Heartland

In 2001 a scheme for Tower Wharf at Chester was proposed which looks very little like what was made. In Birmingham the intended Icknield Port scheme has yet to happen (and the site is simply an eyesore), but if built will it match the published artists impressions. The Tower Wharf sketch shows the following:

It is 1958, The original is now with Pluto, maybe the card, the postcard size photograph is mounted on, has more detail

I agree with Patrick Moss, fastening a structure like that proposed at Slateford is detrimental to that heritage structure as is the proposed high rise cycle way in the basin at Edinburgh. As to cyclists I have a certain tolerance, as some behave responsibly, not all though. The husband of the late Kim Briggs must also have similar feelings about the reckless behavior of a growing number of cyclists. The proposed improvements along the Union Canal may have the intention of improving safety, yet in bringing more chance of speeding along the towpath may not be the best use of funding.

Ah, but looking at older images of Atherstone Top Lock and the basins associated- could it be for of use for assisting craft into the lock. Attached is a image from the RCHS Hugh Compton Collection showing basin on the towpath side and opposite. Atherstone was the terminus of the Coventry Canal before the canal was completed to Fazeley and the basin had a warehouse for the merchandise trade. Coming out of this basin and making a turn to descend the locks no doubt required assistance. C Faulkener was the photographer

Comments of value, although I believe the view of the picture attached in the first post is looking across the Thames to the south shore Ordnance survey for location 1913, published 1915 is attached:

The London Underground received its principal power supply from a power station at Lots Road in Chelsea. Thames Barges brought coal to the basin that linked with the River Thames, yet it seems that Chelsea Creek may have been used to access a wharf west of the main turbine hall. Over head Telphers were used to unload the barges and the coal was burnt in boilers to create steam to drive the turbines. The ash was taken away by lorry or barge and it appears the Chelsea Creek wharf was for the ash transport. The unloading basin appears to have been quite large:

A recent report on improving cycling along the Union Canal in Scotland has received finance from Sustrans and looks at the ways the towpath might be improved for cycling including alternative routes around tight spots. The IWA in their latest newsletter is concerned that some suggestions if adopted will be at the detriment to the boaters. There is a proposal for a new cycle route bridge, the Slateford Snake, between the aqueduct and railway viaduct in Edinburgh.

The former GWR goods shed is also seen

Carrying by water involved transhipment of goods at strategic places where there was a change of craft. Most common were the wharves where wide boats interchanged goods with the narrowboats, Such locations includes places like Stourport and Shardlow or in the coastal ports where craft loaded or unloaded alongside sea going vessels. Yet, there cases of transhipment where the different boats never shared the same length of water, In Gas Street Birmingham, Worcester Bar was a point of transfer between the BCN and Worcester & Birmingham before the Bar Lock was made, At Pratts Wharf on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal goods, particularly iron, were taken across the wharf to the Stour for carriage to the Wilden Ironworks, before the lock there was built. A similar situation existed at Willington where there was transfer between the Trent & Mersey and the River Trent. Another case was the Hollingwood Common Tunnel Canal that brought coal to the Chesterfield Canal. Can members provide other examples?

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A very encouraging report, it may be, but then how much is political speaking rather than true statements of how the Trust is performing. Alan's note of one inconsistency is the tip of a largely sunken "iceberg". What is not said is significant. This omission may delve into areas such as canal restoration and the intended take over/ merger with Environment Agency waterways and a growing disregard of heritage in favour of profit making schemes. Yet even with many sound schemes proposed there appears to be little action. Is it a case of the modern affliction, PCD, the POLITICAL CORRECTNESS DISEASE ? Here concern for everything from Environmental to Cultural issues, though all fine values in their own right, might make CRT blind to the main issues. In Birmingham at Icknield Port is a case in point- a plan for redevelopment has stagnated. It has become a place to shun, avoid and for boaters to hasten past. The layers of grafitti on any upright wall and bridge is totally disgusting. There is nothing for CRT to be proud of at this spot.

A bridge is a bridge, a tunnel is a tunnel. So what IS the difference? A bridge spans a space, whether it is a waterway, road, railway or a geographical feature such as a valley or ravine. Width is variable, height is variable and the components of which ii is made is also variable. Motorways have created wide spans of navigable waterways. For example the M65 that runnels parallel to the Leeds & Liverpool in the Blackburn and Burnley area with spans over the canal bridge no 114AA Enfield Green Bridge, 124A Molly Wood Bridge, 124B Halstead Bridge, 127C Gannow Green South Bridge and 143 Barrowford Bridge. A tunnel is cut through the landscape and the key element is that it passes underground. Length again is variable, construction materials also vary. In the past it was stone, brick and sometimes the unlined rock was left to form the roof, sides and base. In modern times tunnels are made of concrete sections. The current Northern Line extension in London is using two Tunnel Boring Machines to cut two parallel bores that will be lined with concrete sections. The spoil from the cutting is taken back by conveyor to the Thames for loading onto barges. A similar practice happened with the making of Crossrail 1, now known as the Elizabeth Line. With canal tunnels the bore is also circular or eliptical. There may be a towpath, height may be variable (eg Gorsty Hill) but again there are sides a roof and mostly importantly an INVERT. Lengths vary. Normally canal tunnels are named. During the canal building period construction involved the sinking of shafts and digging out the canal from the base, in a similar fashion to the practice of mining. Though not always. Telford used a cut and cover technique for Chirk. In the case of Ellesmere Tunnel 87 yards long it is numbered (57). Whether modern LOCK TUNNELS should be considered as a separate entity is something to debate. Take for example Sellars Tunnel (355 yards) and Bates Tunnel (100yards) which were constructed on the Huddersfield to enable the navigation to Huddersfield to be boater accessible again. Another example is Tuel Lane Tunnel (114 yards) at Sowerby Bridge on the Rochdale. Staying with the Rochdale there is Edinburgh Way Tunnel (121 yards) near Rochdale where the canal passes under the road system, roundabout ans A627(M) and made as a diversion to the original route. Further into Manchester the M60 crosses at Bridge 76B which is also called M60 Tunnel, whether it should be is another matter of debate- but because it may be more enclosed might swing the naming towards a tunnel naming. Can enclosure be a defining point and what ever is a agreed there will be exceptions. Such is the case of Little Tunnel Bridge on the Basingstoke!

I notice it is still possible to make bookings for the Floatel in Northwich, despite a report in 2009 that the owner had gone into bankruptcy and the 60 room hotel was to be demolished after vandalism. I am right in assuming that this is (was?) the only floating UK Hotel. Floatels are made by a Swedish company and are to be found in different parts of the World. I note.

Perhaps CRT should record the wide bridges, in fact perhaps all bridge widths need to be recorded for historical purposes. And it would be useful to mention construction material and rough guide to age. But then this would take a lot of time and so is perhaps something for a society dedicated to it to do- such a mythical assembly might be given the abbreviation BAOCRAKE? British Association of Canal Bridges Recording and Knowledge Enhancement (BAOCRAKE) And thinking about it more, it does fall within the remit of one group- The Transport Trust

Is it some form of hybrid composed of Heath-Robinson sourced components?