Stourbridge Navigation Trust is pleased to advise that we are already planning for the Open Weekend which is scheduled to run over the weekend of 19th / 20th October 2024.

After last year’s success, despite the somewhat poor weather, we hope to attract as many boats as possible to celebrate canal boating and for all to enjoy this popular annual event  in Canal Street and hope that you will support us once again by participating. New boaters are always very welcome.

Please download the Boater’s Entry Form below and return the completed form to us by post or simply popping in to The Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 4LU.

Thank you for your support and we look forward to once again welcoming you to Canal Street on the Stourbridge Arm.

» DOWNLOAD 2024 BOAT ENTRY FORM «

After the post-Christmas peak of activity for the volunteers at the Bonded Warehouse you would have thought that a trip back to the North Pole with Santa would have been in order for a well deserved rest, but no, the ‘elves’ are still hard at it with plenty of work to do.

The first big job of course was to dismantle Santa’s Grotto and importantly store it away in an orderly manner so that constructing it again later in the year (starting at the end of October) will be much easier, in theory at least. This job took us into February when due to the poor weather most of the volunteer’s energies were focused on ‘indoor’ jobs – we didn’t have to look very far to find those jobs either and more were added along the way.

The really good news is however that Tuesday Club has been bolstered by three new locally based volunteers, – Ivor, Geoff and Ken, who are all quickly finding their way around the buildings, discovering where things are stored and of course making new friends and joining in the banter whilst making their contribution to the cause.

Progress has been good with many jobs completed as the new volunteer workforce organised themselves into a number of small groups to tackle specific jobs (many involving paint!) proving that many hands do indeed make light work.

Amongst the jobs already completed, or almost completed include applying white emulsion to the basement ceiling, maintenance and re-staining of 4 wharf-side benches, replacing damaged flooring by the bar in the Brindley room, repairing and colourfully painting the boat hook from the Blackcountry Man, replacing a broken window on the Blackcountry Man, repairing the ceiling in the weighbridge room and apex of the Bonded Warehouse and similarly repairing the interior wall in the parlour which are now all ready for the final paint job as well as examining and starting to deal with a significant damp patch in the stairwell of the office building which has caused some cosmetic damage. We have been busy!

We have just created a “to do” list of a range of identified jobs and this already extends to just over a page of A4 so we are going to be busy in the weeks ahead when hopefully the weather will improve and we can tackle some outside jobs which are getting a bit overdue. Adding to this extensive list the complete refurbishment of the gents toilets will commence in April.

I must admit it is a nice, rewarding feeling to leave Canal street at the end of a busy Tuesday in the knowledge that a job or two has been completed, creating a better place for our customers to enjoy and importantly safeguarding this historic building.

The photographs show some of the team in action, other photographs will be added in the coming weeks and months as more known jobs are tackled, new jobs crop up and finished off.

With the new trip boat season looming ever closer and indeed an independent inspection of the boat, effectively an MoT, due later in the following week, it was time to give the hard-working Blackcountry Man some well earned TLC.

The boat was subsequently put into dry dock and firstly as part of the important preparation process given a good pressure wash to remove any crud that had accumulated over the previous couple of years.

A ‘call to arms’ was then issued to Stourbridge Navigation Trust Trustees and it’s enthusiastic team of volunteers to once again give up a couple of mornings to liberally apply the special paint required to protect the underwater hull of this large vessel – it was felt that many hands would make light work of the task!

Saturday 1st February saw the team assemble, confronted by what looks like a long wall of a hull, but undeterred paint brushes and 5 litre tins of the special paint were distributed, working groups established and application of the sticky ‘black stuff’ commenced.

Progress was initially slow as the size of the task dawned – you seemed to have been painting for ages and then looked left and there was what seemed like a long way still to go. However, with constant conversation about a range of subjects ongoing, real progress was being made and surprisingly in just over a couple of hours the job was done, well the first coat at least.

Sunday saw the team join up again for the application of the second coat – easier this time in terms of the paint gliding and adhering easily over the first coat but it was a little more difficult to see where you had actually given the second coat – nothing is simple in this life!

When the job was finished it was most rewarding to inspect it for any ‘missed bits’ but actually to admire the shiny finish – you can easily see what I mean by looking at the before and after photographs below. So, allowing for a period of thorough drying time the Blackcountry Man will be re-floated ready for inspection on Thursday 6th, hopefully passing with flying colours and then ready to make it’s steady way up the Stourbridge Arm with delighted passengers enjoying canal cruises in the coming months.

