Where is the Brandwood Tunnel?

The Brandwood Tunnel is near 53-15 Shelfield Road, King's Norton, Birmingham, B14 6JU. The towpath from the East Portal leads up to Monyhull Hall Road and Broad Lane. The towpath from the West Portal is near Shelfield Road in Brandwood End.

In brief

The canal tunnel in Brandwood End, South Birmingham, was built between 1793 and 1796 from the East Portal, while the West Portal was built from 1793 to 1794. The northern section of the Stratford-on-Avon Canal opened from Kings Norton Junction in 1802.

Brandwood Tunnel at the West Portal (September 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

Brandwood Tunnel - history

Work to build a tunnel under Brandwood End began in 1793 at the West Portal (Kings Norton end). The West Portal was completed by 1794. The tunnel was completed by the East Portal around 1796.

The engineer was probably Josiah Clowes.

In an age before motorised narrowboats, the narrowboat would have been pulled by a horse. But the horse would have been taken up to road level, while a pair of men legged it through the tunnel.

The northern end of the Stratford-on-Avon Canal was opened by 1802.

There is no towpath trough the tunnel, so the horses would have to have been taken up to Monyhull Hall Road (if at the East Portal) and they would walk to Shelfield Road (at the West Portal).

Post link: The Brandwood Tunnel on the Stratford-on-Avon Canal

Brandwood Tunnel East Portal

Located on the walk between Alcester Road South and Monyhull Hall Road is the East Portal of the Brandwood Tunnel.

It is a Grade II listed and was built from 1793 until 1796 of brick and stone.

East Portal of the Brandwood Tunnel (September 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

Brandwood Tunnel West Portal

This portal is located near Shelfield Road in Brandwood End. It is easy to miss as it was not signposted at road level.

The West Portal is also a Grade II listed building and was built from 1793 to 1794.

The north section of the Stratford-on-Avon Canal opened in 1802. This section contains a portrait of William Shakespeare as people in narrowboats will most likely be heading for Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon. Beyond here the canal leads to Kings Norton Junction where it meets the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Kings Norton (just after a guillotine lock).

West Portal of the Brandwood Tunnel (September 2018). Photography by Elliott Brown

We hope you enjoyed our feature about The Brandwood Tunnel.