The History of Dudley Canal Trust
During the 1950s there was a concerted attempt by the British
Transport Commission (BTC) to destroy the canal network. A policy of
abandonment, neglect and vandalism was implemented to stop navigation
and therefore be able to declare the canals unused. A few people stood
up and fought to keep the right of navigation and kept the canals open.
In 1959 the BTC proposed closing the Dudley Canal Tunnel and mines
officially closing and sealing it in 1962. Faced with the loss of a
unique nationally important site some local people re-opened the tunnel
and fought to restore it to working order.
The Dudley Tunnel Preservation Society, was formed in 1963 and changed its name to Dudley Canal Trust in 1970.
[ http://dudleycanaltrust.org.uk/]
The Well
The Well was given its
name as when looking down it from the surface all that can be seen is
the canal below. Its original use remains unknown, though some theorise
it was to provide light for nearby Hurst Cavern. It is at the bottom of a
trench where the Thin Bed of limestone was worked (the same as in
Singing Cavern), so it may have simply collapsed.
Hurst Cavern
The last of the mines to
be worked under Castle Hill, named after the foreman. On its last day of
operation a rockfall killed some of the workers there.
Singing Cavern
Singing Cavern was last
mined in the early 19th century. The canal extended for 330 yards from
Rock Tunnel but the cavern itself, with a tramway along it, ended up
near the centre of Dudley. Over the years the cavern has collapsed and
approximately 100 yards of cavern is all that remains today. Seven
limestone pillars support the roof, each weighing 300 tons and two
loading shafts.
Castle Mill Basin
Originally an underground limestone mine, the basin is now a junction of four tunnels.
Shirts Mill Basin was originally an underground loading area for limestone.
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