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{{Short description|Canal tunnel in England}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} |
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{{Use British English|date=March 2017}} |
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{{Infobox tunnel |
{{Infobox tunnel |
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|name = Wast |
|name = Wast Hill Tunnel |
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|image = Wast Hill Tunnel Southern portal - geograph.org.uk - 151865.jpg |
|image = Wast Hill Tunnel Southern portal - geograph.org.uk - 151865.jpg |
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|caption =Southern portal |
|caption =Southern portal |
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|passable = Yes |
|passable = Yes |
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|towpath = No |
|towpath = No |
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|construction = |
|construction = 1794-97 |
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|open = |
|open = |
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|status = Open |
|status = Open |
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}} |
}} |
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''' |
''' Wast Hill Tunnel''' is a canal tunnel on the [[Worcester and Birmingham Canal]]. Its northern portal is in [[Hawkesley]], [[Birmingham]]. Its southern portal is in fields just outside the city's boundaries, in [[Worcestershire]].<ref name=WBC> |
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{{cite web |author=|title=Worcester & Birmingham Canal|url=http://www.canalguide.co.uk/canals/britain_canal_worcester.htm|work= |publisher= |year=|accessdate=2 March 2015}} |
{{cite web |author=|title=Worcester & Birmingham Canal|url=http://www.canalguide.co.uk/canals/britain_canal_worcester.htm|work= |publisher= |year=|accessdate=2 March 2015}} |
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</ref> |
</ref> |
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==Construction and measurements== |
==Construction and measurements== |
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The Wast |
The Wast Hill Tunnel was built in 1796 and is {{convert|2726|yd|m}} long, making it one of the longest in the country.<ref name=WBC/> There are several [[ventilation shaft]]s along its length which were initially used for the tunnel's construction.<ref name=geograph>The central airshaft once had a steam driven fan for smoke clearance. |
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{{cite web |author=David Stowell|title=Wast Hill Tunnel Southern portal|url= |
{{cite web |author=David Stowell|title=Wast Hill Tunnel Southern portal|url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/151865|work= |publisher= |year=|accessdate=3 March 2015}} |
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</ref> It is wide enough to accommodate two [[narrow boat]]s but there is no [[towpath]].<ref name=dargue> |
</ref> It is wide enough to accommodate two [[narrow boat]]s but there is no [[towpath]].<ref name=dargue> |
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{{cite web |author=William Dargue|title=Hawkesley, Hawkesley End - West Heath|url=http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-h/hawkesley-west-heath/|work= |publisher= |year=|accessdate=3 March 2015}} |
{{cite web |author=William Dargue|title=Hawkesley, Hawkesley End - West Heath|url=http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-h/hawkesley-west-heath/|work= |publisher= |year=|accessdate=3 March 2015}}</ref> |
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</ref> |
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== History == |
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Work started on the tunnel in 1794 and was completed in 1797.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pearson |first=Wendy |url=http://archive.org/details/kingsnortonpastp0000pear |title=King's Norton : past & present |publisher=Sutton Publishing |others= |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7509-3858-7 |location=[[Stroud]] |page=113 |url-access=registration |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Until 1904 canal boats were [[Legging (canals)|legged]] through the tunnel; it took three hours to navigate. Leggers were replaced by a steam tug to pull a chain of barges through.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Clem |date=23 November 1979 |title=Eerie journey in deadly Wast Hill |page=front |work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002139/19791123/001/0001 |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 September 2023 |via=[[British Newspaper Archive]]}}</ref> The tunnel used to carry telegraph lines placed through iron brackets attached to the roof.<ref>{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/nicholsonsouth4t0000unse |title=Ordnance Survey Guide to the Waterways I. South |publisher=[[Ordnance Survey]] & [[Nicholson Guides]] |isbn=978-0-948576-31-7 |edition=4th |publication-date=1989 |page=189 |language=en |via=Internet Archive}}</ref> On 23 November 1979, two workmen were killed when part of the tunnel roof collapsed while undergoing repair.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bailey |first=Jackie |first2=Keith |last2=Wootton |date=23 November 1979 |title=Men die in city tunnel tomb |page=front |work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0002139/19791123/001/0001 |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 September 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> The tunnel remained closed until 30 May 1981.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 May 1981 |title=Death tunnel re-opens |page=front |work=[[Birmingham Evening Mail]] |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002139/19810530/003/0003 |url-access=subscription |access-date=3 September 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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<references /> |
<references /> |
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{{Commons category|Wast Hill Tunnel}} |
{{Commons category|Wast Hill Tunnel}} |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Birmingham, West Midlands]] |
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Birmingham, West Midlands]] |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Worcestershire]] |
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Worcestershire]] |
Latest revision as of 20:03, 6 April 2024
Overview | |
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Location | Hawkesley, Birmingham, West Midlands, and Worcestershire, England |
Coordinates | 52°23′25″N 1°56′24″W / 52.3902°N 1.9400°W |
OS grid reference | SP041769 |
Status | Open |
Waterway | Worcester and Birmingham Canal |
Start | 52°24′00″N 1°55′51″W / 52.39991°N 1.93096°W |
End | 52°22′50″N 1°56′56″W / 52.38066°N 1.94890°W |
Operation | |
Constructed | 1794-97 |
Owner | Canal & River Trust |
Technical | |
Design engineer | Thomas Cartwright |
Length | 2,726 yards (2,492.7 m) |
Width | Double |
Towpath | No |
Boat-passable | Yes |
Wast Hill Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Its northern portal is in Hawkesley, Birmingham. Its southern portal is in fields just outside the city's boundaries, in Worcestershire.[1]
Construction and measurements[edit]
The Wast Hill Tunnel was built in 1796 and is 2,726 yards (2,493 m) long, making it one of the longest in the country.[1] There are several ventilation shafts along its length which were initially used for the tunnel's construction.[2] It is wide enough to accommodate two narrow boats but there is no towpath.[3]
History[edit]
Work started on the tunnel in 1794 and was completed in 1797.[4] Until 1904 canal boats were legged through the tunnel; it took three hours to navigate. Leggers were replaced by a steam tug to pull a chain of barges through.[5] The tunnel used to carry telegraph lines placed through iron brackets attached to the roof.[6] On 23 November 1979, two workmen were killed when part of the tunnel roof collapsed while undergoing repair.[7] The tunnel remained closed until 30 May 1981.[8]
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Worcester & Birmingham Canal". Retrieved 2 March 2015.
- ^ The central airshaft once had a steam driven fan for smoke clearance. David Stowell. "Wast Hill Tunnel Southern portal". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ William Dargue. "Hawkesley, Hawkesley End - West Heath". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
- ^ Pearson, Wendy (2004). King's Norton : past & present. Stroud: Sutton Publishing. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-7509-3858-7 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Lewis, Clem (23 November 1979). "Eerie journey in deadly Wast Hill". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. front. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ Ordnance Survey Guide to the Waterways I. South (4th ed.). Ordnance Survey & Nicholson Guides. 1989. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-948576-31-7 – via Internet Archive.
- ^ Bailey, Jackie; Wootton, Keith (23 November 1979). "Men die in city tunnel tomb". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. front. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Death tunnel re-opens". Birmingham Evening Mail. 30 May 1981. p. front. Retrieved 3 September 2023 – via British Newspaper Archive.