Soho Loop Part 2: Asylum Bridge to Winson Green Junction

On the 31st August 2023, I got the 82 bus to Dudley Road to complete the Soho Loop in Winson Green. Ended up returning via Norman Street Park and rejoining at the Asylum Bridge. Just a short walk to the end of the Soho Loop to Winson Green Junction. That towpath closed on the BCN Mainline to the Winson Green Bridge was open again, it's been tarmaced.

For part 1 follow this link to the post Soho Loop walk on the BCN Old Mainline

From the Costa Coffee at Utilita Arena Birmingham, I walked to the bus stop on Summer Hill Road, waiting for an 87, bus an 82 came first, so caught it up Spring Hill to Dudley Road. Got off and crossed over near City Hospital, then walked up towards Norman Street Park, and got on at the Asylum Bridge, just over a month since I left the Soho Loop in July 2023.

 

The Asylum Bridge

The Asylum Bridge is on the Revolution Walk from the Canal & River Trust.
Nearby was a Madhouse, Badhouse and the Workhouse. The Birmingham Union Workhouse and Infirmary was there from 1834, but by 1889 had space for over 2000 inmates. This is now part of Birmingham City Hospital.
Also here was the Borough Lunatic Asylum and Fever Hospital, from the 19th century. This is now the site of Birmingham Prison.

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Winson Green Prison Bridge and Winson Green Bridge (Soho Loop)

The next bridge is the Winson Green Prison Bridge, which you walk over, followed by the Winson Green Bridge (Soho Loop) which you walk under. This is as close as you get to Birmingham Prison, but you hardly notice it walking past.

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Winson Green Bridge (Soho Loop)

There is two bridges named Winson Green Bridge. This one is on the Soho Loop of the BCN Old Mainline. The other one is much higher crossing the BCN New Mainline. This is the last road bridge.

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Winson Green Railway Bridge

Next up is the Winson Green Railway Bridge. Behind you can see the yet to open Midland Metropolitan Hospital. When it opens in 2024, parts of City Hospital in Winson Green will close, and the site will be developed for housing.

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Winson Green Junction Bridge 

The end of the Soho Loop at Winson Green Junction and you get to the Winson Green Junction Bridge. The bridge is Grade II listed and is a Horseley type cast-iron roving bridge dating to 1828.

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Winson Green Roving Bridge

Leaving the Soho Loop at Winson Green Junction, you leave the Old Mainline for the New Mainline. The Winson Green Roving Bridge dates to 1828, and is a Winson Green Roving Bridge is a Horseley type cast-iron roving bridge dating to 1828.

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Winson Green Junction

Since my last visit to the canals here, the towpath between Winson Green Roving Bridge and the Winson Green Bridge (Winson Green Road) has been reopened. Last time it was closed for resurfacing works. The Winson Green Junction Bridge is to the left and the northern end of the Soho Loop.

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View from the Winson Green Bridge

A look from Winson Green Road, on the Winson Green Bridge towards Winson Green Junction. From here, the Soho Loop starts to the right under the Winson Green Junction Bridge, while the BCN New Mainline continues north west towards Wolverhampton under the Winson Green Roving Bridge.

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Winson Green Road has bus stops for the 11A and 11C. If getting the 11C, it would take you towards Erdington. From the 11A, you can go towards Bearwood, Harborne, Selly Oak, Bournville etc.

You need the Dudley Road for the 82 or 87 bus routes.

 

Photos by Elliott Brown

Jack's visit to the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park in August 2023

In August 2023, Jack Babington with Nechells POD visited the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park on the Pershore Road in Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The main entrance to the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park

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The map and location of all the animals in the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park

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Bell's dabb lizard

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Meerkat

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Chinese crocodile lizard

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Ring-tailed Lemur

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Goeldi's marmoset

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Blue crane

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Turtles

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Varanus kordensis

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Photography by Jack Babington

Jack's visit to National SEA LIFE Birmingham

Birmingham We Are's Jack Babington went to the National SEA LIFE Birmingham with the Nechells POD group on the 11th August 2023. Enjoy the selection of photos taken by Jack on his visit. The National Sea Life Centre is an aquarium that opened in 1996 in a building designed by Sir Norman Foster. Close to the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline at Old Turn Junction. 

The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham opened at Brindleyplace, near the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline not far from Old Turn Junction in 1996. The building was designed by Sir Norman Foster.

The building houses various fish species, turtles, penguins and more.

In Victorian times, the site was the location of two canal basisn in Oozells Street Wharf.

 

Birmingham We Are contributor Elliott Brown remembers going at least twice after it opened in 1996. The first visit had a long queue going towards the NIA! But didn't take any photos 27 years ago! (he only had a compact film camera back then).

 

On the 11th August 2023, Jack Babington joined the Nechells POD for a visit to the National Sea Life Centre, some of his photos taken that day are below.

The main entrance to the Sea Life Centre from near Central Square in Brindleyplace.

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One of the tanks with a penguin swimming inside of it.

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Beware of pirates! A skeleton and pirate flag.

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A LEGO pirate ship, with a LGBTQ+ flag flying proud.

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A member of staff feeds the fish as visitors watch on.

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A Gentoo penguin pokes it's head above the water.

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Papuan toby fish.

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Chinese pond turtle.

