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Graston Close, BIRMINGHAM, B16 8ND

Birmingham Canal Navigations. Looking west-north-west from near Sherborne Wharf. The modern King Edwards* Wharf Apartments are straight ahead. Major redevelopment locally is still in progress in many places in central Birmingham. The Oozells Street Loop is a remnant from the original 1772 line to Wolverhampton. *The developers felt they were far too important, and "trendy" to bother with apostrophes.

Birmingham Canal Navigations. Looking west-north-west from the Liberty Place footbridge. The modern King Edwards* Wharf Apartments are straight ahead. Major redevelopment locally is still in progress in many places in central Birmingham. The Oozells Street Loop is a remnant from the original 1772 line to Wolverhampton. *The developers felt they were far too important, and "trendy" to bother with apostrophes.

Seen from near Sheepcote Street on King Edwards Drive. The bridge is crossing a canal loop that is now lined with accommodation.

In the foreground lies a short dock off the Oozells Street Loop http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6062041 , which ends just outside the frame to the right. The loop itself is the original Birmingham Canal built around 1770 by James Brindley. In the 1820s the canal was straightened by Thomas Telford by cutting trenches through higher ground, thereby cutting off loops such as this one. Old industrial buildings opposite have been demolished and will no doubt be replaced by apartment blocks in due course, as has already happened along most other parts of the canal loop.

High and Low living in the Wharf off the Birmingham Canal.

Residential area just inside the Birmingham middle ring road with a mixture of low and high rise flats. Morville Street comes in two sections as far as vehicular traffic is concerned; this is the western branch. The two branches are connected by a short pedestrian path through Ryland Street Park, behind the photographer.

Birmingham Canal Navigations. James Brindley’s original 1769 canal was a "contour canal" which looped around the contours to avoid gradients. In 1824 Thomas Telford straightened the canal using aqueducts across valleys and cuttings through higher land reducing the length considerably. His 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 and has seen much impressive regeneration in the last twenty years.. Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Canal_Navigations

A view into the Oozells Street Loop with its moorings. Clearly evident is the amount of development which has taken place in recent years alongside the canal network in the city centre. Time photo taken 12.39 pm BST (British Summer Time).

A view of the Oozells Street Loop moorings on the Birmingham Canal close to the city centre. Canals in their new role for leisure rather than as previously for trade and having a canal near your door can push up house prices too. Time photo taken 12.42 pm BST (British Summer Time).