Lost arms in Birmingham

Travelling along the canal system you come across many signs of where there used to be arms, branches and wharves. These often take the form of the towpath rising up to cross over the entrance to such spurs from the main line. The Birmingham canals are especially rich in these glimpses of the past.

This is on the Birmingham Canal (Main Line) in the Soho/Winson Green area, heading towards the city centre. Here the canal has a towpath on both sides. On the left is what appears to be the junction with a former canal; on the right are two lesser entrances to, presumably, factory wharves.


The entrances are narrow, and often angled such that a narrowboat can slip in from one direction only. If approaching from the other direction it would have had to overshoot, wind, and return to be able to enter.


It's a pity these are all blocked now.


Captain Ahab has recently written about such things in great detail. It appears that I have discovered the former Cape Arm.