Bratch Staircase Locks.

Well it is Friday the thirteenth and all went well on this warm summerlike day. We went on to help the lock keeper with three more old working boats on their way up.

Plover.

      

              Warbler.                                       

All the ironmongery is fantastically curvaceous and the whole area is kept well maintained by the hardworking Lock Keepers.

Last to ascend was Chertsey and it seems that Jim and Sarah had had a  wonderful time down in Droitwich among the old working boats.

The octagonal Toll House is a delightful feature of the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal. Many gongoozlers are attracted to the area every day mingling with busy boaters to soak up the friendly atmosphere here.

Chertsey’s crew thanked us as they continued on their way out of the top lock.

       

As our time was up we took our turn to descend the locks, waving goodbye to Ruth and Richard as we passed them by at the bottom. Nearby stands the ornate Gothic style Bilston Waterworks built in 1895. The two gas turbines were used to pump water, but now there is a modern building housing an eclectically powered system. Along the way this pylon was a star attraction for me.

Onwards through Bumble Hole Lock and under Giggetty Bridge, I wonder how it acquired that amusing name?  Then we were soon down and out of Botterham Staircase Lock.

   

At the foot of most of these locks there are some lovely old cast iron footbridges to cross while operating the bottom gates. These have been used for donkeys years with no problem. Now they are deemed unsafe by the Health and Safety gang and scaffold handrails  have been installed. The object of this useless idea is to prevent careless people falling from them into the waters beneath. No thought has been given to boaters who may catch their Windlass or clothing on these temporary structures. It also makes life rather difficult for boats pulling butties too.