Lichfield Lines Issue 33 Autumn 2020

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Issue 33 Autumn 2020 www.waterways.org.uk/waterways/branches/iwa-lichfield-branch

Lichfield Lines

Strollers and boundary stone at Whittington (see page 7)

The newsletter of IWA Lichfield Branch

The Inland Waterways Association is a membership charity that works to protect and restore the country's 6,500 miles of canals and navigable rivers.

The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this magazine but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed may be construed as policy, or as an official pronouncement, unless specifically identified as such.

The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distributing company limited by guarantee.

Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342 Registered Office: Island House, Moor Road, Chesham HP5 1WA Tel: 01494 783453 Web: www.waterways.org.uk

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Branch Chairman’s Report - October 2020 We have had 5 outdoor events in the past quarter, including 3 ‘strolls’ which are shorter and gentler walks for our less fit members, with thanks to Margaret and Lynn for this innovative idea and the organisation needed to make them Covid compliant.

Clive also continues to find new and interesting routes for our longer walks every other month. Although we are now having to restrict attendance to members and limit numbers to 2 groups of 6 we hope that the strolls and walks will continue to attract some of you who haven’t been before, as well as our regulars.

Unfortunately, it hasn’t proved practical to restart work parties at Rugeley, due in part to CRT’s difficulties in committing support, and the need for social distancing and for equipment cleaning limiting the work we could do. During 10 years of our Rugeley Project we have made some major improvements to the moorings and paths at Brindley Bank and through the town centre, and done a lot of litter picks and general maintenance. Margaret has now decided to retire as our volunteer co-ordinator, and as we have fulfilled all our original objectives that can realistically be achieved we have

'Beyond the Roving Bridge from Great Haywood Junction'.

A Walk Along the Trent and Mersey and Staffs and Worcester.

With Robert Cartwright.

A5 Format Featuring 50 photographs - £9.99

By Mail Order from https://cpre-staffordshire.onlineweb.shop/ £3 from the sale of each book will be donated to the Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE) Registered Charity 21944 Payment may be made by Credit/Debit Card or PayPal The Book may also be purchased from the Canal Farm Shop at Great Haywood.

In case of difficulty in obtaining a copy please contact Robert on 01785-254283 or robertandrew.cartwright@virgin.net 'Robert Cartwright's book is hard to beat - a genre of its own'. The Trent and Mersey Canal Magazine 'Grand Trunk'.

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decided it is time to bring the project to an end. We owe considerable thanks to Margaret for her vision, persistence and effective management of this project, and for all the other things she has done for the Branch over many years, and wish her a less stressful and happy retirement from the committee.

Our other physical volunteering work still continues however, with the start of the 4th winter season of Offside Vegetation Management work parties under Neil’s coordination. With boats, equipment and supervision provided again by CRT our team are working south from Fazeley down the Coventry Canal.

Finally, by the time this appears, we will hopefully have run our first Webinar on Zoom about the Historic Conservation of Canals in the West Midlands. If sufficient of you have tuned in that will encourage us to arrange other on-line events in future months, as it seems unlikely now that we will be able to resume real meetings before the Spring at the earliest. Virtual meetings are of course a poor substitute for personal interaction, and you have to make your own refreshments, but they do save on travelling and help keep our interest in waterways alive, so I hope you will join in. But given the uncertainties about Covid regulations, and the limitations of the new website, we will be relying more on emails to keep you informed about Webinars, strolls, walks and anything else we can arrange, so do please ensure that IWA has your current email address. For those without email who would still like to be kept informed about particular events, let us have your phone number and we will try to ensure you don’t miss out.

Phil Sharpe Region Chairman’s Report In this world of the “new normal” much has changed for all of us but there are also opportunities. Last month, IWA’s national AGM was held as a zoom electronic meeting giving many people the opportunity to attend without having to move outside their own homes. This was an ideal way to see and hear the IWA trustees including the five new ones who, in a departure from the norm, have been appointed rather than elected by the members. This has been a one-off occurrence designed to plug skills gaps in the trustee board (which, each year, is having to jump through ever more hoops in order to comply with the Charity Commissions Guidelines!) Trustees are legally responsible for the Governance of our charity. In previous years, such was the paucity of applicants for the role of trustees, that anyone putting themselves forward could walk into the role without any selection process or election taking place (myself included!). In future years, I anticipate that prospective trustees will be screened to ensure that they have the necessary skills and then their names and CV’s will be presented to the members for the due election process to take place. Those who attended our on-line AGM cannot fail to have been impressed by the quality of our newly appointed trustees.

At the last region meeting, the branches agreed to invite all members of the region to

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their on-line meetings. I do hope that you are able to join in and take advantage of this great opportunity. I recently attended a very interesting Warwickshire branch meeting and found it wonderful not to have to drive from Lichfield to the far side of Coventry to do so!

The new IWA website is now live after 2 years of gestation. It looks very different from the old website and has been designed to work better on mobile phones and to aid recruitment. There is much work yet to do on the website and the staff team based at Chesham (and also working from home) are still working long hours in order to get everything functioning satisfactorily. Various parts of the organisation are waiting for their wish lists to come to fruition and it will be exciting to see how things develop over the next few months. I am confident that a way will be found to make the historic branch pages, fully and easily accessible to members; rest assured, they are currently in a “safe place”!

