Stourport Conservation Area No. 1 Appraisal and Management Recommendations

Introduction

1.1          Purpose and Scope of the Report

Donald Insall Associates were appointed by Wyre Forest District Council, to undertake a review of the two Stourport Conservation Areas. The aim of the project is to study and assess the existing conservation areas to understand and articulate what makes them special, consider whether their existing boundaries are appropriate, and to produce a robust appraisal document which will guide the future management, maintenance and development of the area.

The aim of the report is to establish:

• What is the historic and architectural interest of the area?
• How is this interest experienced through the character and appearance of the area?
• What elements need to be protected and preserved?
• Where are the opportunities for enhancement or improvement?
• What are the issues which threaten the area’s special interest?

This report deals with Conservation Area No. 1 only. [Plates 1.1 and 1.2].

1.2          Defining Conservation Areas

Conservation areas are ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest’ and are ‘designated heritage assets’. Any proposals for change or development must be assessed in terms of the effect they might have on the significance of the area, or the part of the area affected by the proposals.

This report uses the terms ‘special interest’ and ‘significance’ which essentially have the same meaning with respect to the attributes of the conservation area and listed buildings. 

1.3          Summary of Related Legislation, Policy and Guidance

The provisions for conservation area designation and management are set out in the following legislation, government planning policy and guidance.

1.3.1 Legislation

The Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 requires:

• Local planning authorities to determine areas where it is desirable to preserve and enhance, and designate them as conservation areas (section 69 [1])
• Local planning authorities to review their past activities in this area, including existing conservation areas, and to add more conservation areas (section 69 [2])
• Local planning authorities to formulate and publish proposals for the preservation and enhancement of conservation areas and consult the public in the area in question, taking account of views expressed (section 71 [1 and 2])
• In the exercise by local planning authorities of planning functions within the conservation area ‘special attention shall be paid to the desirability of preserving or enhancing the character or appearance of that area’ (section 72 [1])

The Town and Country Planning Act 1990 refers to the:

• Offence of failing to obtain planning permission for demolition of unlisted, etc, buildings in conservation areas in England (section 196D)

1.3.2 Government Policy and Guidance

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the approach to be taken with respect to conservation areas. It states:

• When considering the designation of conservation areas, local planning authorities should ensure that an area justifies such status because of its special architectural or historic interest, and that the concept of conservation is not devalued through the designation of areas that lack special interest. (Paragraph 197)
• When considering the impact of a proposed development on the significance of a designated heritage asset, great weight should be given to the asset’s conservation (and the more important the asset, the greater the weight should be). This is irrespective of whether any potential harm amounts to substantial harm, total loss or less than substantial harm to its significance. (Paragraph 205)
• Any harm to, or loss of, the significance of a designated heritage asset (from its alteration or destruction, or from development within its setting), should require clear and convincing justification. (Paragraph 206)
• Local planning authorities to look for opportunities for new development within conservation areas … to enhance or better reveal their significance. (Paragraph 212)
• Not all elements of a Conservation Area … will necessarily contribute to its significance. Loss of a building (or other element) which makes a positive contribution to the significance of the Conservation Area … should be treated either as substantial harm under paragraph 195 or less than substantial harm under paragraph 196, as appropriate, taking into account the relative significance of the element affected and its contribution to the Conservation Area … as a whole. (Paragraph 213).

The National Planning Policy Guidance offers the following advice with respect to conservation areas:

How can the possibility of harm to conservation areas be assessed?

Paragraph 207 of the National Planning Policy Framework is the starting point. An unlisted building that makes a positive contribution to a conservation area is individually of lesser importance than a listed building. If the building is important or integral to the character or appearance of the conservation area then its proposed demolition is more likely to amount to substantial harm to the conservation area, engaging the tests in paragraph 201 of the National Planning Policy Framework. Loss of a building within a conservation area may alternatively amount to less than substantial harm under paragraph 196 [now 202]. However, the justification for a building’s proposed demolition will still need to be proportionate to its relative significance and its contribution to the significance of the conservation area as a whole. The same principles apply in respect of other elements which make a positive contribution to the significance of the conservation area, such as open spaces.

Do local planning authorities need to review conservation areas?

