The Wyrley and Essington Canal

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

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Virtual Walks-7 Pelsall Junction to Lord Hayes Branch (Jan 2014 onward)
Wyrley and Essington Canal

and

Onward along the Hatherton Canal (under restoration) to its Junction of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire 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.

Distance in italics is for the original canal measured from Wolverhampton or Anglesey Junction. 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.

The other distances used are for the route when restored and realigned in places by LHCRT.

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.
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.

Pelsall Junction - 12 miles 7¼ furlongs from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton.

Taken looking North from Pelsall Junction - 17/1/2014.

Access from Pelsall North Common and the Cannock Extension branch via footbridge.
Access from Pelsall via Nest Common.

Left onward towards Wolverhampton and the Lord Hayes Branch
Straight ahead over the footbridge to the Cannock Extension branch. ( See Virtual Walks-6 ).
Right to Brownhills and Catshill Junction. ( See Virtual Walks-3 )

Pelsall Works Bridge
12 miles 4¼ furlongs from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton.

Taken looking West - 17/1/2014.
Access from Pelsall via Wood Lane and Nest Common (on the left).
Access from Pelsall North Common (on the right).

The bridge is dated "1824"

NOTE - the sign on the other side of the bridge reads -
"PELSALL WORKS"

Taken looking West - 17/1/2014.

The plaque from the Pelsall Millenium - 1994

Taken looking West - 17/1/2014.

Fishley Junction of the Wyrley and Essington Canal with the Lord Hayes (or Hay's) Branch -
12 miles ¾ furlong from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton.

The turn into the (currently infilled) Lord Hayes Branch is on the right of the photo.

Taken looking SouthWest - 17/1/2014.

The plan for connecting a restored Hatherton Branch Canal to the W&E was to be via the Cannock Extension branch. ( See Virtual Walks-6 ).
Due to various problems the LHCRT now plan that a connection to the W&E will be here via the Lord Hayes Branch.

Fishley Junction Bridge (Fishley Roving Bridge)-
12 miles ½ furlong from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton.

Taken looking SouthWest - 17/1/2014.

Access to the (currently infilled) Lord Hayes Branch (to the right of the photo) via the footbridge.

Lord Hayes (or Hay's) Branch Canal -
12 miles ¾ furlong from Horseley Fields Junction, Wolverhampton.

Taken looking NorthWest - 17/1/2014.

Access to the (currently infilled) Lord Hayes Branch via the footbridge (out of shot to the left of the photo).

A footpath follows the line of the canal.

The Lichfield & Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust 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.

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.

Fishley No. 1 Bridge - ¾ furlong from Fishley Junction

Taken looking NorthEast - 17/1/2014.
POOR access via Fishley Lane (do not fall into the pond!) to the right of the photo.

Lords Hayes Branch/Hatherton Canal Junction - ¾ furlong farther on from Fishley No. 1 Bridge

Taken looking NorthWest from Fishley No. 1 Bridge - 17/1/2014.

Although overgrown the line of the canal is still traceable.

After another ¾ furlong farther on from Fishley No. 1 Bridge a new section of canal will be cut on the right bank of the Lords Hayes Branch leading eventually to Hatherton Junction at Calf Heath on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. The outline of the expected work is detailed below ...

A large part of the next section of the canal will be new cut due to infilling, housing, industrial development and the M6 & M6 Toll motorways. The line should take 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.
Collery Lock (Lock 17)
Golfer's Lock (Lock 16)- (near Cadman's Lane)
Washbrook Lock (Lock 15) - (near Cadman's Lane)
Cadman's Lock (Lock 14) - (near Cadman's Lane)
Pylon Lock (Lock 13) - (near Cadman's Lane)
Dark Lane Lock (Lock 12)
Gorsey Lane Bridge - (Gains Lane/Gorsey Lane)
Lift Bridge (Near Gains Lane)
Lift Bridge (Farm Track)
Gains Lock (Lock 11)
Holford Lock (Lock 10)
Lift Bridge (Holford)
Watling Street Lock (Lock 9)
Watling Street Tunnel
Lift Bridge (near A5)
Streetway Lock (Lock 8)
Lift Bridge
David Suchet Tunnel (A5/A34 roundabout)
Churchbridge Lock (Lock 7)
Walsall Road Culvert - For emergency access to the M6 Toll
Railway Tunnel
Resevoir Lock (Lock 6)
M6 Toll Tunnel
Walkmill Lane Bridge
Severn Trent Water Pipe Crossing
Jovey's Lock (Lock 5)
Wedges Mill Lock (Lock 4)
Wedges Mill Bridge (Wolverhampton Road)

The next section follows the original line and access to the towpath is available from here (Roman Way) to Scrawpers End Bridge, Oak Lane.
Taken looking West toward Hatherton Junction - 21/3/2015. ------ (More Photos in my Flickr album - Hatherton Canal)	Cherry Tree Bridge (Bridge No. 8) 2 miles from Hatherton Junction on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Access (for pedestrians ONLY) via the Roman Way Hotel on the A5 West of Cannock.	Taken looking East back toward Churchbridge - 21/3/2015. ------ (More Photos in my Flickr album - Hatherton Canal)
Meadow Lock (Lock 3)
Bridge No 7 (demolished) - Bridge narrows will remain.
Catch Bridge or Cats Bridge - (Catsbridge Lane)
Cross Bridge (Four Crosses Lane)
Saredon Mill Bridge
Taken looking SouthWest toward Hatherton Junction - 21/3/2015. ------ (More Photos in my Flickr album - Hatherton Canal)	Scrawpers End Bridge (Bridge No. 3) 5¼ furlongs from Hatherton Junction on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Access from Oak Lane and along the towpath from the East. NOTE low headroom under the bridge!	A feeder channel runs to the Gailey reservoirs. Taken looking NorthWest just before Scrawpers End Bridge - 21/3/2015. ------ (More Photos in my Flickr album - Hatherton Canal)

The final section follows the original line to Hatherton Junction.
M6 Tunnel
Dog Lock - (New Lock 2)
Dog Bridge (Bridge No. 2)
Calf Heath Locks (lock 2) - Lock to be used as narrows with no drop
Calf Heath Locks (lock 1)
Junction Bridge, Kings Road (Bridge No. 1)
Hatherton Junction - Junction of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and the Hatherton Canal (under restoration)

V1.3 - 18 August 2015 ---- recommended resolution (1366 x 768)