Canal

Although not strictly in Redditch, there was a wagon service from Redditch to the Worcester and Birmingham canal at Tardebigge old wharf for the transportation of goods to service the needs of Redditch manufacturers. There was even talk of constructing a canal spur to Redditch but the hilly terrain made this financially unfeasible. It was this same hilly terrain that resulted in the single line train tunnel at Redditch which eventually led to the failure of the Redditch to Ashchurch section of the railway line.

LINKS	Comments
http://www.catshill.com/wbcs/	The Worcester-Birmingham Canal Society has web site with information on the canal.
http://www.jim-shead.com/waterways/Worcester-and-Birmingham-Canal.html	Jim Shead, a canal enthusiast, has some useful information and photos
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worcester_and_Birmingham_Canal	The on-line encyclopaedia - Wikipedia - has an entry for the canal with some useful information and a history.

The Worcester and Birmingham canal runs 30 miles from the River Severn in Worcester Bar to Gas Street Basin, Birmingham where it joins the Birmingham Canal system. It was opened in 1815 and Tardebigge Locks or the Tardebigge Flight is the longest flight of locks in the UK, comprising 30 narrow locks on a two mile stretch. It raises the waterway some 220 feet, and lies in between the Tardebigge tunnel (580 yards long) to the North and the Stoke Prior flight of 6 narrow locks to the South.

Unfortunately for the canal, was a latecomer and was soon to face railway competition. The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway opened in 1841 and by 1858 Redditch had its own railway. In common with most other canals the Worcester & Birmingham was nationalised in 1948, and is now under the authority of British Waterways. (pdf download).