Since becoming Editor of Boundary Post I have received quite a few emails from people who are researching their family tree. One BCNS member, John Carrington explained to me that he has been researching his wife's family, as she is descended from the Worsey's.
He studied the Worsey boatbuilding side of the family quite thoroughly and would like to share his information with us. Starting here and in future editions we will follow the progress of this family business as it grew and spread around the BCN producing more boats than any local company
BP...Ed
part 1
Having recently read with interest Ray Shill's article regarding Dowler's Arm on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, my interest was heightened by the mention of Worsey Ltd, canal boat builders who had a dock on the arm.
According to 'Boatyards and Boat Building' by Robert Wilson and 'The Complete Canal & River Navigation' by Edward Tomlinson, at 1922 Worset Ltd had boat yards at Toll End, Tipton: Plume Street Arm, Aston: Icknield Port Road, Birmingham and an unspecified address in Walsall. The hoarding/sign for 'WORSEY Ltd' indicates they they were the 'largest boat builders in the Midlands'.
The sign shows that they build 'every type of canal boat, repairs are their speciality and they provide 'boats for hire and hire purchase.' The sign only shows three 'dockyards' Toll End, Tipton, Plume Street, Aston and Icknield Port Road, Birmingham. The sign must pre date 1924 as around this time Toll End ceased trading and by 1926 they had a further yard in Walsall.
part 2
The boat building business started in Toll End, Tipton. On the 'In chancery plan of land at Toll End in the parish of Tipton in the county of Stafford belonging to John Nock', drawn by Cooksey & Rollason Surveyors in September 1856, the dock is clearly shown on ' the Birmingham canal, near the bridge in Turnpike Road. The plan indicates that the land is owned by John Nock and occupies over 2 acres.
An earlier plan of an estate in Tipton, Staffordshire as divided into lots for sale the land is shown as two lots encompassing Toll End Meadow. The plan was 'drawn before 1856' by H Jacob, Surveyors, Birmingham but the dock is not shown. On the 1856 plan, the canal has two basins one directly alongside Turnpike Road and the other adjacent to Hackett St. Although both plans name the canal as 'Birmingham Canal', by 1805 I understand it was known as the Tipton Green & Toll End Communication canal which joined the Walsall canal to the Old Main Line. This latter canal ran between Birmingham & Tipton. Turnpike Road was subsequently re named Toll End Road
Tipton has the unique characteristic of being the only town whose High Street is encircled by canals. A truly 'canal town'. In 1783 the Birmingham Canal Company sought and obtained powers to extend a branch from Tipton and Toll End. The Horseley Coal Company owned the mines but they had to extend a branch from Tipton to serve the mines being dug between Tipton and Toll End. The Horseley Coal Company owned the mines but they had not extended into the iron industry at this stage.
The partnership of the canal and coal companies proposed that the branch be built with two locks but a week later it was agreed that three locks would be required to cope with the 15 foot rise in the land. Work n investment of £84 and was completed in 1793. The Toll End Communication Canal was born. Prior to 1800 it cost less than £5000 per mile to build. By 1816 this had risen to £9,725 per mile and by 1830 it had reached £16,000. For comparision in 1790 £100 would be equivalent to £25,000 at today's prices.
Although the Toll End Dock appears on 1890, 1904 and 1919 Ordinanace survey maps, it does not appear on the 1938 version and the land is by then occupied bt 'Tan Sad', Baby and Invalid Carriage Works. Toll End dock is shown close to Toll End Bridge, also known as Brooke Hopuse Bridge, on the 'Tipton Green & Toll End Communication Canal. The canal is now filled in but the facade of Brooke House remains as does the line of the canal.
Exaninations of trade directories finds the first entry for the Toll End dock in 1900.It is shown as Joseph William Worsey & Co, Aston Street Toll End. By 1912 the details are shown as Worsey Ltd, Toll End Dock bthere are no further entries. It is believed that the Toll End dock ceased trading in 1924 when the lease expired. Around this time the Rotten Park dock also ceased trading and it is believed that this coincided with the widow of Joseph William Jnr taking partners Haden & Pitt.
It is believed that about 1889, Worseys over the Fellows & Morton yard near Watery Lane Bridge, Tipton Green when Fredrick Morton, Joshua and James Fellows moved their boat building operations to Park Wharf, Saltley, Birmingham and subsequently amalgamated with Thomas Clayton to form a limited company.
The local council named a new road built close to the site of the original Toll End dock, Worsey Drive.
In 1907 Worsey's took over a boat yard in Blews Street, Hockley, Birmingham on the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, formerly owned by George Smith. In 1908 they occupied a further boat yard at 53 Plume Street, Aston, Birmingham (also referred to as Dowler's arm) on the same canal. It appears it was formerly owned by Mrs Phoebe Goodyear. In 1910 the Blews Street yard was sold or transferred to another boat builder, William Henry Goodyear.
It is not known when the wharves at Blews Street were established but the 1881 cencus shows at least 16 boatmen/steerers and their families living in Blews Street or close adjoining roads.
By 1911vWorsey's had established a further yard in Rotten Park Street, Edgbaston but by 1912 the address is shown as the wharf, Icknield Port Road. The dock was orginally Joseph Lovekin and Ted Roberts as part of the deal it was agreed that Ted Roberts would continue to run the dock.
W J Cotterell, who is shown as the manager on a 1937 invoice, also previously worked for Lovekin and Roberts.
Examinations of Kelly's Trade Directories show, in different issues, alternating addresses, sometimes it is referred to as Rotten Park Street and other times Icknield Port Road. By 1913 the wharf was occupied by the following businesses in addition to the Worsey Boat Builders. The Birmingham Canal Company, the toll keeper, Miss Betts, Powers Canal Transport and three seperate coal merchants, Edwin Jenkins, John Moss and William Jenkins
Having just published this article realised part one has not been included. Will included in next issue. Web Ed......