Do take a look at the new website and let us have feedback. What do you like or dislike and what, if anything, do you think could be improved? It is still a work in progress.

Keep well!

Helen Whitehouse West Midlands Region chairman and Trustee 20/10/2020

Forthcoming Events Covid-19 Note: Due to the law on Covid-19 restricting groups to 6 people, our walks and strolls will now be for members only and prebooking is needed to control numbers. Walks will be divided into separate groups of 6 people setting off at different times. As each group needs to have a leader with first aid and PPE equipment, it is likely that we will only have 2 groups, so a maximum of 12 people. To join in you must therefore contact the walk leader well in advance and if numbers permit you will be sent the necessary Covid health notes and joining instructions.

Tuesday 3rd November 2020 – “A Canalside Stroll at Brereton”. One of our series of shorter walks, for those who just want a gentle stroll and a natter, followed by a pub meal and a drink. Meet at 11.00 am for 11.10 and 11.15 starts in the car park of The Colliers at Rugeley (Towers Business Park, Power Station Rd, Rugeley WS15 1LX – off the A51 next to the Premier Inn) for a 2 mile circular stroll along the Trent & Mersey Canal and back. It includes a gentle slop but no stiles. If you would like to come please book early with Margaret Beardsmore at email margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk (or on 07581 794111).

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Thursday 12th November 2020 - Brewood and the Shropshire Union Canal Walk. We venture to the boundary of Lichfield Branch area for this walk. It is an easy 5-mile amble across farmland, on footpaths, quiet country lanes and the towing path. There are no stiles. Leaving the centre of the award-winning town we proceed past the church and cross the canal at Hyde Mill Lane, where we join the Staffordshire Way heading southwards. We first diagonally cross the long avenue to Chillington Hall before eventually turning east towards the hamlet of Park Lane. Here we turn northwards, and soon re-join the avenue of Chillington Hall in some woods. This Lower Avenue brings us down to the Shropshire Union Canal at an ornate bridge, and we then follow the towpath northwards, first in a deep cutting and later an embankment, back to our starting point in Brewood.

Meet at 10:15 for 10.25 and 10:30 am starts outside the Lion Hotel in the centre of the village at Marketplace, Brewood, Staffordshire, ST19 9BS. There is adequate free parking in the side streets nearby. If you would like to come please register with Clive Walker at email clive.walker@waterways.org.uk (or on 07866 201873).

Tuesday 1st December 2020 – “Another Canalside Stroll”. Another of our series of shorter walks, for those who just want a gentle stroll and a natter, followed by a pub meal and a drink. Place and time to be advised. Please note the date and let Margaret know if you would like to be kept informed about the arrangements.

Contact Margaret Beardsmore at email margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk (or on 07581 794111).

Friday 1st January 2021 - Atherstone and the Coventry Canal. Our traditional New Year’s Day walk this time is an easy 4-mile walk with no stiles along a disused railway line, quiet roads, country lanes and the canal towpath. Leaving The King’s Head pub car park, we first turn right and soon pass the entrance to the Merevale Estate. We then ascend the gentle incline of the “Paddy Line”, a disused colliery railway, from where we can see the Gothic turrets of Merevale Hall. We eventually join Waste Lane where there are fine views northwards towards Leicestershire. At Grendon we walk parallel to the A5 on a residential road, before

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compiled from myStreet previous reports consultation responses.

Since then, crossing Watling opposite theand entrance to Green Lane. This takes usthe across Department for down Transport hasCoventry producedCanal a response to the 2019 Design the railway and to the at Whittington Bridge 46. Refinement From there Consultation Phase 2b, along with of another Design Refinement on we follow thefor canal towpath up part the Atherstone lock flight Consultation back to our starting further point. changes to the Western Leg of 2b between Crewe and Manchester, which will increase impacts on the Branch.

Meet at the 10:30 for 10.40 andMiddlewich 10:45 am starts in the car park of The King’s Head, Old Watling Street, Atherstone, Warwickshire CV9 2PA. Phil If you would like to come please Sharpe, Planning Officer register with Clive Walker at email clive.walker@waterways.org.uk (or on 07866 After the Editor’s slight faux pas in the Issue 32 when I published a duplicate article, 201873).

John has forgiven me and encouraged me to publish the correct article this time.

Further Activities: Dr Erasmus Darwin and the Watercourses of Wychnor Please note that our Christmas Lunch has had to be cancelled, as has our planned Lichfield Lines 26 and 28 contained a description of Dr Erasmussome Darwin’s programme of issues meetings through to April 2021.

We hope to arrange alternative interest in a canal into Lichfield, and a description of the history of a canal walk Webinars or other online activities from November onwards and members willfrom be Alrewas lock eastward to the site of the second Wychnor mill, which used to stand informed about these by email.

600yds along from Cow Bridge towards Wychnor lock.

This third and final part takes in Dr Darwin’s canal activities at Wychnor, and the Recent Activities history of the canal to Wychnor lock and a little beyond.

