Tag Archives: Telford

The Railways of Telford – the Coalport Branch of the LNWR – Part 1 – Hadley to Malins Lee Station

5 Replies
Wikipedia provides this schematic map of the Coalport Branch which highlights the key stations and sidings. [3]

History

The history of the Coalport Branch begins with competition between rival rail companies in the area during the mid 1850’s. The GWR had control of the industrial areas of East Shropshire, whereas the LNWR only had access to the area via the Shropshire Canal which ran from Trench down to Coalport.

The Canal was going into disrepair and suffering from water shortages and subsidence. Canals in the area were difficult to maintain as the various mines in the area were causing significant subsidence.

The LNWR decided that it was best to discontinue costly maintenance and instead to build a railway line along the length of the Canal from Hadley to Coalport. Parts of the Canal were converted into railway track bed.

The use of a canal to provide a route for the railway was something that a number of railway companies pursued. In this case, the Canal provided a route for the railway down the East side of Dawley through what is now Telford Town Park, taking it past Aqueduct, Madeley and onto Coalport by the River Severn.

It is important not to confuse the LNWR station at Coalport with that on the opposite bank of the River Severn. The Severn Valley Railway chose to name its station ‘Coalport’ when it was subsequently built. Two stations with the same name on opposite sides of the river.

Eight months later, the LNWR decided to call their station on the north bank of the river Coalport East. It appears that at one time there were ambitious plans to join the two stations together by a bridge. These never came to fruition.

The LNWR branch opened as a single track on 17th June 1861. Unfortunately passenger numbers were low, but passengers were not the main reason for constructing the line. Freight traffic was expected to make the line profitable. The slow speed of the trains was not commensurate to passenger use, neither was the steep incline down to Coalport. Apparently, “some passengers were frightened to go on in case the train didn’t stop at the bottom!” [2]

The passenger service on the line closed on 2nd June 1952. Freight traffic continued until 1964.

The southern section of the line, from the northern end of Telford Town Park is now on the Silkin Way, a walkway named after Lord Silkin who was a pioneer of the Telford New Town development in the 1960’s. The northern length of the line has been lost under the development of the New Town. Part of the northern length of the line, North of Oakengates, is now a section of the A442 dual carriageway.

The Coalport Branch of the Shropshire Canal.

The history of the LNWR railway branch line is built on the story of the Canal and it is with that story that any investigation should begin. Separate article cover the route of the Canal and the first of these can be found on this link:

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/03/14/the-coalport-branch-of-the-shropshire-canal-part-1-the-length-as-far-south-as-stirchley-iron-works/

Wellington Railway Station to Hadley Railway Station

Wellington Railway Station was the junction station for the Coalport Branch passenger services. The bay platform on the South side of the Wellington Station site was shared with the GWR Coalbrookdale line (Wellington & Severn Junction Railway). The station and the line to its East are covered in the link below:

The Railways of Telford – the Wellington to Severn Junction Railway (W&SJR) – Part 1 – Wellington to Horsehay

Coalport East trains left the Shrewsbury to Birmingham line and for a short distance, to Hadley Junction, travelled along the line from Wellington to Stafford. After passing through Hadley Railway Station trains took to the Branch which curved away to the South of the main line.

Hadley Railway Station to Wombridge (Goods)

Experience shows that it is very difficult to plot a line on the ground when significant development has taken place. For the first section of this line the redevelopment from the 1960s into the 21st century has been very significant. In this article I have relied on modern satellite images provided by railmaponline.com. [4] As usual, historic mapping comes from the NLS (National Library of Scotland).

Hadley Railway Station appears on the left of this extract from the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901, published in 1902. The trackwork associated with the junction and with Castle Car Works can be seen at the top right of the extract. [60]
The same area in the 21st century as shown on the ESRI satellite imagery provided by the NLS. [60]
An enlarged extract from the 25″ Ordnance Survey which shows the area immediately around Hadley Station. [61]
The same area on the modern satellite imagery of Google Maps. [62]
Caren Craft shared the photograph of modern Hadley taking shape on the Hadley History Facebook Group on 26th June 2022. The photo was carried by the Shropshire Star on 15th August 2011. Both of the two railway bridges can be seen on the left of the image carrying the new single track railway line. [80]

Hadley Railway Station served the former Stafford to Shrewsbury Line and was the start of the branch to Coalport. The station was opened in 1849 and closed in 1964. The line through Hadley was closed from 1964, with the last remaining stretches of track being taken up in 1991. In the late 2000s a stretch of track was re-laid to the Telford International Railfreight Park for freight purposes only. [63]

Telford International Railfreight Park (known as TIRFP) is rail freight depot and construction development site located in Donnington to the north of Telford, on the former route of the Stafford to Shrewsbury Line. The terminal was opened in 2009. [64]

The old bridge at Hadley Station viewed from the North. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
The old bridge at Hadley Station viewed from the South. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
An early view looking North up Station Road under the railway bridge. This image was shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group by Caren Craft on 3rd July 2022. [71]

A later view (1963) of the bridge which was shared on the Hadley History Group by Tony Handley on 22nd March 2021. [73]

An even later image (1986) of the same bridge with the new pedestrian/cycleway bridges in place. This view was shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group by Lynne Purcell on 5th February 2021. [74]

