T & S Element Ltd

This canal carrying business was founded as a partnership by the brothers Thomas (born 1881) and Samuel (born 1889), the second and fourth sons of George and Jane Element of Halesowen Street, Oldbury. (This street still exists, but sadly all old buildings have been demolished to make way for new developments).

The brothers traded as general carriers initially based at Springfields, Rowley Regis, where their main traffics were road stone and coal. In 1920 a branch of the business was established at St Clement Road, Nechells. In 1932 a major depot was established at Salford Bridge, opposite the Junction of the Birmingham and Warwick and Birmingham and Fazeley canals, this became the company’s head office.

Boats awaiting unloading/taking back to the colliery outside GEC Witton in 1929

Top right of this image shows T&S Elements boatyard and head office in Salford Bridge mid 1950’s

Boats were purchased to complement the fleet throughout the company’s history, the maximum number believed to be nearly 200 craft at it’s peak just after the end of the second world war.

Representation of a cabin decoration for Shropshire, Worcestershire and Staffordshire Electric Power Company as used on ‘Stour Lifters’ or their fore runners.

One of the major contracts were to Stourport power station and lasted until approx 1948 for that reason I have included the fleet of the Stourport Light as the station was known in my  list.

One of their longest contracts was the supply of boiler coal to GEC Witton from originally Hednesford collieries and latterly from Anglesey Basin.  My family were employed on this contract for many years working with both horse boats and latterly using a motor and butties.

Foster family passing the under construction Dudleys Fields estate in Bloxwich in 1958

Charlie Foster on the motor Princess Anne in the distance with Horace and Billy Foster on the day boats behind.

By the early 1970’s the company’s fleet had reduced to about 6 boats, which were employed solely on factory rubbish contracts. What did they carry during their history? – Road stone, Coal, Coke, Coal slack, concrete Aggregates, Sand, Gravel, Tubes, Manure, Ashes, Blast furnace slag, Phosphorus waste liquor and Rubbish (no doubt there were many more!).

The firm continued once they gave up canal carrying and their fleet of lorries were a regular sight around the streets of the area.

Thanks to David Element (great grandson of one of the co-founders of T & S Element Ltd.) for his invaluable assistance with this account. David is researching the history of the company, and would be interested in hearing from anyone who has related memories or photographs, or who knows the whereabouts of any T & S Element boats still afloat or abandoned. David can be contacted by e-mail at: – david.element.1984@pem.cam.ac.uk