Kidderminster Lock with the beautiful St Mary and All Saints Church lurking through the foliage ahead, Saturday 13th August 2022 (Author’s Collection).
This edition of my Summer travels and overriding obsession to be somewhere, anywhere, within the benevolent rays of a beautiful sun was a brilliant “happy accident” with an even better, and unexpected, finish. The original intention for my early Saturday morning walk in a UK heatwave was to document the canal Lock at Kidderminster and simply gambol either side of it and see where my travelling feet took me. I never intended to walk to Wolverley (an approximate 4 mile round trip) but that’s what I did. After a brief inspection of the canal leading through this Worcestershire town a half hour or so from Birmingham in the beating heart of England, I deemed it too industrial and so I turned toes and after seeing the magnificent St Mary’s and All Saints Church I simply ambled the more rural path toward Wolverley and it’s beautiful central canal Lock.
After walking the return journey and onto pastures new, I stumbled across “Broadwaters Mill” and so have added this piece of sunshine filled luck to the end of this particular article, and an article and a pictorial roll of images I sincerely hope you enjoy.
*All images captured by me on Saturday morning, 13th August 2022*
At a little past 8am on a beautiful Saturday morning in the sunshine and with a boater already departing from the central canal Lock, welcome to Kidderminster!. A special set of images from St Mary’s and All Saints Church will be upcoming shortly.
A return view of the retail parks that surround the canal as it weaves through the centre of the town.
A final view of the entire “Kidderminster Lock” and the beginning of the two miles to Wolverley.
“You are now standing on what was Kidderminster’s main canal wharf, perhaps the busiest place in town”.
The beginning of our stroll and on toward Wolverley but first, the church.
Poet, theologian and “controversialist”, Richard Baxter (1615–1691) and the 15th Century Grade I listed building of St Mary and All Saints Church.
At exactly 8.15am on Saturday 13th August 2022 — St Mary and All Saints Church, Kidderminster.
Memorial to World War II at the entrance to the church.
The “Angel of Peace” and Memorial to World War I on your approach to St Mary and All Saints Church.
Please say a hearty hello to “Tilly” as she passes us toward Kidderminster as we begin our walk in earnest toward Wolverley.
The appropriately named “Lock Inn” at the final Lock before Wolverley.
View from atop “Stourvale New Bridge” and back from whence we came.
“Wolverley Court Lock” and the beautiful sun kissed wide open countryside — Part 1.
“Wolverley Court Lock” and the beautiful sun kissed wide open countryside — Part 2.
“Wolverley Court Lock” and the beautiful sun kissed wide open countryside — Part 3.
“Wolverley Court Lock” and the beautiful sun kissed wide open countryside — Part 4.
“Wolverley Court Lock” and the beautiful sun kissed wide open countryside — Part 5.
One brilliantly representative image of the winding nature of the canal to and from Kidderminster and the higher trail I took throughout.
A sun kissed family of swans as we return to Kidderminster — Part 1.
A sun kissed family of swans as we return to Kidderminster — Part 2.
Thanks for the memories Kiddy!
Weather beaten but worthy of inclusion — Welcome to “Broadwaters Mill”.
(1) Four sun kissed images of Broadwaters Mill, a quaint water mill surrounded by gardens and mini bridges named “Kingfisher”, “Millers” and “Pooh Sticks Bridge” as well as being a certified “Fields in Trust” status by the Queen.
(2) Four sun kissed images of Broadwaters Mill, a quaint water mill surrounded by gardens and mini bridges named “Kingfisher”, “Millers” and “Pooh Sticks Bridge” as well as being a certified “Fields in Trust” status by the Queen.
(3) Four sun kissed images of Broadwaters Mill, a quaint water mill surrounded by gardens and mini bridges named “Kingfisher”, “Millers” and “Pooh Sticks Bridge” as well as being a certified “Fields in Trust” status by the Queen.
(4) Four sun kissed images of Broadwaters Mill, a quaint water mill surrounded by gardens and mini bridges named “Kingfisher”, “Millers” and “Pooh Sticks Bridge” as well as being a certified “Fields in Trust” status by the Queen.
Your humble narrator at Ironbridge Gorge two days earlier, 11th August 2022 (Author’s Collection).
Thanks for reading. My “Summer Project” has taken me to the waterways and many historical castle ruins as I’ve crisscrossed the border between England and Wales and my three most recently published travel articles are linked below:
