Tipton Boat Gauging House saved

THE development company Stoford Living wanted to turn the Grade II listed Boat Gauging House at Tipton on the BCN into homes, but its plan failed.

The plan to convert the gauging house fell through when the Health and Safety Executive had doubts about the building's safety, Alan Tilbury tells us.

Changed its plans

Not wanting its plans to be scrapped completely, Stoford Living has changed them and has pledged to restore the gauging house and build its homes on land nearby.

It was eight years ago that plans were first submitted, with one problem after another, but it seems the development company's efforts will eventually come into being as the plans have been backed by Sandwell Council, with work expected to start shortly.

The gauging house was built in 1873 in a bid to meet demands for greater accuracy in weighing the cargo carried by canal boats. More than 10,000 boats were gauged and registered at Tipton in the period between 1873 and 1900 and boats were still being gauged there in 1950.