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Location
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Bratch Pumping Station is in Bratch Lane,
Wombourne, South Staffordshire. WV5 8DW |
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Wombourne
lies just off the A449 south of Wolverhampton,
on the way to Stourbridge and Kidderminster.
The National Grid reference for the Pumping
station is SO 868 937 and it is situated just
before the Bratch Bridge which is shown on
the Birmingham and West Midlands A-Z map.
Follow the brown tourist signs to "Bratch
Locks" from the A449 at Wombourne. From
the Telford/Shropshire area, the signs are
on the A454 Wolverhampton-Bridgnorth Road
at Shipley crossroads, and take you through
narrower lanes via Seisdon and Trysull. The
Pumping Station is on the Wombourne side of
the canal bridge.
Additional white direction signs will be put
out close to the site on the actual open days
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(a) From Wolverhampton
Leave on the A449 southwards towards Stourbridge
and Kidderminster and after leaving the suburbs
of Wolverhampton, turn right from the dual
carriageway at the A463 roundabout into Billy
Buns Lane. Continue as at (c) below |
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(b) A449 from Wall Heath
, northbound.
After the Himley Traffic lights (B4176)
continue on A449 towards Wolverhampton,
and at the next roundabout, A463 turn left
into Billy Buns Lane.
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Still in Billy Buns Lane, go over a junction,
and past residential housing. Bear slightly
left as the lane goes over a cross roads (don’t
go right into Orton Lane) and continue along
Bratch Lane. Under a steel railway bridge,
and after 150 yards or so, the gates to the
Pumping station are on the left. Turn in for
free parking. |
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The
Bratch Locks
The Pumping station is located close to James
Brindley’s first major canal, the Staffordshire
and Worcestershire, (1768), at the unique
Bratch flight of locks at Wombourne, near
Wolverhampton. The station, its immediate
curtilage, the entire canal, the purpose-built
coal loading wharf and the lock complex, form
an integral part of the local Staffs and Worcs
Canal Conservation area as designated by South
Staffordshire Council. |
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low lying site emphasises the delicate architecture
and sympathetic setting of the Pumping station,
which is unencumbered by the usual filter
beds found in other locations, since the water
was pumped direct to the distant reservoir. |
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Access to the site is along rather narrow
lanes and if you approach from the Trysull
direction, there is a narrow hump back bridge
to negotiate, with very poor visibility. |
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is free parking within the site on a field,
and a separately designated unloading point
for the disabled. However, visitors are advised
that since the station was designed as a working
industrial site, access within the pump house
to the upper floors is only via steep, narrow,
open tread metal stairways. |
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