Ordnance Survey 1883 1:10,000 mapping covering Ogley Locks and Warrenhouse Bridge in Barracks Lane. From National Library of Scotland. Click for a larger version.
The remarkable photo featured at the weekend from Geoff Harrington really has stirred you lot up – lots of debate about the location, photo position and what’s visible – but also, some great points about waterway construction and terminology.
Prompted by the wonderful Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, for the aid of the debate, I feature a couple of maps: The OS 1883 1:10,000 above, which shows the complete 8-lock Ogley flight, and Warrenhouse Bridge in Barracks Lane. Note the size and shape of the lock pounds (stretches of water between locks).
Interestingly, the canal lingers current A-Z mapping: note ‘The Long Pound’ an name that mystified me for years, and Warrenhouse Bridge – although no longer extant – is marked. Click for a larger version.
I also note the above curiosity from current A-Z mapping: A house called The Long Pound (why? What do we know about that?) and Warrenhose Bridge still marked, although no trace exists as far as I recall. Oddly, the A-Z doesn’t show the basins at Ogley Junction, still very much there.
This is a good point to remind readers there are photos here on the Ogley lock flight and possibly Warnenhouse Bridge shortly after closure, featured in a post called ‘A lost line’, which I reproduce below; all are from the Canal and River Trust photo archive, which can be found here and contains a stunning and fascinating range of images.
That wonderful photo from Geoff Harrington.
The canal had 30 locks in total and was believed to have been abandoned around 1933, but formerly closed in 1957.
The canal is now referred to as the Lichfield Canal and is being restored as part of the Lichfield and Hatherton project, carried out by dedicated enthusiasts.
Comments or corrections? Feel free or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
