The Wast Hills Tunnel is a canal tunnel on the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Its northern portal is in Hawkesley, Birmingham. Its southern portal is in fields just outside the city's boundaries, in Worcestershire.[1]

Wast Hills Tunnel

Southern portal
Overview
Location	Hawkesley, Birmingham, West Midlands, and Worcestershire, England
Coordinates	52.3902°N 1.9400°W / 52.3902; -1.9400
OS grid reference	SP041769
Status	Open
Waterway	Worcester and Birmingham Canal
Start	52.39991°N 1.93096°W / 52.39991; -1.93096 (Northern portal)
End	52.38066°N 1.94890°W / 52.38066; -1.94890 (Southern portal)
Operation
Constructed	1796-97
Owner	Canal & River Trust
Technical
Design engineer	Thomas Cartwright
Length	2,726 yards (2,492.7 m)
Width	Double
Towpath	No
Boat-passable	Yes

Construction and measurements

The Wast Hills Tunnel was built in 1796 and is 2726 yards long, making it one of the longest in the country.[1] There are several ventilation shafts along its length which were initially used for the tunnel's construction.[2] It is wide enough to accommodate two narrow boats but there is no towpath.[3]

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Wast Hill Tunnel.