Gower Branch Canal

Gower Branch Canal
in relation to BCN Main Lines
Tipton (top) to Smethwick(bottom)

Birmingham Canal Navigations

Old Main Line
New Main Line
Netherton Tunnel
Branch Canal
Gower Branch
Bradeshall Junction
Albion Junction
Old Main Line
New Main Line

Birmingham Canal Navigations

Gower Branch Canal viewed from Albion Junction
Signpost at Albion Junction for Brades Hall Junction.
Top staircase lock and Brades Hall Junction (behind the iron bridge)
Brades (staircase) locks, photographed from the bridge

The Gower Branch Canal is a half-mile canal at Tividale in England, linking Albion Junction on the Birmingham Level (453 feet above sea) of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, and Brades Hall Junction (sometimes written Bradeshall Junction[1]) on the BCN's older Wolverhampton (473 ft) level, via three locks, the Brades Locks, at the Southern, Brades Hall end.

It has a towpath on its eastern side and is crossed by only one road, the A457, just north of the middle lock. The branch is suitable for narrowboats of up to 70 foot length and 7 foot beam.

It facilitated travel between the Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal and the BCN Old Main Line, without the need for a long detour to Tipton or Smethwick and back.

History

The branch was authorised by the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768 but was not completed until 1836.

Features
Point Coordinates
(Links to map resources)		 OS Grid Ref Notes
Albion Junction 52.5177°N 2.0292°W / 52.5177; -2.0292 (Albion Junction) SO981911 BCN New Main Line (Island Line)
Mid point 52.5142°N 2.0311°W / 52.5142; -2.0311 (Mid point) SO978907
Single lock 52.5127°N 2.0319°W / 52.5127; -2.0319 (Single lock) SO978905
A457 bridge 52.5115°N 2.0328°W / 52.5115; -2.0328 (A457 bridge) SO977904 Dudley Road East
Staircase lock 52.5112°N 2.033°W / 52.5112; -2.033 (Staircase lock) SO977904
Brades Hall Junction 52.5106°N 2.0334°W / 52.5106; -2.0334 (Brades Hall Junction) SO978903 BCN Old Main Line

Photographs
  • Looking up Brades Lock.
  • Middle section of Brades Lock.
  • Looking down Brades Lock from the junction bridge.
  • The instructions fo using a staircase lock.
  • The lower lock gate of Brades Lock showing the bridge sign.
  • New Mainline Canal at Albion Junction.

See also

References
  1. This alternative is found only in the guides edited by David Perrott and published by Nicholson.

Bibliography
  • Perrott, David; Mosse, Jonathan (2006). Nicholson Waterways Guide 3 - Birmingham & the Heart of England. Collins. ISBN 978-0-00-721111-1.

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