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Delph Locks

The Delph Locks are a flight of eight canal locks that link the Dudley and Stourbridge canals in Brierley Hill. Originally consisting of nine locks, a new flight of six was constructed by the Victorians reducing the number to eight. Today, the Delph Locks are part of the Nine Locks Conservation Area, an opportune environment for bird spotting.

Contents

Key info
Visiting guide
History
FAQs
Sources


Key info

LocationBrierley Hill, DY5 2TD
CountyWest Midlands
Completed1858
EngineerThomas Dadford
Maintained byCanal & River Trust
Heritage categoryListed Building Grade II

Visiting guide

Open 24 / 7

Free entry

Free car parking (lay-by)

What can I expect when visiting 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 20th 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!

How long does it take to visit Delph Locks?

It will take you around 20 mins to see the locks. You may wish to extend your visit by continuing exploration along the Dudley or Stourbridge canals.

Is Delph Locks suitable for a picnic?

The grassy banks of the canal are an adequate spot for picnicking; however, it’s a popular route with walkers, and the canal attracts flying insects on warm days. It’s probably best to sit on one of the lock gate beams and tuck into sandwiches with a flask of tea.

What wildlife does Delph Locks offer?

We were lucky enough to spot a grey heron waiting patiently for its lunch. There are also mallard ducks and moorhens.

How do I get to Delph Locks?

There is a layby next to the Delph Road bridge with limited parking. If there are no spaces, consider parking in nearby residential streets where possible. You could park in the Tenth Lock pub car park if you fancy a drink after your visit.

Delph Road contains bus stops a short way away from the locks with local services. The nearest railway station is Lye, which is located about 1.6 miles away.

History of Delph Locks

1776 – Acts of Parliament were passed for the construction of the Dudley Canal and Stourbridge Canal. Both waterways were proposed as a means to transport raw materials from Dudley to Stourbridge and compete with the Birmingham Canal, which had connections to the River Severn, Trent, and Mersey via the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal.

1779 – Construction of the Delph Locks is completed. It originally consisted of nine locks, which dropped the Dudley Canal 85 ft to the Stourbridge Canal. Trading on both canals starts.

1845 – The Dudley Canal amalgamates with the Birmingham Canal Navigations amid rising competition from the railways.

1854 – A programme of improvements to the canal network is authorised following the success of extensions built since the 1840s. It was decided to replace the Delph Locks with a new flight.

1858 – The new lock flight is complete. It includes the original top and bottom locks plus six new locks in the middle thus reducing the flight from nine to eight locks. The new locks were constructed alongside the original flight, which became derelict [1].

1950s – Decades of decline in traffic and investment renders the Dudley and Stourbridge canals unnavigable [2].

1959 – The Inland Waterways Protection Society submits a case to restore the Dudley and Stourbridge Canals [3].

1964 – The British Waterways Board and the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society agrees to work on restoring both canals including the Delph Locks.

1967 – Restoration of the Delph Locks is complete and they are opened to traffic once again.

FAQs

How many locks does Delph Locks have?

Delph Locks consists of 8 locks.

How long is Delph Locks?

The flight of locks and pounds covers a distance of 520 m.

How long does it take to navigate the Delph Locks?

A record time of 33 minutes was set by a narrowboat during a charity challenge [4]. Less experienced boaters will require much more time.

Sources

  1. Hadfield, C. (1985) The Canals of the West Midlands. Newton Abbot: David & Charles (Publishers) Limited.
  2. Nicholson (2006) Waterways Guide 2: Severn, Avon and Birmingham. Harper Collins.
  3. Squires, R. (2008) Britain’s Restored Canals. Landmark Publishing.
  4. Fisher, S. (2021) The Canal Guide. London: Bloomsbury.

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