Delph Locks

You can start from either end of the locks; however, in this guide, we will start at the southern end from the Delph Road bridge. You will get a great view of the bottom lock and pound. This marks the starts of the Stourbridge Canal.

To your right is an old utility outbuilding that was used by the original group of volunteers that restored the locks in 1967. Notice the lock sign from the British Waterways Board, the government owned corporation that was replaced by the Canal & River Trust in 2012.

Let’s head up the flight of locks. As you approach lock 7, notice the adjacent overflow weir which create a pleasant waterfall. If you are lucky, you may see Moorhens traversing the weir in search for a snack.

A closer look at the semi-circular blue bricks reveals their manufacturer’s mark, in this instance, B. W. Blades. The firm was operating in Tipton from the 1850s to the 1870s when they moved to a new works in West Bromwich and continued manufacturing into the 20^th century.

Notice the mixture of original Staffordshire blue brick and concrete that was set in 1960s when the locks were restored.

Head up to lock six, can you spot the edge stone with 1858 engraved in? This marks the year when the original eight Georgian locks were replaced by the eight Victorian locks you see today.

The steps up to lock five were restored in the 1960s with Utopia bricks, made by the Aldridge Brick & Tile Company, which closed in 1965.

As you continue up the flight of locks, you will see the grade II stable block now used by the Canal & River Trust as a local office.

Notice another semi-circular blue brick at lock two with the manufacturer H. Doulton & Co. Originally a London firm, the company setup a new brickwork at Rowley Regis in 1849.

Turn around for a glimpse of a concrete BCN wire fence pole that was most likely created by Birmingham Canal navigations Society after their formation in 1968.

Above lock two is a Grade II listed cast iron roving bridge manufactured by the Horseley Ironworks of Tipton in 1858. You will also see the original line of the canal to the left where the first locks were located.

Notice the groove on the roving bridge caused by countless ropes rubbing against the iron as canal traffic came and went.

Walk across the bridge and around the original line of the canal. Follow the path into the woods. To your right is the only visible original lock although it has been repurposed to function as a sluice.

Head back up to the top lock lurking under the modern road bridge above, which is called Ninelocks Bridge, a nod to the original flight of nine locks.

It’s time to claim your final prize. Walk back from the top lock towards lock two where you will see stairs leading up to the A4100. There you will get the best view of the locks and surrounding landscape, enjoy!