Everything about The Lichfield Canal totally explained
The
Lichfield Canal, as it's now known, was historically a part of the
Wyrley and Essington Canal, being the section of that canal from
Ogley Junction on the northern
Birmingham Canal Navigations to
Huddlesford Junction on the
Coventry Canal, a length of 7 miles (11.3km). Currently derelict, it's being rebuilt.
History
The Wyrley and Essington Canal was built under an Act of Parliament passed on 30 April 1792, for the original main line, and a second Act, passed before the canal authorised by the first Act had been constructed. This second Act authorised a long extension, part of which is now the Lichfield Canal. The whole canal was opened in 1797.
While the rest of the Wyrley and Essington Canal doesn't contain any locks, as it was all built on the 473ft contour, the Lichfield section descended through 30 locks to reach the Coventry Canal. It was abandoned in 1955, under the terms of an Act of Abandonment obtained in 1954, and much of the bed has been filled in since then.
Restoration
The
Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust (LHCRT) are in charge of the restoration of this and the
Hatherton Canal. The trust currently estimates both canals should be complete by 2025.
Restoration was threatened by the construction of the
M6 Toll motorway around the north of
Birmingham, which cut across the canal's route. Funds were raised to build an
aqueduct to carry the canal over the motorway. (The aqueduct has been finished but the canal has yet to reach it, giving it an odd appearance.) This has had a beneficial side-effect – the Government has promised that never again will a new road be built in the path of a waterway restoration scheme, unless an aqueduct or tunnel is provided.
A new bridge taking Cappers Lane over the canal near Whittington was opened on
21 April 2006.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Lichfield Canal'.
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