Your floating hotel on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Our guide to the waterways of the UK in detail.

The history of the Staff & Worcs Canal.

Authorised in 1766 with Brindley as the engineer, as part of the grand cross, along with the Trent and Mersey, Coventry and Oxford canals were designed to connect the Mersey, Severn, Trent and Thames. It was completed from Great Hayward on the Trent and Mersey canal to the new town of Stourport on the River Severn by 1770. It was 46 miles long and had four aqueducts and 43 locks.

In 1772 the Birmingham canal was connected to it at Alderly junction providing an outlet to the River Severn via the Staff & Worcs for the products of Birmingham.

In 1776 the Stourbidge canal was authorised to connected to the Staff and Worcs at Stourton providing another outlet from Birmingham.

Despite all the competition and changes over the years, the Staff and Worcs canal never made substantial improvements to its canal, it remained narrow and winding with single locks.

However when in 1790 the Worcester and Birmingham Canal was authorised to provide another route from Birmingham which would avoid problems on the upper Severn, the Staff and Worcs tried to get the River Severn improved. A policy which it carried on for many year, in 1842 guaranteeing the £180,000 which was to be spent on improving the river.

In 1864 they supported the creation of locks at Gloucester.

All through the later 19th century the Staff and Worcs was one of the few canals which remained independent of railway control. It maintained its profits and independence until 1947.

Sources.

Nicholson Guides to the Waterways.

Some pictures of this canal?

Stourport to Stourton / Stourton to Autherley / Autherly to Great Haywood.

General information on the canal.

Find our information about other canals and rivers on the canal index page.

If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk