Tardebigge 190721 3436
Lock 33 on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, one of thirty that comprise the Tardebigge Flight, the longest in the UK and one of the longest in Europe.
Construction of the 29 mile canal from Gas Street Basin in Birmingham to the Severn at Worcester was authorised in 1791 and construction from the Birmingham end started the following year. Progress was slow, not least because it was built as a 14ft width 'barge' canal. However, by 1807 the canal had reached Tardebigge without locks, although at the expense of tunnels totalling 4024 yds, including the 2726 yds Wast Hills Tunnel.
At Tardebigge It was still at the 453 ft Birmingham level, and it was clear to the engineers that in order to descend to the River Severn that 'barge' width locks would be too expensive, and the decision was taken to build the rest as a 'narrow' canal, with 7 ft (2.1 m) locks, other than the last two that were double-width to allow larger boats into Diglis Basin. The canal opened throughout in 1815 with a total of 58 locks.
Tardebigge 190721 3436
Lock 33 on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, one of thirty that comprise the Tardebigge Flight, the longest in the UK and one of the longest in Europe.
Construction of the 29 mile canal from Gas Street Basin in Birmingham to the Severn at Worcester was authorised in 1791 and construction from the Birmingham end started the following year. Progress was slow, not least because it was built as a 14ft width 'barge' canal. However, by 1807 the canal had reached Tardebigge without locks, although at the expense of tunnels totalling 4024 yds, including the 2726 yds Wast Hills Tunnel.
At Tardebigge It was still at the 453 ft Birmingham level, and it was clear to the engineers that in order to descend to the River Severn that 'barge' width locks would be too expensive, and the decision was taken to build the rest as a 'narrow' canal, with 7 ft (2.1 m) locks, other than the last two that were double-width to allow larger boats into Diglis Basin. The canal opened throughout in 1815 with a total of 58 locks.