Image: Narrowboat leaving the east portal of Brandwood Tunnel, Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 1726035

Description: Narrowboat leaving the east portal of Brandwood Tunnel, Birmingham This is the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal at the east portal of the 352 yard (322 metres) Brandwood Tunnel near King's Norton. The tunnel is wide enough for narrowboats travelling in opposite directions to pass each other. There is no towpath in the tunnel. The horses used to be detached and led up a track to the right, and across the hill, and crews hauled the boats along by means of an iron handrail on the side. Some of these rails are still in place. This part of the canal was built in the mid 1790s, though financial problems (what's new?) caused delays before the canal could open as far as Kingswood Junction (with the Grand Union) in 1803. The second stage (to Stratford) did not start until 1812, and was finished by 1815. Initial plans for a wide canal (the reason for the wide bridges and tunnels) were abandoned at an early stage.
Title: Narrowboat leaving the east portal of Brandwood Tunnel, Birmingham - geograph.org.uk - 1726035
Credit: From geograph.org.uk
Author: Roger Kidd
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0
License: CC BY-SA 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
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