The Delph Locks

 The Delph Locks

BCN Cottages - New and Old Main Lines

BCN Cottages - New and Old Main Lines

 BCN Cottages 23 and 24

 Still standing at Rough Hills Stop, south of Wolverhampton

1970's photo by Hugh Potter

BCN Cottages - Wyrley and Essington Canal

BCN Cottages - Wyrley and Essington Canal 

Ogley Locks Section (Lichfield Canal)

Known cottage locations

Cottage 267

No known photo but shown on map at Lock 23:

BCN Cottage 30

Located at Huddlesford

Photos by Arthur Watts from the CRT archive

BCN Cottage 269

Contemporary photo located at Muckley Corner on the A5

BCN Cottages 271 and 272 (the highest numbers)

Located at the top of the Ogley Locks

Now owned by the LHCRT in preparation for the restoration of the canal.

BCN Cottage 204

Sneyd Junction

Ice breaker at Sneyd with 204 on top left

BCN Cottage 210

Located at Coalpool

Photo by Hugh Potter 1971

BCN Cottage 265

Located next toLock 24 on the Ogley Locks section.

Photo by Hugh Potter

BCN Cottages - Birmingham and Fazeley

 BCN Cottages on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal

Cottages on Fleet Street, Farmers Bridge (numbers unknown)

Otherwise known as "Envelope Cottage"as it was used to store stationery

Photo by Hugh Potter

Cottage 251

Located at Curdworth Top Lock

Photo by Hugh Potter in 1973

Cottages 252 and 253

Located at the top of the Curdworth Flight

Photo by Brian Holmes

Photo by Hugh Potter

Cottage 254

Located at Dunton on the Curdworth Flight

Photo by Hugh Potter 1971

Photo by Hugh Potter December 1976

Cottages 255 and 256

Located on the Curdworth Flight

Photo by Hugh Potter July 1971

Cottages 257 and 258

Located at the bottom end of the Curdworth flight

Photo by Hugh Potter July 1971

Cottages 259 and 260 

Located at the bottom of the Curdworth flight of locks

Photo by Hugh Potter December 1975

             Photo by Hugh Potter December 1975

Cottages on the A5 Fazeley (numbers not known)

Photo by Hugh Potter 1975

Junction House, Fazeley

Photo by Hugh Potter

Pelsall Common in the frost

November 2020

I ventured out to one of my favourite local destinations yesterday, as part of my filming for the next series of Canal Hunter, a trip which took me to Pelsall Common.

The morning was barely above freezing and for once the normally soft grass of the common was frozen solid, which allowed me to cycle from the Finger Post to Pelsall Works Bridge at the far end where my story was to begin.

The sun was just rising and I just couldn't resist digging my DSLR from the bottom of my camera bag and grabbing a few atmospheric shots:

Cannock Extension Canal

The start of a 5.5 mile canal built in 1860 to access the new Cannock Coalfield. Today just the first mile and a half remain as far as the A5.

Pelsall Common looking north

The three huge ironworks stood on the common ground on the left, but all traces were gone by 1900.

The same site on Pelsall Common in the 1860's

North from Pelsall Works Bridge

Pelsall Common Colliery was on the right with its basin, followed by the mine pumping engine.

Pelsall Common from Pelsall Works Bridge

Midland Spelter Works were on the left and Pelsall Wood Colliery with  its basin and mineral railway bridge on the right.