Bentley Canal top lock

Opened in 1843 the Bentley Canal ran down a flight of 10 locks from the junction with the Wyrley & Essington Canal at Wednesfield for a distance of nearly three and a half miles to its junction with the Anson Branch. The section from the bottom of the six Wednesfield Locks to the Anson Branch was closed in 1960. The rest remained open but in reality became unusable very quickly due to lack of maintenance and removal of paddlegear. A few intrepid boaters forced a passage in the early 1970s and then it was abandoned and filled in. This view from April 1984 shows the top lock before infilling commenced. It looks usable, but in reality the canal behind me is drained and full of rubbish. Today the scene is virtually unrecognisable with industrial units built on the canal line.