Kidderminster to Stourport

Kidderminster grew mainly as a carpet manufacturing town when Brintons Carpets began in 1785 and other carpet companies then followed it into the town, until by 1951 there were 30. Today Brintons is still operating as are others notably Victoria Carpets and both are world renowned.

The town has a thriving shopping centre with most large national retailers having a presence.

Running north to south through the centre of the urban area but tangentially to the west of the main shopping and hence visitor area, the canal appears to be incidental to the town as this important resource has not really been developed to its full potential for visitors. A non too successful canal festival was held in 2010 and 2011 but I haven’t heard or seen anything of such an event since.

The 4 mile stretch of the canal down to Stourport soon loses sight of the built up area and appears to be running through natural countryside though in fact suburban housing is never far away.

As a result, to the canal visitor, the route is pleasingly attractive with a number of interesting and historic features. Of particular note is the exposed sandstone ridge at Caldwell lock and the majestic rail viaduct at Falling Sands.

The approach to the basins in Stourport and thence to the River Severn has been developed recently and is an attractive place to live if you are lucky enough to have one of the new canal side dwellings.

Stourport-on-Severn itself is to be covered in an article of its own.

Here is a Slideshow of my photos taken along the canal.

In the Slideshow click on an image in the opening Index display to display a larger image with Previous/Index/Next navigation controls.

Below is a Google map marked with the views mentioned in the slideshow.

View Kidderminster to Stourport in a larger map

#1 | Written by Mike Meaden about 11 years ago. Reply

That was a nice introduction with a family out enjoying a walk along with their child in its pushchair along the towpath, just coming up to two moored boats. Your shot of the Caldwall Mill Bridge [14] [although you have renamed Cawmill Bridge is full of interest. The archway looks as if at sometime it had to have an extra supportive archway added and some not so sympathetic repairs made topside. I liked the way you captured the reflections in the water and I did note the two gardeners working away. The Watermill Pub looks very inviting, which the boat owner cruising by would no doubt agree. I found that sandstone ridge very imposing even though you made it blend in with the trees and boats. Almost lost for words to describe that dramatic picture with the backdrop being the magnificent rail viaduct as it looks down on its past industrial competitor – the canal system. Once again lots of people and animals around and even those without held a certain fascination, as water always seems to attract. Thanks Geoff, enjoyed them all.
#2 | Written by ian wilson about 11 years ago. Reply

nice photoes of this strech of canal it brings back memories of our first full holliday on the cabin cruiser (MOUSETRAP). it was in 1967 that my farther bought a dolphin 23 with a cresent 18hp outboard from gerry perry at ladyline at market drayton in about april of that year , it was the winter of the 1967 foot and mouth epidemic in cheshire and as my dad was the head of cheshire the ministery of agriculture fisheries and food . We managed to moove the cruiser down the shropi to barbridge at lady line ( in i think late october early november as adderly top lock was my first lock i operated) where jack kerr and david dawson were based they ran the yard , then the first trip on holliday in the spring of 1968 we went down the staffs and worcster canal via the shropie and went through this unusual flight of locks with there own independant side ponds so there is no need to go ahead and empty the other 2 locks to operate the flight ,also there is the unusual by wears with the moat around the edge in a circle and overflowed in the middle and through the wire guard that look like a lobster pot ,keep the photoes coming thanks ian

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Kidderminster to Stourport

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