Upstream:Downstream (Part Two- Witton Bridge)

Over April there is a piece of work (that will be added to over the month) on both Holford and Witton Bridges. The work on the UPSTREAM side of  Witton Bridge (above) explores the history of the River Tame; each jam jar contains a photograph of the river through its history, and memories, poetry and thoughts about the river heritage. On the DOWNSTREAM side (below) are thoughts collected from various parts of the Tamed project, including the Mobile Drawing Studio, Deykin Avenue School and art workshops, exploring the here & now and the future of the River Tame.

The builders working on Witton Bridge looking at some of the jam jars.

Upstream:Downstream (Part One- Holford Bridge)

Over April there is a piece of work (that will be added to over the month) on both Holford and Witton Bridges. The work on Holford Bridge explores the history of life along the River Tame; the UPSTREAM side looks at the places along the way to Witton from the river's source, the DOWNSTREAM side explores Witton's industrial history which sat along the Tame as the river flows through towards the Trent and the ocean.

Each jam jar contains a memory and photograph collected from along the Tame.

The Meandering Tame

With the Zigzag Bridge in the distance

The River Tame at various times in the 1890s, with the river moving through the landscape as it had done for hundreds of years. The remnants of old mills can be seen from time to time as the water gently passes farms and farmhouses. There are a few riffles (for Rob), but generally, the water seems to be quietly wandering by. From the Digital Handsworth site.

















The remains of Perry Barr water mill on the Tame 

The Zigzag Bridge

Perry Bridge, or the Zigzag bridge as it is affectionately known, has been a constant across the River Tame since 1711, and even before then a bridge crossed at this point. The bridge was built to improve the previous crossing by the Gough family, who resided in the nearby Perry Hall, a very fine home which is now demolished. This point is said to be where King Charles I crossed the Tame on his way to Aston Hall when that building was attacked during the Civil War.

The drawing of the zigzag bridge, above, was produced in 1798 and the bridge is thought to be the oldest non-building structure in Birmingham; the shape is so that pedestrians could get out of the way of the carts and carriages. It was usurped in 1931/2 when the larger Perry Bridge was built next to it (see below), but the 300 year old structure can still be used by pedestrians (and to play Pooh Sticks).



The area used to be very rural, as can be seen from the drawing below from 1801, showing a small cottage with the River Tame running by. Standing here today are some industrial buildings, and a green spot where herons like to sit and rest.







Images from a selection held at BMAG, the full collection can be viewed here.

Witton Bridge, Looking Upstream

This nineteenth century painted and stained glass panel of Witton Bridge was designed to be hung in a window. It's a pretty rural scene, with two passers by pausing on the bridge to appreciate the scene, as the River Tame meanders beneath.

Bridges are the perfect spot to contemplate the river, especially if views are blocked at the edges by buildings or walls. Just because the scene has changed doesn't mean that the river has become something to be ignored. It follows a unique journey through a place. If you stand at Witton Bridge today you may be struck by the litter in the river, but then, there is no way of getting down to the waterside to clear it away. If you could follow the waters upstream you would reach the manicured lawns of the Holford Estate, where the river is truly kept tame. But what lies further up?

The river is hidden by the perfectly kept shrubs, but like a curtain, if you pull it back you find a whole world of life. Rob has written a verse about the journey that he, Stuart and Jenni took from Perry Bridges to here, and the surprising wildlife that was discovered. You can read it here.

But the river has still come a long way once it has reached here. It goes back, through Hamstead and then quickly into a semi-rural landscape with Forge Mill Lake and Farm; a reminder of our industrial heritage, but here in Sandwell Valley is a nature reserve, a small island of wilderness. It continues, the river weaves and bobs through urban clumps never far from railway, canal or motorway. Until it splits in two, as two river Tame's feed our one. One branch zigzags through Wednesbury, another urban park at Sheepwash and then into Dudley. The other takes its path through Willenhall from Oldbury. And so we find the sources of our river in the Black Country, but everything that is put in the river here will pass by our Witton Bridge.

I wonder what lies downstream?


Glass panel held in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Ref: 1971 F3128 (16/5144)

Journey From Perry Bridges to Witton Bridge

A Heron spooked at Perry Bridge
And male and female Tufted Ducks
A rare mid stream gravel bar under the road bridge
The hum of Traffic
But plenty of birdsong
Cow parsley and dead nettles flowering
Two chaffinches bolt into the ivy on the wall
A cabbage or large white butterfly
Car-door-boulders try to create riffles
As the river is poor in riffle and pool sequences
A rabbit!
Then an orange tip butterfly is joined by a mate
herb robert and mustards
Meadow buttercups adjacent to a dormant inflow pipe
Blue flowering plants, maybe green alkanet
Teasel then broom
A thrush
Ragwort and huge plantain under grey willows
Water slaters (isopods), small leeches - Erpobdella testacea(?)
And a flatworm(?) like white wiggling snot
Plus huge amounts of Freshwater shrimps (amphipod gammarids) that
signify clean water,
Are found under stones and half-bricks
- On a point bar as the river bends to touch the M6 on the opposite bank
A buzzard flies out only a few yards away over the river
Another Heron
And Jackdaws over the oaks in the green triangle before Tameside drive
The opposite bank is wild and ruderal.
The straight glides break into welcome braided low-water glitter patterns
In the wake of spring weed growth
Spanish bluebells, oaks, poplars and a rabbit are seen in the woodland triangle.
Tameside Drive is manicured and overly prohibitive
Do we risk certain death by walking on a flat level lawned gabion?
Should they put these signs on canal locks?
A water feature on grounds opposite the river. Isn't the river a
forgotten water feature?
A pied wagtail bobs
Over railing and signage overkill.
The noise of corporate graffiti continues through to Brookvale
With the roars of traffic and dust
Whilst a moorhen goes about its business on the opposite bank
Through the stream-litter.

By Rob Colbourne