Early yesterday the weather forecast indicated that we would have rain by Wednesday but by evening it had been brought forward. Indeed, as we awoke this morning and looked out, rain was already with us. As a result, despite waking quite early we were not in any hurry to leave. In addition, we had still not decided where we were aiming to reach today - reasons in a moment. It was uncomfortably chilly, but dry, when we walked to the nearby Tesco for a paper and a few other items.
Back at the boat we wrapped up well and set off up the first of today's locks. As the photo shows, it was still very grey. The day quickly improved and for much of the time we had blue skies and warm sunshine. Occasional showers arrived and for a few moments we even had some hail!
Just above the lock is a a restored older building - it has been around since the earliest OS map we could consult but there is no indication of what it may once have been. On a wall is a commemorative plaque to an early member of the IWA. We have found little about him on the internet but one reference does suggest that Tom Rolt inspired a number of people to found some of the first leisure canal boat companies including 'Holt Abbott of Canal Pleasurecraft at Stourport'.
On the edge of the town we noticed a burial ground - the first part was evidently quite old but a modern section has been opened up alongside. It appears from maps that this is an extension to the churchyard for St Michael and All Angels Parish Church but we were amazed by the large quantity of flowers on most of the graves in several large areas.
A little further we passed the point where the Severn Valley Branch Railway once crossed the canal. Immediately beyond is a short arm.This was built at the very start of the 20C to act as a transshipment point between railway and canal. Sidings came down either side from the main line. At one stage coal was taken from here by water to Stourport Power Station alongside the River Severn. later, a branch line was built from here down to the river.
On the towpath opposite the entrance to the arm is this feature which we suppose was added to assist boats making the sharp turn onto the main canal.
By now the sun had arrived as this photo shows.
Pratts Wharf Bridge carries the towpath over the entrance to another arm that once connected with the river to serve the former Wilden Iron Works. One reference indicates that this area is now a nature reserve although the canal link remained until around 1950. Grace's gives more details of the history of the Ironworks. At one stage the transhipment basin seen earlier was used to transfer raw materials brought by train onto canal craft fro final delivery to the iron works.
Soft bank edging has been the subject of much experimentation by CaRT with the encouragement of environmentalists. However, this example, which cannot be particularly old, shows that without careful preparation the bank can quickly relapse back to a dangerous state.
The Severn Valley Railway cross the canal over a large viaduct. It no doubt costs a considerable amount to maintain in a safe condition and grant funders do like to get their publicity!
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Just above Caldwall Lock there is a good view of the River Stour close alongside the canal.
We now entered Kidderminster - some of the former industrial buildings have been preserved and form part of a large retail precinct.
Just before the main road bridge we moored up for a short while for a lunch break. However we had to be quite smart about iot as by now we had opted to carry on a bit further towards Kinver today. A few weeks ago the land below a Lea Lane, a country road near to Wolverley, collapsed into the canal. Intensive work by the Highway Authority and CaRT removed most of the earth but before the canal could be fully opened, work was stopped as it was feared that more of the ground would collapse, closing that road. At the moment, boats can pass with supervision for just an hour in the morning and an hour in that afternoon.
So we pressed on, hoping make the first of the locks that are otherwise closed shortly after the start of the afternoon window. But first we had to pass through Kidderminster Lock with the parish church standing guard high above.
Beside the canal and in front of the church is a statue of the 17C clergyman and theologian Richard Baxter who came to prominence whilst serving at Kidderminster. He was often at odds with the prevailing politics and theology in a turbulent period of church history, sometimes even being sent to prison for his views. Amongst the many books which he wrote is one that records the virtues and tenderness of his wife Margaret!
We arrived at Wolverley Lock a little after two o'clock and were helped through by a couple of CaRT staff who were looking at a problem with one of the paddle mechanisms, hoping to stave off the time when the balance beams will need to be replaced. They did look quite near the end of their life! (The balance beams that is)
Across the fields we could see the parish church in the village of Wolverley. The present building dates from the late 18C. The tower was originally constructed from sandstone but later clad in brick. It seems that the stonework can only be seen from inside by bell ringers!
Between Wolverley and Debdale Locks we passed the landslip. Unfortunately the sun was shining in the wrong direction for a good photo but this one does show how perilously close the edge of the ground is to the road. which runs just behind the steel barrier at the top of the bank. We squeezed through -vertically as well as horizontally as it was obvious that there is still a lot of earth to be removed from under the water once the bank has been stabilised. It is clearly not going to be a quick repair - but at least we understand that it is a Highway responsibility not CaRT's.
The canal is frequently cut through sandstone and makes some spectacular locations (as well as the famous cave alongside Debdale Lock) The canal was an early development and its chief engineer was James Brindley. It is not always easy to imagine the amount of physical work that was needed to cut the canal with very few mechanical aids to support the process beyond spades and wheelbarrows.
Once through Debdale Lock we continued for a while, passing the immaculately maintained Austcliffe Holiday Home Park with its incongruous railway signal dominating the grounds.
Not much further on rain returned, with just a little hail, and a sharp wind arrived so we pulled in at a designated mooring before the next lock. But the sun had not yet given p and there were several bright spells.
8.9 Miles - 7 Locks
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