Unusual canal bridge near Pendeford in Wolverhampton

Image: © Roger Kidd Taken: 8 Apr 2023

These are sometimes called double bridges, but here it also functioned as a turnover bridge, enabling horses to cross from one side of the canal to the other without being unhitched from their boats, so it is named Turnover Bridge, No 3 across the Shropshire Union Canal. It is open to pedestrians and cyclists. Looking north, the unusual Grade II listed "two lane" structure served two purposes, and was probably only built this way to satisfy local landowners at the time. On the right, horses could cross the canal and continue. The wider section on the left carried a substantial track between Barnhurst Farm and (Upper) Pendeford Farm. Barnhurst Farm has been demolished and land used for the Dovecotes housing estate. The track leading north-west to Pendeford Farm, across the current Pendeford Wood nature area, no longer exists.

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