A Canal Walk Through Time: From Bournville to Kings Norton

A wonderful time was had by all

On June 25th the Birmingham History Theatre Company led a walk along the canal from Bournville to Kings Norton, with dramatic scenes and songs. It was an amazing event which attracted a good audience, who joined in the songs with enthusiasm as well as, cheering and booing various characters appropriately.

The walk started in Bournville where we met Mr George Cadbury and subsequently some Cadbury girls on the way to work in 1940. They ran off to shelter when we let off our air raid siren under the bridge at Breedon Cross.
Canal entrepreneurs told us of their achievements but one in particular had to face a “shareholder’s” vote to remove him on grounds of corruption. It turned out he had “borrowed” a lot of the Canal Company’s capital.

We also met some 19th century Canal Inspectors who received a very chilly, if not rude, reception at the hands of various boatwomen and their children. The Boatman taken to task by the Kings Norton Tollkeeper was also unco-operative about paying his tolls. The Guillotine Lock on the Stratford Canal, just by Lifford Lane, was celebrated and explained.

However, the dark days of attempted closure of this canal were explored. Tom and Angela Rolt thanked the crowd for their support in “The Battle of Cressy”. They forced passage along the canal with their boat called “Cressy” as the first campaign of the Inland Waterways Association in 1947. Then in 1958 two canoeists travelled the whole canal, collecting toll tickets, to evidence its use and, yes, we had two canoeists! The crowning glory of this was the personal attendance of the Queen Mother herself to declare the canal re-opened in 1964.

Some surprises lay ahead. Many of the crowd were amazed to discover the tranquil beauty of Lifford Reservoir, only a short way from Lifford Tip. Even more surprising was that we were pursued through the little wood here by a band of Ancient Britons wearing woad. And they were in turn pursued by a Roman soldier on the Icknield way, who had been still vainly seeking his cohort for 2000 years.

More serious scenes lay ahead. We met a 17th century Miller’s wife and also a later inhabitant of the grand Lifford Hall which dates from 1604. Then it was back to the canal to meet the Home Guard in 1940 and the Roman soldier felt at last he had found some kindred spirits. Finally a very argumentative group of suffragettes in 1914, couldn’t decide what to burn down next- but settled on Northfield Library.

A big thank you to all our supporters. Peter Churchill did sterling work on musical accompaniment. Various volunteers served refreshments and Park Lives supplied lovely Smoothies from their Smoothie Bike.

View The Kings Norton Canal Walk Photo Gallery Here