Local planning authorities must review their conservation areas from time to time (section 69(2) of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990). A conservation area appraisal can be used to help local planning authorities develop a management plan and plan-making bodies to develop appropriate policies for local and neighbourhood plans. A good appraisal will consider what features make a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the conservation area, thereby identifying opportunities for beneficial change or the need for planning protection.

Is an application for planning permission required to carry out works to an unlisted building in a conservation area?

Planning permission is required for the demolition of certain unlisted buildings in conservation areas (known as ‘relevant demolition’). Generally, the requirement for planning permission for other works to unlisted buildings in a conservation area is the same as it is for any building outside a conservation area, although some permitted development rights are more restricted in conservation areas. Demolishing an unlisted building in a conservation area, without first obtaining planning permission where it is needed, is an offence under section 196D of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.

1.3.3       Local Plan Policies 

The Wyre Forest District Local Plan policies with respect to heritage assets are set out in Appendix IV.

1.4          Method Statement

1. Review of existing information
   
   A large body of research was already in existence with respect to the historic and architectural interest of the conservation area, including previous designation information and appraisals provided by Wyre Forest District Council. The book published by English Heritage entitled ‘Stourport-on-Severn: Pioneering Town of the Canal Age’ (2007) is a very useful summary of the history of the town and has been used to inform this appraisal.
   
   
2. Information Gathering: Site survey and research
   
   Site visits have been made by Donald Insall Associates to undertake recording and analysis. Buildings and sites were viewed from the public realm and were not inspected internally.
   
   
3. Community Engagement
   
   A key aim of conservation area appraisal is to understand and articulate what the local community value about the area. This document is a starting point for discussion. It is important to understand what the relevant community stakeholders think and what their views are on the value of townscape features, issues and opportunities.
   
   
4. Assessment of Special Interest of the Conservation Area
   
   The assessment of special interest has been undertaken in accordance with the legislative and national planning policy requirements, and based on Historic England’s guidance, in particular, Historic England’s Advice Note 1 (Second Edition) – Conservation Area Designation, Appraisal and Management which provides guidance on conservation area appraisal, designation and management.

2.         Stourport in Context

2.1          Location

Stourport is located five kilometres to the south of Kidderminster in the West Midlands, on the north bank of the River Severn just to the west of the River Stour which runs south from Kidderminster. The town was built around the canal development in the late 18th century. The southern part of the town, which lies within conservation area no.1 comprises the canal and basins north of the River Severn, and the warehouses and houses around them. The northern part of the Georgian town is included in conservation area no.2. (See Plate 1.1).

2.2          Topography

The southern part of the conservation area lies within the flood plain of the River Severn. The land slopes up to the north, so that the upper basins are approximately nine metres above the River Severn. The land continues to slope gently up to the north. The High Street / New Street / York Street junction is approximately 12.5 metres above the river. The land continues to rise northwards so that the north end of High Street is about 15 metres above the river (in conservation area no. 2). The land also slopes down from the east side of the town to the River Stour which lies 300 metres or so to the east of the Upper Old Basin.

The creation of the basins, locks and docks in the 18th and 19th centuries altered the topography of the north bank of the River Severn. The excavation of the basins created large amounts of spoil which was used to raise and level the land above the river, creating two areas of relatively flat land around the upper and lower basins. The upper basins are approximately nine metres above the River Severn and so are not affected by flooding. At the north end of the upper basins the ground slopes up to York Street, supported by revetments which remain in place. [Plate 2.1].  

2.3          Immediate Setting

The northern part of the conservation area adjoins the southern part of the town centre which forms the core of conservation area no. 2. The town centre dates to the early 19th century, about 25-30 years after the original development of the upper basins. To the east of the conservation area is the River Stour, with modern residential suburbs of around the Worcester Road (A4025) on the east side of the river. On the west side of the Stour is a very recent housing development which is currently under construction on the former ‘Carpets of Worth’ site (in 2023). [Plate 2.2]. At the north end of this is a large supermarket (Tesco) and its surface car park.

There is less development in other directions. To the west are open green spaces along the flood plain of the River Severn, which are largely free of development except for buildings related to outdoor recreation. [Plate 2.3]. On the north side of this area is the Stourport Town Council building along with the Library and Coroner’s Court, accessed from Martin’s Way.

The southern boundary of the conservation area runs along the tree lined south bank of the River Severn. Beyond this are the large open fields of the sports ground. This area has a semi-rural character. [Plate 2.4].

