Droitwich

Today's canals - Worcester & Birmingham and Droitwich

It was quite chilly when we awoke, again feeling almost autumnal, but nevertheless it was bright and sunny. Mike had a phone call appointment at 8 - which turned into 8:30 - but we were off much as usual. Although it was possible that we might get close to the junction with the River Severn at Hawford, we also needed to re-stock our larder a little.

A Bright Start

We still had the remaining six locks of the Astwood Flight to negotiate. the first five are very close together but the last one is some distance further on. We were now about as close to the Droitwich Transmitter as we will get - a very visible landmark when driving along the nearby M5.

This radio station played an important part in the earliest days of British radio broadcasting. Its huge masts provided the means of sending out the long wave - originally 1500 metres. Although the station has changed its role, along with its equipment, in the intervening years, this is still one of its tasks today. Perhaps surprisingly in an age of high frequency and local broadcasting, the long wave keeps its loyal adherents and also one or two programmes that are not included on medium wave, FM or digital. The present masts are around 300 feet tall although the original ones were over twice that size. For a fascinating account, try

http://www.bbceng.info/Operations/transmitter_ops/Reminiscences/Droitwich/droitwich_calling.htm

However, the equipment includes some very expensive glass valves and very few remain available should the present ones break. At that point, long wave will be no more.

The former lock keeper - 40 years service he told us - still lives with his wife at the lock cottage near the bottom of the flight. He would have happily chatted for ever, we guess, but for a single hander coming up that was impatient to come through!

After the locks we had a short level cruise to Hanbury Junction where we turned right onto the Droitwich Canal. When we came up this canal in 2011 it was not long after it had re-opened after a complex restoration.

Hanbury Junction

The top three locks were manned by a couple of volunteer lock keepers who helpfully did almost all
of the work insisting that we stayed on board as we dropped down each lock.

These locks also have working side ponds, although today only the top one needed using as the other two were already full. The idea is to save half a lock of water - the level of the pond is midway between the top and the bottom and additional paddles direct water into or out of the pond directly from the lock.

Farewell friendly lock keeper!

By now the sky had turned much greyer although we only had a few spits and spots during the rest of the day.

Droitwich Marina

Below the third lock we turned into Droitwich Marina to re-fuel. We might have had enough to get us safely to Stourport but we prefer to be safe when going out onto a large river. We also took on water (free if spending more than £25) but declined the opportunity to empty the elsan as that was £5! We may regret our parsimony as there is no other facility now until Stourport as far as we can tell. This has become a very popular marina and is now fully booked.

We knew from our first visit that this canal favours reeds over boats and we had our first taste this time immediately after leaving the marina. At times the only way forward is to take it slowly and hope that there is nothing lurking in the reeds ahead!

The next three locks were created from scratch when the canal was restored as the motorway prevented using a section of the old route. The first two form a staircase.

Below the next single lock comes the main obstacle that had to be solved when planning the restoration. During the time that the canal was closed, with initially no thought of its re-opening, the M5 was built straight over part of the waterway. A very low tunnel has been fitted in using and existing brook culvert at this point, which means that passage is not possible if there is too much on the roof. We just fitted!

The last lock before we entered the town of Droitwich is a good example of modern lock construction in copious amounts of massed concrete. It works well and is no doubt a cost effective solution but, the romantics amongst us will no doubt not feel quite as much affection for it as the elegant original stone and brick constructions of the original engineers!

Barge Lock guards the town centre and Vines Park from the river. It was almost level - the painting work party of volunteers told us that the two earlier boats had managed to pass straight through but we need to drop a couple of inches. Despite taking care to avoid the wet paint, Mike still manage to get a little on his hands - how else to work the lock without using the handles?

The park has three swing footbridges - one is left open - but they are easy to move, although the same cannot be said for the padlocks!

Mooring is not encouraged in the park but just a little further we came to the rather useful pontoon visitor moorings where there was plenty of space and we tied up for lunch.

Once sat down we were not easily shifted and it was rather late that we set off to walk into town, mainly for shopping.

We did, however, take a look in the parish church, one of four Anglican churches in the town. The extensive brine pumping which made Droitwich its money in previous generation did bring with it subsidence. This affected the church which had a typical tall tower. This gradually became unsafe and eventually had to be demolished. As a result the bells which once rang out over the town can no longer be used and can now be seen inside the church.

In the new shopping centre there is an interesting sculpture depicting a salt working family.

The Raven Hotel was created by John Corbett, the Salt King we found out about yesterday. According to a blue plaque, the site was the birthplace of St Richard de Wyche in 1197.The current building began life s an Elizabethan house.

After extensive shopping we returned to the moorings by which time it was too late to set off again. The main problem is that there are few moorings between here and the junction with the Severn and we did not fancy having to moor in the reeds!

4.4 miles - 14 locks