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Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) is a network ofcanals connectingBirmingham,Wolverhampton, and the eastern part of theBlack Country. The BCN is connected to the rest of the English canal system at several junctions. It was owned and operated by the Birmingham Canal Navigation Company from 1767 to 1948.[1]
At its working peak, the BCN contained about 160 miles (257 km) of canals; today just over 100 miles (160 km) are navigable, and the majority of traffic is from tourist and residentialnarrowboats.
| Birmingham Canal Navigation Act 1768 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act for making and maintaining a Navigable Cut or Canal from Birmingham to Bilstone, and from thence to Autherley, there to communicate with the Canal now making between the Rivers Severn and Trent, and for making collateral Cuts up to several Coal Mines. |
| Citation | 8 Geo. 3. c. 38 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 24 February 1768 |
| Commencement | 24 November 1767[a] |
| Repealed | 17 June 1835 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Birmingham Canal Navigation Act 1769 |
| Repealed by | Birmingham Canal Navigations Act 1835 |
| Relates to | |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Birmingham Canal Navigation Act 1769 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to rectify a Mistake in an Act, passed in the Eighth Year of His present Majesty, intituled, "An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Cut or Canal from Birmingham to Bilstone, and from thence to Autherley, there to communicate with the Canal now making between the Rivers Severn and Trent; and for making collateral Cuts up to several Coal Mines;" and to explain and amend the said Act. |
| Citation | 9 Geo. 3. c. 53 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 21 March 1769 |
| Commencement | 8 November 1768[a] |
| Repealed | 17 June 1835 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Birmingham Canal Navigation Act 1768 |
| Repealed by | Birmingham Canal Navigations Act 1835 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Birmingham Canal Navigation Act 1771 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act to oblige the Company of Proprietors of the Birmingham Canal Navigation, to complete the said Canal to a Field called Newhall Ring, adjoining to the Town of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, within a limited Time, and to maintain and keep the same free and open for the Passage of Boats, Barges, and other Vessels. |
| Citation | 11 Geo. 3. c. 67 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 8 March 1771 |
| Commencement | 13 November 1770[a] |
| Repealed | 17 June 1835 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Birmingham Canal Navigations Act 1835 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The earliest mention of the Birmingham Canal Navigation appears inAris's Birmingham Gazette on 11 April 1768. Here it was reported that on 25 March 1768, the first general assembly of the Company of Proprietors of the Birmingham Canal Navigation was held at the Swann Inn, Birmingham, to raise funds to submit for an act of Parliament.[2] The first canal to be built in the area was the Birmingham Canal, authorised by theBirmingham Canal Navigation Act 1768 (8 Geo. 3. c. 38) and built from 1768 to 1772 under the supervision ofJames Brindley from the, then, edge of Birmingham, with termini at Newhall Wharf (since built over) and Paradise Wharf (also known as Old Wharf) near toGas Street Basin to meet theStaffordshire and Worcestershire Canal atAldersley (north of Wolverhampton).[3] It opened for business on 14 September 1772.[4]
TheBirmingham Canal Navigation Act 1769 (9 Geo. 3. c. 53) was obtained to construct the canal through a detached portion of the county of Shropshire, near Oldbury, and it included powers to make reservoirs anywhere within 3 miles between Smethwick and Oldbury.[3]
| Birmingham Canal Navigation Act 1794 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An act for extending and improving the Birmingham canal navigations. |
| Citation | 34 Geo. 3. c. 87 |
| Territorial extent | Great Britain |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 17 April 1794 |
| Commencement | 17 April 1794[b] |
| Repealed | 17 June 1835 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amended by | Birmingham Canal Navigations Act 1818 |
| Repealed by | Birmingham Canal Navigations Act 1835 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
TheBirmingham and Fazeley Canal, from Birmingham to Tamworth, followed in 1784 with the Birmingham Canal Company merging with the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal Company immediately, to form what was originally called theBirmingham and Birmingham and Fazeley Canal Company. This cumbersome name was short-lived, and the combined company became incorporated as theBirmingham Canal Navigations Company from 1794, as the network was expanded. TheBirmingham Canal Navigation Act 1794 (34 Geo. 3. c. 87) authorised the extension from Broadwater to Walsall, and the short cut between Bloomfield and Deepfield, where the Coseley Tunnel was constructed, which with a length of 1.75 miles (2.82 km), avoided a detour around Tipton Hill of 4 miles (6.4 km).
