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The Worcester Birmingham Canal Society was formed in 1969 to promote the restoration, conservation and improvement of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and adjacent waterways for the use and benefit of the public. The society also provides a social forum for those interested in the canal and waterways generally. A history of the society from 1969 to 1978 can be found here. Our constitution can be found here.
The canal itself starts at the River Severn in Worcester. After passing through the city it traverses fine, un-spoilt, Worcestershire countryside, climbs the famous Tardebigge flight of 30 locks up onto the Birmingham plateau, and eventually enters the 1½ mile long Kings Norton Tunnel. The section from the tunnel to the very heart of the city includes what is regarded by many as one of the finest stretches of urban waterway as it runs through the grounds of the University and through leafy Edgbaston. At Selly Oak, the canal used to join the Dudley Number 2 canal (see links page), but the junction has long since disappeared. The Worcester & Birmingham Canal ends at the junction with the Birmingham Canal Navigations, at "Worcester Bar", within sight of the International Convention Centre.
Whilst the canal is in much better condition than it was in 1969 the role of the Society in conserving and improving the canal is as important as ever. We work to ensure that the canal's heritage and environment is conserved and restored. We work to encourage the improvement of the canal and it's towpath. We monitor and aim to influence developments that affect the canal.
We carry out practical work on the canal such as litter picking and the installation of signs and information boards. We also organise walks, visits, boat gatherings and a variety of other social events.
A history of the Worcester Birmingham Canal Society 1969-1978
Constitution of the Worcester Birmingham Canal Society
It was the intention of the promoters of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal to construct a navigation between Worcester and the rapidly growing mineral and manufacturing resources of Birmingham and the Black Country that would be some 3O miles shorter than the existing navigation by way of Autherley, Stourport, and the river Severn,
Like so many canal promoters they seriously underestimated the engineering difficulties and the cost. Though the Act authorising the construction of the canal was passed in 1791, the canal was not opened to Worcester until 1815. During this time 56 locks had been constructed in the 16 miles between Worcester and Tardebigge to lift the canal 425 feet from the river Severn to the summit level of the Birmingham canals; 5 tunnels were built, the longest at Kings Norton of 2726 yards being a major engineering feat; and the necessary reservoirs constructed, four of which were to preserve the water rights of the mill owners on the rivers Rea and Arrow.
The promoters had originally intended to make the canal of a width suitable to take barges off the river Severn throughout its length to Birmingham, but this optimistic target was abandoned after the two barge locks at Worcester were built; nevertheless the tunnels and bridges continued to be built to a broad standard. The Act authorised a capital of £180,000, but by the time the canal was completed £610,000 had been spent.
The canal had meantime gained by its connections with the Stratford canal at Kings Norton (1796), which itself was joined in 1802 by a short arm at Kingswood to the Warwick & Birmingham canal (now the Grand Union), thus providing the Worcester & Birmingham with a route to the South. An extension of the Dudley canal to join the Worcester & Birmingham at Selly Oak (1798) provided welcome additional traffic, mainly in coal. In 1853 the Droitwich Junction canal was opened, linking the Worcester-Birmingham with the town of Droitwich and the Droitwich barge canal: it was hoped thereby to secure more of the salt trade from the salt works in Droitwich and district.
Despite its cost and the heavy locking the canal was moderately prosperous, and carrying companies were soon after its opening advertising regular services, between Worcester, Birmingham, Coventry, London, Liverpool, Manchester. Gloucester and Bristol. Trade was mainly in coal, salt, limestone, building materials, wood, chemicals and general merchandise. Pickfords advertised a fly boat service, and for a short time there was a passenger service between Alvechurch and Birmingham. The opening of the Gloucester and Berkeley Ship Canal in 1827 led to an increase of traffic on the Worcester & Birmingham.
Unfortunately for the canal it was a latecomer and was soon to face railway competition. The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway opened in 1841 and by 1847 much of the salt traffic from Stoke Prior was lost to the railways. Further competition came with the opening of the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway in 1851. In common with most other canals the Worcester & Birmingham was nationalised in 1948, and is now under the authority of British Waterways. Regular commercial traffic did not wholly cease until the early 1960's, the last commercial boats probably delivering chocolate crumb to the Cadbury factory at Bournville, and coal to the Royal Porcelain Company.
With the advent of pleasure boating the canal has become a very popular holiday route with boats completing the Avon and Stourport "rings". There are a large number of boat hire companies on the canal and attractions such as Cadbury World and the International Convention Centre in Birmingham have ensured a constant flock of visitors to one of Britain's most interesting and attractive waterways.
Harold Hodges 1988
Updated by Brett Laniosh 2001