Spon Lane Junction

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Spon Lane Junction (grid reference SP003898) is the original junction of the Wednesbury Canal and the Birmingham Canal, near Oldbury in the West Midlands, England.

The 1768 Act of Parliament which authorised the building of the Birmingham Canal to Wolverhampton included a lucrative branch to the coal mines of Wednesbury, which was completed the following year, allowing coal to be shipped cheaply to Birmingham. When building of the Birmingham Canal continued towards Wolverhampton and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Aldersley Junction it came off the existing canal at Spon Lane Junction. At the time this was half way down the flight of six Spon Lane Locks. Later lowering of the Smethwick summit level by John Smeaton's design removed the top three locks from each end of the summit, leaving the summit level (Wolverhampton Level) continuing to Wolverhampton and a three lock descent to Wednesbury. This part of the Wednesbury Canal is now known as the Spon Lane Locks Branch, and leaves the BCN Old Main Line at Spon Lane Junction. The nearby Stewart Aqueduct carries the Old Main Line over the New Main Line.

Later changes by Thomas Telford widened the Wednesbury Canal from Bromford Junction at the foot of the locks, converting it into the New Main Line (from here also known as the Island Line).

Spon Lane Junction and the top lock are now under the M5 motorway.

[edit] References

• Broadbridge, S. R. [1974]. The Birmingham Canal Navigations, Vol. 1 1768 - 1846. David & Charles. ISBN 0-7509-2077-7. 
• Pearson, Michael [1989]. Canal Companion - Birmingham Canal Navigations. J. M. Pearson & Associates. ISBN 0-907864-49-X. 

Coordinates: 52°30′24″N 1°59′42″W / 52.5066, -1.9951