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The Anglesey Branch began life as the feeder channel from Chasewater to the main branch of the Wyrley and Essington. In 1847 the Marquis of Anglesey was planning to open his pits near to the reservoir and so conducted a survey to see if the channel could be made navigable, in order to transport his coal. The branch would be 1.5 miles long from the reservoir to Ogley locks. Work began in 1848, with most of the cost being met by the South Staffs Railway due to the terms of the railways act of Parliament. The branch opened in 1850 and was fairly succesful. The last coal carrying barge from Anglesey Basin was as late as 1967.

From Ogley junction towards Angelsey Bridge. Close up of Anglesey Bridge with a plaque showing it's year of build as 1850. It cost £330 to build!

Middleton bridge. The iron guards to protect the brickwork of the bridges from the tow ropes of the horse drawn barges still remain on all the bridges. the wear of the ropes can be clearly seen.

The aqueduct over the South Staffordshire Railway, built in 1850.As railway was being built at the same time , and was to cut underneath the exsisting feeder canal the cost of the aqueduct was met by the railway company.

Freeth Bridge. which carries the A5/Watling Street. The modern road bridge covers it. Built in 1849 for £400, £70 more than Anglesey and Middleton!. A view of the arch brickwork.

Burntwood road bridge. Now disused due to the closure of the Burntwood road for the bulding of the B.N.R.R

Anglesey Wharf, showing the coal loading scuttles. A mineral railway led to here from the pits, and the coal was loaded onto barges.

Remains of the coal conveyors, of which there are two. Coal was carried in tubs on overhead cables, and dropped into barges. Only the brick bases remain.

More views of the conveyors.

canal overflow

More views of the overflow. The right hand view shows a sluice gate with the inscription "BCN 1886".

The overflow basin leading from Chasewater, and the overflow opening. There was water flowing through here after the wet winter of 2001/2002.

Inside the basin looking towards the weir, and a close up of the weir.

Anglesey basin from the top of the overflow, and on the right, aview from the basin looking back towards the overflow. This was the site of "The Marquis" pit, opened by The Marquis of Anglesey in 1849. Later known as No.1 pit of The Cannock Chase Colliery Company, it closed in 1856.

View towards the dam, the valve house on top of the dam is visible. The houses at the foot of the dam are on the site of the old pumping staion. A view of the dam wall.

The valve house on the dam wall, built in 1850. It was built in the same style as the tollhouses of the Birmingham Canal Navigation company.