Black County Canal Walks - Bentley Bridge Canal - Then And Now - A History Walkabout

Описание: The authorising act was passed in 1840 and the canal was opened in 1843. Considering the way the ground sloped and the need to build a number of locks, this was a remarkable achievement.

This branch turned off at what is now known as Wednesfield Junction and went under a cast iron roving bridge. There was a Toll Office before the first lock and the first bridge was New Cross bridge. There were 6 locks in the Wednesfield section. The Toll Office or Lock House, BCN number 245, appeared to be a bungalow but had a lower storey built in to the bank. The first lock had ground paddles at both ends originally, but was modified at a later date with gate paddles at the lower end. Locks 2 and 3 followed, and lock 4 came after the brick and girder bridge with a lock house number 246. Well Lane bridge was next.

The Neachells Branch opened in 1845 and left after the bottom lock in a southerly direction and was 3 Furlongs long.

The next bridge on the Bentley Canal was Hill’s Bridge which is “preserved” in the Corus Works Complex. There was another small bridge next called Fly bridge, probably named after the Blue Fly colliery.

A short distance away running south was a basin for loading coal. With the Willenhall boundary crossing parts of this area we cannot help but mention items of history relevant to this article. The next bridge was Fibbersley with many small coal mines nearby.

To return to New Cross bridge, and after that the second lock, an old map shows a Manure and Acid factory near the canal. Lock 3 had a chocolate and confectionery works nearby. This is particularly interesting as about 1904 they were taken over by the Patent Axle Box Foundry. About 1939 the site held Brockhouse Castings. On a 1901 map of Wednesfield Station area, a line to the west leaves it and crosses the canal near lock 4 and passes through the previously mentioned Chocolate works, and terminates close to Rookery Street.

Also in this canalside area was The Phosphorus Company Wednesfield. This was set up by the Manager of The Electric Construction Company, around 1890 and along with his chemist patented a process to produce phosphorus from electricity. At this time phosphorus was used in matches, weapons and as a poison. To test the process, works were built in Wednesfield near the Railway and Canal. Steam driven electric furnaces drove a huge alternator which produced 400 units of electricity. The heat for the furnaces was provided by carbon arcs. The furnaces had apertures at the top where phosphates and coke were poured in to produce liquid phosphorus. This was condensed in water to form 50lb blocks. Production lasted only 2 years. The rights and patents were sold to Albright and Wilson Ltd. of Oldbury.

Neachells Branch opened in 1845 and linked the Bentley Canal to Neachells Colliery. It branched off the Bentley canal towards the western end. Fell into disuse in 1960,s and closed to commercial traffic 1953

The Bentley Canal was abandoned in 1961 and it is believed to have been filled in and had the Waddens Brook diverted along its route in 1970-71.