Anson Branch

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Anson Branch

legend

Bentley mines and quarry

Bentley Lane

Bloxwich Lane

-- Bentley Canal

M6 motorway Jn 10

Bentley Mill Way

-- Walsall Canal

Foresters Bridge

The Anson Branch is a short lock-free canal in the West Midlands, England. It runs for just over one mile from its junction with the Walsall Canal near Forster's bridge. It forms part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

The canal is only partially watered and is no longer navigable. It formerly connected with the, now defunct, Bentley Canal, which, in turn, connected with the Wyrley and Essington Canal.

[edit] History

The branch was authorised by the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768 but was not completed until 1830. It was built to serve the coal mines and a limestone quarry in Bentley.

The remains of the branch, covering an area of 5.52 ha., have been designated as a site of local importance for nature conservation (SLINC) by Walsall Council.^[1]

[edit] Points of interest

Point	Coordinates (Links to map resources)	OS Grid Ref	Notes
Northern terminus	52°35′34″N 2°00′24″W / 52.5929, -2.0067 (Northern terminus)	SO995994	Bentley mines and quarry
Bentley Canal Junction	52°34′52″N 2°01′06″W / 52.5812, -2.0182 (Bentley Canal Junction)	SO987981
Anson Branch Junction	52°34′39″N 2°01′20″W / 52.5775, -2.0221 (Anson Branch Junction)Coordinates: 52°34′39″N 2°01′20″W / 52.5775, -2.0221 (Anson Branch Junction)	SO986977	Southern terminus at junction with Walsall Canal