Grand Union Canal near Bordesley, Birmingham

Image: © Roger D Kidd Taken: 21 Aug 2012

This is the scene looking north-east towards St Andrew's Bridge (No 101). Note the two red painted fireman's hatches built into the bridge parapets. They were to allow hoses through when water needed to be drawn from the canal in an emergency. 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.

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