Lock Number 6 of the “Old Main Lane” canal on the outskirts of Wolverhampton (Author’s Collection).
Welcome to what is ostensibly the second in a series of articles on the Locks and stretches of canal leading into major English cities and an article which follows hot on the heels of the first in this series, a beautiful sunshine filled walk around the magnificent Cheshire city of Chester. Whereas that article weaves around the commonly and historically known “Walled City” and luxuriates in the sun through the canal network and the attached River Dee, the local racecourse and the magnificent city herself, this edition focuses solely on the walk from Autherley Junction 2+ miles away and the 21 canal Locks that lead to the centre of the city.
Perhaps naïvely, I wasn’t expecting the graffiti laden and somewhat spoiled approaches to many locks and bridges and, whilst I’m not a graffiti snob, I just felt they were out of place for what is a time capsule to another century. I adore the image that heads up this article and concluded during my morning walk that rather than let my opinions get in the way I’d document and record what I saw and capture everything as best I could to properly represent the rather lovely walk in blazing heatwave sunshine that this truly was.
Following my disclaimer below I will only add minimal colour commentary to a bumper collection of images that I hope will place you within the walk next to me and enjoying a slow amble beside a canal in the commonly known “Black Country” of England.
Disclaimer
As per my previous articles on the canals in the picturesque UK county in which I live, I don’t claim to have any experience of either a canal boat lifestyle or the inner workings and trials and tribulations of life on a houseboat/canal boat or narrow boat (whichever you prefer). I just find the peace, tranquillity and the quirky nature of an almost bygone way of existence and determination to live your life in this way, and in a floating house too, endlessly fascinating. I also bask and prosper in the sunshine, love the sights and sounds of canal life juxtaposed with the earthy nature and countryside that surrounds it, and simply discovering a new piece of the canal waterways puzzle never fails to raise a smile on my face. Guaranteed (Guaranteed) to receive oodles of smiles and “Hello’s” and “Good Afternoon’s” from the human beings you meet and watching dogs leap into a canal in search of a well thrown stick or ball can’t fail to amuse the child in all of us.
So much for all that.
*All images captured by me today, 18th July 2022*
Autherley Junction is our starting point as well as being a connection between the beginning/end of the Shropshire Union Canal and the merging with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal that we traverse for just under a mile before joining the “Old Main Line” through the 21 Locks and into the city of Wolverhampton.
View from Bridge Number 1 or “Autherley Junction Bridge” and you have a choice of Great Harwood to your left, Chester (see above) and back from whence we came or Stourport to the right and the initial direction of our walk this sunny morning.
View from atop Bridge 65 or “Oxley Moor Bridge” on the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and back toward our initial starting point of Autherley Junction.
Bridge Number 64 of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal or “Aldersely Junction Bridge” and the first of the 21 Locks leading into Wolverhampton. The Lock is numbered 21 as they descend in number through to number 1 or “Wolverhampton Top Lock” (see further below).
Here we branch away from the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal and head toward Birmingham, via Wolverhampton, on the commonly known “Old Main Line”.
A final view through both the sunshine and the bridge itself as we get a closer view of Lock Number 21 as we depart for Wolverhampton.
View from atop Bridge Number 64 at Aldersley and back from whence we came.
A rather pleasing image from atop the same bridge, the Lock in its entirety and the first of the many curves and bends in this old canal as it winds its way through the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
A return view that so typifies this walk, the traditional black and white Locks surrounded by mother nature and the graffiti that covers so much of this time capsule to a bygone age.
Here’s the graffiti debate: Look at this beautiful image of a canal Lock and Gate, the beauty of the rushing water, and convince me the addition of the spray painted sign/slogan befits this natural beauty.
View from atop an unnamed Bridge showing the entirety of Lock Number 19 and the coming bend in the canal that leads immediately to the next Lock.
Lock Number 19 and the short approach to Number 18.
