Monway Branch

December 2022

The Monway Branch has to be one of the most obscure lost branches of the BCN, built to service heavy industry of Wednedbury to the east of the Walsall Canal between the better known (but also lost) Gospel Oak and Bradley Locks branches.

This "L" shaped branch was about 3/4 mile in length and its construction was approved in Parliament in 1783, at the same time as the Ryders Green extension of the old Birmingham Canal to reach the collieries of Broadwaters (later becoming the Walsall Canal) but economic uncertainty delayed construction till 1812.

The area was very prosperous for several decades with the surrounding land being used for heavy industry till the depression arrived in the late 1870's. 

After clearance of the first wave of industry on the site the Patent Shaft Works was built in the 1950's and became the most significant business on its banks. The branch canal became less relevant over the years till finally just the entrance bridge remained during Hugh Potter's visit in the early 1970's.

These days the only echo of the branch and its industry is the name of the main road through the area - The Patent Shaft Way.

Fortunately a few photos have emerged which capture this backwater, if not in its heyday then at least in its decline!

Monway Branch entrance in about 1973 Hugh Potter

A. new Railway Bridge over the Monway Branch in 1958 Mark Hooper

Into the works in 1956 from Railway Bridge Mark Hooper

The "back arm" from the air

Patent Shaft works on the Monway Branch 1959 - Mark Hooper

The complete Monway network

Patent Shaft site 1956 with Ocker Hill Power Station in the gloom beyond - Mark Hooper

The "Back Arm" over the Patent Shaft site 1956 Mark Hooper

Patent Shaft and Axletree Works on the Monway Branch

The Monway site in operation in the late 1950's

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).