This aerial image looks North across the old bridge in the 1960s. Hadley Railway Station platforms can just be seen entering the image from the left. The picture was shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group on 22nd March 2021 by Tony Handley. [76]
A view from the then new flats across Hadley Railway Station to the School. The photograph was taken in either 1967 or 1968. It was shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group by Tony Handley on 3rd April 2021. [77]
The view Northwest from the junction between Leegate Avenue and Haybridge Road/Britannia Way showing the new rail bridge with the older arched bridge alongside. The new bridge is on the site of the old Hadley Railway Station. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
A similar (panorama) view but taken, this time, from the foot/cycle bridges which span the junction. [My photograph, 12th March 2023]
Hadley Railway Station. This image was shared by Lynne Purcell on Hadley History Facebook Group on 7th July 2021. [65]
This picture was taken at Hadley Railway Station LNWR 0-6-0 locomotive No 45 is seen with a train of Tramcars for Blackburn Corporation. The picture was taken sometime between 1900-1908 (LNWRS reference LNWRS1822). The Trams were built by G F Milnes of Birkenhead at the Castle Car works at Hadley. The Tram making business at this site was short lived closing down in 1908. The site remained derelict for 2 years when the site was taken over by Joseph Sankey who made steel wheels and other steel pressings. The image was shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on 17th September 2021. [66]
Hadley Railway Station, shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group on 4th February 2021 by Lin Keska. [67]
Hadley Railway Station, shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group on 4th February 2021 by Lin Keska. Both these views are taken looking East towards Donnington. [68]
The view East along the single track line which was reinstated to serve Telford International Railfreight Park. This image was shared on the Hadley History Facebo0ok Group by Lynne Purcell om 5th February 2021. [72]
A diesel shunter at the East end of Hadley Railway Station with the bridge parapets beyond the platform ends. This image was shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group by Simon FP on 12th October 2021. [75]
Hadley Railway Station looking West along the North platform towards Wellington. The picture was also shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group on 4th February 2021 by Lin Keska. [69]
Hadley Town Centre from the West in the 1960s, the main railway line between Hadley Station and Hadley Junction features on the left of the image. This phot was shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group on 3rd February 2021 by Sion William Bradford. [78]
Looking from the Northeast across the the main line between Hadley Station and Hadley Junction towards Hadley town centre. This phot was shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group by Jimmy Martin on 15th March 2022. [79]
Hadley Junction as shown on the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901, published 1902. [8]
Hadley Junction in 1925. [6]
Hadley Junction as shown by railmaponline.com superimposed on Google Maps satellite imagery. The Coalport branch curves away to the South of the mainline. [4]
Hadley Junction with the Coalport Branch heading away to the right of the image, Castle Lane crosses both the branch and the main line just above the centre of the image, (c) Historic England, Britain from Above No. EPW050454. [5]
This image was shared on the Telford Memories Facebook Group by Simon FP on 28th September 2021. He comments: “While sorting out more photos at my parent’s former house. I found this little gem, bringing back many railway memories. It shows Hadley sidings, looking towards Trench and clearly shows Sankey’s on the left and the Coalport Junction on the right. The photo was taken by my Father, Bill Parton, but I’m wondering where from? Could he have climbed a signal gantry?” [17]
This underpass can be seen on both of the 25″ OS map extracts above. It used to provide access from Hadley to fields North of the railway. This view is taken looking North through the structure. [My photograph, 12th March 2023]
The smae underpass viewed from the North. [My photograph, 12th March 2023]
The single track line which occupies the old main line formation in 2023. 100 meters or so to the right (East) of this location Hadley Junction trackwork commenced, as did sidings for Castle Car Works. [My photograph, 12th March 2023]
This is a still from a video shared on the Hadley History Facebook Group by Tony Handley on 10th May 2021. It shows a Pannier Tank and brake van awaiting clearance to leave the Coalport Branch heading towards Hadley Railway Station. [70]
This image shows a short section of National Cycle Route 81 which runs alongside the formation of the old mainline. The Coalport Branch turned away from the mainline along this length, initially at the same level at the mainline above the fence on the left. The modern cycleway is at a slightly lower level. [My photograph, 12th March 2023]
National Cycle Route 81 again. The cycle route drops down to the level of Castle Lane which provided access under the main line to Castle Car Works. The purple line shows the approximately line of the Coalport Branch which crossed Castle Lane at high level and continued to turn away from the main line. [My photograph, 12th March 2023]
Looking back to the West from Castle Lane towards the point where the Coalport Branch left the main line at Hadley Junction. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking North along Castle Lane towards the mainline which was crossed by means of an arched underpass, visible in the photo. The Coalport branch follows the purple line nearer to the camera. The height of the land to the right of Castle Lane is close to the formation height of the branch. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
A closer view of the underpass Works access in 2023. [My photograph, 12th March 2023]
This view is tken looking South toards the Branch from adjacent to the embankment of the old main line. The conifers are planted on the line of the Coalport Branch. [My photograph, 12th march 2023]
Castle Street Railway Bridge in the mid-1960s, looking Northeast along Castle Street. The Shropshire Star, carried this photograph on 30th July 1960 and commented: “Hadley has its own Bridge of Sighs – but the sighs come from lorry drivers as they approach the notorious Coalport railway bridge. During the past 10 years lorries have become stuck scraped and been forcibly unloaded as they have tried to squeeze under its 18ft 6in [headroom]. There has been at least one serious accident there!” Their story went on to say that local residents and councils all wanted the bridge made safer, or completely removed. The railway lines which crossed the bridge no longer led anywhere. The bridge was only used as a short extension to the goods yard of Joseph Sankey and Co Ltd. but the bridge’s demolition would only have meant the loss of about 50 yards of track. The bridge was demolished in April 1967. [7]
The demolition of the bridge in 1967. This photograph was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on 23rd April 2018. [53]
The view Northwest from Castle Street along the line of the old railway. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking Northeast along Castle Street with the line of the old railway shown in purple. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking South from Castle Street with the route of the old railway highlighted by the purple line. The footpath on the centre-left of the image crosses the route of the old railway. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
This Google Streetview image is taken from Redlands Road, Hadley. The footpath in the last photo is on the left and the Coalport Branch ran on embankment across the line of that footpath and then along the line of the trees to the right and centre of this image [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Turning through 90 degrees to look East from the same point on Redlands Road, the route of the Coalport Branch runs along the tree line at the left of this picture and then through the flats at the centre of the image. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
The next length of the branch shown on the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901, published 1902. Hadley Brick & Tile Works were on the South side of the line. [9]
Approximately the same area as shown on the OS map extract above. Railmaponline shows the route of the old railway which ran to the South side of what is now Blockley’s warehousing. [4]
Looking Northeast along one of the cul-de-sac arms of Redlands Road. The old line approximately followed the purple line on this image. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking North along Buxus Road. The old line crossed what is now Buxus Road just to the North of the property on the left of this image. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking Northeast on Marlborough Road, the roue of the Coalport Branch is indicated by the purple line. [Google Streeetview, June 2022]
Looking Southwest from the end of Viburnum Way, then is nothing at this location to show that the old railway once ran along the purple line in the image. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Turning through 90 degress to look Southeast at the same point as in the image above, the trees which form the Southwest boundary of Blockley’s building materials warehousing are on the line of the Coalport branch. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
This length of the branch was on embankment as it crossed Middle Pool/Valley Pool and passed to the South of Wombridge Iron Works. The Iron Works are shown as disused on this 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901. [10]
This view appears to have been taken from a point on the extreme left of the OS map extract above. It faces Southeast towards Oakengates. Wombridge Church can be discerned in the right background. This image is © Copyright Dr Neil Clifton (23rd June 1964) and used here under a creative Commons Licence (CCB Y-SA 2.0). [18]
The earlier Ordnance Survey of 1880 to 1882, published in 1885, as this enlarged extract indicates, shows the Iron Works at Wombridge in use, served by both a rail connection and an arm of the Shropshire Canal. [11]
A similar area to that on the 25″ OS map extract above. Railmaponline shows the sidings which served Wombridge Iron Works towards the top-right of the picture, and St. Mary & St. Leonard’s Church at the bottom of the image. The old railway embankment has been removed apart for an island which sits in the centre of Middle Pool in the 21st century. [4]
Looking North along Sommerfield Road through the approximate line of the Coalport Branch. [Google Streetview]
The photograph is taken looking South along the side of Middle Pool. The bench in the picture is approximately at the point where the old embankment carrying the Coalport Branch stood. Middle Pool is to the left of this shot, Sommerfield Road to the right. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
Looking East across Middle Pool along what was the old Coalport branch! The island in the centre of the pool can just be made out through the vegetation. The line crossed the South side of the island. Summer vegetation would preclude this picture being taken. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
The island in Middle Pool viewed from the Northwest. The purple line shows the approximate line of the railway embankment. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
The same island viewed from the South of Middle Pool. The Coalport branch ran through Middle Pool on an embankment crossing the location of the island close to its southern end. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
Looking West, back along the line of the Coalport Branch towards Hadley Junction. As already noted, the old railway was on embankment across Middle Pool which was separated into two halves. The northern part being know as Middle Pool, the southern part being called Valley Pool. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
Turning through 180° to look East along the line of the old railway. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
This photograph is taken looking North along Wombridge Way towards the A442 roundabout. The purple line gives the approximate position of the old railway. Wombridge Way is a modern invention running close to the Eastern shore of Middle Pool (off the image to the left). An open grassed area is beyond the treeline on the right of the image. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking South from National Cycle Route 81. Wombridge Way is beyond the trees to the right of the image. Immediately to the right is an underpass under Wombridge Way. The A442 is behind the camera. To the left of the image the cycleway runs round the prominent confiers in a loop in order to gain height. The route of the railway runs to the North of the southernmost extent of the loop in the cycleway. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
A closer view of the location on Google Maps. Wombridge Cemetery is in the bottom-right of the image. [Google Maps, March 2023]
Looking back West along the line of the Coalport Branch. Wombridge cemetery is just off to the left of the photo at a lower level. The railings on the right lead onto a cycle/footbridge over the A442. The purple line indicates the route of the railway. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
This next image faces Southeast. The A442 is just beyond the railings to the left, Wombridge Cemetery is on the right. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
This image shows the view Southeast along the A442. The footpath/cycleway in the last image is just behind the vegetation on the right of this image. The approximate route of the old railway is again drawn onto the picture as a purple line. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
St. Mary and St. Leonard, Wombridge was built in 1869 by George Bidlake. It is the fourth church on the site of an Augustinian Priory. The church has been sympathetically re-ordered with a fine reredos, pulpit and Vicar’s stall. The remains of the Augustinian Priory were excavated in 2011. Some remaining floor tiles and masonry from the Priory are on view. [13][14]
The view North from the end of Wombridge Road. The cemetery is on the left, the A442 is beyond the trees directly ahead. The old railway ran beyond the tree line to the rear of the cemetery (in this view) and across the line of Wombridge Road.at the point where the A442 now crosses the old Wombridge Road. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
This enlarged extract from the 1881 6″ Ordnance Survey shows St. Mary and St. Leonard, Wombridge in the bottom-left. Today’s cemetery location is on the North side of Wombridge Corn Mill. Wombridge Pool no longer exists, nor does the Augustinian Priory. The bridge over Wombridge Road is shown just to the left of the centre-top of the image. [11]

