Dudley Canal Tunnels
A unique complex of tunnels developed since 1778 for limestone and coal mining, for through navigation and increasingly for tourism
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Off Tipton Road, Dudley, West Midlands DY1 4SQ
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A private Act of Parliament to construct the tunnel and associated canal, later to be known as the Dudley Canal Line No. 1, was passed in 1776. However Lord Dudley and Ward started building a canal and tunnel in 1775 to link his Tipton Colliery and his lime works to the Birmingham Canal Navigations at Tipton. He later agreed to sell the canal and tunnel to the Dudley Canal Company. The Dudley Canal Line No. 1 and Dudley Tunnel were reported as finished on 25 June 1791.
The earliest part of tunnel system was built to help with the transport of limestone extracted from the mines inside Castle Hill through which the tunnel runs. This was Lord Ward's tunnel, which leads to Castle Mill Basin. From there the main tunnel runs, via the Cathedral Arch, to Parkhead, near Netherton. At Cathedral Arch a branch canal lead into the Little Tess Cavern mine workings. This route is now blocked, but has been by-passed by two new tunnels. The southern end, including the southern portal, of the tunnel had to be rebuilt in 1884 due to subsidence caused by adjacent coal mines. This section of the tunnel was built several feet wider than the original tunnel bore. The southern portal bears a brick date stone of 1884.
At about 2.9 km (3,172 yds) long, it is now the second longest canal tunnel on the UK canal network (Standedge Tunnel is the longest, at 5 kms (5,456 yards), and the 3.6 km (3,931 yds) Higham and Strood tunnel is now rail only). However, since the Dudley Tunnel is not continuous, this status is sometimes questioned: (the main tunnel is 2.69 km (2,942 yds) Lord Ward's tunnel is 179 m (196 yds) and Castle Mill basin is 31.1 m (34 yards).
In 1989 two completely new canal tunnels were made, linking Singer Cavern and the Rock Tunnel, via Little Tess Cavern, to Castle Mill Basin (the northern portal of the main tunnel). The restrictive dimensions of the tunnel and the absence of a towpath mean that many boats are unable to pass through it. Those that can are not allowed to use diesel engines due to the lack of ventilation in the tunnel.
Visitors to the adjacent Black Country Living Museum, which opened in 1976, may take a battery-powered narrowboat trip either through the tunnel or partway through the tunnel and the adjacent mines; and, also, try legging the boat. Dudley Tunnel passes directly underneath the town and its castle, through a remarkable network of limestone caverns. The tunnel is navigable, but size restrictions and a one-way system apply.
The Netherton Tunnel follows a parallel route 1½ miles to the south east; it is much larger and has a towpath running through it. It was built to ease congestion in the Dudley Tunnel.
By road: Off A4037, Tipton Road
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