Page updated 17 November 2004 

The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal

Stourport-on-Severn

River Severn

Stourport Basin N97#2p89#2p95 N2k#2p89#2p95

Stourport Basins: Going from the upper staircase locks to the lower staircase locks can be quite tricky.  They are offset and at an angle - probably best not to try and make it one go in anything over 45ft.  (My correspondent said he tried and failed, much to the amusement of all the gongoozlers!)

Note that at the bottom staircase of narrow locks at Stourport Basin (probably because the middle cill being very deep), it is not necessary to fill the upper chamber first to get a level with the lower.

Stourport Basin N97#2p91#2p96 N2k#2p91#2p96

The Tontine Hotel appears to have closed (All windows boarded up).

Stourport Basin N97#2p94

Severn Valley Cruisers no longer offers narrow boat hire but its crane now handles 25 tons.

Delete the entry for Stourport Chandlery, as it has closed down.  This will also remove the "B" symbol (still showing in the 2000 edition) from the middle of the inset map of Stourport Basin.

Bridge 7 N97#2p89#2p95 N2k#2p89#2p95

There is a winding hole opposite Bird in Hand pub, between Bridge 7 and Railway Bridge, although boats often moor opposite it, outside the pub.

Bridge 8 N97#2p89#2p95 N2k#2p89#2p95

It is possible to wind immediately north of Railway Bridge, south of Bridge 8, in the old arm.

Bridge 10 N97#2p89

The correct name for the bridge is Oldington Bridge, not Oddington Bridge.

Falling Sands Lock N97#2p94

No BW key is needed for the Falling Sands lock.

Kidderminster

Bridge 15 N97#2p99 N2k#2p99

There is a large Tesco here with moorings immediately north of the bridge.  These effectively stretch to the moorings by Sainsbury at Bridge 17.

Kidderminster Lock N97#2p99 N2k#2p99

The winding hole north of the lock is not quite big enough for a 60' boat.  However, you can wind just south of the lock.  Care is needed as you are using a couple of bricked up arches one of which has a pipe sticking out at window height.

Bridge 17 N97#2p99 N2k#2p99

The supermarket referred to in the main text is Sainsburys. There are moorings on the towpath side between Bridges 16 and 17.

Bridge 18? N97#2p99 N2k#2p99

There is a new bridge (currently without a number or name) 200m south of the Aqueduct between Bridges 17 and 19.

County Boundary N97#2p99 N2k#2p99

Approximately half way between Bridges 27 and 26 there is the newly erected boundary post between Worcestershire and Staffordshire erected by the Staffs & Worcestershire Canal Society.

Wolverley Lock N97#2p100

Bulmers real draught cider is no longer listed as available at The Lock, being replaced by guest real ales.  The 2000 edition also adds that children are welcome until 21:00.

Debdale Lock N97#2p98 N2k#2p98 N03#2p104

Halfway through the main text there is reference to a doorway cut into solid rock. Whether or not the cavern was used, as claimed, for overnight stabling for towing horses is debatable, since there appears to be no way of reaching the cavern by horse.

Whittington Horse Bridge N97#2p103 N2k#2p103

It is possible to wind just north of the bridge.

Kinver Lock N97#2p103 N2k#2p103

The 2000 edition shows there is a Refuse Disposal, full Sanitary Station and Water Point about 1/2 mile above Kinver Lock.  It does not indicate that you may obtain tokens for the DIY operated pump-out from long term moorers and the nearby cottage.

Stewponey Wharf N97#2p102 N2k#2p102

The small grocery store is now a Tea Room. The Stewponey Hotel has been demolished. The phone box, not mentioned in the 2003 edition, has gone too, as has the petrol station. Everything has been obliterated by a new housing estate.

Stourton Junction

Stourbridge Canal

Rocky Lock N97#2p101 N2k#2p101 N03#2p107

Three quarters of the way through the main text there is reference to rooms having been carved into the sandstone by the lock. There do not appear to be any. Perhaps the compiler of the guide confused his notes for Debdale Lock.

Ashwood Marina N97#2p102

The correct spelling is Orion Narrowboats, not O’Rian Narrowboats.

