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 now have changed.

Another Warning! - Although renovation is taking place, this route has been long derelict. Remember that this route should not be thought of as a public right of way.
Most importantly,
note that breaking a leg in the middle of nowhere is hazardous to health.

Virtual Walks -5 From Anglesey Junction (or Ogley Junction) to Huddlesford Junction Wyrley and Essington Canal
The BCNS sign pointing towards Huddlesford reads "(being) restored by Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust" The word "being" is on a separate plate that can be removed when the line is reopened ! This shows the confidence that the canal will be passable again in the not too distant future. 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.
Miles and furlongs - don't have a clue? Those were the measurements when the canals were built. In metric a mile is 1.61 kilometres. A furlong is an eigth of a mile or 200 metres.
Anglesey Junction 16 miles 3 furlongs from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton. Anglesey Junction Foot Bridge (2000 & 1982) The bridge is marked "HORSELEY IRON WORKS 1829". Taken looking East, toward where the first of 30 locks that drop to Huddlesford Junction. Access via Lichfield Road, Brownhills.
Marina at the head of the (currently disused) locks down toward Huddlesford Junction. Lock Cottage, 271-272 Lichfield Road is visible between the trees. Taken looking East from Anglesey Junction Bridge. Access via Lichfield Road, Brownhills.
Barracks Lane Bridge - Barracks Lane, off Lichfield Road. Well, where the humped back bridge would have been if it had not been removed to flatten the road over it. Looking West from the bottom of the flight of 5 locks down from Anglesey Junction. The corner-stones of the lock can just be made out.
Lock No.8 as it was in October 1981. The photo on the left is of the westerly end of the lock, that on the right is of the lower easterly end (taken from what will soon be the fast lane of the M6Toll motorway!).
Lock No.8 reverting to nature in April 2003 and about to be lost to cater for the M6Toll motorway. The photo is a repeat of that above. The lock lowed the water level from the higher Brownhills side. To keep the canal high enough to pass over the new motorway the level will not drop until after crossing the new road. This original lock will be lost under a short embankment leading to the aqueduct that is currently being built. A new lock 8 will be constructed on the far side of the aqueduct.
BNRR - M6Toll Motorway The building of Britain's first privately owned toll charging motorway has made the re-opening of the Lichfield section of the Wyrley and Essington Canal more difficult and more expensive. The good news is that a route over the motorway is being included in the construction. This has come about due to government support, a large donation from The Manifold Trust, the work of Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust and the co-operation of the motorway's builders (CAMBBA). The motorway will be operated by MEL (Midland Expressway Ltd.) The canal will be held within a steel aqueduct being constructed by Rowecord Engineering Ltd. of Newport, South Wales. The photograph (above left) of April 2003 shows the concrete structures with the soon to disappear lock 8 just out of the picture to the right. The photograph (above right) shows the 45 by 8 metre steel aqueduct after being placed on the concrete structures over the weekend of 16-17/8/2003.
Walsall Road (A461 - up to Muckley Corner from the south) The canal crossed the road at the side of the Boat Inn public house (to the right of this photo).
Boat Lane The canal followed the line of the lane on its northern side.
Watling Street (A5)
Muckley Corner Bridge Walsall Road (A461 - north from Muckley Corner) The canal passed under the bridge at the junction of Walsall Road and Wall Lane.
Looking north to Coppice Lane. - Nov 1981	Coppice Lane Lock No.12 is still clearly visible but full of accumulated junk.	Coppice Lane looking south. - March 2003 The large pipe viewed from the road shows where the canal would pass under a road bridge.
Walsall Road (A461 - Pipe Hill) --- The canal passes at the rear of the South Staffs Water Works pumping station and on to Pipe Hill Wharf (or Walsall Road Wharf) - 19 miles 0 furlongs from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton - that is at the Walsall Road bridges Walsall Road crosses a triple bridge with arches from south to north - canal - wharf access & farm track - South Staffordshire Railway to Lichfield
Walsall Road (A461 - Pipe Hill) --- Walsall Road crosses a triple bridge with arches from south to north - canal - farm track - railway. The photo on the left was taken from the west side of the bridges, looking north. The photo on the left was taken from the east side of the bridges looking back to the west. This photo (taken in March 2003) shows the straight metal beams of the railway arch that will shortly be replaced. Also shown are the brick sides of the canal and the size of the trees that have grown in the canal bed since closure.
Cornerstone "jly 1850" (photo Nov1981)	Wall Lane locks between Wall Lane and Fossway Lane	Cornerstone "june 1857" (photo Nov1981)
Fosseway Lane --- A couple of hundred yards on from Fosseway Lane lock 18 was cleared and renovated in May 1996. This photo of March 2003 taken looking east with the railway line higher up on the left.
Falkland Road, Sandfields (Lichfield Southern Bypass) the line of the canal crosses the road and passes between the railway embankment and the new flats. This photo of February 2010 taken looking east with the railway line higher up on the left crossing the new bridge. The canal bed is on the far right of the photo. On the left are large stone blocks from the canal ( moved due to the road building.) The new road is lower than the canal and not in view.
Sandfields Pumping Station on the west side of Chesterfield Road. This March 2003 photo, taken looking north, looks across the path of the canal in the foreground.
Chesterfield Road - Taken along the line of the canal toward Lichfield with the houses of Chesterfield Road ahead. From here the route enters a built up area that has removed most traces of the line of the canal. The rebuilding of this section will loop to the south and rejoin the original route just before London Road.
Birmingham Road (A5127) - The canal crossed the road on the line of the current Essington Close (and near Wyrley Close). The parapet of the bridge on the other side of road still exists.
The canal crossed under the railway line into Lichfield Station.
Shortbutts Lane The canal crossed the road a little to the east of the railway bridge. The line of the canal comes from the private access "Kings Mews" and across the road becomes a public open space.
The line of the canal passes between Wordsworth Close (on the left) and Marsh Lane (on the right).
London Road (A5206) The canal would have crossed the road and passed to the south of Gladhill Park and then runs beside the south side of Tamworth Road (A51).
Cricket Lane (Ryknild Street Roman road) was crossed and lock 24 was a little distance to the east.
Tamworth Road (A51) --- Beside the road is Lock 25, which is being restored - on the south side of the A51 Lock 26 a little further east is also being renovated.
A38 - will be crossed via a pair of new locks
Tamworth Road (A51) - is crossed just after the A38 as the canal turns to the north-east.
Darnford Lane. On the left is lock 29 (taken looking west back to Darnford Lane). On the right a new lift bridge a little further east.
Capper's Lane On the east side of Capper's Lane looking east. The canal is in water and many narrow boats and others are based in this final stretch that leads to Huddlesford Junction.
Huddlesford Junction (with the Coventry Canal) 23 miles 4 furlongs from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton. The foot bridge would lead to the towpath but is closed due to the private boat club that uses the end section of the Wyrley and Essington.
Coventry Canal running to the south. This photo of March 2003 is taken from the footbridge that would lead back to the Wyrley and Essington Canal but is closed due to the private boat club.		Coventry Canal running to the north. Access to the canal is from Broad Lane at it's junction with Park Lane.
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.