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Anson Branch
The canal near Bentley Mill Bridge
Original Owner	Birmingham Canal Navigations
Date of Act	1768
Date of first use	1830
Start Point	Bentley Mines
End Point	Walsall Canal
Branch(es)	Bentley Canal (defunct)
Branch of	Walsall Canal
Locks	0
Status	derelict but watered

Anson Branch
legend Bentley mines and quarry Bentley Lane Bloxwich Lane -- Bentley Canal M6 motorway Jn 10 Bentley Mill Way -- Walsall Canal Foresters Bridge

The Anson Branch is a short canal in the West Midlands, England. It runs for just over one mile from its junction with the Walsall Canal near Forster's bridge. It forms part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

The canal is only partially watered and is no longer navigable. It formerly connected with the now defunct Bentley Canal which, in turn, connected with the Wyrley and Essington Canal. The canal has no locks.

History

The branch was authorised by the Birmingham Canal Act of 1768 but was not completed until 1830. It was built to serve the coal mines and a limestone quarry in Bentley.

The remains of the branch, covering an area of 5.52 ha., have been designated as a site of local importance for nature conservation (SLINC) by Walsall Council.^[1]

The junction with the Walsall Canal, which runs left and right

Points of interest

See also

UK Waterways portal

• Canals of the United Kingdom
• History of the British canal system

References

• Jim Shead - Anson Branch
• Up The Cut entry