Leaving Pelsall Common, we cruised for an hour to Brownhills where there are some well appointed facilities. The local canoe club share them with the few boaters who pass this way and so we made use of the generously proportioned showers. It is a change for us to have a shower with room to stretch out. A hundred yards from herewe turned left into the Anglesea Arm.
This was built to move coal from the pits in the area. The mines have all gone, some still evident in ground subsidence and the remains of chutes used for loading the barges.
At one time the canal was linked to the Coventry Canal at Huddlesford Jct.
This attractive cast iron bridge spans the point at Ogley Jct where the link to the Coventry Canal joined this arm of the Curley Wyrely.
Litchfield & Hatherton Canal Society with their patron David Suchet are hoping to restore this canal link and also the link form the Staffs & Worcs to Cannock Extension . Amongst the obstacles they have to overcome is the M6.
At the end of the Anglesea Arm is Chasewater Reservoir. Built to provide water for the BCN it is also very popular for water sports and other leisure pursuits. Three years ago it was discovered to be leaking and had to be drained to carry out repairs.The repairs are complete but refilling will take another two years.
Fish and chips for supper at Longwood Boat Club was very welcome after the weed-infested and shallow Daw End canal from Catshill.
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