Welcome to the Education & Resources
section of our website which is in turn cross-referenced with Wikipedia, the
on-line encyclopaedia. Perhaps this is how you found www.swcs.org or maybe
you happened across us via another route - we would love to know; why not
tell us via our Message Board facility? It’s easy to use, open to anyone and
completely free. Simple instructions on how to access the Message Board are
included in the message board link from the main page or on the link on the
left hand side of this page.
This section is aimed particularly at schools, colleges and educational
facilities but will also prove helpful to anyone wishing to pursue their
interest in waterways beyond the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal (SWC)
and its eponymous Society (SWCS).
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At
Education & Resources you will find various items including an overview of
the inland waterways of Great Britain,
plus a history of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal and its Society.
The first is an extract from Lost Lines & Neglected Navigations that was
serialised throughout
2007 in Broadsheet, the in-house
magazine of SWCS. The second, which appeared in The Blackcountryman magazine
of Summer 2007, |
| is an extension
of smaller items found elsewhere on the website but which contains much
more information and is specifically intended for those seeking greater
detail. Read in conjunction these two items alone offer an easily
assimilated summation of Britain’s waterways in general and the role of SWC within them in particular.
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To complete the picture a glossary of commonly used waterways terms, a
selection of FAQs and a few fascinating facts about the Staffordshire &
Worcestershire Canal are included. Safety issues for enthusiasts working in
the field are addressed by advice on the water-borne Weil’s Disease and
links to water-safety sites. The links section also contains a listing of
informative texts together with reference to related websites. In this way
you can follow the trail of information along just about any avenue you wish
to go, from simple techniques of operating a lock right through to the lives
of the great waterways engineers. However, don’t forget that www.swcs.org.uk
itself is a comprehensive resource containing numerous images, detailed maps
and its own archive of the highly respected and influential Broadsheet
magazine.
But being passionate about waterways is not just about studying texts, maps
and computer screens. Our greatest resource is our membership and SWCS,
which is far more than just a boating organisation, is proud of its breadth
of support. Members from all walks of life and professions share their
common love for canals through our ranks and we cater for all interests from
wildlife photography and naturalism to restoration and development plus
much, much more. We even have former working boatmen amongst our number, and
what a tale or two they can tell! Several of our members are accomplished
speakers who regularly offer talks and presentations. We can also lay claim
to British Waterways employees past and present, qualified boat Captains and
commercial operators, vintage vessel enthusiasts, eminent historians and
numerous others with specialist knowledge. So, if you have a particular
query then contact us at info@swcs.org.uk or via our Message Board and we
may just be able to offer you an answer from someone having direct
first-hand experience.
We trust you find Education & Resources to be entertaining and informative.
Your comments and feedback would be welcomed, as would your constructive
suggestions on enhancing and further developing the facility for the benefit
of others.
For their invaluable collaboration and assistance in the compilation of this
section of www.swcs.org.uk I am in particular most grateful to Carol
Aldridge (incumbent President SWCS), Ian Cowdale (past Chairman and
incumbent Broadsheet Editor) and Andy Walder (Webmaster). Also Dave Hart,
for his support with matters-web in general. Thank you all.
Graham Fisher MBE
Chairman SWCS
January 2008 |
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The
Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal FAQs
Where exactly is the SWC?
The SWC runs from the riverside town of
Stourport, Worcestershire through to its junction with the Trent & Mersey
Canal at Great Haywood, Staffordshire. Under the terms of the Transport Act
1968 it is a designated cruiseway and since 1969 the entire length has been
a Conservation Area.
How long is it?
A little over 46 miles.
How many locks does it have?
A total of 43, with 31 locks raising it some 292 feet from the river to its
summit before the remaining 12 locks lower the line to Great Haywood
Junction.
How big a vessel will it
accommodate?
Maximum lock dimensions are typically 70ft
(21.34m) x 7ft (2.13m) throughout.
Where is its summit level and how
long is it?
10 miles, between Compton Lock and Gailey.
Who built the SWC, when was it
built and how much did it cost?
It was engineered by James Brindley
and opened throughout in 1772 at a total cost of around £100,000. The canal
is built to Brindley's 'contour' method which means it tends to follow the
contours of the land in a gentle, meandering course.
What were its principal cargoes
in its commercial heyday?
Mostly coal from the Cannock coalfields and pottery from the Stoke area
southwards, and manufactured goods from Birmingham and the Black Country
northwards.
What are its principal
attractions for the visitor?
The canal is perhaps one of the prettiest in the country and manages to
avoid passing directly through any heavily industrialised area. It offers
excellent boating facilities, is a haven for wildlife and is a tranquil
respite for the towpath user. The towpath is continuous throughout and
offers good surface for walkers, joggers and cyclists. There are numerous
pubs and hostelries along the way either on the towpath or very close by,
boaters' facilities such as water, diesel, boatyards and food outlets are
readily available throughout and there is a thriving Society of volunteers
(The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society) dedicated to looking
after the interest of the canal for the benefit of all users. In short,
there is something for every waterways taste along the Staffordshire &
Worcestershire Canal.
What other waterways does it
connect with and give access to?
In addition to its junctions with the River
Severn and the Trent & Mersey Canal the SWC connects with the Stourbridge
Canal at Stourton Junction (to access the Birmingham Canal Navigations),
Aldersley Junction (BCN) and Autherley Junction (Shropshire Union). Other
connections (mostly derelict but some undergoing restoration) include
Pratt's Wharf (River Stour), Hatherton (BCN) and River Sow (Stafford Town)
What other attractions and
features of interest are there to see?
SWC is rich in heritage and the public attractions are numerous, ranging
from the historic town of Stourport on Severn through to the pretty village
of Kinver, the unique locks at Bratch, the last remaining Roundhouse at
Gailey and the historic Shugborough Hall near Great Haywood, to name but a
few.
Where can I find a detailed map
of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal?
On this very website. Please feel free to browse.
Where can I find more information
about the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal?
Via our Contacts section - we will be
delighted to answer any further questions you may have.
How may I join the Staffordshire
& Worcestershire Canal Society?
You'll find an application form and membership
details at the click of a mouse.