Between 1825 and 1829 the canal was improved by the cutting down by 16 feet (4.9 m) of the summit at Smethwick, which occupied two and a half years, and cost £560,000 (equivalent to £62,250,000 in 2023),[5] and by cutting off bends and erecting steam engines which reduced the cost of haulage by 4d. per ton.[6]
Between 1825 and 1837 the navigation was improved between Spon Lane, Deepfield and Wolverhampton, saving a distance of six miles, which reduced the toll on coal by 9d per ton.[6] At the same time the Titford Canal was constructed at a cost upwards of £200,000 (equivalent to £22,960,000 in 2023).[5]
| Birmingham Canal Navigations and Worcester and Birmingham Canal Navigable Communication Act 1815 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act for establishing a Navigable Communication between the Birmingham Canal Navigations and the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, and amending certain Acts passed relative thereto. |
| Citation | 55 Geo. 3. c. xl |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 12 May 1815 |
| Commencement | 12 May 1815[b] |
| Repealed | 17 June 1835 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Birmingham Canal Navigations Act 1835 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The junction with theWarwick and Birmingham Canal was made under powers of theBirmingham Canal Navigations and Worcester and Birmingham Canal Navigable Communication Act 1815 (55 Geo. 3. c. xl). These improvements were all consolidated under theBirmingham Canal Navigations Act 1835 (5 & 6 Will. 4. c. xxxiv).[which?][3]
From 1839 to 1843 the Tame Valley Canal was built, along with the Bentley, Rushall and Walsall Junction Canals opening up the Cannock Chase and Wyrley coal districts to the town of Birmingham[6] at a cost upwards of £570,000 (equivalent to £70,680,000 in 2023).[5]
| Birmingham Canal Navigations Act 1840 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act to authorize the Company of Proprietors of the Birmingham Canal Navigations to extend and alter the Line of their intended Cut or Canal from Dank's Branch to Salford Bridge; and to grant further Powers to the said Company. |
| Citation | 3 & 4 Vict. c. lvi |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 4 June 1840 |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
TheWyrley and Essington Canal was incorporated by theBirmingham Canal Navigation Act 1792 which authorized the line from Wolverhampton to Sneyd Junction and Walsall. The extension to Huddlesford and the Lord Hay and Daw End branches were constructed under the Birmingham Canal Navigation Act 1794 (34 Geo. 3. c. 87). This amalgamated with the Birmingham Canal Navigations in 1840.[3]
In 1855, the Cannock Extension Canal and the Wyrley Bank Branch were added to the network[6] at a cost upwards of £100,000 (equivalent to £11,800,000 in 2023).[5]
From 1855 to 1858 the Netherton Tunnel and other improvements cost the company upwards of £350,000[6] (equivalent to £44,490,000 in 2023).[5]
| London and Birmingham Railway and Birmingham Canal Arrangement Act 1846 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act for carrying into effect certain Arrangements between the London and Birmingham Railway Company and the Company of Proprietors of the Birmingham Canal Navigations, and for granting certain Powers to the said respective Companies. |
| Citation | 9 & 10 Vict. c. ccxliv |
| Territorial extent | United Kingdom |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 27 July 1846 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | |
In 1776, theDudley Canal was authorised from Parkhead to the junction with the Stourbridge Canal. The Parkhead to Tipton Green section including Dudley Tunnel was made under theDudley Canal Act 1785 (25 Geo. 3. c. 87), and the extension from Parkhead to Selly Oak Junction with the Oxford and Birmingham Canal, including the Gorsty Hill andLappal Tunnels under theSelly Oak Canal Act 1793 (33 Geo. 3. c. 121). This canal became part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations in 1846 under theLondon and Birmingham Railway and Birmingham Canal Arrangement Act 1846 (9 & 10 Vict. c. ccxliv).[3]
It was re-established as a body corporate on 17 June 1835. It was taken over by theLondon and Birmingham Railway in 1846, and subsequently owned by theLondon and North Western Railway, then theLondon, Midland and Scottish Railway until 1 January 1948 when was it passed to theBritish Transport Commission.[1]
The BCN is built on three main levels, each with its ownreservoir.
These levels are linked bylocks at various places on the network.
There are also stretches on their own levels.
TheBCN Society is aregistered charity (number 1091760) formed in 1968, which exists to conserve, improve and encourage a wide range of interests in the BCN. It publishes a quarterly journal.Boundary Post. From 1983, it erected signposts at most of the canal junctions on the BCN.
52°28′39″N1°54′32″W / 52.4776°N 1.9088°W /52.4776; -1.9088
| International | |
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| National | |