3.1          Brief History of Stourport-on-Severn

Stourport is one of four canal towns which owe their existence to a canal, the other three being Runcorn, Ellesmere Port and Goole; however, Stourport was the pioneer of the canal town and, in 1800, was the largest and most developed. Whereas the other three towns continued to develop into the late 19^th century, as a result of access to estuaries providing international trade, Stourport’s lack of later investment has resulted in it retaining its canal town identity [English Heritage, Stourport-on-Severn: Pioneer Town of the Canal Age (Swindon, 2007)].

3.1.1       The Area before the Canal

The canal town of Stourport grew up around the small village of Lower Mitton, located to the south of Kidderminster, at the confluence of the Rivers Severn and Stour. Before the arrival of the canal, the village had only a scattering of houses along the main roads from Worcester, and to Kidderminster and Bewdley, with no cohesive settlement centre. The village had a bridge over the River Stour, where the road from Worcester entered the village, and the road to Bewdley crossed the River Severn over an established bridging point. [Plate 3.1]

Local wooden sailing vessels, known as Severn trows, sailed past the village carrying iron, coal, goods and produce on the River Severn, one of the most important transport routes in the 18^th century. Little remains of the houses of the village, apart from a 17^th century timber-framed house, but there was once a forge and mill utilizing the power of the River Stour. A track from the village led to Price’s Wharf on the bank of the River Severn, to a ferry which once carried people across the river; here there was once an old ferry house, as well as the Angel Inn which survives today (likely formerly the Stourmouth Inn) [Ibid].

3.1.2       The Arrival of the Canal

The quiet village of Lower Mitton was to change with the construction of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal, with large basins created next to the River Severn, and the establishment of the new town of Stourport. The canal was one of the earliest to be built in the second half of the 18^th century, the period of inland navigation construction, and was created with the intention to provide the Black Country industries with access to sources of supply as well as markets for their products. Transport costs were significantly reduced when sending goods by water rather than by road.

Construction of the canal began in 1766 by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company, under the leading canal engineer of the day, James Brindley – it involved constructing 43 locks over the 46-mile chosen route between the Trent and Mersey Canal at Great Haywood, and the River Severn at Stourmouth. The southern half of the canal opened for business in April 1771, with wharfs and warehouses having been completed, and this new terminus on the River Severn was referred to as Stourport. The terminus enabled the trans-shipment of goods between the Severn trows that navigated the river, and the narrowboats that navigated the canal, by providing the necessary basins and wharfs to offload or take-on cargo.

In 1768, the canal company purchased the land for the terminus near the confluence of the River Severn and the River Stour, upstream from the old ferry crossing and away from the village of Lower Mitton. The first purchase was two fields, a total of seven acres, for a basin. The canal company also purchased land near the River Severn for making bricks, and in order to erect a water-powered engine to supply the basin.

The Upper Old Basin, the central largest basin, is two acres in size and was the first canal basin to be constructed. It is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of the Canal Age, and, at the time, provided the up-to-date facilities necessary for a transport interchange. The Upper Old Basin was connected to the Old Lower Basin at the south west, which gave access to the River Severn. The design for the basin reflected the anticipated traffic, with the principal bulk cargoes being Staffordshire coal, timber from the Wyre Forest, and iron from the Forest of Dean. Manufactured goods being trans-shipped included Black Country iron goods, Staffordshire glass, and Lancashire textiles, with locally-grown agricultural produce travelling to industrial towns of the Black Country.

The generous size of the wharfs around the Upper Old Basin offered storage for goods which could be stacked in the open air, like coal. For more valuable goods, warehousing was provided in the form of the Long Room, a two-storey warehouse alongside the water on the east side of the basin, which had waterside loading hoists. The Long Room was one of the earliest canal warehouses in England; it was demolished in the 1950s. [Plate 3.2]

On the south side of the basin were two warehouses set back from the water, a long single-storey shed (which later became two storeys, but has since been demolished) and the Iron Warehouse. The Iron Warehouse, with a distinctive rounded corner, was built by 1771 and is likely to be the earliest surviving canal warehouse in the country. The British Waterways’ offices are now attached to the Iron Warehouse – this building is 19^th century in date but incorporates an earlier lock-keeper’s house.

