Tame Valley Junction facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tame Valley Junction |
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Tame Valley Junction with the Tame Valley Canal leading eastwards under the bridge on the right.
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| Specifications | |
| Status | Open |
| Navigation authority | Canal & River Trust |
| History | |
| Date completed | 1844 |
Tame Valley Junction, also called Doe Bank Junction, is a special spot where two canals meet. It's a canal junction located in the West Midlands, England. Here, the Tame Valley Canal connects with the Walsall Canal. You can find it just south of the town of Walsall.
Contents
Building the Canals
Canals were like the highways of the past, used to move goods. The canals around Tame Valley Junction were built in different stages over many years.
The Walsall Canal Story
The Walsall Canal eventually became a long route. It connected the main Birmingham Canal Navigations system to the Wyrley and Essington Canal. But it wasn't built all at once!
- The first part opened in 1769. This section was originally part of the Wednesbury Old Canal. It ran from Pudding Lane Junction to Ryders Green Junction.
- More of the canal opened in 1786. This part went from Ryders Green Junction to Broadwaters. This is where Tame Valley Junction is located today.
- A connection to Walsall was planned in 1793 and opened in 1799.
- The final piece of the route was finished in 1841. This short section, with eight locks, linked Walsall to Birchills.
The Tame Valley Canal Story
In the 1800s, canals got very busy. There were often "traffic jams" at places like Farmers Bridge Locks in Birmingham. This was a main link to London.
To solve this problem, the Tame Valley Canal was built. It offered a new way around the busy parts of Birmingham.
- The Tame Valley Canal connects Tame Valley Junction to Salford Junction.
- Another new canal, the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal, then connected Salford Junction to Bordesley Junction.
- Both of these new canals opened on the same day: February 14, 1844.
- Together, they created a northern bypass. This helped boats avoid the crowded areas.
- Later, in 1929, the route from Salford Junction to London became part of the Grand Union Canal.
Where the Canals Go
From Tame Valley Junction, you can explore the canals in different directions.
Travel on the Walsall Canal
- If you head south on the Walsall Canal, it's a flat stretch for about 0.6 miles (1 km). Then you reach Ryders Green Locks, a set of eight locks that lower the canal.
- If you go north, the canal is flat for about 5.7 miles (9.2 km). This leads to the bottom of the eight Walsall Locks.
Travel on the Tame Valley Canal
- Heading east from the junction, the Tame Valley Canal is also flat. It stays level for about 5.7 miles (9.2 km). After that, you reach the top of Perry Bar Locks, which is a flight of eleven locks.
Towpaths and Bridges
Canals often have paths next to them called towpaths. These were used by horses to pull boats.
- The Tame Valley Canal has towpaths on both sides.
- The Walsall Canal has a towpath on its west bank at the junction.
- There are two old bridges near the junction. They are made of cast iron and brick. These bridges are special because they are "Grade II listed". This means they are important historical structures that are protected.
