New Main Line from Birmingham to Smethwick 1963
November 2025
Its a bit tricky to define the area heading out of Birmingham towards Smethwick and Tipton, but its a stretch of canal which is rich on history.
H E Evans was certainly fascinated by the area and he left behind a great collection of photos from the early 1960's, offering a fascinating insight into the canalside landscape 60 years ago.
At some point I will try and track down these locations and turn the archive photos into a set of "then and nows", and probably a Canal Hunter video, but for now I though I would order them in sequence as you leave the city, ready for the next phase of the project.
Please note that the H E Evans photos come from CRT's National waterways Archive and my thanks goes to them for maintaining them for us all to enjoy.
A scene vastly altered by time. This was the western entrance to the Oozells St Branch taken from Vincent St on 3.11.1963
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Icknield Port Road / Monument St Bridge in 24.11.63
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Crossover of Icknield Port Loop (right) with Soho Loop (left) 24.11.63
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Harborne Railway Bridge (LNWR No2 under Northbrook St on 24.11.63
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Lee Bridge carrying Dudley Road (built in 1826) 24.11.63 Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Western entrance to Soho Loop at Winson Green 24.11.63
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Winson Green Toll House near Soho Branch junction in 27.11.60 Notes say it was present on 25.3.62 but gone by 3.11.63
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
BCN New mainline near Soho Foundry with the entrance to the Cape Arm on the right 25.3.62
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
A classic industrial skyline approaching Smethwick Junction on 20.10.1963
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Bromford Stop with Parker Branch to right5.11.61
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
Source H E Evans CRT National Waterways Archive
1 comment:
I can locate some but not all!
Rabone Bridge: now replaced by steel girder and concrete structure
View South Rabone: Is the entrance on the right what is now called French Walls and bricked up?
Short Unnamed arm Cornwall Street: I can locate a gas works but should it read Cornwall Road (rather than street which is nearer the centre of the city)?
The Lattice Rail bridge to gas works: must have been quite a late edition, I can see it on a post war map but not on 1900. I assume that all the photos were contemporaneous?
Avery Loop: the only contender I can locate that is opposite Cape Arm Junction is a short basin which I somewhere have found called Soaphole Basin
Cape Arm Entrance: yet another example of my current hobby horse: note the complete clearance of the banks, no trees! Rather different now.
Western entrance to Soho: if I have the right place it looks as if the cottage just behind the bridge on the left is still standing
Lee Bridge - the lamp post still looks the same! The railings have been updated and we now have the obligatory safety railings beside the towpaths under the bridge
Harborne Railway Bridge: must have been lost to Beeching as it was on the early 1960s OS. After passing Summerfield Park the track bed seems to have left its mark in the form of a footpath. I wonder if the bridge was rebuilt as the HEE picture suggests a single arch but there is an extant central pier (which for some reason I have not added to my photo library - must collect one next time!)
24:11:63 : I cannot see any remaining sign of the pipe but I note that the towpath bridge may have been rebuilt at some stage as in this photo the towpath parapets on both sides of the canal are straight whilst the southern one is now curved
Icknield Road/Monument Bridge: is that what is now the Lady MiddleWay dual carriageway bridge?
Thank you so much for posting these, I for one always find is fascinating to trac ethe way in which urban landscapes (especially canal side) change over time. Is the Archive available on line or do you have to make special requests?
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