The Droitwich Canal is a synthesis of two canals; the Droitwich Barge canal and the Droitwich Junction Canal. The barge canal is by far the older of the two with work on building the canal having started in 1767. The canal opened in 1771 linking Droitwich to the River Severn at Hawford . The Droitwich Junction Canal on the other hand was not opened until 1854 making it one of the last canals built in the canal mania era. The junction canal was built to carry salt from Droitwich to the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. As with so many canals the coming of the railways spelt their economic doom and an Act of Abandonment was passed in 1939. The last boat to use the barge canal went through in 1918. The last boat to use the junction canal went through a few years later in the 1920’s.

In 1973 The Droitwich Canals Trust was formed and began to work towards the restoration of the canal. Progress has been steady with a recent boost from the involvement of British waterways.

External links

The Droitwich Canals Trust homepage