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| Windmill
End & Bumble Hole - Dudley No2 canal |
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| This part of the
Dudley No.2 canal was constructed between 1793 and 1798 and linked to the
Worcester and Birmingham canal at Selly Oak. Sadly It now terminates at
Hawne Basin 21/2 miles away. Not far from this basin was once the site of
the 3795 yard long Lappal tunnel which suffered a roof callapse and resulted
in the closure of the canal. The Lapal Canal Trust have recently erected
a sign by the side of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal marking the site
of the vanished junction. Windmill End junction was once very busy with
boats carrying raw materials in and out of the Black Country. Cobbs Engine
bridge, a blue bricked bridge marks the site of a mineral railway which
severed the Cobbs pumping engine as well as the collieries which were in
abundance in this area. |
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| Bumble Hole :Now only
200 yards in length Bumble hole used to be part of the main Dudley canal.
A small pool lies to the left hand side which acts as a breeding ground
for the many ducks and geese. |
Toll End bridge. One
of a few iron Bridges in this area manufactured at the Horseley Iron Works
which was based at Tipton. |
| Below: Cobbs Engine House.
This sheduled Ancient monument built in 1831 has long been a landmark associated
with Netherton and its famous tunnel, It contained a James Watt beam engine
capable of pumping in the region of 367,000 gallons of water per day. It
pumped water out of the deep mines situated here and into the nearby cut. |
Below: Cobbs Engine is
now situated in a more peaceful enviroment but I would imagine the bricks
cound tell a tale or two. It was called after Farmer Cobb who owned land
in the area before the engine house was built. |
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| The Dudley No.2 canal heading
towards the Netherton Branch canal and the famous tunnel which is 3027 (2768m)
yards long and was constructed between 1855 and 1858. |
The Little Dry Dock: This pub
stands right at the foot of Windmill Junction and was built as a barge station
for the boats going up the Netherton tunnel to New Street station. It was
coverted into a pub after the war and has a barge inside it |
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