Wombridge Church and Priory

Wombridge Priory was a small Augustinian monastery established in the early 12th century, it was supported by a network of minor nobility and was never a large community. Despite generally good financial management, it fell within the scope of the Suppression of Religious Houses Act 1535 and was dissolved in the following year. [82]

The priory was dedicated to St Leonard. St Leonard was particularly popular in the 12th century following the release of Bohemond I of Antioch, a captured crusader – a circumstance which he seems to have attributed to the saint’s intercession. White Ladies Priory, another Shropshire Augustinian house, was also dedicated to St Leonard, as was the parish church at Bridgnorth, [82] and at a later date, Malinslee Parish Church. Remains of the priory buildings remained visible until the 19th century but are now hidden beneath the churchyard and other development. They were excavated in the 1930s and again in 2011 and 2012. [82]

The church was designated to St. Mary and St. Leonard and was built in 1869 by George Bidlake. It is the fourth church on the site of the Priory.

An aerial view of Wombridge Church with some of the remains of the Priory evident. This photograph was shared on the Telford – The Ultimate Guide Facebook Group by Steve Bowers on 27th February 2023. [83]

The bridge which carried the Coalport Branch over what was once Wombridge Road was demolished to make way for the A442 Queensway.

This photograph was taken during the demolition of the bridge. It is the only photo I have been able to find of the old railway bridge. It appears to have been taken from the South. Headroom would have been quite limited. The photograph was shared by Paul Wheeler on the Telford Memories Facebook Group on 23rd November 2017. [84]

We continue on our journey along the old Coalport Branch with a ground-level shot along the A442 showing the line of the old railway.

Looking Southeast along the A442, Queensway from the Northwest-bound off slip road. The A442 was built over the line of the Coalport branch which was curving along the length ahead towards the Southeast. [Google Streeetview, June 2022]
The 25″ Ordnance Survey from the turn of the 20th century again. The important feature on this length of the Coalport Branch was the bridge which carried Stafford Road over the line. [12]
Once agin, this satellite image covers approximately the same area as that covered by the OS map extract above. The purple line is the route of the Coalport Branch as recorded on railmaponline.com. [4]
An image from the Southbound carriageway of the A442 from a position at the top-left of the satellite image above. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
From the same Southbound carriageway, the bridge which carries Stafford road over the A442 is visible in the distance. The Coalport Branch followed a tighter curve than the modern road, passing under Stafford Road to the South of the modern bridge over the A442. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Stafford Road, Oakengates looking North across the bridge over the A442. The bridge over the Coalport Branch would have sat just to the South side of the modern A442 in roughly the location indicated by the purple line on the photograph. [Google Streetview, June 2022]

A Brown’s Sentinel bus crosses the Stafford Road bridge in Oakengates in March 1963. For much of his married life, Ron Dean was in the driving seat. And his wife Greta was his conductor. The camera is pointing towards the South. [15]

Stafford Road Bridge again, sometime in the 1960s before the A442, Queensway dual carriageway was built. This was probably taken at the time that a footbridge was being installed alongside the road bridge. The photo is taken facing South along the Brach line. It was shared on the Telford memories Facebook Group by Bear Yeomans on 7th February 2016. [16]
Looking North from Stafford Road Bridge along the Coalport Branch towards Hadley Junction. This image was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on 23rd May 2020. [50]
Looking North under Stafford Road Bridge along the Coalport Branch. This image was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on 30th July 2018. [51]
This aerial photo of Oakengates was taken in November 1970. Just to the right of the top-centre of the image, Stafford Road bridge can be seen with the footbridge alongside it. The A442 is not evident, but the Coalport Branch cutting can be followed from the road bridge to the right. This image was shared on the Telford Memories Facebook Group by Marcus Keane on 22nd March 2022. [19]
An enlarged extract from the picture immediately above showing Stafford Road bridge in the top-left. [19]
This next length of the line takes us through Oakengates Market Street Railway Station and Goods yard. The 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901, published in 1902 shows the station and goods yard to full advantage. [20]
The railmaponline.com satellite image of the same area as in the map extract above. This begins to show how congested the area around Oakengates was with a variety of railway lines and sidings. [4]
The levele crossing to the immediate North of Oakengates Market Street Station with the gates closed to road traffic to allow the passage of a goods train in the capable hands of a Pannier tank! We are looking East up Station Hill. This view was shared by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on the Oakengates History Facebook Group on 10th March 2017. [55]
Looking East up Station Hill from Oakengates Market Street Station forecourt. This image was shared by Metsa Vaim EdOrg on the Telford Memories Facebook Group on 2nd November 2019. [26]

This photograph is taken from a point just off the left of the above image and also looks East up Station Hill across the railway line, which was by the time the picture was taken, closed. The image was shared on the Telford memories Facebook Group by Marcus Keane on 13th November 2016. [27]

