550:
236:
334:
129:
121:
662:
648:
315:
24:
602:(1779–1898) pumping Birmingham level to 491 ft Summit level, pumping to Wolverhampton level after Summit lowered. It was replaced in 1892 by two centrifugal engines in a new pumphouse north of Brasshouse Lane Bridge, Smethwick.
41:
557:
Water was a precious resource, spent each time a lock was emptied as a boat changed level. Steam pumps were employed at many flights of locks to pump water back to a higher level, for example, the
124:
The BCN New Main Line (Birmingham Level) running to the left of the New
Smethwick Pumping Station. The BCN Old Main Line (Wolverhampton Level) runs 20 ft higher, to the right of the building.
759:
529:, and once fed the Wolverhampton Level via a long feeder (now overgrown and dry) along the top of a raised embankment along Telford's BCN New Main Line to the
88:
60:
752:
67:
74:
1182:
1239:
745:
56:
1213:
680:
596:
Spon Lane engine (1778–1790) pumping
Wolverhampton level to 491 ft Summit level, closed by Smeaton's removal of the Summit level
722:
703:
107:
913:
132:
Another view of the New
Smethwick Pumping Station, with the Wolverhampton Level to the right and the Birmingham Level on the left
549:
509:
were built to collect water from streams. These had to be above the relevant canal levels, often some distance away. The small
235:
333:
81:
1192:
412:
45:
827:
372:
787:
768:
675:
137:
1208:
999:
872:
263:
180:
34:
422:
1103:
959:
792:
396:
797:
272:
183:, the Essington Branch was abandoned before 1904 and is now filled in. It was the highest level on the BCN.
842:
653:
426:
191:
The highest canal currently in BCN, 1 mile of which remains navigable. It was fed from the 18th century
1009:
964:
867:
802:
624:
378:
1072:
1035:
1030:
984:
862:
612:
538:
518:
338:
318:
286:
240:
204:
128:
120:
1004:
939:
929:
822:
817:
526:
392:
366:
345:
A total of 49.2 miles at this level (21.2 miles of which is on the BCN) navigable without locks.
358:
BCN New Main Line - Birmingham to Tipton
Factory Bottom Lock, Island line, New Line at Smethwick
1187:
1172:
974:
949:
944:
847:
734:
Mileages extracted from
Nicholson's Waterways Guides vols. 2 & 3, and www.canalplan.org.uk
718:
699:
510:
487:
192:
1151:
1119:
1098:
1077:
994:
989:
979:
954:
667:
599:
558:
416:
402:
314:
908:
903:
661:
382:
1177:
1167:
969:
934:
898:
553:
Edgbaston (Rotton Park) Reservoir was an early source of water for the
Birmingham Canal
467:
216:
203:. A feeder from the Tat Bank Branch (also known as Spon Lane Branch) supplies water to
168:
1233:
1093:
1051:
893:
857:
852:
832:
782:
514:
493:
455:
349:
326:
302:
257:
251:
220:
200:
164:
1056:
888:
807:
479:
439:
388:
298:
224:
1135:
196:
23:
737:
1025:
812:
643:
618:
588:
534:
530:
506:
322:
292:
153:
837:
525:. Water from Edgbaston Reservoir feeds the Birmingham Level at the adjacent
522:
160:
152:. The three longest are the Wolverhampton, Birmingham, and Walsall levels.
458:(Ryders Green bottom lock to Walsall Town Wharf), 6.5 miles, + branches:
145:
215:
A historical level, no longer existing. The highest level designed by
635:
Water was also pumped out from many coal mines into the canal system.
548:
332:
313:
243:, early feed to the Wolverhampton Level along the Smethwick feeder
234:
141:
127:
119:
461:
Ocker Hill Tunnel Branch (private moorings), 0.2 miles navigable.
741:
408:
Connecting canals, not part of the BCN, but using this level:
17:
496:(Rushall junction to Rushall bottom lock), 0.9 miles.
363:
Newhall Branch to Farmer's Bridge
Junction, 0.2 miles
254:
Wolverhampton top lock to
Smethwick locks, 11.6 miles
1201:
1160:
1144:
1128:
1112:
1086:
1065:
1044:
1018:
922:
881:
775:
48:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
57:"Water levels of the Birmingham Canal Navigations"
1219:Water levels of the Birmingham Canal Navigations
696:The Complete Book of Canal and River Navigations
451:A total of 13.4 miles navigable without locks.
247:A total of 41.7 miles navigable without locks:
156:allow boats to move from one level to another.
