Grand Union Canal near Bordesley, Birmingham
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Grand Union Canal near Bordesley, Birmingham by Roger D Kidd as part of the Geograph project.
The Geograph project started in 2005 with the aim of publishing, organising and preserving representative images for every square kilometre of Great Britain, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
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Grand Union Canal near Bordesley, Birmingham
Image: © Roger D Kidd Taken: 21 Aug 2012
This is the scene from beneath the arch of St Andrew's Bridge (No 101), looking towards Bordesley Junction. Formerly the Birmingham and Warwick Junction Canal, and sometimes referred to as the Saltley Cut, it was opened in 1844 to avoid the heavily locked route via Aston Junction. The canal became very heavily industrialised, and was despised by the boatmen who had to work on it. Wikipedia explains thus: "... this 2·5 mile link canal was reviled as the filthiest place on the whole canal system, with gas works, a power station, railway works and a chemical works all generating or receiving cargoes, and discharging waste into the canal ..." It has been cleaned up now, and regeneration is gradually progressing, including the construction of new housing, though there are many large former factory buildings which will need attention.
Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Image Location
Latitude
52.477585
Longitude
-1.873836