The Tontine, and its adjacent stable range, were constructed to the south of the Iron Warehouse, by the canal company, and were in use by 1773. The building was designed with a hotel, or inn, at the centre – originally The Areley Inn, later The Stourport Inn - and four houses at the end wings. The hotel provided accommodation for the river and canal travellers, as well as for wealthy visitors and merchants; it was also the meeting place for the canal company shareholders and committee. The Tontine provided much-needed housing before the development of the town.

A new bridge over the River Severn was constructed by the canal company and opened in 1775. The new bridge - along with the Upper Old Basin, associated warehouses, and the Tontine - can be seen in Sherriff’s 1776 view of the canal basin. The image shows trows on the River Severn in the foreground, and both trows and barges in the basin to the rear, as well as goods on the wharfs.[Ibid.] [Plate 3.3]

3.1.3       The Development of the Canal

Following an increase in the volume of traffic travelling through Stourport, the terminus infrastructure soon proved inadequate. A New Lower Basin was constructed in 1776, and a larger New Basin, to the west of the Upper Old Basin, was constructed and operating by 1782. The New Basin was linked to the Upper Old Basin, as well as to the River Severn via the New Lower Basin and a set of locks. The new basins are shown on Sherriff’s map of Stourport from 1802. Docks for boat building and repair, known as graving docks, as well as dry docks with small warehouses, were cut into the Upper Old Basin on the northern side - one of these warehouses survived until 1996. [Plate 3.4]

The docks area was further extended in the early-19^th century, when the canal company constructed the Inner, or Lichfield, Basin. The basin was built with two dry docks at the north, and was connected to the Upper Old Basin by a channel, bridged by Mart Lane. In 1812, a lower basin, known as the Cheapside Basin, was constructed to the south of the Lichfield Basin, and was connected to it by a lock. Smith’s 1810 plan of the basins indicates that the Cheapside Basin was part of the original scheme; however, it was infilled in 1865 and developed as a gas works. [Plate 3.5]

Other development in the early-19^th century included the construction of three warehouses around the Upper Old Basin. One of these was the Clock Warehouse, located on the wharf between the Upper Old Basin and the New Basin, as well as two warehouses on the eastern side of the Upper Old Basin. In 1802, the canal company also acquired narrow strips of land at each side of the canal, north of the Upper Old Basin. The eastern side was used as a timber wharf and yard (and also had a shop and weighing machine), whereas the western side later became a maintenance yard – the two sides were linked by a wooden footbridge.

A short row of buildings was constructed by the canal company on the east side of Mart Lane in the late-18^th century. In the early-19^th century, these buildings provided accommodation for principal canal carriers, and a lower warehouse, attached to the south end of the terrace, was also used by a principal canal carrier. In 1804, a pumping engine was installed to the south west of the New Basin, as well as the Engine Basin, to the south of this, in 1805. The pumping engine was necessary to supply an adequate amount of water for the new basin additions, and took water from the Severn just below Stourport Bridge.[Ibid.]

3.1.4       The Decline of the Canal

Despite four decades of expansion for the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company, dividends peaked in 1815, and, after 1816, there was little investment in Stourport’s canal facilities. Competition for the canal came with the opening of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal in 1816, which provided Birmingham with a shorter route to the south west. Following this, the developing national railway system resulted in the canal facilities at Stourport becoming outdated, with the canal mostly only continuing as a carrier of coal until the middle of the 20^th century.

3.1.5       Early Development of the Town

Despite the canal company not funding the establishment of a new town, urban development at Stourport was prompted through the construction of important facilities, such as the new bridge over the River Severn. The canal company did, however, partly-fund schools and a new market hall, as well as a police force for the town. The business generated by the canal basins meant that local services were required, and this provided investment opportunities in the form of building development.

The town developed around the nucleus of the canal basins and the Tontine Hotel, with the parish’s existing roads contributing to a new street pattern. A new road, Bridge Street, was created, which formed the spine of the new town, crossing the River Severn at the south via the new bridge – the upper part of Bridge Street later became known as High Street. The new bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1794, and was replaced by an iron bridge in 1806. York Street and New Street were then developed as a second axis, running north-west and south-east through the town. The existing roads of the parish, depicted in green, are delineated from the newly formed streets on Sherriff’s 1802 map of Stourport (see Plate 3.4). [Plates 3.6-3.7]

Properties were built on the High Street by 1777, and houses on New Street were likely being built by 1784; expenditure on building materials for constructing properties on Bridge Street built was recorded in 1803. The town was built steadily over the decades following the opening of the canal, around the four main streets, and buildings were constructed of good quality materials in a simple and restrained Georgian style. Brick was the local building material used throughout the town, with bricks produced in the town at small brickyards; originally, locally-made tiles were also used as roofing materials, with Welsh slate later used during the 19^th century.

