Staffs & Worcs Traffics

Historical Profiles: NarrowBoat, Spring 2025

Christopher M Jones

Chris M. Jones looks at several aspects of canal carrying on the Staffs & Worcs Canal

The Staffs & Worcs Canal was fully open to trade by the end of 1772 with a connecting branch to the Birmingham Canal at Aldersley Junction. Another important connection was opened with the Stourbridge Canal in 1779, creating further means of transporting coal from south Staffordshire collieries to Stourport for transhipment, together with minerals and manufactured goods from the Midlands’ hardware district. That cargo, together with those from Manchester and the Potteries, was mainly transported to Bristol, most of it for export, with craft returning with agricultural produce and timber. In addition, Severnside towns and villages also benefitted from the newly opened navigation by starting up new markets for local produce, hay and timber. Stourport grew rapidly with new dwellings, warehouses, various factories and boat-building yards. Several additional collateral navigations later joined with the S&W, including the Birmingham & Liverpool Junction Canal (later the Shr…