Technically, Grove Colliery isn't on an abandoned section of canal.
It sits at the extreme end of what remains of the Cannock Extension Canal and formed part of the interconnected Brownhills Colliery, which had its pit head 1.5 miles to the east.
I have included it within the lost canals records because even after the rest of the Cannock Extension Canal was closed in the 1950's, this pit remained operational to the very last, transporting its coal to the power station at Birchills in strings of open day boats towed behind specialist canal tugs. As late as 1965 about 70,000 tons of Cannock coal was being transported from here and Anglesey Basin to the power stations of Walsall and Wolverhampton, after which the water borne service finished.
It therefore provides a good case study for how these canal side pits used to look, and showcases the craft which served them.
In its day this colliery basin was the first of several along the line of the Cannock Extension Canal and in the 1930's and 40's the names of The Cannock and Rugeley, The Grove, Jerome, Leacroft (aka Fair Lady) , Conduit 1, 2 and 3, Coppice, West Cannock, East Cannock and Mid Cannock were familiar destinations to the old boatmen.
In its day this colliery basin was the first of several along the line of the Cannock Extension Canal and in the 1930's and 40's the names of The Cannock and Rugeley, The Grove, Jerome, Leacroft (aka Fair Lady) , Conduit 1, 2 and 3, Coppice, West Cannock, East Cannock and Mid Cannock were familiar destinations to the old boatmen.
Grove with the wash plant to the left
Grove 1950's
Tramway which the image caption suggests is from Wyrley No3 Pit to Grove.
However, Mick Bullock who remembers the area from his youth adds the following:
"The photo of the tramway from Harrisons to the Grove is incorrect. Firstly it was only a dual railway,not triple, as in the photo. Secondly, it is showing mine cars, whereas they were coal tubs attached to an endless steel rope system in batches of approximately 10/12.
I have first hand knowledge of this was our playground as I grew up in the 40s and early 50s."
Mick is the second person to mention this error.
So, this is probably from the Cannock Coalfield, but which pit's spoil heap are we looking at?
Grove Basin today
Horse boating at Bloxwich
Diesel tugs take over
Pelsall area
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).
The photo of the tramway from Harrisons to the Grove is incorrect.Firstly it was only a dual railway,not triple,as in the photo.Secondly,It is showing mine cars,whereas they were coal tubs attached to an endless steel rope system in batches of approximately 10/12.I have first hand knowledge of this was our playground as I grew up in the 40s and early 50s.
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