Take Five: Hawne Basin

We were moored close to the centre of Stourbridge so, before we set off, Andrew walked into town and picked up a paper as well as an interesting loaf of bread for lunch. As a result we were a little later than usual in setting off.

Autumn Colours

However, it was a very bright morning and places with autumnal leaves shone out. In places it was so bright that our camera struggled to cope!

Wordeley Junction and Blue Skies

Stourbridge Bottom Lock

After the short run back to Wordsley Junction we made an immediate start on the Stourbridge 16, a well-maintained flight of locks that pass through some of the historic glass making area.

A Very Short Pound

A couple of the locks are very close together, similar to the Bratch locks but we have not seen a reason for it. Most of the pounds have side extensions because there is not much distance between the locks.

Stourbridge Top Lock

Just a few minutes over two hours we completed the flight and continued on what now was the Dudley Canal. The route was quite the opposite of the Shropshire Union - it follows contours and at one point almost doubles back on itself. We spotted a brightly coloured and unusual exercise course.

Delph Bottom Lock

Just below the eight Black Delph Locks we paused for lunch and enjoyed yet another specialist loaf with our sandwiches (mature cheddar and jalapeno).

The Tenth Lock

The flight is known traditionally as Nine Locks but at some point they were restructured as eight locks but the name remained. Hence the pub by the flight is called The Tenth Lock!

Delph Locks

The locks have quite spectacular waterfalls instead of the more conventional bywash tunnels or channels.

Nearing the top of the flight we had a grand view of the lowland below - the straightness of the line of locks is unusual and not always is there such a view of a long line of locks.

Merry Hill Shopping Centre

After leaving the locks behind us we passed through Merry Hill with the huge shopping centre below us as well as the re-developed basin.

Merry Hill Basin

Netherton Hill

On the distant hill we could see Netherton Church.

Blowers Green

At Blowers Green we had to rise through just a single, but very deep lock - the remaining three in this flight lift the canal up to the entrance of the Dudley Tunnel but we cannot go that way. Instead we continued along the winding route through to Windmill End, at the south end of the much more substantial Netherton Tunnel.

Brewins Tunnel

Brewins Tunnel, cut through rock, was subsequently opened up and is now a short but deep cutting.

Windmill End Junction

However, we turned right at the junction - we will go through Netherton and into Birmingham tomorrow. For the rest of today we took the route down to Hawne Basin - none of us had been this way before. originally it led to the Lapal Tunnel which has long been closed so it is a there and back trip.

Gosty Hill Tunnel

The Gosty Hill Tunnel - 500 metres - is still open. Most of it has a very high headroom but in places the original height remains and the final section at the south end is very low.