Stourbridge.

     

We turned right up the four locks onto the Stourbridge Canal. The water level was rather low and we ran aground before the fourth lock. The Cabin Boy went forward to let some water through to re-float me. The canal was narrow, twisty, reedy and shallow in places, luckily there were no other boats on the move. Anyway we found a suitably deep enough mooring at Primrose Hill and were kept company by several nice horses roaming around opposite. The towpaths here are fairly good though as they are well pounded by dog walkers, joggers and cyclists. As we found we were within walking distance of the Glass Quarter we made our way up there the next day. The Red House Glass Cone is huge at nearly fifty feet high. After coffee in their cafe we toured the museum of glassmaking, housed inside the red brick cone. Then we perused the craft workshops and pieces displayed in the glass cabinets for sale. My favourite piece (shown above) was £795, but of course the Cabin Boy kept his wallet tightly closed as usual!

     

Afterwards we walked down the busy high street to Ruskin Glass & Webb Corbett, Visitor Centres, which were very similar but the higgledy-piggledy buildings were not as interesting. We made our way back down the Stourbridge Arm past the Tudor Crystal Centre glimpsed behind a retaining wall. It appeared to be housed in an old red brick cone which had been much reduced in height. ‘Twas a grand day out, made even nicer, with free entry to all sites. On our return we put our feet up with a cuppa and it pelted with rain for the rest of the day, perfick timing we thought!