Oakengates Market Street Station from the East. This image was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on 29th March 2021. [49]
Oakengates Market Street Station as seen from the East on Station Hill, adjacent to the Police Station. This image was shared by Paul Wheeler on the Telford memories Facebook Group on 16th August 2017. [21]
A view from almost exactly the same location in 2022. The police station site is on the left of the image, the modern railings in the same location as on the image above. The A442, Queensway, overbridge now dominates the scene. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking West into Oakengates after the removal of the passenger facilities at Oakengates Market Street Station. Rails remian in the road. It is possible that this photograph was taken in the late 1950s or the very early 1960s. It was shared on the Oakengate History Facebook Group by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on 10th March 2017. [56]
This little tableau of three images (one above and two below) were shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group on 16th July 2019 by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley. Two of the pictures show the work going on to deal with a derailment of a Pannier Tank. The photographs of the derailment were sent to the Group by John Wood and were taken by Mike Dodd. Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley writes: A “derailment at Oakengates Crossing sometime before 1958. This is the LNWR LMS Rail line Market Street/Station Hill. Pic 3 shows where the then disused Line cuts across the Station Hill Road (the line ran between the Building and the Bus Stop traveling in the direction of Wellington), the building is the old Whitefoots Showroom, this was formerly a Pub, the building you can see the back of in the derailment pic is this same as in Pic 3. Much of this info is from John Wood.” The first picture shows the level crossing gates in the background and was taken looking Southeast with the Goods Yard and erstwhile Station Buildings beyond the Crossing gates to the South. The first of the two pictures below is taken looking North from the crossing gates. [57]
History
Looking South from the level-crossing at the bottom of Station Hill and the top of Market Street. Market Street Railway Station buildings were off the image on the right. The station platform edge can be seen through the crossing gates. The line curves round passed the Goods Yard, under Canongate Bridge and on towards the A5 at Greyhound Bridge. The photo was shared by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on the Oakengates History Facebook Group on 9th November 2019. [58]
Oakengates Market Street Station in the 1930s looking North towards Hadley, (c) C.L. Mowat used here with permission from dawleyhistory.com. [81]
The view North through Oakengates Goods Yard and Market Street Station. The crossing gates at Station Hill/Market Street appear to be closed to rail traffic. The station building sits to their left in the centre of this image. This image was shared by Paul Wheeler on the Telford memories Facebook Group on 16th August 2017. An equivalent modern view from Canongate is not feasible because the industrial site is now screened by trees. [22]
Looking North towards Oakengates Market Street Station through the Goods Yard in 1932. This picture was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group by David Bradshaw on 27th November 2016. The goods train is hauled by an unidentified 0‒6‒0 and is passing a Super D 0‒8‒0 waiting in the goods yard. The very sharp curve just apparent on the extreme left is Millington’s timber yard siding. The shed on the left was latterly used by the CWS as a store, (c) C.L. Mowat. [54] [81]
Looking North through the area that was Oakengates Market Street Station Goods yard from the Eastern end of Commercial Way. The purple line shows the approximate route of the Coalport Branch. The white building at the centre of this image is the old goods shed now put to a different use! [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking Southeast from the same location. The mainline of the Coalport Branch would have run along the treeline behind the industrial units. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
The view from the Southeast on Canongate. The purple line shows the approximate location of the Coalport Branch which passed under the road by means of a bridge. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Canongate Railway Bridge was a brick-arched structure. It is seen here infilled to support the road above. This image was posted by BruceS on Waymarking.com on 2nd June 2015. [23]
Looking North under Canongate Bridge towards Oakengates Market Street Station. This picture was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on 12th October 2017. [52]
An aerial image looking North along the line of the Coalport Branch in 1948. Canongate bridge is in the centre of the image, the Station is towards the top of the image beyond the goods yard, (c) Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW013748). [24]
An extract from the above image which shows Canongate, the Goods Yard and the Station in greater detail, (c) Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW013748). [24]
The next length of the Coalport Branch took it passed Snedshill Iron Works and into a tight corridor which included the GWR Shrewsbury to Birmingham railway Line, the Coalport Branch and a Mineral Railway. This area is again shown on the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901, published in 1902. [26]
Railmaponline.com’s satellite imagery shows the same area as in the OS map above as it appears in the 21st century. All the lines mentioned above are included in the overlay to the satellite imagery. [4]
Another extract from the aerial image of 1948 which showed Canongate Bridge, this shows the area to the South of Canongate. Snedshill Iron Works are on the right of the image. In the centre of the image are John Maddock and Co.’s works for whom the aerial photographs were taken. Those works do not feature on either the 1901 Ordnance Survey or the modern satellite imagery. [24]
Looking North from the A5 bridge over the Coalport branch. Snedshill Ironworks are on the right of the image. The bridge at the centre of the image is the same one that appears at the bottom of the aerial image immediately above. This photograph was shared on the Telford Memories Facebook Group by Paul Wheeler on 18th March 2018. [37]
Looking Northwest along Reynolds Drive, Oakengates. The Coalport Branch was in cutting at this location. The purple line gives an idea of its Route. Its route crosses Hawkshaw Close a 100 yards or so to the left, as shown below. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking South along Hawkshaw Close, Oakengates with the line of the Coalport Branch shown. As noted above the line was in relatively deep cutting at this location. Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking North from Newlands Road, Oakengates, towards Oakengates Market Street Station. At this point on the line we are a little to the North of the accommodation bridge shown on the 1948 aerial image above. The approximate route of the line is again shown by the purple line. The line was, however, in deep cutting at this location. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking South from Newlands Road, Oakengates, along the line of the Coalport Branch which was in deep cutting at this location. The road to the right of this image is Station Road which onceran immediately alongside the old railway line a little further to the South.[Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking North along Station Road across the line of the old railway. Station Road was diverted when the new roundabout (immediately behind the camers) was constructed. The next two monochrome images focus on this location as it was in 1948. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
The same length of line, but this time as shown in an aerial image from the Northwest, also taken in 1948. The image features John Maddock’s works with Snedshill Iron Works beyond, (c) Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW013752). [25]
A closer view of the top-right of the above image with the Coalport branch heading away to the South. This area saw significant alterations in the later years of the 20th century. The significant bridge carries what is designated the B5061 in the 21st century, but was the A5 Trunk Road. The works immediately beyond the bridge and alongside the A5 are the Lilleshall Company’s Snedshill Brickworks, (c) Historic England, Britain from Above (EAW013752). [25]
TH 1″ OS Map of 1898, published 1899, shows the location of the bridge. The immediate area is now under the Greyhound Roundabout which sits alongside the A442. [28]
Looking Southeast along the A5 towards the Lilleshall works at Priorslee. The dominant building with the curved roof on the left of this image is the Lilleshall Company’s Snedshill Brickworks. The Coalport Branch passed under the bridge at the centre of the image. This phot was shared on the Telford Memories Facebook Group on 23rd February 2014 by Vince Allen. [29]
Looking down into the cutting of the Coalport Branch from the East in 1973. The road running across the image is the A5. The arch bridge is the Greyhound Bridge which is eventually replaced by the Greyhound Roundabout. The picture was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley on 14th May 2019. [58]
A local collapse of parapet walling alongside the bridge occurred in 1966. The bridge is off to the left of the photograph, the running line of the Coalport Branch just below the image. This press cutting was shared on the Telford Memories Facebook Group by Paul Johnson on 1st March 2014. [30]
In this postcard aerial view of Snedshill Brickworks from the West, the Mineral Railway adjacent to the Coalport Branch is visible, crossing the A5 at the bottom edge of the image. The Coalport Branch is just off the bottom of the picture. [32]
Snedshill Brickworks again, this time in the 1950s and viewed from the East. The A5 runs away to the right of the image. The cutting of the Coalport Branch runs across from middle-right to middle-left. The A5 bridge over the line is hidden by the Works buildings. This picture was shared on the Telford Memories Facebook Group by Marcus Keane on 26th March 2014. [36]
From a similar angle to the last picture but taken from the Lilleshall Brickworks buildings in 1974, this image was carried by the Shropshire Star at the time. The A5 runs diagonally across the shot with the dwarf wall above the arched Greyhound Bridge visible to its right. The cutting of the Coalport Branch runs left to right across the centre of the image. The picture was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group on 22nd October 2020 by Gwyn Thunderwing Hartley. [59]

This photo does not have the best of definition, but it is worth including as it shows the view South across the Brickworks before redevelopment work in the area. The Shrewsbury to Birmingham line curves away to the East. The A5 bridge over the Coalport Branch is visible at the bottom of the image. [33]

This aerial image looks to the South at a time of great change in the local landscape. In the bottom-eft of the image, the A5 still runs on its route passed the Snedshill Brickworks and across what was once the Coalport Branch. Greyhound roundabout is under construction. South of the roundabout the mainline from Shrewsbury to Birmingham appears out of its tunnel and the A442 construction alongside it is well advanced. Toward the top of the image is the M54 construction work and in the top-right corner, part of Telford’s new town centre. [33]
This aerial image is taken facing North. The Coalport Branch no longer features. Snedshill Brickworks remain and the A442 is not yet completed and there is little or no evidence of it North of Greyhound Roundabout. What will be the Northbound off-slip road from the A442 runs South away from the newly completed Greyhound Roundabout. [33]
Looking North under the A5 towards Oakengates, apparently the bridge was known as Greyhound Bridge and gave its name to the roundabout that replaced it. This photo was shared on the Oakengates History Facebook Group by David Bradshaw on 27th November 2016. [54]

From this point South the A442 now occupies the space which once was used by the Coalport Branch. The Northbound slip road from the A442 can be seen following the line of the old railway on the Railmaponlin.com satellite image below.

