The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Conservation
Area
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal and its immediate
environment, were designated a Conservation Area in 1978 and
reviewed in 2007, with minor changes made to the boundary of the
Conservation Area. The Canal was planned by the famous engineer
James Brindley and completed in 1772. It links the Rivers Trent and
Severn via the industrial Midlands, and forms an important historic
feature running north-south for over fourteen kilometres through
the District.
Associated with the Canal are several bridges, locks, basins,
cottages, warehouses and walls, together with the towpath; which
form part of its special interest. The principal building materials
are red brick, particularly associated with the earlier canal
buildings and structures; and all buildings have pitched roofs,
generally with grey slates. The corners to buildings are often
curved, in order to facilitate turning by wagons. Walls are always
capped with semi-circular coping to help reduce wear on ropes and
to shed rainwater. Iron metal work (painted black) is a feature of
the locks and some narrow bridges. The wider bridges are
constructed of red brick and utilise a semi-elliptical arch
structure.
There are many trees and shrubs along the canal side that add to
the character of the Conservation Area.
The Canal is an important leisure resource, adding to its
profile. In this respect, the water way is a popular route for
leisure boats, with a major complex of basins located at its
southern end in Stourport-on-Severn. The towpath is a popular route
for walking and cycling.
The Canal Conservation Area consists of four fairly distinct
sections:
- Attractive, well wooded, northern section where it has been cut
into sandstone cliffs to maintain its course along the contour, and
passes through two locks and a tunnel. Bridge No. 25 is a Listed
Building;
- Urban section past the carpet mills through the old industrial
heart of Kidderminster;
- Section parallel to the lower reaches of the River Stour in
more open landscape; and
- Section within the Stourport-on-Severn Town Centre where the
Canal joins the River Severn via a series of basins. This part of
the Canal is covered by separate Conservation Area
designations.
View The
Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Conservation Area
Character Appraisal 
(3,061K)
View Maps for
The Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Conservation Area
Character Appraisal (2,790K)
View the
Staffordshire & Worcestershire Management
Plan (147K)