Broad Street tunnel (83 yards)
The Broad Street Tunnel in the centre of Birmingham allows boats to travel onwards to join the Birmingham Canal (2-3 minutes ahead) and simultaneously carries the A456 road over this particular waterway, the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. The premises above the tunnel are Grade II-listed.
Although to all intents and purposes this looks like a bridge it is designated a tunnel by the waterways authority due to its extended length and substantiated by the signage. The tunnel was opened in 1779 and is constructed of brick and concrete.
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| South east portal |
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Edgbaston tunnel (105 yards)
Edgbaston Tunnel is located on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Edgbaston in Birmingham and was opened in 1795.
The tunnel is 105 yards (96 metre)long and runs beneath Church Road. It is the northern most of the five tunnels on this canal and the only one with a towpath. The tow path has a metal handrail and the tunnel which is lit with LED lighting is wide enough for narrowboats to pass each other. (visit link)
Edgbaston Tunnel is located on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Edgbaston in Birmingham and was opened in 1795.
The tunnel is 105 yards (96 metre)long and runs beneath Church Road. It is the northern most of the five tunnels on this canal and the only one with a towpath. The tow path has a metal handrail and the tunnel which is lit with LED lighting is wide enough for narrowboats to pass each other. (visit link)
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| South portal |
Wast Hills tunnel (2,726 yards)
The Wast Hill Tunnel runs some 2500m under Hawkesley and is the longest on the canal and one of the longest on any British canal. It was built in broad gauge. The original intention had been to build the whole canal in this gauge but this proved to be too expensive.
The tunnel is brick lined and was opened in 1796. The tunnel has no towpath so the boats were legged through. From the 1870s steam and subsequently diesel-powered tugs were used.
The Wast Hill Tunnel runs some 2500m under Hawkesley and is the longest on the canal and one of the longest on any British canal. It was built in broad gauge. The original intention had been to build the whole canal in this gauge but this proved to be too expensive.
The tunnel is brick lined and was opened in 1796. The tunnel has no towpath so the boats were legged through. From the 1870s steam and subsequently diesel-powered tugs were used.
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| The middle of the three air shafts |
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| The north portal |
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| The remains of the coal shed used by the towing tugs |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
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| South portal |
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| The most northerly of the three air shafts |
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| Change in brickwork denotes where height was added to stop youths dropping items down the air shaft |
Shortwood tunnel (613 yards)
This brick lined tunnel was opened in 1807. It is one way only so you have to check if there is another boat coming before entering. It has no towpath and hence the boats used to be legged through and the horses were walked over the top of the hill.
Tardebigge tunnel (580 yards)
The opening of this brick lined tunnel in 1807 brought Tardebigge wharf into its own and the wharf at Alvechurch became less used as boats could now get further south from Birmingham.
There is no towpath so boats had to be legged through and the horses walked over the top of the hill.
This brick lined tunnel was opened in 1807. It is one way only so you have to check if there is another boat coming before entering. It has no towpath and hence the boats used to be legged through and the horses were walked over the top of the hill.
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
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| North portal |
Tardebigge tunnel (580 yards)
The opening of this brick lined tunnel in 1807 brought Tardebigge wharf into its own and the wharf at Alvechurch became less used as boats could now get further south from Birmingham.
There is no towpath so boats had to be legged through and the horses walked over the top of the hill.
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| North portal |
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| South portal |
Dunhampstead tunnel (230 yards)
A shortish, brick lined tunnel at the southern end of the Worcester & Birmingham canal. The canal was opened in 1815 and linked the River Severn at Worcester with Birmingham.
The tunnel is open for two way narrowboat traffic. There are chains along the inside wall for safety reasons. The tunnel is 230 yards long and is dead straight.
A shortish, brick lined tunnel at the southern end of the Worcester & Birmingham canal. The canal was opened in 1815 and linked the River Severn at Worcester with Birmingham.
The tunnel is open for two way narrowboat traffic. There are chains along the inside wall for safety reasons. The tunnel is 230 yards long and is dead straight.
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| South portal |
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| North portal |
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