History of the Tame Valley Canal

The Tame Valley Canal runs from the Walsall Canal to Salford Junction. Opened in 1844 it was a late addition to the Birmingham Canal Navigations and was cut to overcome the long delays building up at Farmer's Bridge. Compared with earlier canals the Tame Valley is relatively sophisticated with high embankments, deep cuttings, brick lined banks and twin towpaths. The number of locks gave rise amongst boatmen to its nickname as the 'new 13', to distinguish it from the old 13 at Farmer's Bridge.

At Rushall, or Newton, Junction it is joined by the Rushall Canal, meeting it almost directly under the M6. At Salford Junction it is overshadowed by the Spaghetti Junction motorway complex at Gravelly Hill. A cutting near Piercy Aqueduct passes through exposed sandstone that is over 200 million years old.

Perry Barr Top Lock is set amongst old stables, a Gauging Weir House and a former BCN house, number 86. All permanently occupied buildings around the BCN were allocated numbers by the canal company - the highest numbers issued being 271 and 272 at Ogley Junction to the north.