| AdminHistory | The Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) began in September 1772, with the completion of a canal between Wolverhampton and Birmingham, by engineer James Brindley. The main aim of the BCN was to provide the short haul transport of finished goods and raw materials of the surrounding manufacturing region of the Black Country. By 1789, it had expanded rapidly and had already absorbed the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal. By 1840, it had incorporated the Wyrley & Essington Canal, and had amalgamated with Dudley Canals in 1846. By the 1850s, there were around 160 miles of canals with over 200 locks, 17 pumping stations, 7 tunnels and 6 reservoirs. However, by the end of the 19th century, canals were in decline due to the railways. BCN did not go under however, as they had an agreement with the London & North Western Railway (LNWR) where local deliveries and collections would be handled by boat, and long transport by rail. By the 1930s though, most of the heavy work on the canals had ceased causing many of the canals to fall into disuse and neglect. Just after the Second World War (1939-1945), prior to nationalisation, the BCN ran the Black Country Canals. Eventually, in 1968, BCN were taken over by the British Waterways Board. They, along with local water authorities, set about to restore many of the original BCN canals. Consequently, many of the canals are now used for leisure and recreation. |