Amblecote Local History Society

Geoff Longmore introduced Chris Dyche, a local man with a passion for canals and Director of both the Stourbridge Navigation Trust and the Staffs. & Worcs. Canal Society who was to talk about our local canal. To set the scene Chris’s talk would focus specifically on the Stourbridge Arm of the canal - often referred to as the “Crystal Canal”, and the Bonded Warehouse itself and it was quite timely that the Open Weekend would soon be held, so a good opportunity to promote that fantastic annual event.

Chris took to the stage, armed with cartridges full of photographic slides which projected really well onto the pull down screen in the Lehr Theatre. In outlining the length of canal for discussion Chris advised that the Stourbridge Arm is the 1.5 mile length which starts at Wordsley Junction and now terminates at the Bonded Warehouse. This stretch has much local and indeed national history being engineered by Thomas Dadford and opened in 1779 linking to the Staffs & Worcs canal which formed the main line through to Brierley Hill.

Chris’s involvement with canals, and indeed railways, goes back many years and he reported that in 1962 the canal was in a total state of decay and the locks totally moribund - a protest rally was held in Stourbridge to draw attention to the matter which became known as “The Battle of Stourbridge” as it attracted TV coverage and made the front page of The Times newspaper with tensions running high between the canal enthusiasts and those who had other plans or priorities.

Chris went through the various stages, history, obstacles and amusing stories associated with the restoration of the Stourbridge Arm and the Bonded Warehouse from desolation, including the extraction of a Ford Popular and a Morris 1000 out of “the cut”, by enthusiastic and energetic volunteers to what it is today - a vibrant and well used community asset.

During the talk Chris had displayed many photographs showing the state of repair of the canal with before and after shots so that it became clear just how great a task it had been to effect the restoration of such a huge site, a real credit to the endeavour and enthusiasm of the volunteers. It is quite ironic that the route of the canal could have been a link road through to the A449 if planners had their way - we are so lucky and grateful that those volunteers won the day and continue to put much effort into managing and maintaining the canal and buildings.

In concluding Chris plugged the upcoming open weekend on October 15/16 and was then roundly applauded by the captivated audience. Geoff Longmore then gave formal thanks to Chris for his inspiring talk which clearly demonstrated what a group of willing volunteers can achieve.