reckoned at £160 at the least. This navigation was carried into execution by Mr. Brindley, and for the excellency of the works, is thought to be his chef d'ouvre.
The principal object the proprietors of this concern had in view, was to bring coal up to Droitwich, and to export salt, which is made from the brine springs abounding in the vicinity of that town, and which have so strongly impregnated the water of this canal, that the common fresh-water fish cannot live in it.
DUDLEY CANAL.
16 Geo. III. C. 66, R. A. 2nd Apr. 1776.
25 Geo. III. C. 87, R. A. 4th July, 1785.
30 Geo. III. C. 60, R. A. 7th May, 1790.
33 Geo. III. C. 121, R. A. 17th June, 1793.
37 Geo. III. C. 13, R. A. 23rd Dec. 1796.
THIS canal commences from the Worcester and Birmingham Canal, near Selly Oak, in Worcestershire, and proceeds in a westwardly course to near Stone House, where it enters the Lapal Tunnel, which is three thousand seven hundred and Seventy-six yards in length. From the west end of the tunnel at Lapal Lane (which is in a detached part of Shropshire,) the canal pursues a northerly course by the Leasowes, and within half a mile of the town of Hales Owen; a short distance beyond which, it enters another tunnel six hundred and twenty-three yards long, and egresses into the county of Stafford, near Gosty Hill, whence it continues a north-westwardly course to near Netherton; and after taking a circuit round the base of a hill to Dudley Woodside, enters a third tunnel two thousand nine hundred and twenty-six yards in length, and emerges near Tipton Green, within a short distance of which, it communicates with the Birmingham Canal. From near Dudley Woodside, a branch proceeds to join the Stourbridge Canal at Black Delph, about a mile north of the town of Stourbridge.
The main line of canal is thirteen miles in length, ten miles and a half of which, from Selly Oak, is level; thence, to the entrance of the Dudley Tunnel, there are five locks, rising 31 feet, and in the last furlong, before entering the Birmingham Canal, there is a fall of 13 feet, by two locks. The Black Delph Branch is two miles in length, with a fall, to the Stourhridge Canal, of 85 feet, by nine locks; the lockage water of which is chiefly supplied from Cradley Pool Reservoir.
