Anyone know where?

[colinnorth]

This photograph has been sent by a friend who has asked...

I wonder if you or someone in the canal-boat world may know the answer to this.

I found the attached photo in my collection while sorting out some slides. It is somewhere in the Black Country / Birmingham / Wolverhampton area but I don't know where.

I'm pretty certain it was taken in 1976 just after I left school and went over that way in a friend's new car to get some photos of dereliction and stuff.

The canal clearly crosses another waterway but just can't work out which one. Needless to say, the area is probably all landscaped now, with houses flats and shops.

 

If anyone can answer his questions I would be grateful - Thanks

[Captain Pegg]

Looks like Engine Arm aqueduct looking across at factories on north side of Old Main Line above Smethwick locks. It is indeed now houses.

JP

[BEngo]

Ptetty sure that is the engine arm aqueduct across the BCNNew Main Line.

N

[Dave Payne]

 

 

 

 

 

[colinnorth]

Thanks Guys. Site now identified...

[Mike Todd]

I agree on the location. If you look at an old map (eg http://maps.nls.uk/view/101597699) then you will see that industrial site labelled as District Works. The 1890 map gives several iron works around there.

I have not yet discovered what that title means but it does seem that they might have had a football team! https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/mullocks-specialist-auctioneers-and-valuers/catalogue-id-2823838/lot-11473825

As an aside, when wondering about what used to be on the side of a canal (or anything similar) my first point of call is the the old OS maps and The National Library of Scotland is a wonderful resource. A lot of otherwise unexplained features come to life, especially in and around Brum where there were so many side arms etc etc.

[RLWP]

53 minutes ago, Mike Todd said:

especially in and around Brum where there were so many side arms etc etc.

Well, it was the home of the gun industry...

OFF-TOPIC, I happened to be reflecting on that on Sunday, on the Garrison flight, near Artillery Road, not far from Proof House junction

Richard

[John Brightley]

You might be interested in this photo of the wharf and works in the background, taken on 18th July 1982:

 

 

[pete harrison]

And the boat above gives the clue to what 'District Works' means - as this is the District Iron and Steel Company Ltd., Smethwick. This company had 80 boats like the one above B.C.N. gauged in their name, although at least 9 of these were on hire 

When I was running boats out of Birmingham in the late 1970's and early 1980's we often used to go up Smethwick locks and tie on the aquaduct over the New Main Line to let the passengers run around and let off steam. Happy days.

Edited November 8, 2017 by pete harrison

[Mike Todd]

6 hours ago, RLWP said:

Well, it was the home of the gun industry...

OFF-TOPIC, I happened to be reflecting on that on Sunday, on the Garrison flight, near Artillery Road, not far from Proof House junction

Richard

Ouch