715:Canal Companion - Birmingham Canal Navigations
199:) originally by feeder, and since 1837 by the
753:
278:Daw End Branch to Rushall top lock, 5.3 miles
8:
355:BCN Old Main Line, south of Smethwick Locks
760:
746:
738:
159:Heights given are nominal elevation above
505:To keep the canals topped up with water,
108:Learn how and when to remove this message
391:from Parkhead locks (Blower's Green) to
513:(Titford Pool), as well as feeding the
464:Gospel Oak Branch, 0.1 miles navigable.
1183:Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
7:
442:, 1.8 miles navigable without locks.
375:, 2.4 miles to Windmill End Junction
46:adding citations to reliable sources
1214:Galton Valley Canal Heritage Centre
694:Paget-Tomlinson, Edward W. (1978).
681:History of the British canal system
490:to Perry Barr top lock, 5.7 miles.
717:. J. M. Pearson & Associates.
423:Northern Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
211:491 ft Brindley's Smethwick Summit
14:
914:Tipton Green and Toll End Canals
660:
646:
210:
22:
698:. Waine Research Publications.
395:(originally to Selly Oak), and
369:to Brades Hall locks, 0.5 miles
325:(Wolverhampton Level) over the
33:needs additional citations for
1193:Worcester and Birmingham Canal
517:supplies its surplus water to
429:to Lapworth Top Lock, 11 miles
413:Worcester and Birmingham Canal
260:to Walsall top lock, 0.4 miles
144:in the industrial midlands of
1:
828:Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal
476:Willenhall Branch (abandoned)
373:Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal
301:to Parkhead locks (including
195:(now under Junction 2 of the
1240:Birmingham Canal Navigations
788:Birmingham and Fazeley Canal
769:Birmingham Canal Navigations
676:Canals of the United Kingdom
585:Back pumping between levels
533:. Water is also supplied by
341:feeding the Birmingham Level
138:Birmingham Canal Navigations
269:Lord Hay's Branch (now dry)
140:(BCN), a network of narrow
1256:
1209:Boat Gauging House, Tipton
873:Wyrley and Essington Canal
630:Sneyd Reservoir (Bloxwich)
473:Bilston Branch (abandoned)
281:Anglesey Branch, 2.5 miles
264:Wyrley and Essington Canal
231:473 ft Wolverhampton Level
219:for his Birmingham Canal (
181:Wyrley and Essington Canal
713:Pearson, Michael (1989).
960:Horseley Fields Junction
793:Bumble Hole Branch Canal
397:Bumble Hole Branch Canal
266:15.4 miles, + branches:
169:Ordnance Datum Liverpool
798:Cannock Extension Canal
521:along a feeder through
352:, 10.8 miles navigable
310:453 ft Birmingham Level
273:Cannock Extension Canal
179:A former branch of the
175:533 ft Essington Branch
843:Spon Lane Locks Branch
609:Pumping to reservoirs
565:Back pumping at locks
554:
399:, 5.9 miles navigable.
342:
330:
244:
148:, is built on various
133:
125:
654:United Kingdom portal
552:
427:Kings Norton Junction
385:, 1.4 miles navigable
336:
317:
275:, 1.8 miles navigable
238:
187:511 ft Titford Summit
131:
123:
1087:Bridges and viaducts
1010:Tame Valley Junction
965:Huddlesford Junction
868:Wednesbury Old Canal
803:Digbeth Branch Canal
625:Lodge Farm Reservoir
619:Chasewater Reservoir
539:Netherton Reservoirs
447:408 ft Walsall Level
379:Wednesbury Old Canal
258:Walsall Branch Canal
42:improve this article
1073:Engine Arm Aqueduct
1036:Netherton Reservoir
1031:Edgbaston Reservoir
985:Rumer Hill Junction
863:Wednesbury Oak Loop
613:Edgbaston Reservoir
519:Edgbaston Reservoir
434:441 ft Dudley No. 1
417:Tardebigge top lock
339:Edgbaston Reservoir
329:(Birmingham Level).
319:Engine Arm Aqueduct
287:Wednesbury Oak Loop
241:Edgbaston Reservoir
227:'s design in 1790.
