2003 - Alvechruch to Wootton Wawen

[mattuk1980]

As my 2002 pics seem to have gone down well, here are some pictures from our 2003 holiday.  Again we picked up the boat at Alvechurch, although a bit bigger than what we had the year before.  Sadly a couple of people who were going to come with us (hence a 63ft boat) were unable to do so, so it was the three of us again.

 

These photos are in no particular order as they have all been scanned from the original photos and there is no real ordering to them.

 

Image 1:  Our boat from Alvechurch, a 63ft-er this time.

 

Image 2: Edstone Aquaduct

 

Image 3:  Another one of Edstone

 

Image 4: One of the many distinctive bridges on the Stratford Upon Avon canal

 

Image 5: If only there was a clue as to where this was taken 🤔

 

Image 6: Preston Baggot bottom Lock with bridge 47 behind

 

Image 7

 

Image 8

 

Image 9: Mill Lane bridge with lock no30 behind.  Behind be and a short walk is Fleur-De-Lys.  We stayed along this stretch on our last holiday, in 2022.

 

Image 10: It looks like it says 28 on the bridge, but according to CanalPlan, 28 is a drawbridge.

 

 

Image 11:  Some of the local cruisers going about their business

 

Image 12: Canal-side cottage

 

Image 13: I think this is Kings Norton Swing Bridge.  Now, this one is historic as I believe the deck has since been removed.

 

Image 14: Kings Norton Stop Lock.  As a coin collector, the industrial past of this area is of particular interest to me due to the mint that was once present near here.

 

Image 15: Kings Norton Junction

 

Image 16: Blurred photo of the sign post at KN.

 

Image 17: Duck Em All!

 

Image 18: Our Blackbird

 

Image 19:  Out of four canal holidays we have done or are about to do, three of them have involved Wootton Wawen, either as a mooring point, toilet pump out or, as in the case of our upcoming holiday, the hire companies base.  So finding this photo was of particular interest and I will try and make the effort to take a photo from the same point in a couple of weeks:

 

Image 20:  I have left this until last as I am not sure it was taken on this holiday as we were in London and had a walk around Little Venice a few weeks before:

 

I hope you have enjoyed my piece of recent nostalgia.

 

 

[IanM]

Image 10 I believe is Lapworth Top Lock.

 

It's not just the deck of the swing bridge that has gone, the whole thing has.

[mattuk1980]

18 minutes ago, IanM said:

Image 10 I believe is Lapworth Top Lock.

 

It's not just the deck of the swing bridge that has gone, the whole thing has.

Thank you.

[David Mack]

1 hour ago, IanM said:

Image 10 I believe is Lapworth Top Lock.

Agreed!

[Rich Greenhall]

6 hours ago, mattuk1980 said:

As my 2002 pics seem to have gone down well, here are some pictures from our 2003 holiday.  Again we picked up the boat at Alvechurch, although a bit bigger than what we had the year before.  Sadly a couple of people who were going to come with us (hence a 63ft boat) were unable to do so, so it was the three of us again.

 

These photos are in no particular order as they have all been scanned from the original photos and there is no real ordering to them.

 

Image 1:  Our boat from Alvechurch, a 63ft-er this time.

 

Image 2: Edstone Aquaduct

 

Image 3:  Another one of Edstone

 

Image 4: One of the many distinctive bridges on the Stratford Upon Avon canal

 

Image 5: If only there was a clue as to where this was taken 🤔

 

Image 6: Preston Baggot bottom Lock with bridge 47 behind

 

Image 7

 

Image 8

 

Image 9: Mill Lane bridge with lock no30 behind.  Behind be and a short walk is Fleur-De-Lys.  We stayed along this stretch on our last holiday, in 2022.

 

Image 10: It looks like it says 28 on the bridge, but according to CanalPlan, 28 is a drawbridge.

 

 

Image 11:  Some of the local cruisers going about their business

 

Image 12: Canal-side cottage

 

Image 13: I think this is Kings Norton Swing Bridge.  Now, this one is historic as I believe the deck has since been removed.

 

Image 14: Kings Norton Stop Lock.  As a coin collector, the industrial past of this area is of particular interest to me due to the mint that was once present near here.

 

Image 15: Kings Norton Junction

 

Image 16: Blurred photo of the sign post at KN.

 

Image 17: Duck Em All!

 

Image 18: Our Blackbird

 

Image 19:  Out of four canal holidays we have done or are about to do, three of them have involved Wootton Wawen, either as a mooring point, toilet pump out or, as in the case of our upcoming holiday, the hire companies base.  So finding this photo was of particular interest and I will try and make the effort to take a photo from the same point in a couple of weeks:

 

Image 20:  I have left this until last as I am not sure it was taken on this holiday as we were in London and had a walk around Little Venice a few weeks before:

 

I hope you have enjoyed my piece of recent nostalgia.

 

 

 

i remember that swing bridge well, it was an absolute pig to operate 

 

  

[Stroudwater1]

19 minutes ago, Rich Greenhall said:

 

i remember that swing bridge well, it was an absolute pig to operate 

 

  

Agreed, it sat open for a while which was a relief, thank goodness it’s gone. 
 

I suspect that image 20 is taken at or around Alvechurch as steam paddle boat Phoenix was moored there for some while. I’m not sure where she is moored though in this picture, she used to be moored by the office at Alvechurch before the marina was built but that’s going back many years. Here’s a bit more on Phoenix. 
 

 . @Rob-M may know where that is taken  possibly? 
 

It’s not clear where Phoenix is now but it’s reassuring if she was around in 2003 she may still be in existence. 
 

 

[Rob-M]

8 hours ago, Stroudwater1 said:

Rob-M may know where that is taken  possibly? 

I'm not certain, I wonder if it is on what we use to call the Orchard moorings which are the other side of bridge 60.

[mattuk1980]

@Stroudwater1  That is an interesting thread, thank you for sharing. 

 

As it was so long ago, I cannot remember seeing it despite it being such an unusual, in canal terms at least, vehicle. It is a good job we took a photo.

[DHutch]

On 02/08/2024 at 16:02, mattuk1980 said:

I have left this until last as I am not sure it was taken on this holiday as we were in London and had a walk around Little Venice a few weeks before:

 

 

Very interesting.

 

This is the only other photo I can find of steam boat Phoenix, the other being in the steamboat register.

Link and short summary below.

 

https://steamboat.org.uk/user.php?id=61575

Hull designed by Uffa Fox Built 1968 by A. Austen at Alvechurch

Designed and built for first owner Norman Terry. 1983 donated to Droitwich Canal Trust. 1997-1998 fully restored by owners, The Phoenix Club, fresh boiler fitted. Sold 2004
 

I have no recent history for the last 20 years.

Unless anyone can come forward with anything.

 

 

[max's son]

Phoenix, being delivered to Hampton Road Droitwich

 

[Stroudwater1]

5 hours ago, DHutch said:

Very interesting.

 

This is the only other photo I can find of steam boat Phoenix, the other being in the steamboat register.

Link and short summary below.

 

https://steamboat.org.uk/user.php?id=61575

Hull designed by Uffa Fox Built 1968 by A. Austen at Alvechurch

Designed and built for first owner Norman Terry. 1983 donated to Droitwich Canal Trust. 1997-1998 fully restored by owners, The Phoenix Club, fresh boiler fitted. Sold 2004
 

I have no recent history for the last 20 years.

Unless anyone can come forward with anything.

 

 

I have an old Steam boat index book which has Phoenix in. It’s a different picture (not a good one I’m afraid) The entry has a few additions- top speed 6mph, replaces a former boat that caught fire and was totally destroyed. Dad vaguely knew Norman Terry (many years ago). She was a lovely boat when going, 

 

 

 

The front of the book, Dads writing on it from the 1970s 

 

[Derek R.]

The fore end seems to have been extended at some point in time.