Two Dudleys

Monday 28^th April; Stourbridge Extension canal to Windmill End

Another sunny morning as we reversed out onto the Fens branch, avoiding the floating rubbish, and at the top of the Stourbridge flight we turned towards Delph locks along the Dudley No 1 canal.  We had set off before 9, cruising in and out of the sun and shade round the bends of the cut and we didn’t see a boat on the move till we were ascending the flight.  We should have guessed it was on its way down, as the waterfall-style bywashes were running.  I didn’t think to take a photo of the bywashes today, so here is one I took earlier.

Chuffed leaving Delph bottom lock in 2013

Apart from a short wait while the other boat came down the lock above, our ascent was very straightforward as all the locks were set ready for us.

The view down the Delph flilght from lock 2

Jess enjoyed running up and down the towpath and meeting the other dogs out for their walk.

Dave at lock two, taken from the top lock

We were leaving the top lock by 11.  There are two old BWB notices on the wall, which I am glad have escaped culling.

Reusable stoppage sign – no email alerts then of course!

It was pleasant cruising in the sun past Merry Hill to Blowers Green lock, where we completed the long climb from the Severn to the Birmingham New Main Line level. 

Come on dears, I don’t trust that boater

We pulled in on the facilities for the rubbish, where there was more in the food waste bin than in the one at Kinver, and to top up the water.  There was work being carried out on the roof of the old pumping station, and it was disconcerting when using the shore-based facilities to hear the crashes and bangs going on overhead, not to mention the male voices!  Everything was clean, tidy and in good order.

We continued along the Dudley no 2 canal, passing under Astle’s bridge.  When we first came this way, back in 2013, it was adorned with slogans and pictures of Geoff Astle, England and West Brom player, who was a big star in these parts.  The tributes kept being painted out and, rather belatedly, it was decided that maybe he should be remembered after all.  But the old tributes are gone.

This is the only unofficial tribute left as far as I can see.

We made it to Windmill End and moored up soon after 1.  After lunch we decided to stay put in this lovely spot rather than cracking on into Birmingham.  So we had a lovely walk over the bridges and up the hill past the remains of the Cobb Engine House.  It once pumped water from the No 3 pit of the Windmill End colliery.

From one of the information boards in the area

This pulley wheel (?) is all that remains of the original gear

 

 

The boilerstack was 95’ (29m) high

These days nature has returned and there are fishing lakes, woodlands and grassy areas.  It is hard to think this was once a scene of pitheads, spoil heaps and activity.

After we returned to the boat I went to the convenience store down the road from Bishton’s Bridge to get some milk.  It was a poor selection to choose from, but I managed to get two actual ice-creams from amid the piles of ice pops and slushies in the freezer.

9 locks, 6 miles, Dudley No 1 and Dudley No 2 canals