Lock volunteers are always welcome!

Tuesday, 15 December 2009 20:21

Actually, a friend volunteered to help us up the Stourbridge 16 Locks

It was a good job that Paul (of Waterways Routes) was able to come and help as I was not feeling very well, so stayed below all the time. The photos in this blog are taken by John as he juggled the camera with the tiller!

We cruised back to Wordsley Junction and turned right onto the Stourbridge Canal Main Line and immediately into the bottom lock of the Stourbridge 16. All the locks in the flight were set for us we discovered, which made Paul's job much easier!

The signpost at the Junction has been vandalised, with a chain saw apparently. What a sad sight it was.

Our grateful thanks to Paul, here at "work"

Beyond Lock 13 is the Redhouse Glassworks. This was closed in 2001 when the company was taken over by Waterford Wedgwood Group. The lovely Stuart Crystal had been manufactured here since Frederick Stuart started work in 1827. He joined the glassmaking industry that was well established and had made Stoubridge's "Crystal Mile" the centre of English glassmaking. Frederick started a dynasty of five generations who worked at the Redhouse Glassworks until it closed.

The 110 foot "cone" has been preserved housing a museum

By Dadford Lock (11) there is a timber warehouse known as Dadford's Shed. It is enclosed by a short arm.You may remember that Thomas Dadford, an assistant to James Brindley, was the Stourbridge Canal engineer. Boat restoration, building and painting are now carried out here. We had to be careful gettting past the boats moored below the next lock.

Above Lock 10 (below left) are two so called "double locks" (9 and 8, below right), also known as the staircase, but not built as one!

Double Lock cottage

View back from Lock 8

I shall leave you here - half way up as I think this blog is long enough! To be continued ........