The document provides a history of Hawne Basin and Coombeswood Canal Trust from 1798 to 2008. It details key dates and events including: - The original basin was built in the early 1800s to serve Hawne Colliery. - In 1898, the basin was enlarged and given railway access and sidings when a rail branch from Halesowen station to Hawne Basin was constructed. - By the 1960s, boat traffic and the railway had ceased. In the 1970s, local waterways groups worked to preserve the basin, leading to the formation of Coombeswood Canal Trust in 1977. - Over the decades, the trust expanded the moorings and facilities

1. IWA National 2008

2. A History of Coombeswood Canal Trust Hawne Basin in working days, drawn by Ron Eason

3. History of Hawne Basin 1798 The Dudley No.2 canal is opened from Park Head to Selly Oak. Early 1800s The original Basin is built, probably to serve Hawne Colliery, thought to be the oldest colliery in Halesowen. A horse-drawn tramroad led to the basin from the colliery across the river Stour, over a stone bridge which still exists. The colliery ceased production in 1883.

4. Tramway to Hawne Basin shown on OS map c.1842

5. History of Hawne Basin 1898 A Great Western Railways Act authorises construction of the Halesowen Basin Branch. The Basin is enlarged and railway access and sidings built. 1902 The rail branch from Halesowen station to Hawne Basin is opened on 2nd April. The railway line ascended on a long curve at a constant and steep gradient of 1:38.

6. Hawne Basin in the railway era 1902

7. The Railway to Hawne Basin 1914

8. 1965 - Argol with Tubes from Stuarts & Lloyds Coombeswood Works arriving at Hawne Basin

9. 1965 - Hawne Basin

10. 1966 Hawne Basin

11. 1966 Hawne Basin

12. Demise of Hawne Basin 1967 - Boat traffic ceased on 5th June and the Basin was closed. 1969 - The railway had remained open to supply Walter Summers factory but closed in October 1969. 1970 - the Transhipment shed was demolished and the railway lines lifted.

13. Key dates in the history of Coombeswood Canal Trust 1976 - IWA Birmingham Branch established the Waterways Sub- committee whose remit was to preserve and restore waterways structures on the BCN. Hawne Basin was perceived to be a suitable site and correspondence was started with Dudley MBC and others promoting the value of Hawne Basin. 1976 / 1977 - after positive responses from Dudley MBC and West Midlands County Council, Coombeswood Canal Company was formed to develop Hawne Basin. 1977 - The IWA organised a cruise to Hawne Basin in 1977.

14. Coombeswood Canal Trust held its first Members meeting on November 29th 1977 2007 was our 30th Anniversary!

15. IWA BBQ / cruise to Hawne Basin Sept 17th 1977

16. Burton Bridge December 1977

17. Some key dates in the history of Hawne Basin 1979 - Following negotiations between British Railways and the Council, ownership of Hawne Basin was finally transferred to Dudley MBC. 1980 - West Midland County Council funded dredging of Hawne Basin and the canal arm. The dredgings were spread on land formerly occupied by rail lines and covered with shale.

18. 1980 Shale spread

19. Key dates in the history of Coombeswood Canal Trust 1979 - Coombeswood Canal Company became Coombeswood Canal Trust and applied for Charitable status. 1980 - Charitable status granted. The Trust operated Hawne Basin on behalf of Dudley MBC, leasing the basin from the council. 1980 - An Easter Rally was held in April and the first boats arrived in September.

20. 1980 Easter Rally April 5 th & 6 th

21. First boat arrives to stay in the basin Sept 1980 “Interlude” Tony Jennings

22. 1981 Work continued to provide services. A water supply and sewage disposal were installed early in 1981, repair of the basin walls started in May and construction of a toilet block was started. At that time there were 10 moorers in the basin Key dates in the history of Hawne Basin

23. Key dates in the history of Hawne Basin 1981 - Chris Burton restored the partly demolished bridge over the entrance to Hawne Basin

24. Many of the dovetailed cast iron coping plates were retrieved from the canal!

25. Trees planted, Feb 1982

26. August 28th 1982 Opening (by Mayor of Dudley) and naming (by David Hutchings) of “ Burton Bridge”

27. Halesowen News August 30th 1982 Chris Burton, David Hutchings, and the Mayor of Dudley at opening ceremony

28. 1982 Work parties were held to clean up the adjacent canal. BCNS / CCT work party at Old Hill, Nov 7th