The 25″ Ordance Survey of 1901, published 1902, shows the Coalport Branch passing over the GWR Shrewsbury to Birmingham main line. The GWR line passed under the area in a deep tunnel with the Coalport Branch above it also in a relative deep cutting. The two lines ran approximately parallel for a short distance. [31]
Railmaponline.com shows the same area with the local lines overlaid on the satellite imagery from Google Maps. [4]
The view North, back towards Oakengates from the northbound slip road of the A442. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
The view South from the same location showing the approximate route of the Coalport Branch. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
A little further South along the A442 with the approximate line of the Coalport Branch marked once again. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Further South again, this time the camera is on the southbound carriageway. The Coalport Branch ran approximately along the modern treeline. Beyond the horizon the A442 curves back over the formation of the old line. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Further South again the A442 crosses the line of the Coalport Branch. The next Railmaponline.com satellite image shows that the footbridge in this view is very close to the point where the A442 leaves the formation of the Coalport branch. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
This next extract from the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1902 shows the Shrewsbury to Birmingham line to the East of the Coalport branch and running parallel to it. Both pass under the road leading Northeast out of Hollinswood. The Coalport branch remains in cutting along much of its length on this map extract. [34]
The same area on the satellite imagery provided by Railmaponline.com. The purple line shows the route of the Coalport Branch which, from close to the top-left of the image ran along a route immediately adjacent to the modern A442. Hollinswood Road has been replaced by a footbridge over the A442 and the Shrewsbury to Birmingham main line. It is further cut to the Southwest by the M54 and its junction arrangement, just off this image to the bottom-left.. [4]
Looking North towards Oakengates from the cycle track on the West side of the A442. The approximate route of the Coalport Brnach is indicated by the purple line. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
Looking Southeast from the cycleway alongside the A442. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
Another view looking North, but this time taken from the Footbridge/Cycleway bridge over the A442. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
Looking South from the same bridge with the route of the old railway indicated by the purple line. The bridge ahead carries the M54 over the A442. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
Looking South again, this time from the cycleway/footpath which runs under the M54 bridge over the A442. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
This is now the view South towards the Telford Station footbridge. My photograph, 13th March 2023]
A few steps ahead and turning a half-circle, this is the view looking North under the M54 Bridge with the old railway route marked by the same purple line. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
The view South once more showin the line of the old railway. [My photograph, 13th March 2023]
Looking North-northwest on Rampart Way under the footbridge leading to Telford Railway Station. The approximate line of the Coalport Branch is shown by the purple line. The M54 runs parallel to and beyond the purple line [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking to the Southwest under the Station Footbridge with the line of the Old Coalport Branch shown in purple. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Old Dark Lane Colliery and Brickworks appear at the top of the next extract from the 25″ Ordnance Survey of 1901, published in 1902. Dark Lane Village is at the bottom of the image. Dark Lane village was lost as part of the development of Telford. The Branch has turned away from the Shrewsbury to Birmingham line towards the South. [35]
The same area on the satellite imagery provided by Railmaponline.com. The route of the old line cuts across the West side of the A442 interchange and then South through housing and across Dale Acre Way. [4]
Looking South across Hollinswood Interchange along the line of the Coalport Branch. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking East along the northern arm of Dunsheath. The line of the old railway crosses the housing development immediately this side of the black car and the van (approximately)! [Google Streetview, June 2022]
Looking East along the southern arm of Dunsheath. The line of the old railway crosses the housing development as shown by the purple line. [Google Streetview, June 2022]

Old Darklane Colliery and Brickworks

The Colliery was opened in 1855 and closed finally in 1885. The owners were: Beriah Botfield (1855-1860]; Leighton and Grenfell (1869-1870); and Haybridge Iron Co. Ltd (1875-1885). [38]

Dark Lane Village

Dark Lane Village was lost in its entirety to the redevelopment which produced Telford. Dark Lane Row and the Methodist Chapel appear at the bottom of the OS map extract above. The remainder of the village features at the top of the OS Map extract below. Malins Lee Station was on the South side of the village. Little Dark Lane Colliery to the West. There were three long rows of cottages which were known locally as: Long Row (about 550ft long and containing 20 houses); Bottom Row (a little over 500ft long and containing 25 houses); and Short Row (nine houses built by the Botfield family in around 1825). A full description of the village and pictures of the buildings can be found on the Dawleyhistory.com website. [39]

The last extract from the 1901 25″ Ordnance Survey in this article covers Dark Lane village and Malins Lee Railway Station. [47]
The same area on the satellite imagery provided by Railmaponline.com. After crossing Dale Acre Way, the route of the old line heads South-southwest across open ground and then over land used for housing development. [4]
Looking West on Dale Acre Way. the approximate location of the old railway is shown by the purple line. [Google Streetview, June 2022.
The view West in the 1960s along Dark Lane the GWR mineral railway was hidden in the dip. The road then rose relatively steeply to cross over the Coalport Branch. The bridge can be seen middle-left of this image. [40]
This Streetview image is taken from approximately the same location as the picture immediately above. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
This bucolic colour image shows the road featured in the image above but this time from a location adjacent to Bottoms Row, Dark Lane. The bridge over the Coalport Branch can be seen again on the horizon. This photo was shared on the Telford memories Facebook Group by Marcus Keane on 28th February 2023. It was colourised by Simon Alun Hark. [42]
This image is taken from the same geographical location as the one immediately above, facing in the same direction. The light blue line indicates the alignment of the old Dark Lane. [Google Streetview, June 2022]
This postcard view shows Bottom Row with the Methodist Chapel beyond. The bridge on the right of the image carried Dark Lane over the Coalport Branch. Malins Lee Station was beyond the bridge to the right of the image. A matching modern image is not practical as the camera location is now in the midst of a copse of trees close to the boundary of the exhibition centre car park. [39]

‘The Miner’s Walk‘ website provides more information about the area around Dark Lane village. [41] It includes a hand-drawn overlay of modern roads over the Ordnance Survey of the 1880s.

Malins Lee Station as in appeared in 1932.The photograph seems to have been taken facing South from the bridge which carried Dark Lane over the line. The passenger facilities at the station seem to be a little different to others on the Coalport Branch. The station was closed for two years during WW1 as an economy measure and finally closed in 1952 with the line remaining open for goods traffic for more than a decade. Just to the South of the station was a single siding which served immediately local industries. This picture was shared by Lin Keska on the Telford Memories Facebook Group on 15th August 2018. [45]
Marcus Keane shared this composite image on the Telford Memories Facebook Group on 20th July 2014 which shows the location of Malins Lee Station in relation to the modern blocks of flats in Hollinswood. [48]
Malins Lee Station once again. This photo seems to have been taken from the filed opposite the station. The tall chimney behind the station was probably that of Dark Lane Foundry. This photograph was shared by Marcus Keane on the Telford memories Facebook Group on 24th January 2018, (c) Ray Farlow, circa 1907. [43]
Malins Lee Station passenger facilities. The photograph was shared on Telford Memories Facebook Group by Marcus Keane on 20th September 2017. [44]
Malins Lee Station had been closed to passengers for 12 years when this photograph was taken of a goods service on the Coalport Branch. The picture was shared on the Telford memories Facebook Group by Lin Keska on 15th August 2018. [46]

We have reached the end of this article. Two further articles will cover the remaining length of the LNWR Branch to Coalport East. The next article can be found on this link:

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2023/03/14/the-railways-of-telford-the-coalport-branch-of-the-lnwr-part-2-malins-lee-station-to-madeley-market-station/?preview_id=41427&preview_nonce=41c6a7a396&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=41247

References

  1. Bob Yate; The Shropshire Union Railway: Stafford to Shrewsbury including the Coalport Branch; Oakwood Press, Usk, 2003.
  2. http://www.shropshirerailways.photo-bikes.com/wellington%20to%20coalport.htm, accessed on 27th August 2022.
  3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalport_branch_line#:~:text=The%20Coalport%20branch%20line%20was,the%20River%20Severn%20at%20Coalport., accessed on 3rd March 2023.
  4. https://www.railmaponline.com/UKIEMap.php, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  5. https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW050454, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  6. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/salop/vol11/pp252-256, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  7. https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/latest-photos/2019/09/27/pictures-from-the-past-september-27, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  8. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.70720&lon=-2.47822&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  9. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.70498&lon=-2.46807&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  10. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.70241&lon=-2.45964&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  11. https://maps.nls.uk/view/101594308, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  12. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.69987&lon=-2.44838&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  13. http://grave-mistakes.blogspot.com/2014/01, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  14. https://www.discovershropshirechurches.co.uk/north-east-shropshire/-wombridge, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  15. https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2008/04/18/sentimental-for-sentinels, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  16. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=180979678935087&set=pcb.1141785095839492, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  17. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=587700949341164&set=gm.6466670556684226, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  18. https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1356838, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  19. https://m.facebook.com/groups/674238619260811/permalink/7484830841534854, accessed on 8th March 2023.
  20. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.69549&lon=-2.44956&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  21. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1903414726649195&set=pcb.1781610458523616, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  22. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1903414729982528&set=pcb.1781610458523616, accessed on 9th March 2028.
  23. https://img.geocaching.com/waymarking/e05aefc2-5588-4173-81bc-5fc4f5f0d767.jpg, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  24. https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW013748, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  25. https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/EAW013752, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  26. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=211243596535983&set=pcb.3375757959108850, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  27. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10202472789616572&set=gm.1394432133908119, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  28. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15.0&lat=52.68988&lon=-2.45040&layers=1&b=1, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  29. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10203586351122667&set=gm.734278163256856, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  30. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=500250246753047&set=gm.737447986273207, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  31. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.68738&lon=-2.44634&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 9th March 2023.
  32. https://rowleyanth.wordpress.com/2020/11/10/snedshills-lost-trig-station, accessed on 10th March 2023
  33. https://rowleyanth.wordpress.com/2020/11/10/snedshills-lost-trig-station, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  34. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.68305&lon=-2.44334&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  35. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.67817&lon=-2.43894&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  36. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4099580983412&set=gm.750750474942958, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  37. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2024640084526658&set=gm.2063876940296965, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  38. https://www.mindat.org/loc-380261.html, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  39. http://dawleyhistory.com/Postcards/Dark%20Lane/Dark%20Lane.html, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  40. https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/nostalgia/2018/10/13/john-puts-disappeared-village-back-in-the-frame, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  41. https://theminerswalk.org/dark-lane/dark-lane-community, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  42. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10210297422427502&set=pcb.9172326579451930, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  43. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10204183473942611&set=gm.1987991561218837, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  44. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10203756555669921&set=gm.1823213051030023, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  45. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2036718353039258&set=pcb.2318496184835038, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  46. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2036718343039259&set=pcb.2318496184835038, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  47. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.67444&lon=-2.43940&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  48. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4469098141110&set=p.4469098141110&type=3, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  49. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php/?fbid=10158149416388862, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  50. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php/?fbid=10157415890498862, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  51. https://m.facebook.com/groups/261490703946559/permalink/1730634930365455, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  52. https://m.facebook.com/groups/261490703946559/permalink/1426095267486091, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  53. https://m.facebook.com/groups/261490703946559/permalink/1610953559000260, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  54. https://m.facebook.com/groups/261490703946559/permalink/1129682527127368, accessed on 10th March 2023.
  55. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10154352557818862&set=pcb.1225401774222109, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  56. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10154352557923862&set=pcb.1225401774222109, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  57. https://www.facebook.com/groups/261490703946559/permalink/2247218948707048, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  58. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10156412880623862&set=gm.2140058566089754, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  59. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10157794859563862&set=gm.3306747222754210, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  60. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=17.0&lat=52.70532&lon=-2.48476&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  61. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=19.0&lat=52.70564&lon=-2.48748&layers=168&b=1, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  62. https://www.google.com/maps/@52.7055154,-2.4873547,168m/data=!3m1!1e3, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  63. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadley_railway_station, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  64. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telford_International_Railfreight_Park, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  65. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10158272198491149&set=gm.1652673478258072, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  66. https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/242190824_10158473840893862_8351508469663414357_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=1z1Xv3oiMjAAX8Zmxox&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAoNByUvwFaPpSXXoHceKdpPCSfnmGZ2Ad-tr1yQublBA&oe=64120419, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  67. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3981992425178498&set=pcb.1542672229258198, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  68. https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/146860022_3981993681845039_5361757954301946525_n.jpg?_nc_cat=110&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b9115d&_nc_ohc=ABPVobpKJpUAX-qgTia&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCeHXbHne8jDbzN6v5py_aepunx3yNf1ueeaClgq5GAzg&oe=6433E0F7, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  69. https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/146341448_3981992558511818_3168498579780549910_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b9115d&_nc_ohc=lWt1aUGC8o8AX9CMoWM&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAS05Q2_0N-7UcBIRQwMRRTmsjYrNxuUPjPfqIas-eW7g&oe=6433E946, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  70. https://external-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/emg1/v/t13/12785497051644334014?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FvdZgAco2hmk%2Fmaxresdefault.jpg&fb_obo=1&utld=ytimg.com&stp=c0.5000×0.5000f_dst-jpg_flffffff_p500x261_q75&ccb=13-1&oh=06_AbGCaGvs9jm_zNHbEvNhCRl9oO07yMCDU49p7l7Iw5OOhQ&oe=640E158B&_nc_sid=717943, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  71. https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/289830480_3205202906401375_2525630448206906683_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_p526x296&_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=5cd70e&_nc_ohc=gXC9lwztkd8AX8a6gxV&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBMgEmZ0XThHzB0X88jRI-8VSJTFce8XvZHDeSIX-gJpw&oe=64110DD9, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  72. https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/146649800_10157947393766149_1349208544757366571_n.jpg?_nc_cat=108&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b9115d&_nc_ohc=0UOfMc9pqgEAX_PZ_zh&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfBsox_j1uYh4y-WGsVeolxl8carPLe1ugfysOl1V4OgUQ&oe=6433F98F, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  73. https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/163282454_2794934587437395_7190609154853567247_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=aEXwsxyKMWUAX-b8Rej&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAU-0dTr0vOfWJQAFgI6HHZFHnZdWTN33MFBQtCSEWtYw&oe=6433CB06, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  74. https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/146686376_10157947415486149_2556469766894594998_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s600x600&_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=b9115d&_nc_ohc=7c9Tbf2O0VMAX9VXeqk&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfCs0s9tjbnc5YnwR99smcib1tKr-lpOVhbJypYqMwAlGQ&oe=6433ECA8, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  75. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=596834425094483&set=gm.1723446961180723, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  76. https://scontent-lcy1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/164132027_2795359520728235_650410974062383207_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=825194&_nc_ohc=sWm972kUGYAAX96BnPw&_nc_ht=scontent-lcy1-1.xx&oh=00_AfAZcNLYm97IWyy17jFckLcjknCtjMVKx_MBk2qQhGlFMw&oe=6433E6E6, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  77. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=2803499486580905&set=gm.1584294595095961, accessed on 11th March 2023.
  78. https://m.facebook.com/groups/1535562919969129/permalink/1541820092676745, accessed on 12th March 2023.
  79. https://m.facebook.com/groups/1535562919969129/permalink/1834411023417649, accessed on 12th March 2023.
  80. https://m.facebook.com/groups/1535562919969129/permalink/1912747905583960, accessed on 12th March 2023.
  81. http://dawleyhistory.com/Postcards/Coalport%20Branch/Coalport%20Branch.html, accessed on 13th March 2023.
  82. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wombridge_Priory, accessed on 13th March 2023.
  83. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=4115566828669201&set=gm.1138010180209994&idorvanity=139095920101430, accessed on 13th March 2023.
  84. https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1957541391236528&set=gm.1901629673188360, accessed on 13th March 2023.

The Coalport Branch of the Shropshire Canal – Part 1 – The length as far South as Stirchley Iron Works.

5 Replies

The Coalport Branch of the Shropshire Canal appears on the schematic plan below. The tub boat canals were linked to the Shropshire Union Canal via the Newport Canal (the Shrewsbury and Newport Canal).

This schematic representation of the Shropshire Tub Boat Canals is helpful in clarifying the extent of the network. It shows the locations of all the inclined planes on the system. These are marked with a red arrowhead which in each case highlights the direction of the lift. The Trench Branch and Incline were in important link in the journey between the Shropshire Union Canal and the River Severn at Coalport, linking the Newport Canal to the Wombridge Canal which became a part of the Shropshire Canal. [2]

An Act of Parliament dated 11th June 1788 enabled the construction of the Shropshire Canal. It was opened along nearly its full length by 1791 and served the major ironworks and collieries in its immediate vicinity. These included “the Snedshill and Priors Lee Furnaces, the Lilleshall Company’s early mines, the Madeley Court Ironworks, Blists Hill Furnaces and the Coalbrookedale Company.” [24: p 167]

The Shropshire Canal was blighted by subsidence throughout its life. Many of the mines in the area were shallow workings only had short working lives and, once the reserves that they exploited were exhausted, were abandoned. Their demise often resulted in water loss from the canal, a problem which could not be addressed quickly. Of more substantial difficulty were the occasions when subsidence led to more significant structural damage to the waterways and their associated inclined planes.

