Kidderminster to Stourport

Sat 1st Sep  Kidderminster to Stourport

After a final visit to Sainsbury’s, we set off, down through Kidderminster Lock, and along a stretch of canal that would have been very industrial 100 years ago. It is now a retail park.

Kidderminster’s industrial remains

The Watermill pub

There are two more locks in the red sandstone rocks. The first is Caldwall Lock, which has a split bridge for horse ropes. Then comes Falling Sands Viaduct, where the Severn Valley Railway crosses the canal and the River Stour. Then there is Falling Sands Lock.

Caldwall Lock

Split bridge

Falling Sands Viaduct

Approaching Falling Sands Lock

Pratt’s Wharf marks the site of a lock that took boats down into the River Stour to service a mill on the river. This is shortly before Stourport, where there is an old brick warehouse where they now breed fish. Apparently a hire boat crashed into the wall and broke one of the tanks, and there are now Koi carp in the canal and in the historic basins.

Pratt’s Wharf

The warehouse with the fish tanks.

There were no boats at all on the length where we wanted to moor, so we could pick our spot, near bushes for Hugo, half way between Lidl and the Black Star pub.

As we arrived, someone told us that this was carnival weekend, and the procession was just about to start. We walked up to the Black Star and it was all happening, with crowds of people, bands, floats and dancers.

In the evening we visited a favourite Indian Restaurant of ours, Nabiel's, and then went to watch the illuminated boats and fireworks on the river.

Here are a few carnival images:

3 locks, 3 ½  miles

Sun 2nd Sep  Stourport

We walked up the hill to Cornerstone Family Church, where we were warmly welcomed by Dudley, the pastor, whom we had first met five years ago when we had a mission here. We also met Valerie Hodgson, who used to be part of BCF, with a boat called Emmanuel. She told us that Arthur Page was having a challenge with dementia, which probably explains why we have had no reply from our texts and phone messages.

Dudley

Valerie Hodgson

Cornerstone worship band

The worship band was good, and the talk was from a visiting preacher.  There was a prophetic word about the church being like a boat that was cutting though ice.  We thought that the ice might represent the hardness of people’s hearts, and their unwillingness to accept the wonderful life-changing good news of the Christian message, that Jesus has taken their place, and received their punishment for their self-sufficient and selfish attitudes. Instead, sadly, many turn their back on the only person who has died for them so that they might live. We pray that we will have opportunities to break up and melt some of that ice as we meet people and chat to them.

Following the service we met Greg and Jessy, Jasmin and Claudia for a meal at the Black Star. Having seen the pub really crowded yesterday, we were concerned that it would be packed out once again, but it was fine. The meal was good – Sunday Roast – and the service was good as well.  The family did some shopping in Lidl and then had to leave to take Jasmin back to her new university accommodation in Birmingham, before returning to Leatherhead.

Family visit

We tried to visit Arthur Page, but there was no reply from his doorbell, and the front door of the sheltered housing building was locked. We will need to try again tomorrow.

Moored near the Black Star

No boating today.

Mon 3rd Sep  Stourport

We went to visit Arthur Page, and were delighted to find him in. He is a founder member of Boaters Christian Fellowship, and has done a lot of crewing for other members since he sold his own boat a number of years ago. We were able to see the receptionist and pick up the paint that had been delivered to Arthur’s address for us.

Arthur Page

We went to collect Hazel’s prescription from Boots, and did some shopping in the local butchers and in Lidl.

We then moved the boat down through York Street Lock into the historic canal basins pausing at the facilities block for water, cassettes and rubbish.

Cruising past the Black Star

York Street Lock and Blossoms Tea Rooms

Moving from one basin to another

Then there were four more locks, in two staircase pairs, and there was a queue of boats going down. Thankfully there were three volunteers on duty, as the other boats were hire boats, and for some this was their first lock.

Descending the upper staircase

Leaving the final lock

We moored on the lock island, facing upstream on the River Severn. As we were on a pontoon, James put our plank across the watery gap for Hugo to go ashore.

Moored on the Severn

Sunset in Stourport

Water art

We had rain later.

5 locks, ½  mile

Tue 4th Sep  Stourport

Today was a day out for us. We started by taking a number 3 bus to Kidderminster, where we changed to a 297 heading for Bridgnorth.  Last time we were in Kidderminster in 2015, we had intended to visit Dudmaston Hall, but we were diverted by our cat Hugo who was on the wrong side of the canal that morning.  For the story see here.

This time we made it, and we alighted at the entrance to this National Trust property. The weather was cloudy with an occasional damp moment. We went first to the cafe and then to the house, which is still a family home.  There was a focus on art, with classic paintings as well as modern art as a contrast.

We had a wander round the grounds, exploring the Dingle, a tree filled valley with a small stream running through it.

Some Dudmaston pictures:

The main entrance

The stables

An art installation

A woodland path

A fir tree

The view across the lake

We caught the bus back to Kidderminster where we bought a few items in Tesco, and had a meal at the Tappeto Lounge, where we enjoyed Tapas. Then back to Stourport on the bus.

Hugo was pleased to see us.

No boating today

Next: Down the Severn and in to Droitwich.