29. Up she comes!

30. 1977 Argol - Coombeswood Steelworks

31. 1979 Side-slip boat yard at Steelworks

32. 1980 Gosty Hill tunnel

33. 1982 Coombeswood Steelworks towards tunnel

34. 1982 Covered wharf

35. 1982 Tifler

36. designed by Gunter Toennig 1983 CCT logo adopted

37. Coombeswood Canal Trust continued to expand over the following years: 1983 - A boat to take children on the canals, the “Matty Butty” was refitted and launched at Hawne Basin and then bow hauled to the Bonded Warehouse, Stourbridge

38. March 1986 The first “Interchange” Newsletter 33) And 2008 Interchange Summer 2008

39. 1986 September 27-28th CCT promote the first Black Country Boating Festival Site manager Colin Walker

40. Some key dates in the history of CCT 1991 Moorings extended with additional length of canal leased from British Waterways. 1992 Work boat Hawne Built at the basin 1995 New amenity block built

41. “ , 1992 - CCT Work Boat Hawne

42. 1995 - New Laundry, Toilets and Office

43. Some key dates in the history of Hawne Basin 1999 - Repairs completed to towpath wall along arm leased from British Waterways by Tony Peniket 2000 - Movable cover added to slipway with interior lighting & power

44. 2000 – Covered Slipway

45. Some key dates in the history of CCT 2000 - CCT, in partnership with British Waterways extends the limit of navigation of the Dudley No2. canal with the removal of a bridge which had collapsed in the early 1980s. Risk assessments were completed and approved by British Waterways. A temporary dam had to be installed and the section of the canal drained to remove concrete debris and pieces of the bridge. The project was made possible by the work of Alf Danks, a member of the Trust for many years, who broke up the concrete roadway on the bridge by hand!

46. 1980 - Bridge just prior to collapse

47. 2000 - CCT Extends the Dudley No2

48. Some key dates in the history of CCT The Trust Incorporates 2001 - Coombeswood Canal Trust Ltd formed, a charitable company limited by guarantee a legal entity able to take on leases in its own right removing the burden from the original trustees. 2002 - Original Coombeswood Canal Trust wound up and assets transferred to the new charitable company – Coombeswood Canal Trust (Ltd is not shown as part of the name)

49. 2004 Regular Open Weekends continue in May

51. Some key dates in the history of Hawne Basin 2006 - Section of retaining wall subsides into basin Contractors employed to pile section & top with brickwork in time for open weekend. 2007 - Driveway & Car Park surfaced with tarmac for first time, again just in time for that year’s open weekend.

52. The 19th 20th May 2007 saw the Dudley No 2 Canal come alive with the sights & sounds of “TUGS AT WORK.” Radio WM broadcast from Hawne Basin. 2007 Open Weekend - The return of the tugs

53. The highlight of the weekend was the Parade of Five Tug’s TUG No 1, TUG No 2 “ARGOL”, TUG No 3 “VESTA”, TUG No 4, “PACIFIC”, TUG No 5 “BITTELL”. Arriving in Hawne Basin they all reversed stern first against the towpath in front of the clubhouse for the photographers to take advantage of this very rare opportunity of seeing all five tugs in all their glory. 2007 Open Weekend - The return of the tugs

54. 2000 CCT request Dudley MBC to consider allowing us to purchase freehold of Hawne Basin. 2004 Local Area Committee authorise Dudley MBC to enter into negotiations with CCT over purchase 2005 DMBC value basin at £120k we offer £110k 2007 CCT complete the purchase of Hawne basin from Dudley MBC. After 30 years phase 1 is now complete Hawne Basin is now saved and earning money, for Coombeswood Canal Trust, to use on it’s charitable aims and objectives Some key dates in the history of CCT Purchase of Hawne Basin

55. 2008 Hawne Basin – May Open Weekend

56. 2008 Hawne Basin – May Open Weekend

57. 2007 – Saw “Phase One” completed with the freehold purchase of Hawne basin from Dudley MBC. Coombeswood Canal Trust can now place a greater emphasis outside of the Gates of Hawne Basin. So What Now ?

59. Tel: 0121 550 1355 www.hawnebasin.co.uk Coombeswood Canal Trust Caring for the Dudley No2 and Hawne Basin

60. Opportunities – Medium Term Explore possibilities for further mooring sites along the Dudley No 2. Promote project for towpath improvements along Dudley No2 from Gosty Tunnel to Hawne Basin

62. Any Questions ?