Initially, the majority of the loads carried by the canal were transported only short distances between industrial sites in the immediate area. Over time, first coal and pig iron and later other products were dispatched to a variety of destinations outside the area. An inclined plane (the Hay Inclined Plane) linked the Canal to the River Severn. See:

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2020/10/21/coalport-incline-ironbridge

and

https://rogerfarnworth.com/2021/06/10/coalport-incline-ironbridge-addendum-2021

Coalport grew significantly as a result of this trade and “within a few years two potteries, a rope works and a chain works opened there.” [24: p167]

A length of the canal from Trench to Shrewsbury was open by 1797, but it remained isolated from the rest of the canal network until 1835, when the Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal built the Newport Branch from Norbury Junction to a new junction with the Shrewsbury Canal at Wappenshall. [1]

The Trench Branch brought the Canal to the top of Trench Inclined Plane, that length of canal and the Inclined Plane are covered in an article which can be found here:

Canal Inclines in East Shropshire – the Trench Inclined Plane …

At the top of the incline a junction was made with the Wombridge Canal which is marked as a continuation of the Trench Branch on OS Maps.

The Wombridge Canal opened in 1788, and parts of it were taken over by the Shrewsbury Canal Company in 1792, who built the inclined plane at Trench. It lowered tub-boats 75 feet (23 m), and remained in operation until 1921, becoming the last operational canal inclined plane in the country. The canal had been little used since 1919, and closed with the closure of the plane. [3]

As the schematic plan of the Shropshire Canal network above shows, from the top of Trench Inclined Plane (Wombridge Wharf) tub-boats could be taken in two different directions. Turn to the South and it was only a short journey to Wombridge Iron Works. This short length of the canal is shown on an extract from the 6″ Ordnance Survey of 1881 below. …

Trench Inclined Plane enters this map extract from the 6″ OS Map of 1881 (published in 1887] in the top-left corner. Wombridge Ironworks are shown in the bottom-right of the image. Wombridge Collieries appear close to the centre of the map. Wombridge Ironworks where extended, before the time of the Ordnance Survey, across the line of what was a slightly longer canal arm. [5]
This is an extract from a wider plan of the Shropshire Canal network included on the website, ‘Exploring Telford’. It shows a longer length of the canal South of Trench Inclined Plane, running on passed Wombridge Iron Works, Wombridge Forge and on to Wombridge Farm. The website ‘Exploring Telford’ [21] was developed by Richard Foxcroft. Richard, sadly died in 2018, I have been unable to contact anyone about his website. The plan from which this extract is taken appears on the Homepage of ‘Exploring Telford’. [21] The line shown on this computer generated drawing matches well with the drawing included immediately below and which was sourced from British History Online [22]
Wombridge and Priorslee in the 1840s. The area of interest to us here is in the top-left of the image around Wombridge. That area is enlarged below. [22]
An enlarged extract from the plan above. In the 1840s, the canal arm which extended South of Trench Inclined Plane was already truncated with short lengths isolated from the network still in use. [22] British History Online indicates that this length of the canal (South of Wombridge Ironworks) was probably abandoned by 1819. [23]

Northeast of Trench Inclined Plane the Wombridge Canal linked across to Old Yard Junction. Here the Donnington Wood Canal continued Northeast and the Coalport Branch ran to the South.

Travelling South on the Coalport Branch Canal, tub-boats would have immediately encountered Wrockwardine Wood Inclined Plane.

Construction of the Wrockwardine Wood Inclined Plane took place in 1791 after the Ironmaster, John Wilkinson petitioned Parliament to extend the Shropshire Canal from Snedshill to form a junction with the Donnington Wood Canal. [4]

P. Whitehead [11] provides approximate figures for the inclined planes on the Shropshire Canal as follows:

Trench Inclined Plane: 227yds long, 73ft 6in rise.

Wrockwardine Wood Inclined Plane: 350yds long, 120ft rise. Or 316yds long, 113ft 2in rise. (But note the information provided by British History Online below and reference [17] which gives different dimensions again.

Windmill Inclined Plane: 600yds long, 125 ft rise.

Hay Inclined Plane: 300yards long, 213ft rise.

Ketley Inclined Plane: 59yds long, 73 ft rise. Or, 65 yds long, 73ft rise.

Lilleshall Inclined Plane: 123 yds long, 43 ft. This replaced an earlier vertical lift in a shaft and tunnel system. [11]

The Coalport Branch continued South. The majority of its route is picked up on John Rennie’s plan showing the proposed route of his Shrewsbury & Wolverhampton Railway which predated the construction of the LNWR’s Coalport Branch.

An extract from a plan drafted by John Rennie in 1844 showing the proposed route of the Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton Railway through Wellington and Shiffnal [Shifnal]. This plan predates the LNWR’s construction of its Coalport Branch. The Shropshire Canal can be seen clearly at the centre of the extract. This plan is held by the Shropshire Archive Ref. X6008/201 and is included here with their kind permission. The original map is at a 1″ to 1 mile scale. [10]
An enlarged extract taken from the image immediately above. The extract shows the top of the Trench Inclined Plane in its top-left corner with the Wombridge Canal running sinuously East towards the canal junction from where the Donnington Canal heads Northeast and the Coalport Branch runs to the South. The Coalport Branch crosses the line of the proposed railway just to the Northwest of Priorslee, where a branch canal can be seen heading to the West. This is the Ketley Canal. Coalport Branch then runs parallel to the intended railway for a short distance before turning South along the East side of Dawley. Just to the Southwest of Stirchley it passes through a tunnel and at a junction divides into two. One arm runs to the South of Great Dawley in a generally Westerly direction. The other branch heads to the Southeast before encountering Windmill Inclined Plane to the Northeast of Madeley Court. From here it heads South towards the Hay Inclined Plane and the River Severn both of which are off John Rennie’s plan to the South. [10]

The route of the Canal can be picked out in greater detail on the 6″ Ordnance Survey which was completed in 1881 and published in 1888. By this time the LNWR’s Coalport Branch had been built and the canal can only been where it had not been replaced by the railway. There are, however, some very short sections of the canal still visible alongside the railway route even into the 21st century.

Old Yard Junction was located at the bottom edge of one map sheet and so also of this extract from the 6″ Ordnance Survey of 1881 which was published in 1888. The Wombridge Canal met the Donnington Wood Canal at the junction. The Coalport Branch of the Shropshire Canal headed South at this point. [5]
The same area as shown in the map extract above, this time in the satellite imagery provided by the National Library of Scotland (ESRI)[9]
The Canal route through Wrockwardine Wood. It enters from the top of the extract and runs in a South-southwest direction leaving bottom-left. [6]
On this ESRI satellite image provided by the National Library of Scotland (NLS) the Canal route runs from top-right to bottom-left, principally through the wooded area (Wrockwardine Wood). It can be seen represented by a curving line of trees at the top-right of this image by and then follows a sinuous course on the northwestern side of the Wood. The red line is only an approximation to the route. [12]
The site of the Wrockwardine Wood Inclined Plane in the mid-1960s © Dr. Neil Clifton, 29th April 1967 made available under a Creative Commons Licence (CC BY-2.0) [7][8]

Wrockwardine Wood, north-east of Oakengates town centre, was originally a detached piece of woodland, later a township, belonging to the manor and parish of Wrockwardine, the rest of which lay 7 km. to the west. British History Online provides a history and a plan of the area. The plan (reproduced below) clearly shows the Inclined Plane. “An inclined plane on the Shropshire Canal rose 122 ft. in 320 yd. from the junction to a summit level on Cockshutt Piece. The Shropshire Canal closed in 1857, the Shrewsbury c. 1921. [19] An underground level, perhaps navigable, ran between Donnington Wood furnaces and the area north-west of the Nabb by c. 1800. [20]” [17]