Ashwood Marina N97#2p103 N2k#2p103

There is a missing "B" boatyard sign (for Orion Narrowboats) on the small arm at Ashwood private marina.

Bridge 37 N97#2p103

Greensforge Bridge is not labelled and is below Greensforge Lock.

Swindon "Milestone" N03#2p111

The Mile/Lock indicator appears inaccurate. (Ideally, it should have a line to a point on the canal). This indicator refers to a point north of Marsh Lock if miles are counted, but to a point south of Swindon Lock if locks are counted. Assuming the former to be intended, it should read 11L to Aldersley and 7L to Stourton.

Bridge 43 N97#2p104 N2k#2p104

The nearby Wagon and Horses does not do food in the evenings.

Bridge 44 N97#2p105 N2k#2p105

Just north of the bridge on east bank, there's a missing Boatyard sign and details for Wombourne Services (Giggetty Wharf).

Bridge 55 N97#2p106 N2k#2p106

The correct name for the bridge is Castle Croft Bridge, not Castlecroft Bridge.

Aldersley Junction

BCN Main Line

Autherley Junction

Shropshire Union Canal

Bridge 70 N97#4p67

The page link to p97 should read p99.

Bridge 70 N03#2p115#4p113

The word Penkridge and an river flow direction arrow appear, inexplicably, by the bridge. They are not in earlier editions nor in N03#3p129.

Bridge 71 N97#2p108#3p122#4p98 N2k#2p108#3p122#4p98

The Anchor Inn reopened on 22 October 2001 under the name The Fox and Anchor (Tel: 01902 798786). They serve food between 12 and 9.30pm 7 days a week.

Bridge 72 N97#2p109#3p123#4p99

There's a winding hole west of the bridge.

Gailey

Lock 32 N97#2p111#3p125#4p101 N2k#2p111#3p125#4p101

The correct BW name for Lock 32 is Gailey Top Lock, not Gailey Lock. There are 4hr moorings north of the lock and a Texaco garage just over the bridge.

Otherton Marina N97#2p111#3p125#4p101

There is a missing "B" symbol on the East bank between Bridges 82 and 83.  This is for the Otherton Marina, which offers all services, but is not always manned.  Tel: 01785 712515 or Mobile: 07966 184182.

Otherton Marina N2k#2p110#3p124#4p100

Boatyards:  Otherton Marina has a mobile number: 07966 184182.

Filance Bridge N97#2p111#2p112#3p125#3p126#4p102 N2k#2p111#2p112#3p125#3p126#4p102

The water point by the bridge is a tap on the wall of the Cross Keys Pub.

Penkridge Lock N97#2p112#3p126#4p102

There's a Sanitary Station with Water and Refuse Disposal Point on the off-side above Penkridge Lock between the lock and the winding hole, by Tom's Moorings, a new boatyard. Tel: 01543 414808

Bridge 98 N97#2p114#3p128#4p104 N2k#2p114#3p128#4p104

The Radford Bank Inn, canalside at the bridge is an "eating pub" with children's play area and moorings.  It used to be called The Trumpet (1997 edition).

Bridge 100 P2kFC#23 P02FC#23

The shops at Baswich, shown east of the bridge, are no longer open.

Bridge 101 N97#2p114#3p128#4p104 N2k#2p114#3p128#4p104

To reach Asda or Tescos stores in Stafford, moor 200m west of the bridge. Take the footpath which follows the line of the River Sow. (The remains of a lock can be found on the river.)

Milford Wharf N97#2p115#3p129#4p105 N2k#2p115#3p129#4p105 N03#2p121#3p135#4p119

The water point has been reported as difficult to find! Look for it between Bridge 105 and the winding hole. It's in a black metal box on the railway embankment wall by the wooden bollards near the bridge under the railway that provides access to the farm shop referred to in the Bridge 105 item.

Bridge 105 N97#2p115#3p129#4p105 N2k#2p115#3p129#4p105

There's a farm shop near the bridge.  To find it, go through the bridge under the railway.

Great Haywood Junction

Trent and Mersey Canal