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-6 The Cannock Extension from Pelsall Junction (May 2003 onward) Wyrley and Essington Canal
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.
Pelsall Junction - 12 miles 7¼ furlongs from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton. Left onward towards Wolverhampton. ( See Virtual Walks-7 ) Straight ahead over the footbridge to the Cannock Extension branch. Right to Brownhills. ( See Virtual Walks-3).
Pelsall Junction Bridge footbridge taken looking West - 17/1/2014. Access from Pelsall via Nest Common on the left. Access from the Cannock Extension Canal and Pelsall North Common over the footbridge to the right.
Friar Bridge - at the start of Cannock Extension branch. Taken looking North from Pelsall Junction - 17/1/2014. Access from Pelsall North Common. Access from Pelsall via Nest Common and over the footbridge out of shot on the right. The sign indicates what was the plan for connecting a restored Hatherton Branch Canal to the W&E via the Cannock Extension branch. Due to various problems the LHCRT now plan that a connection to the W&E will be a little farther along the route to Wolverhampton. See Virtual Walks-7 Pelsall Junction to Lord Hayes Branch for more details.
Pelsall Common Bridge Taken looking North. Access from Pelsall North Common.
Green Bridge Taken looking North. Access to and from farmer's fields only.
Wyrley Grove Bridge (or Wyrley Lane Bridge) Taken looking North. Access from Wyrley Lane.
Wyrley Common Bridge The canal narrows where a railway bridge passed over the canal. Taken looking North. Access from public footpath to Lime Lane.
Grove Collery Wharfs (or Grove Basins) This was intended to be the start of the new route to the Staffs and Worcester, replacing the lost section that is described below. The early part of the new canal would have followed the line of the old tramway that delivered cable pulled coal tubs to the canal wharf. The Hatherton Canal is now expected to join the W&E via the Lords Hays Branch west of Pelsall Junction. Taken looking West.
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 Hatherton Canal from the Wyrley and Essington, through the Cannock / A5 area to meet the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Hatherton Junction, Calf Heath. It promotes the restoration as public amenities for boating, angling, walking, cycling etc. and raises funds to carry out physical restoration work.
Grove Collery Wharfs. Taken looking West.
Pelsall Road Bridge Taken looking North. Access from Lime Lane. On the left the old bridge (taken 2003). On the right the bridge dated 2008 with the remaining brickwork of the old bridge in front of it (taken 1/4/2009). The old bridge sign. Taken looking North - photo 2/6/2007
Pelsall Road Bridge (the old bridge (photo taken 2/6/2007) ) Taken looking back South. Access from Lime Lane.
Yates Sports & Social Club - a reminder of the site of the Yates canal empire. The club web site is - http://www.yatessportsandsocialclub.co.uk Access from Lime Lane - no access to the canal tow path at this site. photo taken 2/6/2007
Norton Canes Docks Yates Brothers Boatyard - The site of the Yates canal empire that once consisted of a fleet of 400 boats. The site is now occupied by Norton Canes Boatbuilders and Denis Cooper's Canal Transport Services boat yard. In 1982 the boatyard of M.E. Braine Boatbuilders Ltd. on this stretch of the canal was used to film the BBC Play For Today “Atlantis”. The comedy drama, staring Frank Middlemass, was transmitted on 4 January 1983. It was about the conversion of an old narrow boat into a pleasure cruiser. The show ended with a sting in the tail when the boat started its first trip but did not get very far. Peter Terson (pseudonym of Peter Patterson) had written the play while he was living on a boat here. Does anyone remember the programme or Peter when he lived on the water here? Viewed from tow path opposite (Access to boat yard premises from Lime Lane, near Yates Sports & Social Club) - photo taken 2/6/2007.
Watling Street (A5) and the end of the line. Time to take a well earned rest on the bench carved in the shape of a canal bridge and look back up the dead straight canal. Taken looking North. Access from Watling Street.
The majority of the rest of the original canal has disappeared underneath infilling, housing, industrial development and the new M6 Toll motorway. Coal was the main load carried by the canal, but eventually subsidence due to deep coal mining and a large area of opencast coal mining obliterated most of the line. The rest of the line took the following route........
Warning! - 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.
M6 Toll (BNRR) motorway
Nortongreen Bridge - Were the canal and Albutts Road crossed.
Betty's Lane
Walsall Road / Hednesford Road
Railway bridge passed over the canal.
Norton Common Bridge which took Chapel Street over the canal.
Badger's Bridge which took Stokes Lane over the canal.
Silvester's Bridge which took Norton Lane over the canal.
Kingswood Bridge which took a farm track over the canal.
High Bridge took Washbrook Lane (Leacroft) over the canal.
Rummer Hill Junction with the Staffs & Worcestershire Canal link
Rummer Hill Bridge took York Road over the canal.
Leacroft Bridge took Mill Green over the canal.
A footbridge passed over the canal.
Hawks Green Lane passes under the canal.
Hemlocks Bridge took a farm track over the canal.
Terminated at canal / road / rail interchange off Hednesford Road.

V1.17 - 8 April 2014 ---- recommended resolution (1366 x 768)