Oozells Street Loop (Birmingham)

United Kingdom / England / Birmingham / Oozells Street
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James Brindley’s original 1769 canal was a "contour canal" which looped around the contours to avoid gradients.

In 1824 Thomas Telford drew up plans to straighten the canal using aqueducts across valleys and cuttings through higher land. It also had towpaths on both sides so that the boatmen did not have to carry out complicated manoevres with their towropes every time they met a boat travelling in the opposite direction.

The new Birmingham Main Line opened in 1829 and was 5 miles and 5 hours shorter than the original route.

The Oozells Street Loop is one of the remaining loops of Brindley's Old Main Line.
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Canal_Navigations
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   52°28'41"N   1°54'59"W

Comments

  • The Loop part of the canal is called Sherborne Wharf, and is a private mooring, not open to the general public. Has keycode access gates.
This article was last modified 9 years ago