Thursday 30 April 2020

Toll End Communication Canal lower (Walsall Canal)

Toll End Communication Canal - lower (Walsall Canal)
Locks Nine and Ten


This post covers the lower half of the lost Toll End Communication Canal, which was effectively the old Toll End Branch before a connection was made with the older Tipton Green Canal. This connection involved the construction of a couple of new locks, including lock Seven and its lock keepers house on the "twist".

The tail end of the Tipton Green Canal, original home to the Horsley Ironworks, can be seen in pale blue in the following map. 

The combined canal then became the Toll End Communication Canal stretching down the hill from Watery Lane Junction on Telford's New Mainline Canal to Brindley's Broadwaters Branch below, which became the BCN's Walsall Canal.


Combined Tipton Green and Toll End Communication Canals in 1945

Upstream to Church Lane Bridge with Lock Eight beyond by Alan Price 1969

Till End Canal n
ear Upper Church Lane 1971 - A H Price Sandwell Archive

East of Upper Church Lane Bridge early 1900's - David Morris


Church Lane Bridge in 1966 - Ian Husslebee

Below Church Lane Bridge 1966 (HNBC - P Weaver Collection)

Canal bed below Church Lane Bridge by Alan Price 1969

Approaching Lock Nine by Alan Price in 1969

Toll End Locks Nine and Ten with Toll End Bridge beyond


Lock Nine in 1966 - Ian Husslebee


Lock Nine  in 1966 (HNBC - P Weaver Collection)

Below Toll End Lock Nine in 1966 (HNBC P Weaver Collection)

Lock Ten in 1965 - Alf Perks (Keith Hodgkins)

Colourised version of 1965 image of Lock 19 by Alf Perks

Toll End Lock 19 by David Willis in 1961 when Malcolm Braine forced a passage in Lion

Original below 1965 image of Lock Ten by Alf Perks

Colourised version of Lock Ten in 1965 - Alf Perks (Keith Hodgkins)

Lock Ten - Laurence Hogg Collection

Remains of Lock Ten 1974 (Hugh Potter)

Lock Ten 1974 (Hugh Potter)

Toll End Bridge from Lock Ten in1966 - Ian Husslebee

Lock Ten and Toll End Bridge

Lock 10 and Toll End Bridge 1966 Ian Huselbee


Toll End Bridge 1966 (HNBC P Weaver Collection)

Bridge Road with Toll End Bridge by Alan Price 1969

Lock Ten and Toll End /Bridge Road Bridge 1961

Lock Ten by Alan Price Sept 1968 - Sandwell Archive

Lock 10 and Toll End Bridge 1975 (Hugh Potter)

Toll End Bridge by Alan Price Sept1968 -Sandwell Archive

Under Toll End Bridge looking east by Alan Price 1969

Upper Church Lane Bridge 1975 (Hugh Potter)

Passing under Toll End Bridge in 1961 - Photo by David Willis

Toll End Canal from Bridge Road 1966

Toll End Bridge looking west by Alan Price 1969

Toll End Bridge 1966 - Ian Husslebee

Canal bed at Toll End by Alan Price 1968

Brookhouse Bridge 1966 - Ian Husslebee

Brookhouse Bridge by Alan Price 1969

Brookhouse Bridge 1966 (HNBC - P Weaver Collection)

Brookhouse Bridge Sign by  Alan Price 1969

Brookhouse Bridge looking west by Ian Husslebee 1966


Brookhouse Bridge looking west By Alan Price 1969

East from Brookhouse Bridge 1966 - Ian Husslebee

1966 view from Sandwell Archive

Toll End Junction Bridge 1966 - Ian Husslebee

1966 Ian Huselbee


Toll End Junction Bridge 1966 Ian Huselbee


Toll End Junction and Ocker Hill Power Station 1966 - Ian Husslebee

Arthur Watts 1957

Arthur Watts 1957


Toll End Junction Today

Moors Mill Lane Bridge on Walsall Canal near TECC junction by Alan Price 1969


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).

No comments: