of Parliament. By August 1840, work on the Tame Valley Canal was progressing well, and Walker turned his attention to the Bentley Canal. He suggested that they dispense with the ten locks authorised by the Act, and instead build two sections of level canal, one running from the Anson Branch at the Walsall level, continuing as far as was possible before higher ground prevented further progress, and another running from Wood Green to Portobello, on the same level. The committee again agreed with him. Tenders were invited for the level canals, and prices received ranged from £11,300 to £27,691. The cheapest one was accepted, with four percent of the cost going to Walker and Burgess. In June 1841, the committee approved plans to connect the Bentley Branch to the Wednesfield level through four locks, and then proceeding to the Wyrley and Essington Canal. The Wednesfield section was estimated to cost £6,850, and tenders for the whole thing ranged from £19,208 to £28,500. Of the thirteen tenders received, they opted for the cheapest. Effectively, this reinstated the Parliamentary line, in place of Walker's level canals. John Merry reported on progress in October 1842, noting that there were grooves for stop planks at every bridge, and they were all fitted with iron plates to prevent ropes wearing away the brickwork. Coping stones along the top of the locks were of Derbyshire stone, and the entrances to the locks had iron fenders to prevent damage to the brickwork. Each lock had a single paddle, operated by a windlass and rack. Merry had suggested that the canal would be open by January 1843, but the opening was delayed until 28 April. Soon afterwards, Walker's plan for the level Wood Green branch was dropped. The canal as built ran for through 10 locks. It fell into dereliction in the 1960s. The Neachells Branch was a short branch of which opened in 1845 to serve Neachell Hall Colliery and closed in 1953. Route The Bentley Canal left the Wyrley and Essington Canal at Wednesfield Junction. A cast iron bridge carried the towpath over the junction, and is still in situ. It dates from the mid-nineteenth century, and is a grade II listed structure. A short section of the canal remains in water, and is used for moorings for the Nickelodeon canalside pub. The first lock was located immediately to the east of the watered stub, and