The Edgbaston Tunnel is located on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal below Church Road in Edgbaston. It is 105 yards long (or 96 metres long). The tunnel runs parallel with the railway tunnel on the Cross City Line. It takes boats about 2 minutes to get through the tunnel. In 2018, the tunnel was closed for months to allow for the towpath to be widened.

View feature View community

The Edgbaston Tunnel on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal


The Edgbaston Tunnel on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal


The Edgbaston Tunnel is located on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal below Church Road in Edgbaston. It is 105 yards long (or 96 metres long). The tunnel runs parallel with the railway tunnel on the Cross City Line. It takes boats about 2 minutes to get through the tunnel. In 2018, the tunnel was closed for months to allow for the towpath to be widened.


Edgbaston Tunnel

The Worcester & Birmingham Canal was constructed between 1792 from the Birmingham end, reaching Worcester by 1815. The canal reached Selly Oak by about 1795, so it is fair to assume that the Edgbaston Tunnel was built sometime between 1792 and 1795. Probably dug out by navvies by picks and shovels. Built of red brick, the Edgbaston Tunnel is 96 metres long (105 yards long). It is well under Church Road. Today the closest exits with steps are on Islington Row Middleway (near Five Ways Station) and at The Vale (University of Birmingham student accommodation).

Running parallel with the canal is what is today the Cross City Line. This railway line was built as the Birmingham West Suburban Railway from 1876 until 1885. The Church Road Tunnel was built next to the Edgbaston Tunnel along with a Church Road Station which opened in 1876, not far from the North East Portal of the Edgbaston Tunnel. The station closed in 1925.

Located close to the South West Portal is Hallfield School and near the North East Portal is Sunrise of Edgbaston. When you are up on Church Road, it is a bit hard to see the canal and railway line from above (the brick wall is too high and there is a lot of tree coverage).

During 2018, the Canal & River Trust closed the tunnel, so that they could widen the towpath. This was completed by about May 2018. And now there is more space for cyclists and walkers alike, even with painted lines and "Slow" signs.

 

2016

First walk through of the Edgbaston Tunnel was during April 2016. I got onto the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Somerset Road in Edgbaston and walked up the towpath towards Five Ways.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Approaching the South West Portal of the Edgbaston Tunnel. To the left is the Cross City Line on the other side of the fence. Above behind all the trees and shrubs is Church Road.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Canal & River Trust sign for the Edgbaston Tunnel at the South West Portal. At the time it has space for two way traffic.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Nearing the South West Portal of the Edgbaston Tunnel. The towpath inside of the tunnel was quite narrow. So not enough room for both walkers and cyclists at the time.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This sign states that the Edgbaston Tunnel is 96 Metres in length (which is quite short).

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The tunnel was lit up, so when you walk on the towpath, or have a ride on a narrowboat, it is not dark in there.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

But as you can see, the old tunnel towpath was really too narrow.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Up ahead was a couple of narrowboats that were about to enter the tunnel, as well as a person out for a run on the towpath.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Just as one narrowboat entered the tunnel, to the right you can see the site of the lost Church Road Station.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/W & B Canal Edgbaston Tunnel.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Old Georgian and Victorian buildings on Church Road at Hallfield School. The engineering brick on the railway, always seems to get tagged by graffiti vandals. You can also watch passing trains here.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Apr 2016) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2017

The next time I walked through the Edgbaston Tunnel was during November 2017. This walk started from Bath Row and I went as far as The Vale before getting off.

Approaching the North Eastern Portal was this cyclist in an orange jacket.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Nov 2017) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This time I had a better view of the white building above the canal. The building is now occupied by Robert Powell Estate Agents.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Nov 2017) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

While the cyclist in orange was riding into the tunnel, saw a narrowboat with all these flat caps and beanies on. Peaky Blinders?

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Nov 2017) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Before I entered the Edgbaston Tunnel, saw a London Midland Class 323 train on the Cross City Line entering the Church Road Tunnel.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Nov 2017) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

One of the men on the narrowboat was standing on it's roof as it went through the tunnel.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Nov 2017) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Now at the South Eastern Portal of the Edgbaston Tunnel, the gatehouse to Hallfield School is above to the left.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Nov 2017) (6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Then I saw another London Midland Class 323 entering the tunnel bound for Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Nov 2017) (7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2018

The Edgbaston Tunnel was closed to the public from January to March 2018, so that the Canal & River Trust could widen the towpath, resurface it, and install a new safety railing. There was towpath diversion at the time from Islington Row Middleway to The Vale. By May 2018 it was open again, and I went back to check it out.

This was during a long walk starting at Selly Oak towards Five Ways, Already could see the new towpath extension and railings from the South West Portal.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (May 2018) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was mostly complete, but was still some temporary barriers to the left.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (May 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There was a sign for Cyclists Slow as there was a ramp onto the new towpath and it wasn't quite finished.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (May 2018) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Inside I could see that the towpath was much wider, compared to what it used to be like.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (May 2018) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It seems like the tunnel is long, but it isn't, just a trick of the light.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/tunnel elliot.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

At the North East Portal, a cyclist waits at the Cyclists Slow sign.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (May 2018) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Was also a man running through the tunnel, while a builder in yellow and orange overalls was at the other end.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (May 2018) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Went back again in December 2018, after the white lines had been painted onto the towpath, and it had all been fully completed.

A cyclist in a yellow jacket heads towards the North East Portal of the Edgbaston Tunnel.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (May 2018) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another cyclist and on the right was a West Midlands Railway Class 323 train on the Cross City Line (passing the site of Church Road Station).

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (May 2018) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Approaching the Edgbaston Tunnel with the new ramp.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Dec 2018) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Painted on both sides of the ramp was Slow. Pedestrians get priority in the tunnel.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Dec 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Before entering the tunnel, Saw a West Midlands Railway Class 323 train go past, in the new orange and white livery (replacing the old London Midland green).

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Dec 2018) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The towpath is now much wider, and even the lighting seems to be brighter in here (not as dark).

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Dec 2018) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Slow sign on the ramp close to the South West Portal.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Dec 2018) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

And another pair of painted Slow signs closer to the exit of the tunnel.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Dec 2018) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2020

In August 2020, I had my first walk down the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in months (due to the pandemic / lockdown). Starting at The Mailbox and ending at The Vale (was thinking about Somerset Road but The Vale exit came first). Also my first time back in the Edgbaston Tunnel since the end of 2018.

A lady was running towards me, also had to let a couple pass me, due to social distancing.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Aug 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was a bit hard to see the at white building on Church Road, due to the amount of leaves on the surrounding trees.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Aug 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A narrowboat was coming out of the tunnel.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Aug 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Got this view from just inside of the tunnel as the narrowboat heading out.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Aug 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Still the optical illusion of the tunnel being long (when it isn't).

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Aug 2020) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A zoom in from the far end of the tunnel as the narrowboat was still heading on it's way.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Aug 2020) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last look at the Edgbaston Tunnel as I continued my walk towards The Vale.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Tunnel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Tunnel (Aug 2020) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.