Awbridge

 Today's Canal - Staffs and Worcs

Much of today was taken up by an on line meeting for both of us, starting at 9 and going on, with just two very short breaks, until 1.45! We just wish that we could say that it was illuminating . . . but it was largely non-interactive but with speakers  very committed to their subjects and the work that they are doing. Pre-Covid, such meetings were often criticised similarly but with plenty of time to chat informally with other people and share ideas, problems and a chance to catch up with local news (aka gossip!)

We were raring to go as soon as we were released and had everything prepared. At this stage it was bright sunshine and, with a very short exception, remained so for the rest of the day. Within just a few minutes we arrived at Botterham Locks, two formed as a staircase. 

This overflow weir is the most common of the various designs that are distinctive of this canal.

Just beyond Wombourne Bridge we pulled onto the 48hour moorings as we new that there is a large Sainsbury supermarket very close to the canal. We really appreciated this proximity when it came to carry all of our shopping back - we needed more than a simple top-up.

We were suspicious that where this very new large modern house now stands might once have been a wharf. Indeed, when we later consulted the 1887 map it does show a wharf here along with the Waggon and Horses pub on the opposite side of the road.

After unpacking and stowing away of our shopping we set off once more. This stretch of the Staff and Worcs is noted for having locks spaced out, typically about ten minutes cruising apart. We therefore did not have long before we arrived at Bumblehole Lock.

Both the bottom balance beam     and the lock cottage, although still functional, look as if they could do with a touch of TLC.

This left us with the three Bratch Locks. Although at a quick glance they look as if they form a staircase, actually they are three conventional an separate locks, just with a very short pound in between. The water that is released from one lock is held in a large side ;pond, barely visible when working the locks. As a result it is important to operate the paddles in the correct order (hence the blue and red colours) but we were fortunate that the very pleasant and helpful lock keeper had set the flight ready for us.

The most iconic aspect of Bratch is the lock keeper's office that stands alongside the space between the top two locks and affords a good view of the whole operation.

Mike was particularly on the look out for a Victorian pumping station that we had nit noticed before but which is  very close to the canal. In the 1890's, the Urban District Council of Bilston fell out with Wolverhampton Council over the charges it was making them for a water supply. As a result , Bilston opted to seek their own source and found a good ground water source at Bratch. They built an ornate pumping house, with two steam engines to raise the water out of the grounds and it then flowed into the town several miles away via a pipeline It is no wonder that we missed it in the past, especially as the trees will become even more of screen later in the summer.

Just after leaving Bratch Locks we passed a classic English country village cricket match. From the internet it seems that the Beacon Cricket Club play in the Staffordshire Clubs Championship as well as the Worcestershire Sunday League.

2.8 Miles - 6 Locks