Bottom Road

[Heartland]

The Bottom bit is clearly the Birmingham & Fazeley. Just to clarify for David Mack, the line from Fradley to Fazeley was completed around the same time as the Birmingham & Fazeley. The route from Fradley to Fazeley was used by many carriers heading either east to Shardlow or north west to the Potteries, Runcorn or Manchester. It was on this latter busy route that carriers such as Pickfords worked. Pickford were less keen to go the Thames via Oxford when that route opened, opting to transfer to road for London. Once the Grand Junction Canal was open it became their canal highway to the metropolis. For Birmingham the B & F was the initial connection to the London route (via Oxford), but with the completion of the canal to Warwick and from their to Napton, this route via Hatton was often preferred, especially when Blisworth Tunnel opened for traffic.

Another early route to London was adopted by the carrier Robert Samuel Skey who operated both barges/trows and narrow boats. He offered a service to London via the Severn and the Thames & Severn Canal

[D. W. Walker]

The term "bottom road" to describe the route through Atherstone is mentioned in one of the "Idle Women" books - can't quote which one as I'm away at present.

They didn't like it as narrow locks with a pair made for slow progress, but it was clearly a commonplace term in the 1940's

[JamesWoolcock]

On 8/14/2017 at 19:51, D. W. Walker said:

The term "bottom road" to describe the route through Atherstone is mentioned in one of the "Idle Women" books - can't quote which one as I'm away at present.

They didn't like it as narrow locks with a pair made for slow progress, but it was clearly a commonplace term in the 1940's

Is it Emma Smith's "Maidens' Trip"?

A great read.

James

[jake_crew]

9 hours ago, JamesWoolcock said:

Is it Emma Smith's "Maidens' Trip"?

A great read.

James

Yes just been reading it.

They certainly had bad luck and bad weather on that trip as well as bowhauling the butty.