Wide shot of a canal with reeds in the foreground and bridge in the background

Wyrley & Essington Canal

The Wyrley & Essington Canal is nicknamed the Curly Wyrley, due to its twisting course. Its peaceful, meandering waters see few boats, but it is popular with walkers, cyclists and anglers.

Parts of the canal are very rural, and it runs past a number of nature reserves and wildlife hotspots, including Pelsall Common and Rough Wood Nature Reserve. The tranquil, slow-moving waters of the canal itself are home to thriving aquatic plant life, including protected floating water plantain and grass wrack pondweed.

Boating the Wyrley & Essington Canal

All you need to know about boating the Wyrley & Essington Canal

Chasewater Country Park

The Anglesey Branch of the canal runs to Chasewater Country Park - 900 acres of open space and water. The Park centres on Chasewater Reservoir, which was constructed to supply water to the canal. It is now a Site of Special Scientific Interest, with plenty of walkingand cyclingtrails. You can make the most of the water with lots of exciting activities, including sailing, water-skiing and sub-aqua diving.

The Birmingham Canal Navigationsalso offers the Cannock Extension Canal as an intriguing short diversion off the Wyrley & Essington.

The Wyrley & Essington Canal was constructed entirely on the level, making for easy lock-free boating, away from the crowds in the central Birmingham Canal Navigations.

History of the Wyrley & Essington Canal

Discover the history of the Wyrley & Essington Canal

Where does the water come from?
Parkhead Lock Flight on the Dudley No.1 Canal, locks down from the 73km Wolverhampton Level onto the Birmingham Level. The water is mainly supplied by Chasewater Reservoir and Bradley Pumps.
Chasewater (Cannock Chase) Reservoir, is the Trust's largest reservoir with a capacity of over 4,500 million litres.
Bradley Pumps lift groundwater from the coal measure at Bradley, in Wolverhampton.
Water from Chasewater Reservoir is transferred to Parkead Locks along the Anglessey Branch, Wyrley & Essington and Old Main Line Canals on one level.
The Titford Canal, also provide lockage water, topping up supplies to this level. Feeders also bring water into the canal.
When the canals were built water as already being pumped out of the coal mines so it was logical to use it in the canals. The Trust can pump up to 32 million litres of water per day at Bradley.