Built in 1803, to serve the miniming of the coal measures, brick earth and the limestone workings at Daw End and Hay Head.
The canal is built as a contour canal, which looped around the hill sides avoiding locks as much as nessessary.
Though mining and subsidence, makes sections of this canal look like it was built on an embankment.
At Longwood Junction, the canal joins the Rushall Canal which links with the Tame Valley Canal at Rushall Junction.
The book "The Birmingham Canal Navigations" by the Birmingham Branch I.W.A, gives more information on this canal.