Canalside Stroll at Rugeley – Tuesday 4th August 2020 1729 saw the establishment of the Lichfield Turnpike Trust, and Lichfield became the centre of from a network of turnpike roads.a One these Lichfield to Burton A photo the first of our strolls: new of series ofwas ‘pic the ‘n mix’ shorter walks, for highway, now mostly route A38.followed The mid-point between thea coaching those who just want the a stroll andofathe natter, by a pub meal and drink. We had houses the two about (in 6 miles each distanced way, is at Wychnor bridges, and by the a good of turnout of towns, 14 members 2 socially groups) and really enjoyed our middle of the century a large posting house had been setspaced-out up there, the get-large Georgian building still to be seen opposite the entrance to Wychnor Lane. Also, bythe theStag’s 1760s, together.

From that great man of Lichfield, Dr Erasmus Darwin, was a Commissioner of the Turnpike Leap pub in Rugeley we did a Trust. He was also an enthusiastic promoter of the Grand Trunkwalk (T &down M ) canal circular to the scheme, and wrote most of their promotional literature,Trent although he likedCanal to stay & Mersey at in the background. When Brindley and Smeaton produced their detailed Brindley Bank,plans, up toDarwin the knew all about the route, as we have seen. What follows may perhaps todayand be along called the Turnover Bridge insider trading. towpath to Station Road, and He got together with three associates to set up a manufactory….John Barker, a back past the Old Chancel.

Lichfield banker and the treasurer of the Turnpike Trust,This Robert owner of strolls the was Bage, the first of the Elford paper mill, and Samuel Garbett, an iron master in that Birmingham and a major we are adding to ourshare holder in the Grand Trunk company. A slitting mill converts metal ingots into usable normal walking thin slices of metal, from which other items such as nailsprogramme. can be easily The made.

The plan idea is to was to set up a forge and slitting mill ….at Wychnor. Theprovide mill wheel a laidprovides back andthe gentle power to turn successive rollers and to flatten heated ingots plates, can walk into plus flat a social getwhich together be then slit intoStrollers saleableatlengths

by Bank using the mill wheel to heavy hammers. andtrip hope thisbladed attracts Brindley High quality iron bars could be brought in via Hull from members abroad, the best was want from to who don’t Sweden, the Trent Navigation Burton. loadpart fromcan Hull 220or tons on a do a longupwalk.

Members who justtowant the A social doofthat, justishave record, just a tiny of all that was shipped, or from other more local stroll - hence the fraction ‘pic ‘n mix’ title. sources…….and it all came along the turnpike, and the forby theMargaret mill was Beardsmore only 500 Report and site photo yds from it at Wychnor Bridges. Now for the clever part. His syndicate agreed to his

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Branch Picnic at Wolseley Bridge – Wednesday 19th August 2020 Torrential rain on the day meant the picnic was cancelled and we had lunch at the Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre cafe instead. Helen Whitehouse, our Region Chair, took advantage of this somewhat unusual venue to present the prestigious Victoria Cup to our Lichfield Branch Member Neil Barnett. This West Midlands Region award is presented for outstanding work on behalf of IWA. Neil has been in charge of our Offside Vegetation Clearance team for the last 2 years, and those of you who boat through our patch will have noticed the sterling work Neil Receiving the Victoria Cup from Helen at they have done. We’re not sure Wolseley Bridge Garden Centre who was most surprised by the presentation and clapping; Neil or the cafe customers.

Report and photo by Margaret Beardsmore Canalside Stroll at Huddlesford – Tuesday 1st September 2020 We met at the Plough at Huddlesford for an 11:15 start. We had fine, pleasant weather, in welcome contrast to most of the soaking weather of August.

For posterity’s reading of this, it should be mentioned that we were now in the sixth month of the coronavirus situation and this impacted not only on this event, but on the branch activities as a whole. The stroll was the second in a programme of ‘easier’ activities brought about by the virus situation to offer something to the branch members to ease the social isolation of many, some fun for all, and to be accessible to all. Lynn Evans had carefully taken this into consideration in her planning.

We were welcomed by Lynn who recorded our details, not just for normal branch records but as part of the virus ‘traceability’ for which we were rewarded with a chocolate. We observed appropriate social distancing, as shown in the group photograph.

Our Lichfield strollers set off S.E. along the towpath towards Whittington. The fruitfulness of the end of Summer was evident in every way: elderberries, sloes, acorns, conkers, lots of rich red haws, and it all added up to a lovely seasonal walk.

As we passed along with Whittington village on our right across the canal, we came across an Ancient Mariner, whose narrow boat was loose and adrift. The gentleman aboard had undoubtedly many decades of experience on the canals behind him, but

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It will wash in a machine at up to 60 degrees centigrade. Do notwas tumble now dry. sorely in need Please contact Helen Whitehouse at helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk of a rescue. or He could telephone her on 01543 491161 to order these or any other item IWAaclothing not of throw rope, was you might want. drifting further out and I could not see how IWA Christmas cards and branch sales items anything could be The branch sales stand has IWA Christmas done…step forward cards and 2021 (post-card) calendars Helen Whitehouse, available for members to buy. The current who astonished me year’s cards (Colwich Lock, Bingley Five with an impressive Rise and Colourful Moorings) are £3.60 for bounding stride on 10 cards. The calendars are £5.50. We also wings of leadership have a wide selection of previous years’ across the water and cards (including mixed packs) available at safely onto the boat, £3.25 for 10 cards. and so we were able to I shall beStrollers selling cards from the boot and Boundary Stoneofatmy Whittington get a line ashore. car before the start of the Brewood Walk Having made the boat th on Thursday, November 12two November and the gentleman safe, his crew members turned up with their shopping from and village. any future “strolls” which may occur. the Neither of their mooring hooks and chains had been properly secured. As Alternatively, you can pick them from we left the scene, one of his crewupwas fishing with a magnet near the stern for a my home in Longdon byhaving phoning orsent the Ancient Mariner well away: it could well missing hook and chain, first emailing me first 491161 or have stopped his 01543 pacemaker. helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk .

The far point of the walk was Whittington Brook, where we stopped to view the I also havestone a wide selection waterways boundary and plaque, of marking the demarcation between the Birmingham and books (both newCoventry and pre-owned) andSharpe told us the very interesting story, related Fazeley, and the canal. Phil other waterways related items available here - but you are advised not to read ontoif fatigued or recently imbibed of strong th buy. The list is inonMicrosoft Century, when the Coventry canal, heading West, liquor - ofstock the goings in the 18Access and I’m happy to let anyone have a copy to look through. you can email ran out of money after completing to Atherstone in 1771, Alternatively, when construction stopped. or phone me to see if I have what you want in stock.

If anyone has the right knowThere eventually followed an agreement between three canal companies to get the how and would be willing to take the lead puttingand these the webboth to sell, connections finished.

The Birmingham and in Fazeley, the items Trentonto and Mersey putI should beon really forcanal. yourThe help.lack of the through route to London or pressure the grateful Coventry All profits from branch sales stand, into branch funds so please do consider Birmingham wasthe costing them dear.

Forgo example, the expanding breweries of Burtonbuying through the branch in of thetheir firstbeer instance. on-Trent were sending most to London via Hull and the East coast. The Helen Whitehouse 12/10/2020 Coventry Canal were to complete to Fazeley. The Birmingham and Fazeley were to complete from Fazeley to Whittington Brook.

The Trent and Mersey were to build Planning Matters from Fradley to Whittington Brook. This was all finished in 1790. The Coventry Canal This report covers thetomost interesting of about 30 planning matters dealtwas with found enough money purchase the Trent and Mersey section, but that all. Thus between mid-July and mid-October 2020.

The new website no longer includes my full there is a disconnected section of the Coventry Canal at the Fradley end, and the monthly Planning Summary Notes as reported to the Branch committee, but I will Birmingham and Fazeley runs beyond Fazeley to Whittington. The Coventry Canalbe happy toare supply these or details any planning matters on request.bridges of bridges numbered, butfurther there are theof fifteen named, but not numbered, On Birmingham the Trent &and Mersey the bridges preliminary work at Coventry.

Pasturefields, the FazeleyCanal between number 77for anda marina 78 of the Theas

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boundary stone appears to have been carved the wrong way round, with the Coventry on the B & F side, and the B & F on the Coventry side. As Phil observed, arrows were then put on to rectify the error.

The boundary stone and plaque were donated by our own IWA Lichfield Branch in 1990 to mark the 200th anniversary of this vital waterway connection being completed.

We walked back to the Plough the way we had come, being greeted most cordially as we passed by Eric Wood and Doreen from their garden across the canal by bridge 80.

As Eric said, the width of the canal allows for Covid safe communication with passersby on foot or boat.

We arrived back at the Plough, and everyone opted for having lunch there, where there was one more Covid effect to experience, in that because of staff lay-offs, the service was very slow….so we relished our meal all the more when it arrived. I think we all enjoyed the company while we waited; Lynn tried to distract us from our hunger by offering the reward of a chocolate to the winner of the ‘guess what time the food will arrive’ competition. A Social Secretary is never really off duty.

Many thanks to Lynn for our stroll and social get together, and she fully met her objective of an event for everyone, and cleverly conjured up the fine weather.

Report by John Parry, photo by Phil Sharpe Wishaw and Birmingham & Fazeley Canal Walk – Thursday 10th September 2020 This was a walk that was a long time in the making. We had started to walk this route back in November 2019 when we set off in incessant, heavy rain and strong winds from The White Horse Inn in Curdworth. We got to the top of Wiggins Hill Road, just short of The Cock Inn, when we decided to abandon the walk and take a short cut back to our starting point.

It seemed appropriate, therefore, to revisit the route and start from where we left off. This time the weather was dry. The walkers assembled, suitably distanced, in the car park of The Cock Inn in Wishaw near Sutton Coldfield. We divided into two groups to Walkers in the fields around Wishaw comply with Government

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guidelines, one group led by myself, and the other by Lynn Evans, who was also familiar with the route.

The two parties left the pub car park five minutes apart, heading north across agricultural land towards the hamlet of Grove End, before doubling back after around a mile to walk parallel to the M6 toll road. We soon entered the graveyard of St. Chad’s church in Wishaw, which dates from the 13th century, and which stands oddly remote from the village it represents. Unfortunately, Covid-19 restrictions meant we could not go inside.

A kissing gate near Rookery Cottages led us into ploughed fields, which we had to cross carefully because of the deep furrows, and eventually we reached the canal at Baylis’s Bridge. From the vantage point of the bridge arch we could see the top lock of the Curdworth flight to our left. This lock had to be rebuilt to accommodate the M6 Toll road.

