Anglesey Basin

Anglesey Branch and Walsall Wood

Strictly speaking Anglesey Basin remains navigable, but the short branch from Catshill Junction in Brownhills has such a rich lost heritage I cant resist including a page dedicated to images of the old coal loading infrastructure.

The channel was first built in 1800 to carry water from what is now known the Chasewater Reservoir to the Wyrley and Essington Canal. Later in 1850 the channel was enlarged to full navigable dimensions to facilitate access to the new collieries being sunk in the lee of the reservoir dam wall.

The coal trade continued from this wharf to the very end of canal carrying, only coming to an end in 1967.

1955 - Stan Heaton

Robert Aickman photo

Salvation Army Sunday School Outing to Norton Pool (Chasewater) in the 1940's

Before the construction of the M6 Toll this was a magical place to moor but these days the combined rumble of the M6 Toll and its cousin the A5 are always audible, dispelling some of the mysterious atmosphere which hangs over the site.

Probably the best picture of the 1930's old loading canopy at Anglesey Basin

1960's loading conveyor with Juniper Cottage in background

Robert Aickman view of loading chutes

Coal Chutes 1951

Tug Helen at Anglesey Basin

Aqueduct on Anglesey Branch


The Chasewater Dam valve 1961

Moving coal from Anglesey Basin in the 1950's

Element's Princess Anne returning to Anglesey Basin in 1955 Bob May Collection (BCNS Archive)

Daw End Branch from Lathams Bridge to Northywood Bridge with Empire Brickworks in Aug 1953

Aldridge Brick and Tile Works from Lathams Bridge August 1953

Breach Gates at Northywood Bridge (aka Horners Bridge) Aldridge



Coal on Daw End Branch taken from Riddian Bridge in1966: Charlie, Horace and Young Billy Foster carry small coal for GEC Witton on Princess Anne and two joeys

Click here to return to the Small Branches of the Wyrley and Essington index page

The above photos have been assembled from various sources, including those freely found on the internet. My thanks go to the many photographers alive and dead who have contributed to this collection and in so doing, are keeping the memory of these lost canals alive. These images are reproduced for ease of research are are not necessarily the property of this blog, and as such should not be used for commercial gain without the explicit permission of the owner (whoever that may be).