 The land on which the link would be built was purchased jointly by the two companies, but the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal seems to have funded the actual construction.The locks were built in 1858 and 1859, but were not used until the opening of the Cannock Extension Canal in 1863.Through much of its life, the junction was busy, with around 12,000 tons per month passing through it and down the locks in 1902.