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Stourbridge Canal

The Stourbridge Canal connects the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal at Stourton Junction with the Dudley Canal at the foot of Delph Locks. 

Things to do nearby

John Bradley Works Footbridge
Junction bridge at Brockmoor on the Stourbridge Canal.

Facts & Stats

5.8 miles

(9.3km)

The length of the Stourbridge Canal main line that is navigable.

20 locks

Main line

The mainline of the canal has 20 locks there are no locks on the branch of the canal from Wordsley Junction to Stourbridge.

1967

Year re-opened

After campaigns led by IWA and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society.

From Stourton Junction to the Dudley Canal

There is a branch from Wordsley Junction to Stourbridge that is 1.25 miles (2km) long with no locks.

The Stourbridge Canal was built to transport coal from the Dudley coalfields to the glass manufacturers around Stourbridge. Although never derelict, the canal fell into serious disrepair by the 1960s, but following a strenuous campaign by IWA and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society, the canal was put into working order by British Waterways with support from work parties led by Graham Palmer who went on to form the Waterway Recovery Group. The canal was reopened in 1967.

Waterway notes

Maximum boat sizes

  • Length: 71′ 6″ (21.8 metres)
  • Beam: 7′ (2.1 metres)
  • Height: 6′ (1.8 metres)
  • Draught: 3′ 6″ (1.05 metres)

Navigation authority

Canal & River Trust

Waterway underfunding

Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.

Sustainable Boating

We want boating on canals and rivers to be more sustainable and – even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions is very small – we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.

Waterways Heritage at Risk

Britain’s canals and rivers are a unique, living heritage. But that heritage is at risk – from urban development, lack of protection, loss of skills and knowledge and climate change.

You can help Save Waterways Heritage.

Waterway restoration

Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.

Local activities