Hopwood (Worcs& Birmingham Canal) to Dickens Wood (Stratford Canal)

Tuesday 19th May

It was raining when we got up and the forecast for today was not good, so we decided to stay put.  We were going to catch a bus to Redditch, but the bus fare was going to be £5.90 return each for a 20 minute bus ride, so we decided that it wasn't worth it,so went for a walk instead down to the Garden Centre.  It was just a small one, had a look around, then came back and went to the pub, The Hopwood House for lunch, they had a deal on two main meals for £10 so we had that and very good it was too.  Just chilled out for the rest of the day.  We will move on tomorrow.

Wednesday 20th May 

Approaching Wast Hills Tunnel

In Wast Hills Tunnel

Almost Out!

Got up and it was dry, although a bit grey and windy, but decided to move on today.  Chugged off and just up from where we were moored was the mighty Wast Hill Tunnel, it is 2,726 yds long and takes about 30 minutes to go through and was once referred to as King’s Norton Tunnel.   A steam–powered and later a  diesel-powered   tunnel tug service used to operate in the days of horse-drawn boats, as there is no towpath.  The old iron brackets and insulators that still line the roof were installed to carry telegraph lines through the tunnel. Grandiose Bridges span the cuttings at either end.  

Soon we were in the tunnel and chugging through, its quite high and you can pass another boat, but we were lucky as we didn’t meet one.  We were soon half way and then we were coming out into the sunshine, thank goodness, neither of us like the tunnels, but you have to do them if you want to travel around the system as there are lots of them dotted about.

Toll House at King's Norton Junction

Guillotine Lock

Going through Guillotine Lock

On up the canal, we stopped to fill up with water, then we were at King’s Norton Junction and turning onto the Stratford Canal and into King’s Norton Stop Lock, this lock is unusual having two wooden guillotine gates mounted in iron frames, balanced by chains and counterweights.  The machinery is not now used and boats pass under the two gates without stopping.  We went through the lock and chugged on up the canal, the first bit of this canal is quite built up as it is really the outskirts of Birmingham.  We next came to Brandwood Tunnel, just 382 yds, so a baby tunnel!  

Going through Shirley Draw Bridge

Entering Brandwood Tunnel

On we went and then we came to Shirley Draw Bridge.  This is an electric bridge which we have to work using a CRT key.  I worked the bridge and Kev brought the boat through, all went without a hitch and on we went. We chugged on for a bit, then  after Bridge 13 we decided to moor as we had been chugging for nearly four hours, so that’s enough for us! 

We will stay here tonight and move on tomorrow. 

Moored at Dickens Heath