We left Stourport and headed down the Severn in good weather. Just as we got to the top of the narrow locks the C&RT work men were setting up some temporary bridge to give access to the paddle gear that needed a quick repair. Luckily they allowed us through first. It is a little tricky to leave the top lock and get in the second in a wind as it is not straight ahead but all accomplished and we were soon at on the river.
On the way passing the barge locks up into the basin at Stourport and the Tontine Hotel. The hotel was built by the Staffs. and Worcester canal company as their headquarters. It was originally the Stourport In and the whole building was the Tontine Buildings. It had a 100 bedrooms and a ballroom. The barge locks gave access to the Severn Trows that plied the river.
Lincombe Lock is the first after Stourport and is in a very picturesque setting. We shared with another boat and were soon on our way again down to Holt Lock. The gauge carved on the stone work went up to 21 feet. Today the water level was a little less extreme thankfully.
We were soon at the entrance to the Droitwich Barge Canal and after a little difficulty getting to the lock caused by somebody on the landing we were soon on our way. The barge Canal was not as wide as you may think and I would not expect that two wide beam boats would be able to pass. Indeed in places it wouldn't be too easy for two narrow boats to pass as the reeds are left largely to their own devices in this nature reserve.
It wasn't long before we were moored up, stern to, in the basin and we were off to explore the town. The first pub you come once through the underpass is the Holy Bush which was a nice place and I had a couple of beers from the Black Country Brewery before moving on and checking out the rest of the town.
There is much to see as you walk around the town but I would recommend a visit to the church of the Sacred Heart and St. Catherine of Alexandria as the mosaic murals are something to behold and very unexpected.
Droitwich grew rich on salt hence the 'wich' and it also explains why some of the buildings on the main street look very crooked as they have subsided with the salt extraction. Above is a remade first brine well at Vines Park.
It is just the other side of the park where my next pub is situated. The Gardener's is a very easy walk from the Basin and had a very friendly crowd in. We went a couple of times and one evening joined in the quiz. Again we didn't eat but the menu looked good and the prices okay. I had a couple of beers from Jennings Brewery in Cockermouth, Cumbria, Cocky Blonde and a Sneck Lifter were okay the Cocky Blonde is usually a summer seasonal beer with a light colour but tasting full and with a bit of fruit flavour. At 4% it slid down fine on a warm afternoon. The Sneck Lifter is a 5% beer and with a complicated mix of tastes in their. I gave them both a 3*. Later in aout stay in Droitwich I had a White Wytch that is a seasonal beer from the Wytchwood Brewery of Witney. It is part of Marston's and you see their Hobgoblin bitter in many many outlets. It has a very clean taste for a light 3.8% beer with plenty of hops giving it that tang that stays in your mouth for ages. I scored it a 4*. The pub was nicely decorated and the atmosphere was great, and folk chatty. It seems that they have more selection of beers these days and they have a very busy programme of entertainments too. Well worth a visit when you have made it to one of the 'newest' canals in the country.
The Gardeners Arms, Vines Park, Droitwich
9www.visitdroitwichspa.com)
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