The 1847 plan of Wrockwardine Wood as provided by British History Online. It shows the Inclined Plane to the right-side of the map slightly above the centre line. The high point of the Inclined Plane was at the Northeast end where it left the Wombridge/Donnington Wood Canals at the Old Yard Junction. This map is enlarged below. [17]
Wrockwardine Wood Inclined Plane. [17]
Another extract from the 6″ Ordnance Survey of 1881. The Canal route can more easily be seen on this image as, although disused, significant length were still holding water in 1881 and are coloured blue. Oakengates is on the West side of the Canal and Snedshill Ironworks can be made out at the bottom edge of the map extract. [6]
I have drawn the approximate alignment if the canal onto this image. The curved edge of Wrockwardine Wood one-third along the top edge of this ESRI (NLS) satellite image extract from the left defines the point at which the canal alignment enters this image. It curves round to the Southeast, running on the Northeast side of the A442 which dominates the centre of the image. It runs along the line of the lower portion of Willows Road before running South through the modern site of Fitchett (Redland) Business Park (which sits alongside the first designated length of the Silkin Way) and then across the A442 alongside what was once Snedshill Ironworks. The line is defined by the western edge of the woodland on the West side if the A442, the East side of the Reynolds Drive estate and the tree line in Madin Park. [13]
The 1881 6″ Ordnance Survey shows a section of canal alongside Snedshill Iron Works still ‘in water’. South of the Works and before reaching what was for many years the A5 Trunk Road. The newer Coalport Branch began to run along the line of the old canal. One of the Works sidings followed the line of the canal to join the LNWR branch. The red-dashed line approximately indicates the route of the canal. The blue-dashed line is the approximate route of the old Ketley Branch canal. [6]

The Loop adjacent to, and South of, Malinslee Railway Station

The Canal bed behind Malinslee Railway Station buildings in 1962. This image was shared on the Telford Memories Facebook Group by Marcus Keane on 27th February 2022. [14]
An extract from the 1881 Ordnance Survey, published in 1882 showing the area to the South of Dark Lane. Little Dark Lane Colliery to the immediate West of the Station was still in use at the time of this survey. The standard-gauge siding to the West of the Station buildings can be seen on this extract as serving a tramroad wharf, as can the longer siding to the South. Tramroads are not the subject of this article, but given that the tramroads shown seem to only serve the Little Dark Lane Colliery and the Dark Lane Foundry, the traffic on these lines may have either been horse-powered or even man-powered. When the Canal was active a wharf would have existed on the West side of the canal. [25]
A further extract from the 1881 6″ Ordnance Survey, showing the next length of the canal. The route of the old canal is indicated approximately by the light blue dashed line. [25]
The next extract from the 6″ Ordnance Survey of 1881 takes the canal as far South as Stirchley Ironworks. There are a myriad of tramroad sidings shown at the time of the 1881 survey. Many of these are associated with Oldpark Iron Works and they fill the space between the old canal route and the Works. Most of these will not have been present in the period while the canal was active. As we will see below, there was at least one tramroad bridge across the canal in the time before the canal was replaced by the LNWR Coalport Branch. [25]

The Loop near Stirchley Ironworks

Andy Tidy surveyed the route of the Coalport Branch of the Shropshire Canal in March 2012. He highlighted two areas worthy of note. The first adjacent to Hinkshay/Stirchley Pools and the second to the South of Dawley and Stirchley Railway Station where the Canal was in tunnel during its working life. [15]

Adjacent to the Hinkshay Pools, the Canal alignment deviated from the formation of the later Railway. Andy Tidy provided a plan (below) of the location which I have annotated with the key features he refers to. His pictures of the canal deviation can be seen here. [15]

Andy Tidy says: “No sooner has the line moved off the modern Silkin Way than it is in water, first in the undergrowth but then as it passes the first reservoir the bed squeezes through the foundations of a collapsed bridge and on into open water. … The towpath sits on a narrow strand of land between the canal and the Stirchley Pools Reservoir, a pretty spot which is carefully maintained as a nature reserve. This clear stretch of canal is haunting and as you walk under the shade of the trees you almost expect to meet a horse plodding the other way towing a string of loaded tub boats. … All too soon this enduring stretch of canal slides back into the railway bed, all traces are lost at it passes through the recently rebuilt Stirchley Station.” [15]
Looking North along the Silkin Way, this is the Stirchley Ironworks Bridge which crossed the Canal and later the railway. Stirchley Ironworks were on the left-hand side of the photograph, on the far side of the bridge. [My photograph, April 2022]
This picture shows the length of the canal on the map above. It was shared by Andy Rose on the Telford Memories Facebook Group in February 2022. [18]

The remaining length of the canal to the South of Stirchley Iron Works is covered in a second article which can be found on this link:

https://rogerfarnworth.com/?p=42031

References

  1. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrewsbury_Canal, accessed on 27th August 2022.
  2. https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Wombridge_Canal#/google_vignette, accessed on 26th July 2022.
  3. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wombridge_Canal, accessed on 27th August 2022.
  4. https://www.hugofox.com/community/wrockwardine-wood-and-trench-parish-council-7908/inclined-plane/?preview=f84044eee88d4d9a86222c53c7152164#:~:text=Construction%20of%20the%20Wrockwardine%20Wood,incline%20measured%20about%20seven%20degrees.
  5. https://maps.nls.uk/view/101594284, accessed on 27th August 2022.
  6. https://maps.nls.uk/view/101594308, accessed on 27th August 2022.
  7. https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wrockwardine_Wood_Inclined_Plane,Shropshire–geograph.org.uk-_343759.jpg, accessed on 28th August 2022.
  8. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, accessed on 28th August 2022.
  9. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=16&lat=52.70969&lon=-2.44111&layers=6&b=1, accessed on 28th August 2022.
  10. J. Rennie; Shrewsbury and Wolverhampton Railway through Wellington and Shiffnal; Map scale1″/1 mile; Shropshire Archive Ref. X6008/201, 1844.
  11. http://www.pittdixon.go-plus.net/shropshire-tbc/shropshire-tbc.htm, accessed on 28th August 2022.
  12. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=52.70413&lon=-2.44538&layers=6&b=1, accessed on 29th August 2022.
  13. https://maps.nls.uk/geo/explore/#zoom=15&lat=52.69707&lon=-2.44735&layers=6&b=1, accessed on 29th August 2022.
  14. https://m.facebook.com/groups/674238619260811/permalink/7378452445506028, accessed on 29th August 2022.
  15. http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/2012/03/shropshire-canal-stirchley.html, accessed on 22nd June 2022.
  16. http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com/2012/03/shropshire-canal-wrockwardine.html?m=1, accessed on 29th August 2022.
  17. A P Baggs, D C Cox, Jessie McFall, P A Stamper and A J L Winchester; Wrockwardine Wood, in A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 11, Telford, ed. G C Baugh and C R Elrington (London, 1985), pp. 323-326. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/salop/vol11/pp323-326, accessed on 29th August 2022.
  18. This photograph was shared as a comment by Andy Rose on a group post by Marcus Keane dated 27th February 2022 which showed the length of the Shropshire Canal bed directly behind Malinslee Railway Station; https://m.facebook.com/groups/674238619260811/permalink/7378452445506028, accessed on 29th August 2022.
  19. References provided in Reference [17] C. Hadfield; Canals of W. Midlands (1969), 40, 151, 251, 328-9; I.G.M.T., Lilleshall Co. colln. 106, 110; Trinder, Ind. Rev. Salop. (1981), 76, 84-5, 153.
  20. Reference provided in Reference [17] Shropshire Records Office 691/1; Salop. News Sheet, xvii. 7-8.
  21. http://www.telford.org.uk, accessed on 31st August 2022.
  22. A P Baggs, D C Cox, Jessie McFall, P A Stamper and A J L Winchester; Wombridge: Growth of settlement, in A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 11, Telford, ed. G C Baugh and C R Elrington (London, 1985), pp. 285-289. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/salop/vol11/pp285-289; accessed on 2nd September 2022.
  23. A P Baggs, D C Cox, Jessie McFall, P A Stamper and A J L Winchester; Wombridge: Communications, in A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 11, Telford, ed. G C Baugh and C R Elrington (London, 1985), pp. 284-285. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/salop/vol11/pp284-285; accessed on 2nd September 2022.
  24. Bob Yate; The Shropshire Union Railway – Stafford to Shrewsbury including the Coalport Branch (OL129); Oakwood Press, Usk, Monmouthshire, 2003.
  25. https://maps.nls.uk/view/101594470, accessed on 13th March 2023.