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Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Tardebigge
Canal
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
Tardebigge
Canal
The
Birmingham
to
Worcester
Canal
as
a
transport
system
for
Redditch
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Tardebigge
Canal
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
The
British
canal
system
was
an
important
feature
of
the
Industrial
Revolution
in
the
UK.
Roads
were
primitive
and
medieval
and
pack
horses
were
the
principle
means
of
"mass"
transport
by
road
of
raw
materials
and
finished
products.
The
canal
system
grew
rapidly
at
first,
and
became
an
almost
completely-connected
network
covering
the
South,
Midlands,
and
parts
of
the
North
of
England
and
Wales.
The
canal
boats
could
carry
30
tons
at
a
time
with
only
one
horse
pulling
it.
This
was
more
than
ten
times
the
amount
of
cargo
per
horse
that
was
possible
with
a
cart.
By
about
1840,
the
canal
system
had
expanded
to
nearly
4,000
miles
(over
6,400
kilometres)
in
length.
Up
to
then
they
had
no
competition.
However,
this
would
change
with
the
introduction
of
railways.
The
Development
of
Canals
in
Britain
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Tardebigge
Canal
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
Work
began
on
the
Worcester
to
Birmingham
Canal
in
the
late
18th
Century
and
the
route
from
Birmingham
reached
the
Tardebigge
Old
Wharf
in
1807.
It
took
six
years
to
complete
the
Tardebigge
tunnel
to
the
New
Wharf
and
the
route
to
Worcester
was
finally
opened
in
1815.
It
had
taken
24
years
and
cost
more
than
three
times
the
original
estimated
cost.
This
was
due
to
the
difficult
terrain
requiring
the
construction
of
three
major
tunnels
and
58
locks.
The
route
of
the
canal
is
shown
on
the
Google
map.
The
canal
was
only
three
miles
from
Redditch
and
was
to
play
an
important
role
in
the
development
of
the
town.
The
Worcester
to
Birmingham
Canal
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Tardebigge
Canal
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
Redditch
used
initially
the
Tardebigge
Old
Wharf
as
this
was
the
first
to
be
constructed
and
later
both
the
New
and
Old
Wharfs
were
used.
It
was
more
efficient
and
less
costly
for
Redditch
manufacturers
to
use
the
canal
rather
than
low
grade
road
transport.
The
principle
routes
from
Redditch
were
via
Brockhill
Lane
to
the
Old
Wharf
and
via
Red
Lane
(Bromsgrove
Road)
to
the
New
Wharf.
It
was
vital
for
Redditch
manufacturers
as
they
were
able
to
bring
in
coal,
steel
and
other
raw
materials
and
export
manufactured
goods
by
this
route.
This
method
of
transport
was
of
importance
for
Redditch
from
1807
to
1859
as
this
was
the
date
when
the
railway
arrived
in
Redditch
and
made
the
canal
uncompetitive.
The
Canal
as
Transport
system
for
Redditch
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Tardebigge
Canal
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
By
the
1830's,
railways
had
rapidly
become
the
most
important
means
of
long
distance
transport.
The
canal
network
started
their
decline
because
the
canals
could
not
compete
with
the
new,
faster
and
cheaper
steam
trains
that
could
efficiently
carry
raw
materials,
finished
products
and,
critically,
people.
The
railways
arrived
late
in
Redditch
and
it
was
not
until
1859
that
the
branch
line
arrived
from
Birmingham.
By
this
time
the
railway
system
had
become
well
established
and
the
amount
of
cargo
carried
on
the
canals
had
fallen
by
nearly
two-thirds,
lost
almost
entirely
to
railway
competition.
The
Decline
of
the
Canal
System
Tardebigge
New
Wharf
Above:
in
1920
Below:
In
2013
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Tardebigge
Canal
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
The
canals
continued
their
decline
but
had
a
brief
revival
during
the
Second
World
War.
However
this
was
short
lived,
but,
although
the
commercial
decline
continued
after
the
end
of
the
war,
recreational
use
gradually
increased
as
people
had
more
leisure
time
and
disposable
income.
In
1946
a
group
called
the
Inland
Waterways
Association
was
formed
and
this
helped
revive
interest
in
the
UK's
canals.
British
Waterways,
which
has
the
role
of
running
the
canal
system
came
to
see
the
economic
and
social
potential
of
developing
the
system
and
has
encouraged
recreational
use.
This
has
moved
the
canals
from
an
historic
relic
of
our
Industrial
Revolution
to
the
point
where
they
are
a
major
leisure
destination.
The
Revival
of
the
Canal
System
Above:
Tardebigge
Church
which
has
the
graves
of
many
canal
people
and
people
who
worked
on
the
canals.
Left:
A
view
of
New
Wharf
from
Tardebigge
Church
Pocket
Histories
of
Redditch
-
Tardebigge
Canal
Designed
and
Produced
by
Anthony
Green
2015
End
of
Presentation
Tardebigge
Canal
The
Birmingham
to
Worcester
Canal
as
a
transport
system
for
Redditch