Wast Hills Tunnel

Wast Hills Tunnel

Southern portal
Overview
Location Hawkesley, Birmingham, West Midlands, and Worcestershire, England
Coordinates 52°23′25″N 1°56′24″W / 52.3902°N 1.9400°W / 52.3902; -1.9400Coordinates: 52°23′25″N 1°56′24″W / 52.3902°N 1.9400°W / 52.3902; -1.9400
OS grid reference SP041769
Status Open
Waterway Worcester and Birmingham Canal
Start 52°24′00″N 1°55′51″W / 52.39991°N 1.93096°W / 52.39991; -1.93096 (Northern portal)
End 52°22′50″N 1°56′56″W / 52.38066°N 1.94890°W / 52.38066; -1.94890 (Southern portal)
Operation
Constructed 1796-97
Owner Canal & River Trust
Technical
Design engineer Thomas Cartwright
Length 2,726 yards (2,492.7 m)
Width Double
Towpath No
Boat-passable Yes

The Wast Hills Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Its northern portal is in Hawkesley, Birmingham. Its southern portal is in fields just outside the city's boundaries, in Worcestershire.[1]

Construction and measurements

The Wast Hills Tunnel was built in 1796 and is 2726 yards long, making it one of the longest in the country.[1] There are several ventilation shafts along its length which were initially used for the tunnel's construction.[2] It is wide enough to accommodate two narrow boats but there is no towpath.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Worcester & Birmingham Canal". Retrieved 2 March 2015.
  2. The central airshaft once had a steam driven fan for smoke clearance. David Stowell. "Wast Hill Tunnel Southern portal". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  3. William Dargue. "Hawkesley, Hawkesley End - West Heath". Retrieved 3 March 2015.
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