__NOTOC__[[File:Stourport Canal Bridge 20201107.jpg||thumb|300px|right| The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Mitton Railway Bridge, Stourport]]
[[File:Viaduct - geograph.org.uk - 499261.jpg|thumb|300px|right| The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal at Falling Sands Viaduct]]
[[File:Stourport Canal Bridge 20201107.jpg||thumb|300px|right| The Severn Valley Railway crossed over the '''Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal ''' at Mitton Railway BridgeStourport, Stourportwith a canal basin being built in the 1880s to provide a connection to the railway. The [[Kidderminster Loop Line]] also crosses over the canal at [[Falling Sands Viaduct]].
==Early history==The 46 mile '''Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal''', known locally as the 'Staffs & Worcs', was promoted mainly by Wolverhampton businessmen and it received its Act on 14 May 1766. James Brindley was appointed surveyor. It first opened in 1771 and was completed the following year, linking the Trent and Mersey Canal at Heywood Junction <ref group="note">The Trent and Mersey Canal received its Act on the same day as the Staffordshire & Worcestershire</ref> in Staffordshire with [[Stourport]] in Worcestershire.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Staffordshire_and_Worcestershire_Canal The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal on Wikipedia]</ref><ref>[https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network/staffordshire-and-worcestershire-canal 'Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal', Canal and River Trust] (Retrieved 9 November 2020)</ref>
Around At its north end the beginning of canal begins at Heywood Junction on the Trent and Mersey Canal, close to the 20th CenturyShugborough Estate, a canal basin (few miles east of Stafford. It initially runs west toward Stafford before turning south on the outskirts of the only main line railway/canal interchange throughout town. It then travels south through Penkridge, running close to the canal) was built near [[Stourport|Stourport Station]]present day M6 between Junctions 13 and 12. Much South of the early traffic arriving by rail consisted present day M54 it passes between Fordhouses and Pendeford and then to the west of steel from Wolverhampton. Continuing south Wales , it passes through Wombourne before meeting and coal from crossing over the [[Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway#Highley Colliery|Highley CollieryRiver Stour]]near Prestwood in Staffordshire. From there it follows the river's east bank through the villages of Stourton and Kinver (Staffordshire) and Caunsall, which were transferred by canal to the nearby ironworks at Wilden Cookley and StourvaleWolverley (Worcestershire).<ref>At [[Bibliography#Other References|Langford (1974)Kidderminster]] p. 174the canal crosses back over the river to its west bank which it then follows to the south to meet with the River Severn at Stourport.</ref>
After [[In 1771 John Wesley described Stourport Power Station]] opened in 1927as a "well-built village", coal for its use was brought via but following the opening of the canal from for trade in 1772 the Cannock coalfield (through which village quickly grew into a town based around the canal’s route passed), this traffic being nicknamed the ‘Light Run’. Among the largest collieries involved in the Light Run were large canal basins that served as the Littleton colliery at Cannock'port', Baggeridge colliery at Sedgleyreaching a population of 1, and Cannock Old Coppice colliery at Cheslyn Hay300 by 1795.<ref>[https://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Stourport-on-Severn Stourport on Wikipedia]</ref> The coal was taken by barge to early growth of Stourport saw a canal basin at Stourport, from where it was transferred to corresponding decline in the power station by an aerial ropeway. Initially 100% fortunes of the coal used there was transported via this method[[Bewdley]] as a port.<ref>Langford [[Bibliography#Books | Marshall (19741989) pp]] p. 66, 133, 180, 19612.</ref> Further significant growth of Stourport was effectively ended by the opening of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal in 1816. This provided a direct link between the two towns.
