Town making the most of water

6:13pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

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WATER brought about the creation of Stourport and continues to shape the town today.

The Severn – the UK’s longest river – the River Stour, and the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal surround and intersect the town, creating unlimited leisure opportunities on and by the water and a variety of attractive destinations in the surrounding picturesque Severn Valley. Today, Stourport has developed into a popular tourist town with many attractions and events for all of the family to enjoy.

For family fun, you should head for the riverside and its meadows. Here you will find a number of fun activities for the whole family, including boats to hire, a modern and exciting children’s play area, river cruises, crazy golf, a putting green, go-karts, a paddling pool, plus many amusements.

Just on the other side of the bridge you will find the Riverside Amusement Centre with 10-pin bowling, fairground rides, the dragon roller coaster, dodgems and a large arcade.

Riverside Amusements, open from 11am, is a family business owned by Henry Danter.

His sister and brother-in- law, Katie and Keith Stanworth run the outdoor amusement park.

Katie said: “Stourport has plenty to do from the basins to sitting on the green. And since taking over Riverside Amusements in March 2007 we have filled the park outside with rides and games suitable for people of all ages. “Following a successful Easter last year we were hit, as everyone was, by the floods so we’re really looking forward to a busy summer and meeting everyone in the school holidays.”

With it’s unique history as the only town to be built as a consequence of the coming of the canals, English Heritage has recently published a book called ‘Stourport-on-Severn – Pioneer Town of the Canal Age’ – that gives an in-depth look into the unique history and development of the town.

James Brindley linked the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal with the River Severn at Stourport so after Birmingham, Stourport became the busiest inland port in the Midlands.

The canal opened to Stourport in 1771 and by 1812 five canal basins had been built. The town rapidly expanded with the advent of industry and the arrival of the railway in 1862.

Guided tours around the basins are also available and one of British Waterways’ heritage working boats will be moored in the basins so people can experience life on board. The regeneration project of the basins started in 2005. It aimed, and has achieved, to restore 22 historic and listed buildings to their former glory. The landscape and access has also been improved. The project, costing £3.5 million, has now been completed and this beautiful and picturesque location has a new lease of life.

There’s plenty of events coming up over the summer.

The popular Country and Western Music Festival on the Riverside Meadows takes place August 16-17.

There is also the popular Stourport Carnival on Saturday and Sunday, September 6 and 7.

And the Heritage Weekend on September 13-14 offers a host of activities including canal boat trips between and around Stourport and Kidderminster, costume guided walks and the spectacle of a British Waterways’ heritage working boat.

There are also open days at heritage venues, including Stourport Canal Basins, St Bartholomew’s Church and Church House, St Michael’s Church, Stourport Methodist Church and The Masonic Hall. There is always something to do in the town.

For more information take a look at www.stourporttown.co.uk