205:Edgbaston Reservoir
1005:Spon Lane Junction
1000:Smethwick Junction
940:Birchills Junction
930:Aldersley Junction
823:Icknield Port Loop
818:Gower Branch Canal
555:
527:Icknield Port Loop
470:, part (abandoned)
389:Dudley No. 2 Canal
367:Gower Branch Canal
343:
337:Valve house below
331:
245:
239:Valve house below
134:
126:
1227:
1226:
1188:Stourbridge Canal
1173:Grand Union Canal
975:Old Turn Junction
950:Catshill Junction
945:Bromford Junction
848:Tame Valley Canal
593:Smethwick Summit
511:Titford Reservoir
488:Tame Valley Canal
252:BCN Old Main Line
221:BCN Old Main Line
193:Titford Reservoir
118:
117:
110:
92:
1247:
1161:Adjoining canals
1152:Gas Street Basin
1120:Smethwick Engine
1113:Pumping stations
1099:Parkhead Viaduct
1078:Stewart Aqueduct
995:Salford Junction
990:Rushall Junction
980:Pelsall Junction
955:Fazeley Junction
762:
755:
748:
739:
728:
709:
670:
668:Transport portal
665:
664:
656:
651:
650:
649:
600:Smethwick Engine
559:Smethwick Engine
403:Gas Street Basin
167:relative to the
113:
106:
102:
99:
93:
91:
50:
26:
18:
1255:
1254:
1250:
1249:
1248:
1246:
1245:
1244:
1230:
1229:
1228:
1223:
1197:
1156:
1140:
1124:
1108:
1082:
1061:
1040:
1014:
918:
909:Ridgacre Branch
904:Lichfield Canal
877:
771:
766:
731:
725:
712:
706:
693:
689:
666:
659:
652:
647:
645:
642:
621:(Cannock Chase)
580:Dudley Parkhead
547:
503:
449:
436:
383:Ridgacre Branch
312:
233:
213:
189:
177:
114:
103:
97:
94:
51:
49:
39:
27:
12:
11:
5:
1253:
1251:
1243:
1242:
1232:
1231:
1225:
1224:
1222:
1221:
1216:
1211:
1205:
1203:
1199:
1198:
1196:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1178:Pensnett Canal
1175:
1170:
1168:Coventry Canal
1164:
1162:
1158:
1157:
1155:
1154:
1148:
1146:
1142:
1141:
1139:
1138:
1132:
1130:
1126:
1125:
1123:
1122:
1116:
1114:
1110:
1109:
1107:
1106:
1101:
1096:
1090:
1088:
1084:
1083:
1081:
1080:
1075:
1069:
1067:
1063:
1062:
1060:
1059:
1054:
1048:
1046:
1042:
1041:
1039:
1038:
1033:
1028:
1022:
1020:
1016:
1015:
1013:
1012:
1007:
1002:
997:
992:
987:
982:
977:
972:
970:Ogley Junction
967:
962:
957:
952:
947:
942:
937:
935:Aston Junction
932:
926:
924:
920:
919:
917:
916:
911:
906:
901:
899:Bradley Branch
896:
891:
885:
883:
879:
878:
876:
875:
870:
865:
860:
855:
850:
845:
840:
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
805:
800:
795:
790:
785:
779:
777:
773:
772:
767:
765:
764:
757:
750:
742:
736:
735:
730:
729:
723:
710:
704:
690:
688:
685:
684:
683:
678:
672:
671:
657:
641:
638:
637:
636:
633:
632:
631:
628:
622:
616:
607:
606:
605:
604:
603:
597:
591:
583:
582:
581:
578:
575:
572:
569:
546:
543:
502:
499:
498:
497:
491:
485:
484:
483:
477:
474:
471:
468:Bradley Branch
465:
462:
448:
445:
444:
443:
435:
432:
431:
430:
420:
406:
405:
400:
386:
376:
370:
364:
361:
360:
359:
356:
311:
308:
307:
306:
296:
290:
284:
283:
282:
279:
276:
270:
261:
255:
232:
229:
223:). Removed by
217:James Brindley
212:
209:
188:
185:
176:
173:
116:
115:
98:September 2007
30:
28:
21:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1252:
1241:
1238:
1237:
1235:
1220:
1217:
1215:
1212:
1210:
1207:
1206:
1204:
1200:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1181:
1179:
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1165:
1163:
1159:
1153:
1150:
1149:
1147:
1143:
1137:
1134:
1133:
1131:
1127:
1121:
1118:
1117:
1115:
1111:
1105:
1104:Summit Bridge
1102:
1100:
1097:
1095:
1094:Galton Bridge
1092:
1091:
1089:
1085:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1070:
1068:
1064:
1058:
1055:
1053:
1052:Dudley Tunnel
1050:
1049:
1047:
1043:
1037:
1034:
1032:
1029:
1027:
1024:
1023:
1021:
1017:
1011:
1008:
1006:
1003:
1001:
998:
996:
993:
991:
988:
986:
983:
981:
978:
976:
973:
971:
968:
966:
963:
961:
958:
956:
953:
951:
948:
946:
943:
941:
938:
936:
933:
931:
928:
927:
925:
921:
915:
912:
910:
907:
905:
902:
900:
897:
895:
894:Bentley Canal
892:
890:
887:
886:
884:
880:
874:
871:
869:
866:
864:
861:
859:
858:Walsall Canal
856:
854:
853:Titford Canal
851:
849:
846:
844:
841:
839:
836:
834:
833:Rushall Canal
831:
829:
826:
824:
821:
819:
816:
814:
811:
809:
806:
804:
801:
799:
796:
794:
791:
789:
786:
784:
783:BCN Main Line
781:
780:
778:
774:
770:
763:
758:
756:
751:
749:
744:
743:
740:
733:
732:
726:
724:0-907864-49-X
720:
716:
711:
707:
705:0-905184-01-7
701:
697:
692:
691:
686:
682:
679:
677:
674:
673:
669:
663:
658:
655:
644:
639:
634:
629:
626:
623:
620:
617:
615:(Rotton Park)
614:
611:
610:
608:
601:
598:
595:
594:
592:
590:
587:
586:
584:
579:
576:
573:
570:
567:
566:
564:
563:
562:
560:
551:
545:Water pumping
544:
542:
540:
536:
532:
528:
524:
520:
516:
515:Titford Canal
512:
508:
500:
495:
494:Rushall Canal
492:
489:
486:
481:
478:
475:
472:
469:
466:
463:
460:
459:
457:
456:Walsall Canal
454:
453:
452:
446:
441:
438:
437:
433:
428:
424:
421:
418:
414:
411:
410:
409:
404:
401:
398:
394:
390:
387:
384:
380:
377:
374:
371:
368:
365:
362:
357:
354:
353:
351:
350:BCN Main Line
348:
347:
346:
340:
335:
328:
327:New Main Line
324:
321:carrying the
320:
316:
309:
304:
303:Dudley Tunnel
300:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
280:
277:
274:
271:
268:
267:
265:
262:
259:
256:
253:
250:
249:
248:
242:
237:
230:
228:
226:
222:
218:
208:
206:
202:
201:Titford Canal
198:
194:
186:
184:
182:
174:
172:
170:
166:
162:
157:
155:
151:
147:
143:
139:
130:
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112:
109:
101:
90:
87:
83:
80:
76:
73:
69:
66:
62:
59: –
58:
54:
53:Find sources:
47:
43:
37:
36:
31:This article
29:
25:
20:
19:
16:
1218:
1057:Lapal Tunnel
889:Anson Branch
808:Dudley Canal
714:
695:
556:
504:
480:Anson Branch
450:
440:Dudley Canal
407:
344:
305:), 2.3 miles
299:Dudley Canal
246:
225:John Smeaton
214:
190:
178:
158:
150:water levels
149:
135:
104:
95:
85:
78:
71:
64:
52:
40:Please help
35:verification
32:
15:
1136:Delph Locks
882:Unnavigable
627:(Netherton)
482:(abandoned)
393:Hawne Basin
295:, 0.5 miles
289:, 1.9 miles
197:M5 motorway
1026:Chasewater
1019:Reservoirs
813:Engine Arm
687:References
589:Ocker Hill
574:Perry Barr
535:Chasewater
531:Engine Arm
507:reservoirs
501:Reservoirs
419:, 17 miles
323:Engine Arm
293:Engine Arm
68:newspapers
1066:Aqueducts
923:Junctions
838:Soho Loop
776:Navigable
523:Smethwick
161:sea level
1234:Category
640:See also
1045:Tunnels
577:Walsall
571:Titford
568:Ashtead
146:England
82:scholar
1145:Basins
721:
702:
142:canals
84:
77:
70:
63:
55:
1202:Other
1129:Locks
537:and
425:from
154:Locks
89:JSTOR
75:books
719:ISBN
700:ISBN
381:and
165:feet
136:The
61:news
415:to
163:in
44:by
1236::
561:.
541:.
207:.
171:.
761:e
754:t
747:v
727:.
708:.
111:)
105:(
100:)
96:(
86:·
79:·
72:·
65:·
38:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