We turned right along the towpath and soon reached Curdworth tunnel with its historic ridged brick horse treads. Passing through to the other side, the towpath here is pleasantly wide, with vast open fields on the offside. We left the towpath at Broad Bulk Bridge and continued slightly uphill towards Wiggin Hill Cottages. From there it was a short walk along the road back to our starting point, where we enjoyed refreshment.

My special thanks go to Lynn Evans for stepping in as co-leader at short notice.

Report and photo by Clive Walker Annual General Meeting – Wednesday 16th September 2020 Our AGM, postponed from 18 March due to coronavirus, was held as an online meeting by Zoom. The 2019 AGM minutes were approved. The Branch Chairman’s and Treasurer’s reports for 2019 had been previously published on the website and in Lichfield Lines, and a summary of key points was presented by PowerPoint. There were no elections due or resolutions received. Questions about work at Rugeley were answered, and the effect of new Covid regulations on our walks was discussed.

Canalside Stroll at Handsacre – Tuesday 6th October 2020 The third stroll and chat walk was very enjoyable and was attended by the maximum number we can take at the moment including two strollers who hadn’t been before.

Two separate groups of six walked from The Crown at Handsacre towards Kings Bromley Marina.

The first group led by Lynn walked the towpath to bridge 55 and then crossed over to the footpath on the other side of the canal which looped round to bring them back to the canal again and back to the pub. We saw some fly agaric and another fungus which looked like baked beans! There were also discarded freshwater muscle shells at the edge of the water which had been left by a local creature…but what?

The second group, who wanted a shorter walk, were led by Margaret who took them

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on a linear walk towards bridge 55 and then back again where they met up with the first group.

Although we had a light shower on the walk the rain came on heavy when we got back so the plan of eating fish and chips outdoors was abandoned and we drove to The Ash Tree Pub where we had a very reasonably priced and delicious meal and lots of good conversation. A merry time was had by all and Taking a rest on the Handsacre stroll our new strollers soon felt like old friends. Thank you to everyone who made it such an enjoyable event.

The photo is of our second group - unfortunately social distancing doesn’t make great photos!

Report and photo by Margaret Beardsmore IWA washable Face Masks (and other clothing) If you are representing IWA at any face to face meetings (or are just out and about on the canals) and are unable to fully socially distance, here is your answer!

Available in royal blue or red embroidered with the IWA logo.

They are £5.50 each, two for £10.00 or 3 for £15.00 to include postage.

This face mask is designed to aid defence against the spread of infection. It is made of 95% cotton and 5% elastane and is comfortable to wear. It is not a medical or clinical face mask and so should not be used where infection levels are high.

Wash before use.

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It will wash in a machine at up to 60 degrees centigrade. Do not tumble dry.

Please contact Helen Whitehouse at helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk or telephone her on 01543 491161 to order these or any other item of IWA clothing you might want.

IWA Christmas cards and branch sales items The branch sales stand has IWA Christmas cards and 2021 (post-card) calendars available for members to buy. The current year’s cards (Colwich Lock, Bingley Five Rise and Colourful Moorings) are £3.60 for 10 cards. The calendars are £5.50. We also have a wide selection of previous years’ cards (including mixed packs) available at £3.25 for 10 cards.

I shall be selling cards from the boot of my car before the start of the Brewood Walk on Thursday, November 12th November and any future “strolls” which may occur.

Alternatively, you can pick them up from my home in Longdon by phoning or emailing me first 01543 491161 or helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk .

I also have a wide selection of waterways books (both new and pre-owned) and other waterways related items available to buy. The stock list is in Microsoft Access and I’m happy to let anyone have a copy to look through. Alternatively, you can email or phone me to see if I have what you want in stock. If anyone has the right knowhow and would be willing to take the lead in putting these items onto the web to sell, I should be really grateful for your help.

All profits from the branch sales stand, go into branch funds so please do consider buying through the branch in the first instance.

Helen Whitehouse 12/10/2020 Planning Matters This report covers the most interesting of about 30 planning matters dealt with between mid-July and mid-October 2020. The new website no longer includes my full monthly Planning Summary Notes as reported to the Branch committee, but I will be happy to supply these or further details of any planning matters on request.

On the Trent & Mersey Canal the preliminary work for a marina at Pasturefields, as

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boundarylast stone appears to enough have been carved the wrong way round, with the Coventry reported time, was not oncomply the B &with F side, and the & F on the Coventry side. As Phil observed, arrows were to several mainB prethen put on to rectify the error. commencement conditions on the The boundary stone and were donated by our own IWA Lichfield Branch in 2017 planning consent andplaque a Lawful 1990 to markCertificate the 200th anniversary of this vital waterway connection being completed.

Development was We walked back to the Plough the way we had come, being greeted most cordially as refused, which presumably means we passed

by Eric Wood and Doreen from their garden across the canal by bridge 80. that the permission has lapsed.

AsGreat Eric said, the width of the canal allows for Covid safe communication with passersAt Haywood a previous by on foot or boat.the oil pipeline consent to remove We arrived at the Bridge Plough,75and everyone opted for having lunch there, where from the faceback of Middle there onehas more Covidbut effect by the was marina expired, has to experience, in that because of staff lay-offs, the service was very slow….so relished our meal all the more when it arrived. I think been resubmitted.

