Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
22
Stratford-upon-Avon Canal
Distance
41 km from King's Norton Junction to the River Avon
Highlights
Bancroft Basin
Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Navigation Authority
Canal & River Trust
Canal Society
Stratford upon Avon Canal Society
OS 1:50,000 Sheets
139 Birmingham & Wolverhampton
151 Stratford-upon-Avon
The Stratford-upon-Avon Canal has often been considered as two different canals. The north-
ern section was opened in 1802 to provide an alternative route from the Grand Union Canal
into southern Birmingham by linking across to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at King's
Norton. The resulting canal also happens to be more attractive than the Grand Union Canal.
At King's Norton a turn off the Worcester & Birmingham brings a pair of fine guillotine
stop gates, now rusted solid but originally designed to be dropped to save water in the event
of a breach in either canal. The line of a former swing bridge was the scene of the first IWA
protest cruise by Sir Peter Scott and LTC Rolt when the bridge was fixed by the GWR but they
were obliged to jack it up to allow navigation passage.