The three-storey terrace was the common building form adopted in the town, and this contributes to the overall uniformity of the town, along with the use of brick as building material. The three-storey terrace, however, was not adopted for the south side of York Street, nor the south-east side of Bridge Street. The town’s terraces are comprised of many individual units, and were not built in a single phase by one developer - ragged or straight brickwork joints delineate between these phases [Ibid].

3.1.6       Facilities for the Town

Soon Stourport acquired important facilities that were key to establishing it as a significant town. The Church of England chapel at Lower Mitton was rebuilt as a larger church in 1790 (demolished in the 1880s). By the 1780s, there were two nonconformist chapels in Stourport, one of which is the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel in Parkes Passage, which also had an adjacent school house and manse.

A Market Hall was built in 1833, located at the corner of Bridge Street and New Street, and, in 1840, a Town Hall was added as an upper storey. This building partially collapsed in 1973 and was subsequently demolished. By 1815, Stourport had a wide range of shops, and, by 1828, there were numerous bakers, butchers and grocers, as well as milliners, dressmakers and shoe makers. High Street was the main shopping street, but in 1838 the majority of the buildings on the street were recorded as houses. [Plate 3.8]

Although little remains of other industrial activities at Stourport, both iron founding and carpet making were located at the town from an early date, with an iron foundry recorded from 1789. From the early-19^th century, canal related industries had been established, including boat building and the manufacturing of sailcloth. Vinegar making and tanning were also industries established at this time [Ibid.], with the Vinegar Works, located between the banks of the Stour and the Severn, established in 1798 [A. Bradford and M. R. Kettle (Ed), Stourport-On-Severn: A history of the town and the area (Redditch, 2021), p.43]

Before the construction of the canal, there had only been a handful of hostelries at Lower Mitton, including the Stourmouth Inn, later known as the Angel; however, as a result of the increase of traders and purchasers visiting the town following the opening of the canal, greater accommodation and refreshment facilities were required. By the late 1820s, there were 14 establishments recorded across Stourport and Lower Mitton. The Tontine was the largest, but this was closely matched by the Swan Inn, located at the top of the High Street. The Crown Inn and the Bridge Inn, both on Bridge Street, were located at the southern entry point to the town [English Heritage, Stourport-on-Severn].

3.1.7       The Town after 1840

Stourport’s growth slowed dramatically following the decline in fortunes of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company from 1820, with the population of the town falling in the mid-19^th century; as a result, the town little expanded in the 50 years following 1840. Large villas – Moor Hall and The Heath – built by wealthy canal carriers occupied the majority of the land at the west of the town, and this land was not available for development. The Baldwin family’s iron foundry built housing for workers in the town centre in the mid-late 19^th century. A new suburb, Newtown, was also built to the north of the town after 1862, following the arrival of the railway. A new bridge over the River Severn was constructed c.1870, replacing the iron bridge of 1806. [Plate 3.9]

Stourport’s established industries of iron founding, carpet production, tanning and engineering works were able to sustain the town, with these businesses forming the core of the local economy in the 20^th century. These industries once dominated certain areas of the town, but now only the Vinegar Works substantially remains. The Vinegar Works expanded in 1882, with the brewery rebuilt to three times its former size – the larger works can be seen on the OS map of 1882-83. [Plate 3.10]

In 1844, Lower Mitton was formed into a separate ecclesiastical parish, as a result of Stourport’s status as a town. The Church of St Michael, built in 1790, was demolished and construction began on a new church, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott, from 1887; however, the building was not completed to his original designs. The building had no roof by the 1970s, and, in 1980, a new smaller church was built within the ruined walls. Nonconformists dominated the town centre, continuing to build in the latter half of the 19^th century - a Primitive Methodist Chapel was built in Lickhill Lane in 1855, a Congregational Chapel in Mitton Street in 1871, and a Baptist Chapel on Minster Road in 1883 [Ibid].

