closed section of the W&E between Ogley and Huddlesford is now called) and also the Hatherton Canal through the Cannock / A5 area. It promotes the restoration as public amenities for boating, angling, walking, cycling etc. and raises funds to carry out physical restoration work.
Catshill Junction Bridge. The footbridge crosses the Rushall Canal that runs 8 miles down 9 locks to meet the the Tame Vally Canal under the M6/M5 motorway interchange at Ray Hall, Walsall. In the right foreground is the toll halt at the start of the branch. Taken looking North. Access via towpath
Toll halt This divided the canal into two halfs with a centeral island. In this 1982 picture the left hand route is already overgrown through lack of use. Taken from Catshill Junction Bridge footbridge looking South. Access via towpath
Clayhanger Bridge This 1993 view taken just before rebuilding of the bridge Taken looking West. Access via Clayhanger Road
Clayhanger Bridge The new bridge is dated 1994. The overflow in right foreground ensures that the waterlevel of the canal does nor rise too high. Taken looking West. Access via Clayhanger Road
Blackcock Bridge This section of the canal does pass through an area of some subsidence resulting from the old workings of the Walsall Wood Collery. The roof of the "Black Cock Inn" pub (in the distance, on the right) is level with the towpath - once the front door step was level with the canal - this is an urban myth! Taken looking West. Access via Camden Street/Green Lane/Hall Lane.
Walsall Wood Bridge Taken looking South. Access via Walsall Road/High Street via steps.
Hollanders Bridge Taken looking South. Access to the towpath from the bridge is a bit rough - Bridge open to pedestrians only - Road access from Boatmans Lane or East end of Queen Street.
Latham's Bridge dated 1982. Taken looking West. Access from Boatmans Lane
canal passes under Green Lane, Aldridge
Hopley's Bridge carries Dumblederry Lane over the canal
Brawn'sWorks Bridge carries Radley Road over the canal
Winterley Bridge carries Winterley Lane over the canal
Daw End Bridge carries Daw End Lane/ Daw End/ Bosty Lane
Riddian Bridge carries a farm lane over the canal
Longwood Bridge carriesAldridge Road over the canal at its junction with the Hay Head arm and the much later locks down to the Tame Vally Canal.
Hay Head Wood (nature reserve) in Longwood Lane includes the remains of the canal. There is little sign of the removed Hay Head Bridge in Longwood Lane
The link then runs straight all the way to the Tame Vally Canal. It next is crossed by Sutton Road at Sutton Road Bridge.
Gillity Bridge (carries a footpath over the canal?)
Fiveways Bridge carries Park Hall Road over the canal
the cannal then passes under Sargent's Hill/Birmingham Road
Bell Bridge carries WalsteadRoad over the canal
Shustoke Bridge carries farm lanes/footpaths ? over the canal
Hill Farm Bridge and Biddleston Bridge cross the canal before it reaches the junction with the Tame Valley Canal.

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V1.3 - 16 November 2001.