DUDLEY PORT AREA BRIDGES Birmingham Canal Navigation “Horseley Iron Co.1855’
Improvements made to the Birmingham Canal Navigation system in the mid 19th century included a number of branches including the Gower Branch at Tividale, and the Bradeshall Branch and the Toll End Branch all around the Dudley Port area. At each junction there is one or more Horseley Company iron foot bridges of the type originally designed by Thomas Telford for his improvements to that canal system in the late 1820's in the Birmingham neighborhood. This design, cast by the Horseley Company of Tipton, was used throughout the canal systems that Telford worked on and after his death the Horseley Company continued to cast them for subsequent canal improvements and expansion. The 1820's bridges have more elaborate cut-out details in their parapets than the later ones as here which have a simplified XXX detail. The exception is the very plain bridge at Gower Junction (the southern end of the Bladeshall Branch which is of a later date.
These are 'roving bridges' which allow a pedestrian or the horse towing the canal boat to cross over to the other side of the canal. The parapet is low, as are the smoothly rounded wings of the approach ramps for ease in sliding over the tow rope. You can still see the diamond pattern of the raised iron ribbing which would have held in place the dirt or turf that once covered the bridge decking and gave the horse's hooves some purchase. Today, they are filled in with tarmac for the convenience of joggers and bicyclists.
The branch bridges are difficult to get to because on the north side, the railway tracks prevent access to the canal. On the A461 between Dudley Port and Great Bridge, take the first road to the west (not well marked), after going under the train viaduct and the canal aqueduct. Several hundred yards ahead, there is a small dirt road to your right going down to the canal. Further along A461, another right turn is Tipton Road/Dudley Road East that goes along the south end of the grid of branch canals. Prepare to do some long hikes along the towpaths.
- Dudley Port Junction N52o 31’ 19.7 W2o 2’ 36.4”
- Tame Valley Junction N51o 48’ 17.1” W0o 3’ 24”
- Dudley Port Branch Aqueduct N52o 31’ 26.1” W2o 2’ 54.4”
- Brades Hall Junction N52o 31’ 3.9” W2o 1’ 45.7”
- Gower Junction N52o 30’ 36.6” W2o 1’ 59.6”