Wast Hill Tunnel

Wast Hill Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Its northern portal is in Hawkesley, Birmingham. Its southern portal is in fields just outside the city's boundaries, in Worcestershire.

Construction and measurements

The Wast Hill Tunnel was built in 1796 and is long, making it one of the longest in the country. There are several ventilation shafts along its length which were initially used for the tunnel's construction. It is wide enough to accommodate two narrow boats but there is no towpath.

History

Work started on the tunnel in 1794 and was completed in 1797. Until 1904, canal boats were legged through the tunnel; it took three hours to navigate. Leggers were replaced by a steam tug to pull a chain of barges through. The tunnel used to carry telegraph lines placed through iron brackets attached to the roof. On 23 November 1979, two workmen were killed when part of the tunnel roof collapsed while undergoing repair. The tunnel remained closed until 30 May 1981.