A branch line from When the original Severn Valley Railway was built, the route of the railway between Bewdley and Hartlebury required the railway to cross over the canal on the outskirts of [[Stourport|Stourport Station]] was opened in 1940; thereafter coal could be brought in by rail from . [[Collieries_served_by_the_Severn_Valley_RailwayStourport Branch#Alveley_Colliery Description_of_the_Stourport_branch| AlveleyMitton Railway Bridge]] and other local collieries, a segmental skew brick arch of 33ft span was built for that purpose. This route also replaced The construction of the ‘Light Run’ as [[Kidderminster Loop Line]] in the method 1870s required a second crossing of bringing coal the canal at [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] near [[Kidderminster]], from which the Cannock area; by 1949 only 5% of canal and River Stour can still be seen from passing trains on the coal used arrived by water.<ref>Langford (1974) p. 66present day SVR.</ref>
Unlike other canals it was never sold or leased to a railway company, staying independent until nationalisation in 1948 under the British Transport Commission, the Docks <gallery mode=packed heights=200px style="text-align:left">File:Severn and Inland Waterways Executive Canal advert 1876.jpg | Severn and later the British Waterways Board. In July 2012Canal Carrying, Shipping, along with the rest of British Waterways' assets in England and Wales, it transferred to the newly formed charitable Canal & River TrustSteam Towing Co.advertisement from 1876</gallery>
The ==Stourport station canal meets basin and crosses over interchange sidings==An ironworks had been established at nearby Wilden in the 17th century, which was connected to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal via the [[River Stour]] near Prestwood in Staffordshireand a short link canal. From there it follows By the river's east bank through 1880s its business had grown, leading to the villages construction of Stourton and Kinver an interchange basin next to Mitton Bridge (Staffordshirethe only main line railway/canal interchange throughout the canal) to allow for the delivery of iron and Caunsallcoal via the railway.<ref group="note">The construction of a short branch line to serve the works was apparently not considered.</ref> The cost of the basin was authorised by the GWR Board on 5 March 1884 at an estimated cost of £4, Cookley 771 and Wolverley (Worcestershire)a tender from S.C. Frayne of £1,516 was accepted on 30 July. Construction was finished around the end of February 1885 with basin being filled the following month. At <ref name=Marshall89>[[KidderminsterBibliography#Books|Marshall (1989)]] p. 89.</ref> The interchange sidings were access via a facing junction with the canal crosses back over up line just east of the river to its west bank which it then follows station. A steep descent led to three sidings, two on the north side of the basin and one the Southsouth where there was also a goods shed. The canal <ref name=Marshall89/> Much of the early traffic arriving by rail consisted of steel from south Wales and the river can be seen coal from the train as they pass under [[Falling Sands Viaduct]] near [[Kidderminster]]. The original Collieries served by the Severn Valley Railway also crossed #Highley Colliery|Highley Colliery]], which were transferred by canal to the canal nearby ironworks at Wilden and Stourvale.<ref>[[Stourport BranchBibliography#Description_of_the_Stourport_branchOther References|Mitton Railway BridgeLangford (1974)]] on the outskirts of Stourportp. 174.</ref>
==Gallery==<gallery mode=packed heights=150px 200px style="text-align:left">File:Severn and Canal advert 1876Stourport1902map.jpg | Severn 1902 map showing the transhipment sidings and Canal Carrying, Shipping, and Steam Towing Co. advertisement from 1876basin at StourportFile:Stourport sidings.jpg | The canal at Stourport, showing the site of the transshipment transhipment sidingsFile:Stourport1902map.jpg | Map showing the transshipment sidings and basin at Stourport
</gallery>
More sidings below the station were approved in 1906 at a cost of £1,273. In 1912 a one-ton crane was installed at the basin.
After [[Stourport Power Station]] opened in 1927, coal for its use was brought via the canal from the Cannock coalfield (through which the canal's route passed), this traffic being nicknamed the 'Light Run'. Among the largest collieries involved in the Light Run were the Littleton colliery at Cannock, Baggeridge colliery at Sedgley, and Cannock Old Coppice colliery at Cheslyn Hay. The coal was taken by barge to a canal basin at Stourport, from where it was transferred to the power station by an aerial ropeway. Initially 100% of the coal used there was transported via this method.<ref>Langford (1974) pp. 66, 133, 180, 196.</ref>
A branch line from [[Stourport|Stourport Station]] was opened in 1940; thereafter coal could be brought in by rail from [[Collieries_served_by_the_Severn_Valley_Railway#Alveley_Colliery | Alveley]] and other local collieries. This route also replaced the ‘Light Run’ as the method of bringing coal from the Cannock area; by 1949 only 5% of the coal used arrived by water.<ref>Langford (1974) p. 66.</ref> Instructions for working the sidings at the canal basins remained in the sectional appendix to the working timetable as late as 1960, although by then there can have been little or no traffic using them.<ref name=Marshall89/>
Unlike many other canals, the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal was never sold or leased to a railway company, staying independent until nationalisation in 1948 under the British Transport Commission, the Docks and Inland Waterways Executive and later the British Waterways Board. In July 2012, along with the rest of British Waterways' assets in England and Wales, it transferred to the newly formed charitable Canal & River Trust.
==See also==
*[[River Stour]] ==Notes==<references group="note"/>
==References==
==Links==
*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2eAFhE-m0yhNkhfMGVVSHVCUU0/edit Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal on the Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society web site]<br>*[https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2eAFhE-m0yhZXY5aHUxdmNpQlk/edit Kidderminster Canal Wharfs on the Kidderminster & District Archaeological & Historical Society web site]<br>*[https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network/staffordshire-and-worcestershire-canal 'Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal', Canal and River Trust]
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