Stourbridge 16 part 2

Thursday, 17 December 2009 18:27

I left you half way up!

Above Lock 8, the top lock of the "Double Locks", is a winding hole, although I wonder who would use it. Maybe it is there to mark half way!

Ah! Here is our wonderful Lock Wheeler; watch out he can pop up anywhere! One day we may even see him on his narrowboat, then we will have to beware as we might be digitally caught as a moving image, for posterity of course! Seriously, we have been very grateful for his help on a number of occasions now.

Paul striding out

So we reached lock 5 where John spotted an interesting feature, contrasting lock walls, or to be correct, finishing stones at the top of the lock chamber.

South wall v North wall

Beside the lock is the Samson and Lion pub

It is an old canal pub where boatmen's horses were once stabled. The connection between Samson and a Lion? Well, "let me tell you a story"! (Briefly!)

Samson was on his way to ask a certain lady to marry him. On the way he was attacked by a lion and using his great strength killed it. She agreed to marry him, or more likely her family agreed to the marriage! On his way to the marriage he sees that the carcass has a colony of bees and he raids it for honey. At the wedding feast he tells a riddle, which no one can answer. "Out of the eater, something to eat, out of the strong, something sweet".

The 30 groomsmen make threats against his bride's family if she does not get the answer and Samson gives in and tells his wife the answer. The answer being "What is sweeter than honey, what is stronger than a lion?" She tells the groomsmen who go to Samson with the answer. There is a violent and sad end to the story and if you want to find out what happened click here! Or even get your Bible out and turn to the Book of Judges, chapter 14.

The tins of Lyles Golden Syrup have an adaptation of the riddle on them and as a child I was fascinated why Tate and Lyle had a Bible "story" on the tin!

But I digress!

After Lock 4, the canal bends left and goes under Brierley Hill Road Bridge. Lock 3 has a winding hole above it and then there are the two remaining locks.

Lock 2 ahead

The top lock leads to Leys Junction and we decided to go down the Fens Branch towards the Stourbridge Extension Canal, just to have a look! But again I leave you in suspense as that is another blog!