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) Wyrley and Essington Canal
Pelsall Junction - Left to Wolverhampton. Across the footbridge to the Cannock Extension Branch. Right to Brownhills.
Friar Bridge - at the start of Cannock Extension branch. Taken looking North from Pelsall Junction. Access from Pelsall North Common.
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 quiet corner could soon become more widely known. This is 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 follow the line of the old tramway that delivered cable pulled coal tubs to the canal wharf. 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 Cannock Extension, 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).
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).
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 oblitorated 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.

V1.14 - 21 October 2009.