We againwe asked we all enjoyed the company while we waited; Lynn tried to distract us from our that it be fully removed with the hunger by reinstated offering theand reward of a chocolate to the winner of the ‘guess what time the brickwork not left Middle Bridge 75 (Roger Kidd CC BY-SA 2.0) foodthe willends arrive’ competition.

A Social Secretary is never really off duty. with of the pipe Many thanks to this Lynnhas fornow ourbeen strollagreed and social getBritish together, and she fully met her protruding, and by the Pipelines Agency. objective of an event for everyone, and cleverly conjured up the fine weather. of the The Coventry Canal at Fradley is again threatened by residential development

John which Parry, was photo

by Phil Sharpe former pig farm and surrounding fields along Report Hay EndbyLane, previously refused as contrary to the Local Plan and harmful to the setting of the canal.

Wishaw and Birmingham & Fazeley Canal Walk – Thursday 10th The site isSeptember now included in the Local Plan Review but that is not yet approved or adopted so 2020 the resubmission is premature and should be refused. We have also again asked that Thiscanal was corridor a walk that a longfor time in the making.

We had started the be was reserved open space and recreational uses. to walk this route back in November 2019 when we set off in incessant, heavy rain and strong winds On theThe Birmingham Fazeley section of the Coventry Canal at Tamhorn House from White Horse&Inn in Bridge we have questioned the adequacy of plans to put a concrete road surface over Curdworth. We got to the the bridge to carry heavy farm machinery and HGVs. Although the bridge is owned by top of Wiggins Hill Road, just CRT the application is a private one and it was not clear that CRT had agreed to this. short of The Cock Inn, when we decided to abandon theat Sutton Cheney, the proposed large “solar farm” has Near to the Ashby Canal walk refused. and take a short cut been back to our starting point.

The HS2 High Speed Rail project is HS2appropriate, Compound at Wood End It seemed now very much at the construction therefore, to revisit the stage for Phase 1 with extensive land route and start from where and vegetation clearance, some bridge we left off. This time the building, and many works compounds weather was dry. The being set up, including one above Fradley walkers assembled, suitably Junction photographed by Helen distanced, in the car park of Whitehouse in September.

The Cock Inn in Wishaw The last ‘Waterways’ magazine (Issue near Sutton Coldfield. We 269, Autumn 2020) included a divided into two groups to Campaigns Update of theWishaw current Walkers in the fields around comply with Government position and our outstanding concerns,

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compiled from my previous reports and consultation responses. Since then, the Department for Transport has produced a response to the 2019 Design Refinement Consultation for Phase 2b, along with another Design Refinement Consultation on further changes to the Western Leg of 2b between Crewe and Manchester, which will increase the impacts on the Middlewich Branch.

Phil Sharpe, Planning Officer After the Editor’s slight faux pas in the Issue 32 when I published a duplicate article, John has forgiven me and encouraged me to publish the correct article this time.

Dr Erasmus Darwin and the Watercourses of Wychnor Lichfield Lines issues 26 and 28 contained a description of Dr Erasmus Darwin’s interest in a canal into Lichfield, and a description of the history of a canal walk from Alrewas lock eastward to the site of the second Wychnor mill, which used to stand 600yds along from Cow Bridge towards Wychnor lock.

This third and final part takes in Dr Darwin’s canal activities at Wychnor, and the history of the canal to Wychnor lock and a little beyond.

1729 saw the establishment of the Lichfield Turnpike Trust, and Lichfield became the centre of a network of turnpike roads. One of these was the Lichfield to Burton highway, now mostly the route of the A38. The mid-point between the coaching houses of the two towns, about 6 miles each way, is at Wychnor bridges, and by the middle of the century a large posting house had been set up there, the large Georgian building still to be seen opposite the entrance to Wychnor Lane. Also, by the 1760s, that great man of Lichfield, Dr Erasmus Darwin, was a Commissioner of the Turnpike Trust. He was also an enthusiastic promoter of the Grand Trunk (T & M ) canal scheme, and wrote most of their promotional literature, although he liked to stay in the background. When Brindley and Smeaton produced their detailed plans, Darwin knew all about the route, as we have seen. What follows may perhaps today be called insider trading.

He got together with three associates to set up a manufactory….John Barker, a Lichfield banker and the treasurer of the Turnpike Trust, Robert Bage, owner of the Elford paper mill, and Samuel Garbett, an iron master in Birmingham and a major share holder in the Grand Trunk company. A slitting mill converts metal ingots into usable thin slices of metal, from which other items such as nails can be easily made. The plan was to set up a forge and slitting mill ….at Wychnor. The mill wheel provides the power to turn successive rollers and to flatten heated ingots into flat plates, which can be then slit into saleable lengths by using the mill wheel to trip heavy bladed hammers.

High quality iron bars could be brought in via Hull from abroad, the best was from Sweden, up the Trent Navigation to Burton. A load from Hull of 220 tons is on record, just a tiny fraction of all that was shipped, or from other more local sources…….and it all came along the turnpike, and the site for the mill was only 500 yds from it at Wychnor Bridges. Now for the clever part. His syndicate agreed to his

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cunning plan of connecting the slitting mill to the turnpike, and the T & M when it came through, by a branch waterway, and also to construct a canal where the T & M mainline would go…..and so they did. The nearly 500 yards of the canal above Wychnor lock were completed in 1765, whereas the rest of the line from Derwent Mouth to Great Haywood was not done until September 1770, when the first through traffic passed along from Great Haywood to Weston on Trent……..and the syndicate successfully sold their existing stretch to the T & M company, as well as linking their slitting mill via their branch to the most modern of trade communications.

A couple of details had to be resolved during 1763-4, the first was to get permission for a bridge with navigable headroom, and 14’ wide, under the turnpike. This was granted by the trustees. Darwin, his father-in-law (Mr Howard) and Barker were all trustees, the second, and harder one, lay with the second corn mill that had been built after the fire at the first one. (see article in Summer 2019 edition).

The section of the canal that had been built in advance ran from the site of the corn mill to the Wychnor lock site. This was a completely new water course. The mill is clearly shown in a survey of 1724 as being across the line of the river branch at right angles, with a sluice just up stream of it. The miller could therefore control the water flow and cause problems for the line of the canal. He had to be bought out. Mr. Woodhouse, the miller, proved obstinate and expensive. Eventually they had to buy him an empty mill at Alrewas with a valuable eel fishery attached. All this meant that setting up their forge and slitting mill cost them a lot of capital.

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The Wychnor Ironworks started operating in 1765. Its canal left above the site of Wychnor lock and passed under the turnpike road parallel to the side of the coaching house. After about 320 yds it then entered a large teardrop shaped basin, with the purposes of providing wharfage, a turning place for the narrow boats and giving a head to the mill wheel, which was on a leat leading out of the far end where there was a drop, according to Dr Darwin, of about 7’ down to the river Trent. I think it was much less, as I was able to demonstrate by measuring the drop at the weir on the main arm of the Trent, which is virtually identical. It is actually around 3’6” (1.07 metres). There is also an overflow at the same end near the mill leat. The big weir on the main channel of the Trent, built many years ago for the corn mill, now ensured that they always had a self filling head of water for the wheel.

Walking eastwards along Ironworks Basin c1980 (photo courtesy Harry Arnold) the towpath from Cow Bridge, we pass Wychnor boat moorings on the other side of the canal, at the end of which there is a small overflow going into a stream into the Trent, and then about 85 yards further on there is a sluice and shortly afterwards a weir with a rickety bridge. Both allow the water to fall down into a long, fast flowing branch of the river. As far as this, there is evidence to suggest that the watercourse was a natural arm of the river prior to the coming of the canal and its modification for navigation and the provision of a towpath. As you pass under the footbridge you are now on the wholly artificial cut, as made by Darwin 5 years or so before the main canal arrived. Walking towards Wychnor lock, just before it, look right. There is a dam with three paddles on it, presumably always down.

Just before it on the left is the bywash overflow, but beyond the dam you will see that there is a wide bridge under the A38. That is where the slitting mill canal went, theoretically navigable until 1962 when the A38 was widened on the Wychnor side to make the dual carriageway and the hump of the bridge was removed……… the series of bridges across the various arms and the flood plain were called the Seven Sisters, all with humps that we children in the back of our Hillman Minx encouraged our parents to drive over as fast as possible so that we could leave our stomachs behind!.....an eye witness advises me that the branch canal and basin were in water up to

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1962……..now are very overgrown, but notand withthe veryShropshire old trees and vegetation, Thursday 12ththey November 2020 - Brewood Union Canal and indeed maps continue to show them apparently full of blue water.

Walk. We venture to the boundary of Lichfield Branch area for this walk. It is an Ieasy think the original mill stream was aonnatural arm of the Trent, and, as it was on the 5-mile amble across farmland, same level as the moat of the original footpaths, quiet country lanes and theWychnor towing Hall, probably formed part of it, on the NW side, or had a simple sluice to let water into the moat. The original Wychnor path. There are no stiles. Leaving the centre Hall was West of Cow Bridge; see the article of the award-winning town we proceed past in the Summer 2019 edition. The mill was thus turned in times yore the Mill natural current of the river, which would have the church and cross the of canal at by Hyde been fairly strong, but variable, before the Lane, where we join the Staffordshire Wayweir was put in. It continued its way after passing the wheel roughly along the course of the modern canal to where the heading through southwards.

We first diagonally cross second mill was built.

It clearly dropped into the long avenue to Chillington Hall before the same river arm as it does today, I think it wasturning all parteast of the same the arm.hamlet It would eventually towards of have been a real improvement in power and reliability over the first one.

The Darwin Park Lane. Here we turn northwards, and syndicate needed control of the water flow, gotthe it, avenue but were to run both soon they re-join of able Chillington Hall inthe corn mill and the slitting mill at the same time, so long as they could control some woods. This Lower Avenue brings it, usas the map from 1792 shows. In fact, the syndicate’s accounts for the last down to the Shropshire Union Canal at an quarter of 1772and show sizeable ornate bridge, we athen follow the towpath income from the corn mill, 2 northwards, first in a deep cutting and later an years after theback mainline of starting the embankment, to our point in canal had opened. They must Brewood. have been ablefor to 10.25 divert and water Meet at 10:15 10:30 am starts through the mill as well as to centre of the outside the Lion Hotel in the allow navigation. villagecontinued at Marketplace, Brewood, Staffordshire, We have now arrived at the end ST19 9BS. There is adequate free parking in of the Wychnor section the would like to the side streets nearby. of If you Trent and Mersey canal…..it come please register with Clive Walker at email clive.walker@waterways.org.uk (or definitely has the oldest section on 07866 201873). of the canal, Dr Darwin’s, and Tuesday 2020 – “Another Canalside Stroll”. Another of our very likely 1st has December a Norman moat series of shorter walks, for those who just want a gentle stroll and a natter, followed within it, possibly even a Saxon by a pub meal and a drink.

