Canal Boating Article: Staffordshire And Worcestershire
Visit Staffordshire And Worcestershire from the following marina(s)
Length: 46 miles, Locks: 45, Tunnels: 1
Linked to: Trent and Mersey Canal, Shropshire Union Canal, Birmingham Canal Navigation, Stourbridge Canal, River Severn
Incorporates The Four Counties Ring linking the Trent and Mersey Canal and theShropshire Union
Starting at Great Haywood at the junction to The Trent and Mersey Canal it runs for 46 miles to Stourport where it meets the River Severn. James Brindley was the chief engineer and the Canal was completed in 1771 and opened to trade in 1772. The canal was a major north-south route for the west of England and linked the area to Black country carrying coal and to the Potteries to the porcelain factories.
PLACES OF INTEREST ON ROUTE
Shugborough Hall – Home of the Earls of Litchfield including the world famous photographer the late Patrick Litchfield. Visit the historic house and view the beautiful interiors and the magnificent grounds. It is home to the Staffordshire County Museumwhere costumed guides recreate life 'below stairs' for the visitors.
Penkridge – Tie up at one of the many visitor moorings and visit one of the pubs and enjoy watching the narrowboats pass by.
Kinver – The moorings close to the Kinver Locks are a good over night stop where a lovely canal side walk leads you into the pretty village centre. Owned by the National Trust visit Kinver Edge a unique site where you can see the remains of an Iron Age fort or the restored rock-carved houses.
Tixall Wide – When this stretch of the canal was built the Estate landowners, The Aston Family, did not want a ugly canal cutting through their land and they insisted on a "view" consequently the canal was cut very wide to give the impression of a lake.
Bratch and Botterham Locks - This canal has two sets of unusual locks one at Bratch and the other at Botterham. The two locks at Botterham are a staircase and are so close together they share a gate. The locks at Bratch are very close together with only a few feet between them. There is an interesting octagonal house where the lock keeper is based and used to be the old toll house.
Stourport Basins - A unique town as it was built solely as a consequence of the coming of the canals. It is a charming Georgian town full of gracious architecture and considering it is miles away from the sea Stourport on Severn has a delightful maritime atmosphere.
PLACES TO VISIT
Kidderminster, Stourport, Birmingham, Worcester