Lock Number 18 on the “Old Main Lane” leading into Wolverhampton.
A beautiful approach to Lock Number 17 and the equally beautiful “Tail Bridge” straight ahead.
Lock 17, a touch of graffiti and the magnificent “Tail Bridge”.
(1) View from atop “Tail Bridge” showing the entirety of the Lock and the high railway viaduct straight ahead.
(2) View from atop “Tail Bridge” showing the entirety of the Lock and the high railway viaduct straight ahead.
A quick look back from whence we came before we progress further along the canal.
View from beneath the railway viaduct through to an unnamed railway bridge, the next Lock and the industry that once gave its names to the colloquially known “Black Country”.
Following a meander through the more heavily industrialised areas beside the canal we reach the graffitied bridge of “Jordan’s Bridge” and Lock Number 8 waiting on the other side.
Lock Number 7 with a straight run through to the next Lock in just a few hundred yards.
Looking back from whence we came at Lock Number 6 and a piece of graffiti I greatly admire (and yes, it makes for a good picture too!).
Forward and onward from Lock Number 6 and the heavily graffitied “Cannock Road Bridge”.
From Lock Number 5 through to Number 4 on the near outskirts of the centre of Wolverhampton.
Regular readers of my canal trails and trials will attest to my liking for “Perfect Timing” moments. Usually, they take the form of a canal boat gently rolling on by but here, a train departs from nearby Wolverhampton Central Train Station.
Little’s Lane Bridge” heralds our arrival at Lock Number 1 or “Wolverhampton Top Lock” and the end of our outward journey.
For the beginning of our return journey but not before two more images from “Wolverhampton Top Lock”.
(1) Wolverhampton Top Lock, 18th July 2022.
(1) Wolverhampton Top Lock, 18th July 2022.
Walking back from whence we came and a graffiti lined return it shall be.
Lock Number 5 and the other side of a heavily graffitied “Cannock Road Bridge”.
Locks 6 and 7 (in the near distance) and the graffiti leading to the spaceman seen earlier.
Returning through the industrialised stretch of the canal here at Lock Number 8 with “Jordan’s Bridge” straight ahead.
The “Perfect Timing” moments that please me endlessly.
Lock Number 13 and the canal bend leading to the next Lock.
With Lock Number 14 ahead, I thought I’d say hello to some canal friends!
View from Lock 14, another pleasing canal bend in sight and just 7 Locks to go.
Lock Number 15 and “Gorsebrook Bridge” straight ahead.
(1) The graffiti of “Gorsebrook Bridge”.
(2) The graffiti of “Gorsebrook Bridge”.
Lock Number 16 with the railway viaduct prominent in the near distance.
I made some more friends at Lock Number 16!
“Is he still taking our picture Fred?” “I’ve no idea John. I’m refusing to even look at him now”.
A magnificent view of Lock Number 17 and “Tail Bridge”.
Lock Number 18 and if you crane your neck around the tree, Number 19 sits straight ahead.
Lock Number 19 and an unnamed bridge.
Lock Number 20 and just 1 more to go.
(1) More graffiti collected toward the end of the return journey.
(2) More graffiti collected toward the end of the return journey.
(3) More graffiti collected toward the end of the return journey.
A return shot of “Aldersley Bridge” as we reach the end of this 4–5 mile round trip amble beside the canal.
The very epitome of this walk in the heatwave sunshine. Graffiti adorned walls and bridges amid the magnificence of the old time Locks and the beauty of mother nature that surrounds it.
Your humble narrator fooling around at Grindley Brook on the Llangollen Canal and the border between England and Wales, early July 2022.
Thanks for reading. Further city editions of the Locks and Canals of Birmingham and fellow larger English cities to follow during the Summer, but if you’ve enjoyed this elongated pictorial stroll in the sunshine, can I tempt you with these recently published articles on specific walks throughout the Central/North West stretches of England’s waterways?
