Traffic on the South Stratford Canal

Last Traffic: NarrowBoat, Spring 2023

Christopher M Jones

Chris M. Jones examines images showing remaining cargo-carrying boats on the Stratford Canal in the 20th century

Being just over 25 miles long and mostly rural, the Stratford Canal (or Stratford-upon-Avon Canal) mainly served the transport needs of local industries. The northern half – between its connection with the Warwick & Birmingham Canal at Kingswood Junction and the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Kings Norton Junction – also provided an alternative route to the Warwick canals for long-distance traffic between London and Birmingham.These two images show a pair of Willow Wren Canal Transport Services Ltd craft loaded with timber from Brentford, as they pass under Bridge No 19 at Warings Green in June 1965 en route to the Black Country. The timber was for Tailby & Co at Tipton and was a contract formerly handled by Willow Wren Canal Carrying Co Ltd. Timber was an ideal cargo for the northern Stratford as a fully loaded pair had quite a shallow draught, at least compared to a pair loaded with steel or coal. The boats are two former British Waterways craft leased to t…