A quick trip up the Fens Branch

Friday, 18 December 2009 16:28

At Leys Junction we went straight on (still catching up!)

The Main Line of the Stourbridge Canal veers right under Leys Bridge and on towards the Delph Locks in a long south easterly curve, before travelling north east again.

The Fens Branch is navigable for about 300 yards

It was built as a navigable feeder from Grove Pool, Middle Pool and Fens Pool, known collectively as the Fens Pools. They were, and still are, the main source of water for the Stourbridge 16 Locks. The Pools are now a nature reserve and a haven for overwintering and migrating birds.

Soon we approached the Stourbridge Extension Arm and the limit of the Fens Branch navigation at the Railway Bridge, carrying 10 foot of weed before us!

Approaching junction

The Railway Bridge straight ahead

The Stourbridge Extension Arm was built by a separate company and was opened in 1840. It was built to service the mines in Kingswinford, Staffordshire and carried iron ore and limestone to the blast furnaces.

We turned left onto the Extension Arm

Apparently this arm makes good mooring, but we were not going on and reversed back under the bridge again. We returned back along the Fens Branch to the Main Line.

Back on the Fens Branch

So it was onward, and upward - the Delph Locks ahead!