3.1.8       Stourport as a Tourist Destination

Stourport had been considered a resort and tourist destination as early as 1775, with tourists from Worcester and afar travelling to the town on river boats to view the technologically advanced canal and basins. The assembly rooms at the Tontine and Swan Inn provided social entertainment early on, and the town remained an attractive resort destination. Investment was made in the provision of visitor facilities in the late-19^th century, with Stourport Urban District Council creating a riverbank promenade in the 1890s. Electric trams were in operation by 1898, bringing day trippers to the town. Shipley’s Fairground, a permanent fairground, was established between the river and canal basins on former canal company land, and a recreational park laid out by the river in the 20^th century [Ibid] [Plate 3.11].

3.1.9       20^th Century Development

Stourport saw renewed growth in the 20^th century. The town expanded to the west, with inter-war and post-Second World War housing built on land formerly occupied by the large villas of Moor Hall and The Heath, with both these demolished. Council housing was also built on land over the River Severn bridge, on land formerly occupied by Walshes Farm. In 1926, a power station opened by the river, and, in 1929, a new factory was built on Bewdley Road by the Steatite Company, who manufactured porcelain products. In 1963, a new Civic Centre was built for the Urban District Council offices [Ibid]. The inner, or Lichfield, Basin was infilled c.1960 [Brooks and Pevsner, Worcestershire, p.615]. [Plates 3.12-13]

The traditional manufacturing industries of Stourport – iron foundry, tannery, carpet making, engineering and vinegar production – all closed in the last decades of the 20^th century, and, in 1970, the railway ceased to operate. New housing has been developed on Brownfield sites and, as a result, much of the town’s industrial heritage has gone. Leisure use of the canals in more recent times, however, has revitalised the town, and, despite some losses to the canals basins and buildings, Stourport’s unique canal heritage continues to draw visitors to the town [English Heritage, Stourport-on-Severn].

3.2          Stourport-on-Severn No.1 Conservation Area

Stourport-on-Severn’s No.1 Conservation Area covers the southern part of the historic core that developed as a direct result of the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal. This area holds great historic value due to the relationship between the town and the canal. It comprises the group of canal basins, and its associated structures, as well as the surrounding environments and streets, with buildings primarily dating from the late-18^th - early-19^th centuries. The structures built by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company are considered to be special features of the area, with these including the canal basins, locks, footbridges, railings and walls, as well as the Tontine and its stabling, the Canal Maintenance building and the terrace housing of Mart Lane. 

The historic streets, and their buildings, that form this southern part of the historic core are Bridge Street, Raven Street, New Street, Engine Lane and the south side of York Street at the west, as well as Mart Lane, Lichfield Street, Severn Side, Severn Road (and the enclosed footpath between the two) and Cheapside at the east. The bridge over the River Severn, along with its arched causeway, is also a defining feature of the area. The landmark buildings of this area include the Tontine (and associated stables), the Canal Maintenance Building (and attached cottage), the Clock Warehouse, York House, 19-21 York Street, the Angel Public House, the canal-side crane and former warehouse in Mart Lane, and the former Vinegar Works [Wyreforestdc.gov.uk].

3.2.1       Development of the Historic Streets and their Buildings

3.2.1.1    Bridge Street

Bridge Street was one of the first new roads created at the establishment of Stourport, and formed the spine of the new town. The southern entry point to the town is at the south of the street, from the bridge over the River Severn, originally built by the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company by 1775, and later replaced in 1806, with this bridge then replaced in 1870 [English Heritage, Stourport-on-Severn]. The 1802 plan of Stourport shows that Bridge Street once extended past the junction with York Street and New Street, with this labelled on later maps as High Street. Raven Street extends to the west from the centre of Bridge Street.

The basins and wharfs are located to the east of the street, with the New Basin at the east, and the Engine Basin at the south east. At the south-west end of the street, to the west of the bridge causeway, there is a recreational park laid out in the 20^th century [Ibid]. On the south-east of the street, there is an historic lane which leads to the canal basins, locks and wharfs, and then on to the Tontine, now known as Engine Lane. Immediately opposite this lane, on the west side of the street, there is Coopers Lane – this first appears on the tithe map of 1845.

