Worcester and Birmingham Canal
The Birmingham and Worcester Canal is a canal linking Birmingham and Worcester in England.
The parliamentary bill permitting its construction was passed in 1791. A further Act of Parliament authorised the raising of more money in 1808.
The canal was surveyed by Josiah Clowes and John Snape. Its engineers changed oten, and included Thomas Cartwright, John Woodhouse and William Crosley.
Work began from the Birmingham end, but progressed slowly. Selly Oak was reached in October 1795 and Kings Norton by May 1796 By March 1797 the 2726 yard tunnel at Wast Hill was open and the canal was trading to Hopwood. In 1807 the canal reached Tardebigge. The final 16 miles, including the 58 Tardebigge locks were opened in December 1815.
Until 1814, direct connection to the Birmingham Canal Navigations was prevented by the Worcester Bar, a physical barrier at Gas Street Basin, Birmingham.
A major user of the canal was the Cadbury chocolate factory at Bournville.