Another nice day in June free of rain, so I decided to try my new Fujifilm FinePix S2980 out at Smethwick Galton Bridge (including the railway, bridges and canals).

Smethwick Galton Bridge Station from near the historic Galton Bridge.

The second canal from Roebuck Lane in Smethwick - in fact the Old Main Line of the BCN from the Summit Bridge.

Bridge over the BCN Old Main Line carrying the Jewellery Line out of Smethwick Galton Bridge Station High Level towards The Hawthorns, Jewellery Quarter and Snow Hill etc.

The Summit Bridge is Grade II* listed.

Summit Bridge, Smethwick

1868/0/10078 SANDWELL

SUMMIT BRIDGE Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton Level

II*

Road bridge over the cutting of the summit of the Birmingham Canal, Old Main Line Wolverhampton Level. Constructed between 1788-9 by John Smeaton when he improved the canal by reducing the summit level from 491ft to 472ft.

MATERIALS:Constructed of red brick with brick copings and a sandstone keystone.

PLAN: It is a massive single span bridge with segmental arch. The towpath passes under the south western side.

EXTERIOR: There are protruding brick pilasters, a double string course, and curving flanking abutments with short protruding end piers. On the north western face there is a cast iron date plaque bearing the legend 'MDCCXC'.

SOURCES: `Smethwick: Communications', A History of the County of Staffordshire: Volume 17 (1976), 96-8; www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=36174. Date accessed: 25 September 2006; AM7 Scheduling, WM12, Smeaton's Summit Bridge, 9 May 1972.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: Smeaton's Summit Bridge, survives as an un-altered example of engineering prowess from the height of the industrial revolution. Designed by the leading civil engineer of the time, its massive proportions demonstrate technical innovation, providing an elegant solution to the requirement for a road crossing at this difficult site. The scale of the project can be seen as a precursor to later engineering projects of the railway era and ably demonstrates the technical excellence of John Smeaton. As part of the improvement scheme to the Birmingham mainline canal the Summit Bridge also provides reference to the high level of investment in, and importance of, canal navigations to the industrial development of Georgian England.

Railway bridge is Grade II listed.

Railway Bridge 15 Metres North of Summit Bridge/roebuck Lane Birmingham Canal Wolverhampton Level, Smethwick

SANDWELL MB BIRMINGHAM CANAL

   SP 08 NW
   Wolverhampton Level, Smethwick
   9/39 Railway Bridge 15 metres north
   of Summit Bridge/Roebuck Lane
   30.3.87
   II

   Railway bridge. 1867. Brick with stone impost band. Single segmental
   arch. Moulded band below parapet. Carries the Stourbridge Extension Railway,
   opened in 1867, over the Summit Level of the Old Main Line of the Birmingham
   Canal, which was lowered in 1790. Adjoins Summit Bridge, which is a Scheduled
   Ancient Monument.