The parliamentary bill permitting its construction was passed in 1791 as the Worcester and Birmingham Canal Act 1791 (31 Geo.

Construction of a double barge-width (14 ft) canal began in 1792 from the Birmingham end, but progressed slowly.

From Worcester Bar to Tardebigge top lock, the canal is at the 453 ft Birmingham Level.

After repeated collapses, the tunnel was finally abandoned in 1917 leaving a short stretch navigable between Selly Oak and a brick works at California until 1953, after which it was drained and filled in.

[2] A major user of the canal was the Cadbury chocolate factories at Bournville and Blackpole, Worcester.

Needing finance for construction of the BWSR, the newly formed Midland Railway became involved in the deal.

An eventual agreement was reached with the then loss making canal company, who would be paid a rent for the land, which later became a guarantee of a 1% share dividend.

Today it forms a large part of the southern section of the Cross-City Line which runs in another tunnel under the canal adjacent to the Holliday Street Aqueduct.

[4] The canal is popular for leisure and has narrowboat hire centres at Alvechurch, Worcester, Tardebigge, Dunhampstead and Stoke Prior.

The canal forms part of the Stourport Ring, a popular cruising circuit for holiday boating.