The 1802 plan shows that there had not been much development on this street by this time, with the plan detailing only two large buildings – the Bridge Inn on the west, which dates to c.1790, and the Crown Inn on the east, which was rebuilt in 1936 [Brooks and Pevsner, Worcestershire, p.617]. These buildings are located at the end of the bridge causeway, and marked the entry point to the town. A fully developed terrace of buildings is shown to the north-west side of Bridge Street by the time of the 1845 tithe map. A further terrace is also shown on the tithe map to the south of Raven Street - these buildings, which include 11-15 Bridge Street, are believed to be late-18^th century in date, despite not appearing on the 1802 plan [Historicengland.org.uk].

The east side of Bridge Street was not initially developed, as this provided access to the basins, and there would have been traffic to and from the wharfs via this area. Once the canal basin was no longer used for commercial purposes in the 20^th century, this section of Bridge Street was developed with shops [Ibid]. [Plate 3.14]

3.2.1.2    Raven Street

Raven Street first appears on the 1845 tithe map, and is not depicted on the 1802 town plan; however, many of the buildings are listed on the 1801 census [Worcestershire.gov.uk]. The street has had four changes of name over the years - it was originally called Bennett Street, and was later known as White Raven Street, as well as Aylesbury Street and Pudding Bag Lane [Historicengland.org.uk]. By the time of the 1882-83 OS map, it is referred to as Raven Street. The White Raven public house was located at 9-10 Raven Street, and was operating before 1841; it closed in 1907, with these buildings now private residences [Brooks and Pevsner, Worcestershire, p.616].

3.2.1.3    New Street

New Street was one of the four new main streets of the new town of Stourport. Houses on the north side were built by 1784, and were built gradually in phases from east to west. The 1802 plan of the town shows a terrace of buildings on the north side of the street, with these labelled as ‘Club Houses’, suggesting that the houses were built sequentially by a terminating building club; two semi-detached houses appear at the centre of the south side of the street on the 1845 tithe map [Historicengland.org.uk].

New Street originally only extended just beyond the terrace on the north, continuing as a footpath which joined Moorhall Lane. The large villas of The Heath and Moor Hall were located to the north-west of New Street. The Market Hall was built in 1833, on the south side of New Street, at the junction with Bridge Street, and is first depicted on the 1845 tithe map; it was demolished in 1973 [Brooks and Pevsner, Worcestershire, p.616]. The town’s post office was located in New Street c.1820 [Unlocking-stourports-past.co.uk]. The 1882-83 OS map shows a public house at the north-east end of New Street - this is the Hope and Anchor, established c.1830, originally called the Crown and Anchor [Ibid].

The houses on the north side are now all Grade II listed buildings. Nos. 2 and 3 on the south side are also Grade II.

3.2.1.4    Engine Lane

Engine Lane, located on the east side of Bridge Street, to the north of the Crown public house, connects Bridge Street with the canal basins and their adjacent buildings, continuing over a bridge crossing the channel which links the New Basin with the New Lower Basin. Engine Lane first appears on the 1845 tithe map, and could date to c.1806, when the Engine Basin and engine house were constructed [Ibid]. The engine house is located on the south side of the lane. On the north side is the former Clock Warehouse (now used by Stourport Yacht Club). The lane then continues on to a bridge over the channel which connects the Upper Old Basin with the Old Lower Basin, before arriving at the Tontine.

3.2.1.5    York Street

York Street provided access to a circuit of roads around the canal basins, and valuable properties were built there with access and proximity to the wharfs. The south side of York Street was never fully residentially developed, as the majority of the land was canal company owned, and used as open wharfs [English Heritage, Stourport-on-Severn]. To the west of the south side of the street, there was a terrace which continued around the corner from Bridge Street – this is first shown on the 1845 tithe map.

To the centre of the south side of York Street are two of Stourport’s grandest houses, built by wealthy canal carriers, each detached, but fronted directly onto the street and set within their own grounds. The house to the west is York House, built c.1776 by Aaron York, a prominent Wharfinger and boat builder from Bewdley, who moved to Stourport at the time of the building of the canal - York Street was given his name [Ibid]. On the 1802 plan, the house to the east is stated as being owned by John Worthington. Cellars of both houses gave direct access to gardens, and then onto the canal wharf [Ibid].  

