Gower Branch Canal facts for kids
The Gower Branch Canal is a short, important waterway in Tividale, England. It's about half a mile long. This canal connects two different levels of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) system.
It links Albion Junction, which is on the lower Birmingham Level, to Brades Hall Junction. Brades Hall Junction is on the older, higher Wolverhampton Level. To connect these two levels, the canal uses three special water lifts called locks. These locks are known as the Brades Locks.
The canal has a path for walking or cycling on its eastern side. This path is called a towpath. Only one road crosses the canal, which is the A457. This road passes just north of the middle lock. The Gower Branch Canal is wide enough for narrowboats. These boats can be up to 70 feet long and 7 feet wide.
This canal made it much easier for boats to travel. It connected the Netherton Tunnel Branch Canal to the BCN Old Main Line. This meant boats didn't have to take a very long trip around Tipton or Smethwick.
Contents
Building the Canal: A Look at Its History
The idea for the Gower Branch Canal was approved a long time ago. It was part of the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768. However, building canals took a lot of time and effort back then. This particular branch wasn't actually finished until 1836. So, it took many years from when it was first planned to when boats could finally use it.
Key Features of the Gower Branch Canal
The Gower Branch Canal might be short, but it has some interesting features. It helps boats move between different heights of water.
How Brades Locks Work
The most important features are the three locks, known as the Brades Locks. Locks are like water elevators for boats. They help boats go up or down between different water levels. The Gower Branch Canal uses these locks to connect the lower Birmingham Level to the higher Wolverhampton Level.
One of these is a "staircase lock." This means two locks are built right next to each other. They share a middle gate. This design helps save space and water.
Albion Junction and Brades Hall Junction
At one end, the canal meets the BCN New Main Line at a place called Albion Junction. This is where boats can switch from the main canal system onto the Gower Branch. At the other end, it connects to the BCN Old Main Line at Brades Hall Junction. These junctions are important meeting points for boats.
The Towpath and Bridges
Along the eastern side of the canal, there's a towpath. In the past, horses would walk on towpaths to pull boats along the canal. Today, people use them for walking, running, or cycling. The only road bridge crossing the canal is the A457 bridge. This bridge allows cars to pass over the waterway.
Images for kids
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Looking up Brades Lock.
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Middle section of Brades Lock.
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Looking down Brades Lock from the junction bridge.
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The instructions fo using a staircase lock.
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The lower lock gate of Brades Lock showing the bridge sign.
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New Mainline Canal at Albion Junction.
