Wyrley and Essington Canal

The Wyrley and Essington Canal is a canal in the Midlands of England. As built it ran from Wolverhampton to Huddlesford near Lichfield, with a number of branches: some parts are currently derelict. Pending planned restoration to Huddlesford, the navigable mainline now terminates at Ogley Junction near Brownhills.

Related Topics:
Canal - Midlands - England - Wolverhampton - Huddlesford - Lichfield - Brownhills

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The canal was built to allow transport of coal from mines near Wyrley and Essington to Wolverhampton and Walsall, but also carried limestone and other goods. An Act of Parliament received the Royal Assent on 30 April 1792, entitled "An Act for making and maintaining a navigable Canal from, or from near, Wyrley Bank, in the county of Stafford, to communicate with the Birmingham and Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, at or near the town of Wolverhampton, in the said county; and also certain collateral Cuts therein described from the said intended Canal".

Related Topics:
Walsall - Act of Parliament - Royal Assent - 30 April - 1792

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As the act's name suggests, this authorised the construction of the canal from the mainline of the Birmingham Canal Navigations (which would not be known as such until 1794) near Wolverhampton to Wyrley Bank, and the raising of up to £45,000 to pay for construction. William Pitt was appointed engineer.

Related Topics:
Birmingham Canal Navigations - 1794 - William Pitt

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A second act received Royal Assent on 28 March 1794, entitled "An Act for extending the Wyrley and Essington Canal" – this authorised a long extension, from Sneyd (thus making the line from Sneyd to Wyrley Bank effectively a branch) past Lichfield to Huddlesford on the Coventry Canal, together with the raising of up to £115,000 to complete construction. The section of this extension from Ogley Junction to Huddlesford is now known as the Lichfield Canal and is derelict but under restoration.

Related Topics:
28 March - 1794 - Sneyd - Lichfield - Huddlesford - Coventry Canal - Lichfield Canal

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The canal, including the extension, was open throughout by 1797.

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In common with other canals in the Midlands, it was built as a "narrow" canal, that is, able to take boats approximately 70 feet by 7 feet (21.3 metres by 2.1 metres).

Related Topics:
Midlands - Boats

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The canal was lock-free from the Birmingham Canal mainline at Horseley Fields for 16.5 miles (26.5 kilometres), after which there are 30 locks descending to Huddlesford over a further 7 miles (11.3 kilometres).

Related Topics:
Lock - Horseley Fields

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