3.2.1.6    Mart Lane

The Upper Old Basin, and associated buildings, are located to the west of Mart Lane, with the Lichfield Basin at the east; the road continues as Lion Hill at the north, with Severn Side extending off the road at the south east, and Lichfield Street at the north east. The Tontine and the Canal Maintenance Buildings (originally the Iron Warehouse) and Lock Cottage are located at the south end of Mart Lane, on the west side. On the south-east side of Mart Lane is the former Tontine stables, which dates to the late-18^th century.

An archway to the north of the stables leads to a brick-walled path, which travels past what was once the dry docks south of the Lichfield basin, and once connected Mart Lane to the Cheapside Basin; the path then connected to Severn Lane at the east. On the north-east side of Mart Lane, there is a terrace of houses built by the canal company c.1800, and, connected to these at the south, a further terrace built c.1820 [Unlocking-stourports-past.co.uk]. Opposite the terraces, there is an early-19^th century building, known as Joynson’s Warehouse [English Heritage, Stourport-on-Severn].

3.2.1.7    Lichfield Street

Lichfield Street connects Mart Lane with Severn Lane, and, on the 1802 plan of Stourport, is referred to as an extension of Severn Lane. Lichfield Street was in existence before the town, as indicated on the 1802 plan [Ibid]. On the north side of the street, on the Mart Lane side, there is a terrace of houses, 1-4 Lichfield Street, built c.1800 [Ibid]. It is possible that 2-4 Lichfield Street were built by the canal company [Ibid]. 1 Lichfield Street is shown on the 1802 plan.

To the east of this terrace, there is another, 5-8 Lichfield Street, dating to c.1800 - there is a 19^th-century addition to 8 Lichfield Street. 5-8 Lichfield Street appear on the 1802 plan.  Attached to 8 is 9 Lichfield Street, which was built c.1820. Opposite these buildings, on the south side of the road, there are sandstone walls, dating to c.1812, which once enclosed the Lichfield Basin. On the south side of the street, on the Severn Lane side, there is another terrace of buildings, built c.1800, which are depicted on the 1802 plan [Historicengland.org.uk].

3.2.1.8    Severn Side

Severn Side begins at the south end of Mart Lane and extends eastwards, where it once connected to a road along the bank of the River Stour, and then Cheapside and Severn Lane. The road now only extends as far as the Angel Inn, continuing further to the east as a towpath. 1 Severn Side is attached to the Tontine stables at the north, and the cottages 2 and 3 Severn Side at the south, all of which are late-18^th century in date. 4 Severn Side is built against the back wing of 5 Severn Side, which is part of a terrace, along with 6-9, which face the Angel Inn. 1-9 Severn Side appear on the 1802 plan of Stourport.

To the east of these buildings is the Angel Inn, which dates from the mid-18^th century, it most likely being formerly known as the Stourmouth Inn. The towpath, now known as Severn Way, then carries on along the river, with the walls of the former gas works to the north; it then reaches the former Vinegar Works, established in 1798 but rebuilt after a fire in 1882 [English Heritage, Stourport-on-Severn].     

3.2.1.9    Cheapside

The road at the east end of Lichfield Street extends to Lower Mitton Street at the north, and to Cheapside at the south; the 1802 plan labels the whole of the street as Prices Lane, likely after Peter Price, who owned land to the south of Lichfield Street, east of Mart Lane. By the time of the 1845 tithe map, the road is referred to as Severn Lane. The section of the road south of Lichfield Street is now known as Cheapside, whereas the northern part is referred to as Severn Road. The full length of the road is green on the 1802 plan, suggesting it was in existence before the town was established.

A long terrace of houses is shown on the 1802 plan, on the north side of the eastern projection of Severn lane, labelled as Cheapside on the 1882-83 OS map; however, the east side of the terrace had disappeared by the time of the 1900 OS map, with the expansion of the Vinegar Works - the remainder was demolished after the 1925 OS map. Now only 1-2 Cheapside, on the corner of Severn Lane, remain.

3.3          Bibliography

A. Bradford and M. R. Kettle (Ed), Stourport-On-Severn: A history of the town and the area (Redditch, 2021)

A. Brooks and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Worcestershire (London, 2007)

English Heritage, Stourport-on-Severn: Pioneer Town of the Canal Age (Swindon, 2007)

Historicengland.org.uk

Nls.uk

Thegenealogist.co.uk

Unlocking-stourports-past.co.uk

Wyreforestdc.gov.uk