The Worcester Bar

[Theo]

Moored at Gas Street basin this evening. Many parties and lots of jollification and racket.

 

Am I correct in thinking that before the stop lock was built in 1815(?) boats would moor up alongside the bar so that the goods could easily be moved across it from one to the other? I really can't see them being moored at right angels to it as the residential and commercial boats are now.

 

Nick

[Derek R.]

You are correct.

 

Prior to 'development', Gas Street basin was a haven of seclusion. No 'traffic' to speak of, but secure I believe.

[magpie patrick]

Moored at Gas Street basin this evening. Many parties and lots of jollification and racket.

 

Am I correct in thinking that before the stop lock was built in 1815(?) boats would moor up alongside the bar so that the goods could easily be moved across it from one to the other? I really can't see them being moored at right angels to it as the residential and commercial boats are now.

 

Nick

 

I don't actually know the details at this location but prior to 1815 there would have been no permanent moorings at the Bar or anywhere else. A boat that wasn't moving on a daily basis wasn't earning money.

 

The bar is long enough to have two boats moored either side broadside, allowing transfer of two cargoes at once: whether this happened or not is speculation but assuming say it took four hours to transfer a cargo (a reasonable figure based on sources elsewhere) that would allow six boat loads a day, or up to 180 tons. This might not seem much now, but this was an era when some traffics were one boatload a month.

 

I'm now being told off for being on canal world answering esoteric questions rather than socialising. so I'll stop

[Heartland]

I suppose the question relates to prior to 1815. The Bar was as it is then, but the location of the lock was G R Birds Boat Dock. How much transfer of goods is debatable and yes I suppose the boats lined up lengthwise. But there was also the side basins on the Gas Street side where transfers also might have occurred. Whilst it has always been stated that the transfer happened at the Bar, canal carriers often chose alternative routes for their trade, those that came up the Worcester & Birmingham via the Dudley or Upper Stratford often had wharves in the Gas Street area.

 

Ray Shill

[Theo]

I don't actually know the details at this location but prior to 1815 there would have been no permanent moorings at the Bar or anywhere else. A boat that wasn't moving on a daily basis wasn't earning money.

 

The bar is long enough to have two boats moored either side broadside, allowing transfer of two cargoes at once: whether this happened or not is speculation but assuming say it took four hours to transfer a cargo (a reasonable figure based on sources elsewhere) that would allow six boat loads a day, or up to 180 tons. This might not seem much now, but this was an era when some traffics were one boatload a month.

 

I'm now being told off for being on canal world answering esoteric questions rather than socialising. so I'll stop

 

Not at all a haven of seclusion last Saturday. The racket was loud and lengthy!

 

Nick