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Did you know .... we were born in 1996! Our Cylinder Tank is one of our oldest tanks here. Are you older or younger than our tank?

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The gift shop. Buy 3 for £15.

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The underwater tunnel tube with a man dressed as a pirate!

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Actinia.

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Photography by Jack Babington

Gold winning 2023 Birmingham Parks re-creation of the Chelsea Flower Show piece at Cannon Hill Park

In May 2023, Cofton Nursery on behalf of Birmingham City Council, once again won Gold at the Chelsea Flower Show with their winning entry Birmingham Parks. In July 2023, they are re-creating it at Cannon Hill Park in Edgbaston. Located close to Mini Golf and the tennis courts. Was a rainy day when I found it.

Usually Cofton Nursery would split their Gold winning Chelsea Flower Show display between Victoria Square and Cathedral Square. But Victoria Square in Birmingham City Centre is unavailable due to the public realm works, and the renovation works at the Birmingham Council House, and Cathedral Square not used this time, maybe as the Cathedral is under scaffolding for the Divine Beauty project.

 

But in the past, Cofton Nursery have put previous Chelsea Flower Show winning displays in Cannon Hill Park (or part of the displays).

In July 2023, they installed a partial re-creation of their winning entry in Cannon Hill Park, located close to Mini Golf and the tennis courts.

It is called Birmingham Parks.

 

It was raining a lot on the walk into the park from the Pershore Road entrance (near the Wildlife Conservation Park) and the bridges near the Queen's Ride car park.

But the rain started to slow down or stop by the time I located the piece.

It looks a bit incomplete.

They will probably complete it in a few weeks time when they have more staff to do it. Looks good so far.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

Walk up the Tame Valley Canal from Tame Bridge Parkway towards Great Barr

I got the train to Tame Bridge Parkway Station in Sandwell, and had a walk in the hot weather along part of the Tame Valley Canal. This bit goes near the M5 and M6 motorways. I got off at the Newton Road Bridge in Great Barr (then tried to make my way to Hamstead for the next train to Birmingham). Was probably too hot and humid to do the walk.

After arriving at Tame Bridge Parkway Station on Saturday 24th June 2023, left the station via the entrance / exit on the Walsall Road, then headed onto Navigation Lane, to get onto the Tame Valley Canal.

 

Stonecross Bridge

The Stonecross Bridge, also called Friar Park Bridge or the Walsall Road Bridge. I did not walk in that direction, as was heading to a couple of aqueducts nearby.

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Navigation Lane Aqueduct

This aqueduct crosses over Navigation Lane, and is Grade II listed. Was built 1841-44.

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Grand Junction Aqueduct

This aqueduct is near Tame Bridge Parkway Station (opened in 1990). Was built over the Grand Junction Railway (now part of the Birmingham New Street via Perry Barr to Walsall line). Grade II listed, it opened in 1844. There is good views of the station from up here, as well as to the Bescot Yard, Bescot Stadium and The RAC building near the M6 motorway.

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M5 Motorway Aqueduct

The next aqueduct crosses over the M5 motorway, to the north west, with it's junction with the M6. The River Tame is also near here, but didn't see it.

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River Tame Aqueduct

One more aqueduct, this one crosses over the River Tame. Only had views of the M6 heading in this direction, or the Birmingham skyline and nearby tower blocks.

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Grey Heron

On the section of the Tame Valley Canal beyond the first M5 crossing, saw several grey herons.

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Rushall Junction

At this point on the Tame Valley Canal, is Rushall Junction where it joins onto the Rushall Canal. The Rushall Junction Bridge on the left.

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Rushall Canal

The start of the Rushall Canal from the Rushall Junction Bridge on the Tame Valley Canal. Bridge in front carries the M6 motorway. Catshill Junction is about 8 miles and 9 locks away on this canal.

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Brickfields Bridge

At this point, the towpath switches sides at the Brickfields Bridge. Behind is a pair of M5 motorway bridges, which go from the south west to north east, and join onto the M6. This footbridge is Grade II listed and dates to 1844.

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M5 Link Road Bridge 1

The first M5 link bridge can be seen from the Brickfields Bridge as you cross it, or as you walk or cycle under it. This is for traffic heading to the end of the M5 and onto the M6 going east.

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M5 Link Road Bridge 2

The second M5 link bridge. Seen after walking under it. This is for traffic leaving the M6 and heading onto the M5 motorway, heading south west.

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Brickfields Turnover Bridge

One more Victorian footbridge. Grade II listed, it dates to 1844. Formerly a road bridge apparently. Not sure where it went, but was a man fishing on the other side, and someone with their dog. The Brickfields Turnover Bridge probably links to nearby Chatsworth Avenue.

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Newton Road Bridge

A very high (compared to the canal) road bridge on Newton Road in Great Barr. I took my exit here. Was very hot and sweaty by this point.

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Could of continued to Hamstead and Perry Barr, but left at Great Barr, then tried to get to Hamstead on foot. But at one point caught a no 16 bus to the Scott Arms in Great Barr, before getting another 16 (probably the same one) to Hamstead Station.

 

In future, maybe best to do these canal walks in cooler weather. It was just too hot and warm. Plus there was the usual illegal off-road motorbikes I encountered on the canal. They were also on a path in a field that lead to Sandwell Valley.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown