Hawne Basin and Dudley No. 2 Canal up to 1980.
Researched and written by Roy Kenn
"As part of the process of creating an Archive for our Trust, I realised that a large amount of historical information was being collected. All of the information is available in one form or another but no-one, as far as I know, has collated it into an easily-followed format.
"So I found myself doing something which was completely unplanned, but which I believe to be of interest. I will do it in the old-fashioned (but better!) way and leave it to others to ‘electronify’ it if they so choose."
(What follows is quite a long 'electronified' version of Roy's several source documents, merged to maintain the time line of events. Roy's personal observations remain.)
April 1798
The Earl of Dudley’s second canal was opened. It linked with his original canal at Parkhead and joined a newly-opened section of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal at Selly Oak. It passes through Halesowen between Gosty Hill and Lapal tunnels and its main cargoes were coal and lime. It became known as the Dudley No. 2 Canal.
1834
Hawn Colliery was opened. The colliery was situated on the western side of the River Stour and access to the Dudley No. 2 was by means of a horse-drawn tramway. A basin was built to allow the coal to be loaded on the boats, and the basin was known as Hawn Colliery Basin. At various times the basin was known as Coombeswood Basin, Heywood Basin and, by the railway, Halesowen Basin. Around the turn of the century an ‘e’ was added to the original ‘Hawn’. The basin has been extended once, possibly twice, since it was originally built and has evolved into the Hawne Basin we have today.
1841
A scoop wheel was installed on the western side of Lapal Tunnel. It was driven by a steam engine removed from Coombeswood, and this assisted passage through the tunnel. This engine operated until 1883 when it was replaced by a new engine which, in turn, operated until 1912.
1846
Dudley No. 2 Canal amalgamated with the Birmingham Canal Navigations.
1849
A trial took place using a steam-driven tug in order to tow boats through Gosty tunnel. The experiment failed. Later, in 1913, a paraffin-fuelled Bolinder-driven tug was trialled, this time successfully, and this operated until the late 1930s. The tug was named George and, unusually, it had two bows and no stern thus eliminating the need to wind after each trip through the tunnel. The remains of the Tug House can still be seen at the northern end of the tunnel.
1860
The arrival of Industry. Abraham Barnsley opened the first ironworks. Two years later Coombeswood was bought by Noah Hingley from Lord Lyttleton, and the land was used to extend the Ironworks and the Rolling Mills. A series of amalgamations ended in 1903 with the company becoming known as Stewarts and Lloyds. In 1967 S & L was nationalised and became the British Steel Corporation, which was privatised again in 1988 and closed in 1996.
1864
Haywood Forge opened. It was taken over in 1866 by Walter Somers. At first forgings were transported by canal but they eventually became too big for the boats and transferred to rail. The anchor shank for Titanic was forged by Somers. In April 1990 the Company were involved in the infamous episode of Saddam Hussein’s “supergun”, in which Company Directors were arrested and wrongfully charged with breaking UN sanctions. It took until November 1990 for the Government of the time to admit their responsibility.
11th April 1864
New Hawn Colliery opened.
1876
A triple murder took place at a cottage in Coombeswood. A man killed his wife and two young daughters with an axe. Luckily for him, or perhaps not, he was found Not Guilty due to insanity, and spent the rest of his life in a lunatic asylum.
1878
The first railway arrived in Halesowen.
1897
New Hawn Colliery closed.
1902
Our Basin was bought by the Great Western Railway Company and the Halesowen Basin (Hawne) branch railway line was opened. Note the GWR boundary post just inside our entrance gates. This was when our basin became an Interchange Basin.
1908
Coombeswood Colliery Opened. They built their own basin. which was just outside of our fenced section of towpath. The pit was nationalised in 1948 and closed in 1953. It was also known as Golden Orchard Colliery. The railway sidings were extended to our Basin, which was also increased in size to its present shape and size.
1912
The trans-shipment sheds were built, and lasted until 1970 when they were demolished for safety reasons.
1917
Lapal Tunnel closed due to a roof fall. At least one more major roof fall has occurred since then and parts of the tunnel were infilled when the M5 was built.
1926
Lapal Tunnel was officially closed. New Hawne Colliery closed, following the General Strike.
March 1929
A disaster occurred at Coombeswood Colliery in which eight men were killed. They were Edward Barnsley, Joseph Chance, Harry Edwards, John Hargreaves, James Harris, Edward Jukes, George Parkes and John Westward. Just eight men out of the tensof thousands who died in this country digging for coal, the coal which created our canal and then our Basin. May they all rest in peace.
1938
Rowing boats were available for hire from Mrs Beards. whose base was near to Mucklow Hill. This ceased shortly after the war started. The last (illegal) entry to Lapal Tunnel from the westem side which I have been able to trace was by Arthur Truby and his friend Ted, who were using one of Mrs Beards' boats. The tunnel mouth was bricked up shortly afterwards. ln 1946 Halesowen Council began to operate a similar scheme of boat hire.
1944
The original Coombs Bridge was demolished, allegedly due to the threat of invasion by German troops. I find this theory hard to accept because, by then, the threat of invasion had been overcome. So, what was the real reason?
1946
The IWA was formed by R. Aickman, L.T.C. Roit, F. Eyre, C. Hadfield. R. Kirkland and W. Luard. The Midlands Branch of the IWA was formed two years later.
1948
British Waterways was formed, resulting in our canal being nationalised.
1949
The earliest example of an 'awareness' cruise along the Dudley No. 2 canal which I have found went from Heyward Wharf to Windmill End on n.b. Primrose. On board were CH. Taplin and family. prospective M.P. Mr H Soref and Robert Aickman, no less, IWA National Chairman.
Nov 1954
British Transport Commission transferred the ownership of our canal between Muoklow Hill and Lapal Tunnel over to Halesowen Borough Council.
1954-55
Extensive dredging took place in that area. I wonder why?
1955
The canal was stanked off under Haywood Bridge.
March 1961
Our own Edwin Fasham and his brother entered the eastern portal of Lapai Tunnel on a raft made from packing cases. A month later they borrowed a canoe and managed to get a further couple of hundred yards inside the tunnel. What has happened to those adventurous days? Replaced by Health & Safety and boredom, I guess.
1963
British Waterways Board formed.
1963
Lapal section of the Dudley No. 2 Canal was formally abandoned,
1964
Dudley No. 2 Canal from Hawne Basin to Windmill End, designated a water supply channel only i.e. giving the potential to infill or to pipe sections of the canal.
1965
Canal infilled west of Lapal Tunnel when Manor Way was upgraded.
1965
‘Last Chance‘ cruise from the public wharf, near to the Black Horse, to Parkhead. Graham Laucht was on board.
March 1967
The first 24-hour cruise around the BCN took place. It was the brainchild of Stan Clover. At least one boat visited Hawne Basin.
July 1967
Stewarts and Lloyds canal-to-railway traffic ceased.
October 1967
Two weekend oruises around the BCN remainder waterways took place.
1968
Birmingham Canal Navigation Society formed.
1969
Local councillors were invited on to a cruise along our section of the canal. Alan Smith was involved. This was when the locals saw smoke coming up through the air shaft in Station Road and sent for the Fire Brigade. That is NOT an urban legend! This was also the cruise when Graham Fellowes turned to Geoff Setchfield and said 'Wouldn’t this basin make a wonderful marina' Two weeks later Graham phoned Geoff and asked him what he had done about it, to which Geoff replied "Nothing. Well, you live in the area. Get on to the Council about it.” And so, the transformation from business use to leisure began.
1969
The Basin Branch railway line closed. The last traffic was the delivery of steel ingots to Walter Somers.
1970
Plans were published to infill the Basin and to build factory units on the reclaimed land. This was vehemently opposed by the, as yet unorganized, members of the future Trust, led by Geoff Setchfield. This opposition was successful and the plans were dropped, the first, and vital, great victory.
1971-72
Canal East of Lapal Tunnel infilled.
1974
British Waterways leased out the canal around Mucklow Hill, including Hayward Wharf. The canal was then in-filled and built oyer. This was, and still is, a major blow to restoration.
1976
The canal was stanked off just beyond Hawne Basin, a situation which has still not been remedied.
1976
First meeting called to form a Committee to run the Coombeswood Canal Company.
1977
A compulsory purchase order was served on British Railways which transferred ownership of the basin to West Midlands Couunty Councii.
1977
Coombeswood Canal Company, its original name, was founded. It is worth re-stating the aims of this new society:
1. It was not intended to be a boat club. (Nor a boat dump)
2. Membership would be a prerequisite for use of the facilities.
3. It was to operate for the benefit of ALL waterway users.
4. It was expected to raise money for RESTORATION and DEVELOPMENT of our local waterways, i.e. Hawne Basin and the Dudley No. 2 canal.
September 1977
Fund raising began, which included a sponsored walk.
November 1977
The first meeting of members was held at the Seven Stars Hotel in Seisden. Future meetings were to be held at the Old Bush Revived‘ in Powke Lane.
1977
Nb Interlude, owned by Tony Jennings, became the first boat to use the new facility.
1978
The first 'newsletter' was published.
1979
Fund raising continued. It is worth remembering, with thanks, that Longwood Boat Club made an interest free ioan to Coomheswood Canal Company as a result of our appeal. Coombeswood Canal Company then became Coombeswood Canal Trust in May.
April 1980
The first boat rally took place at the basin. The official party cruised from the basin to Windmill End.
August 1980
The first two residential boats arrived. They were nb Betty owned by John and Brenda Rudge, and nb Joseph owned by Richard Huriey. Fencing was erected around the site and gates fitted.
December 1980
The Trust applied for, and subsequently obtained, charitabie status.