Place and time to be advised. Please note the date and let one. The mill was first recorded Margaret know if book,1086, you would like in the Domesday and to be kept informed about the arrangements.

Contact Margaret Beardsmore therefore existed before the at email margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk (or on 07581 794111). conquest.

That is the oldest actual date can find recorded Friday 1st IJanuary 2021 - Atherstone and the Coventry Canal. Our for this length the canal. forthis time is an easy 4-mile walk with no stiles along a traditional NewofYear’s DayAs walk the slitting mill or ironworks, it disused railway line, quiet roads, country lanes and the canal towpath. Leaving The carriedHead on under various King’s pub car park, we first turn right and soon pass the entrance to the ownerships until at least towards Merevale Estate.

We then ascend the gentle incline of the “Paddy Line”, a disused the end railway, of the C19th.

The we can see the Gothic turrets of Merevale Hall. We colliery from where remaining members the where there are fine views northwards towards eventually join WasteofLane syndicate had sold after 17 we years at parallel a loss attothe each for Darwin and Leicestershire.

At itGrendon walk thetime A5 of on£1500 a residential road, before

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Bage. Its value had dropped because investors now were looking more at steam powered mills.

In the C18th the great coaching house was called the Swan, but for much of the earlier C19th it was called ‘The Flitch of Bacon’, the story of which is in the Summer 2019 edition. By 1874 its great days on the coach route had long gone, and it was a farm house. But half a mile up the road a pub opened at Catholme called the Flitch of Bacon, replaced by a new pub just literally in front of it, to become the third Flitch of Bacon. It became a victim of the 1962 road widening. Somewhere along this stretch, where road and canal run together, a pile of gravel left by navvies caused Dr Darwin’s horse to shy and, in one of his strange two wheel carriages, he ran up the pile and the accident caused his axle to fracture on the following day, and he broke his knee cap in the second mishap…..the building of the canal left him with a permanent limp.

The original ironworks basin and the canal linking it to the T & M at Wychnor lock are still clearly there to be seen. They are overgrown and forgotten, and I doubt if a single one of the multitude of boaters who pass through Wychnor lock even remarks their existence……..but there they are, the oldest purpose-built part of the Trent and Mersey canal.

John Parry, Lichfield, 10th January 2020 Editorial Notice Lichfield Lines is the newsletter of IWA Lichfield Branch, it is produced 4 times a year to keep members informed about our forthcoming public meetings, walks, work parties and other activities, to provide reports on recent meetings and events, and to include articles of general interest to our members.

The editor, Peter Gurney, welcomes articles, letters or photographs of waterway activities in our Branch area which can be emailed to pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk (Please note there is a 10MB limit for emails with attachments sent via this address).

The copy date for the next newsletter will be 15th January 2021, for publication in February.

Advertising Lichfield Lines is posted or emailed to about 400 Branch members. It can also be read and downloaded by anyone from the Branch website pages.

If you would like to publicise your waterway related business to our members, and others that read the newsletter online, we can offer advertising space at the following rates: Full Page - £20 per issue

Half Page - £10 per issue

Please contact the editor to discuss artwork and layout.

By advertising you will help to sponsor IWA's charitable activities and reach potential customers who are all committed to the waterways.

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Your Committee Chairman and Acting Secretary Tel: 01889 583330 Email: phil.sharpe@waterways.org.uk

Philip Sharpe

Treasurer Tel: 01785 255101 Email: pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk

Pete Gurney

Planning Tel: 01889 583330 Email: phil.sharpe@waterways.org.uk

Philip Sharpe

Newsletter and Website Editor Tel: 01785 255101 Email: pete.gurney@waterways.org.uk

Pete Gurney

Volunteer Coordinator & Membership Tel: 07808 846434 Email: neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk

Neil Barnett

Navigation Officer Tel: 07847 470112 Email: derek.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk

Derek Beardsmore

Publicity—Press & Magazines Tel: 07808 846434 Email: neil.barnett@waterways.org.uk

Neil Barnett

Minutes Secretary

Vacant

Ex Officio: Region Chairman Branch Sales and External Talks (non-committee posts) Email: helen.whitehouse@waterways.org.uk

Helen Whitehouse

Non-committee posts Walks Coordinator Tel: 07866 201873 Email: clive.walker@waterways.org.uk

Clive Walker

Strolls & Facebook

Margaret Beardsmore

Social Secretary

Lynn Evans

Branch Contact Address Email: lichfield@waterways.org.uk

IWA Lichfield Branch 34 Old Eaton Road Rugeley, Staffs WS15 2EZ

Tel: 07581 794111 Email: margaret.beardsmore@waterways.org.uk Tel: 07933 236785 Email: lynn.evans@waterways.org.uk

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