We were up and at them at 1000, as soon as the Museum opened. We walked into the Dudley Canal and Tunnel Museum and bought our tickets. It was nice first thing as there were few people about and it wasn't raining.
All the buildings have either been brought in from else where or are copies of real buildings. On the left are replicas of houses in Station Road, Old Hill. Next is a nail making workshop. Nails were a large part of the production in the area in times past with them being made at home workshops and being paid piece work. On the left, by the lamp post is a nail workers workshop. On the right is a coal yard and an office building. All a little different to today.
We watched a chain making demonstration. The chain hanging by the hearth is the size made. We were told that they could make one link that size every 2 minutes!
A view point back over the previous buildings that makes quite a harmonious view. You can see the smoke from the chimneys and I heard one person asking the in role people in a house why the fire was lit and they replied that she couldn't cook or have a cup of tea with out it being lit!
Cast iron chimney pots. They also had a cast iron house. Two were made in the 1920's to try to get quickly built prefabricated building after WWI and also to provide for the local business. Only two were made though due to the cost.
The rain started as a drizzle and slowly built. I was surprised at how many of the visitors had no waterproofs at all with them. The queue on the right was for the Chip shop!
We got back to the boat just before 1400 and topped up with water before setting off. As soon as we got back onto the Old Main Line it chucked it down, but by the time we got to Brades Locks it had stopped and turned out a nice evening.
On the way we passed this basin at Dudley Port, where there are no moorings. On the canal side though there are plenty of rings for mooring.
This is the North Portal of the Netherton that is at the New Main Line level.
When we got back into Brum we moored up just past Sheepcote bridge and after a cup of tea and a bit of cake we 'set' Amy and Joe to the train back to London. It has been great to see them and hope that they have had a change of scene and a of pace and will back to the big city refreshed.
For those who may have not seen the change in New Street Station and remember the claustrophobic low ceiling and very short sight lines can't help but think that the new Grand Central is an improvement, even though it is now more like an airport terminal and a shopping opportunity than a station.
Just another look at a lovely building in Birmingham. This is the National Provincial Bank on Bennets Hill.
Also on Bennets Hill is the Wellington pub. This is the electronic scoreboard of the real ales on hand pull. If you are interested I had a pint of the Citra from Oakham. A very refreshing hoppy beer that could be said to be grapefruit juice!
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