Update: The trip boat has now been re-inspected and passed with flying colours. Thanks to all who took part in the blacking over the week-end and to Ken Bywater, the boatmaster, for his continuing care of our asset. Just some painting left to do and the window to replace and it will be ready for another busy season.

Once again, the Trust has to acknowledge the commitment and hard work of the volunteer workforce – seen in the photograph above upon completion of the job – many hands do indeed make light work of a big task.

This year the Open Weekend was once again well supported by the local community who attended in large numbers throughout the weekend. The Trust tried this year to inject some new ideas into the event by having more live music, with hopefully something for everyone – we had The Shambolics,  City Limits, Matthew Richards as George Formby, The Fretted Orchestra,  The Endangered Species, Cheeky Blinders,  The Singing Princesses and P Body with many of these bands performing to entertain the crowds for free – thank you so much for that. There was a different portfolio of vehicles, new traders and food outlets. Black Country Radio 102.5FM also broadcasted live from a double decker bus with “live” commentary from a number of organisations who were plying their wares or causes (e.g. Guide Dogs & the RNLI). We hope that the changes were noticed and appreciated / enjoyed by our loyal supporters.

The Trust, as a Registered Charity,  relies on the Open Weekend as a major opportunity to generate income which goes a long way in helping to cover the costs of maintaining and operating the unique buildings to be found on site – this help is very much appreciated by the many volunteers who give up their time and skills freely to assist. This is an opportune moment to recognise the efforts of the volunteers who contributed to the success of the Open Weekend, whether it was manning the entrance, erecting the beer tent or simply having a presence on the day it is all appreciated by the Trust. special thanks must be given to Pauline Hooper who acted as Project Manager for the whole event for the first time – well done and thanks to you !

The gallery of photographs (in no particular order) below provides a lasting record of the Open Weekend from the setting up stage onwards but if you have any good shots that you would like to share, send them to us and we’ll add them onto the website.

Many thanks are due to the Mayor of Dudley and his consort, Cllr Anne Millward for coming along to give their support and also to the Stourbridge Army Cadet Force who once again did a great job in keeping the street clean as well as exercising the various dogs and doing other odd jobs which cropped up without a grumble – they are a fine group of young people !

Extract from the Express & Star:

Stourbridge Navigation Trust’s annual Open Weekend festival in Stourbridge was held last weekend and thousands of people descended to enjoy the experience along the Stourbridge Arm.

Christopher Dyche, treasurer to the Stourbridge Navigation Trust, said: “We had several thousand people, we had about 100 boats visiting on the canal, a large variety of craft and many stalls. We had vintage vehicles, steam engines, musical entertainment, children’s rides and canal boat trips as well. The whole thing takes place in the Canal Street conservation area. It helps raise funds for the maintenance of the conservation area.”

Mr Dyche added: “The event promotes the local waterways, The Bonded Warehouse, the conservation area, and it gives a weekend of free entertainment to the local population. This year’s festival was very successful and the weather was very kind to us.”

The event was fully organised by volunteers who are passionate about helping the local community, commented Mr Dyche.

Stourbridge Navigation Trust annual festival is on its 36th year and keen to attract new and younger volunteers. Mr Dyche said: “If people ring Stourbridge Navigation Trust, we’d be happy to chat to them and ask them to come along to volunteer their help to maintain the facilities and indeed to assist in the management of the Trust!”

For more information, visit thebondedwarehousestourbridge.co.uk

At the beginning of the year the SNT Committee determined what major projects needed to be taken on and importantly funded for the year ahead. One of the projects which was felt absolutely necessary was to refurbish the toilets in the Bonded Warehouse to bring them up to a standard that our visitors and hirers expect in this modern age. Funding was earmarked and a project set up to initially identify companies who could make suggestions about the specification, design and cost of such a challenge. We needed to identify a time to undertake the work when an important event such as a wedding reception was not taking place – quite difficult thesedays with the venue becoming increasingly popular and firms operating with full order books. However, dates in August were scheduled and the work commenced in earnest.

It was fascinating to watch the aged toilets and sanitary ware being ripped out as well as lighting, ventilation, floor and tiling which have now all been replaced to create a modern, fresh and easy to maintain toilet area in the Ladies area just off the Brindley Room. The job took almost 2 weeks such was the extent of the work and also reflecting the quality of the workmanship and materials to get the job done to a high standard.

The lights automatically turn on when you enter the room, taps also turn off automatically and the two new lights burn time is 30,000 hours. Two concealed cisterns have been fitted but will allow access to the pipework if we have any plumbing problems, white tiles are on all the other walls along with a new modern radiator. Heavy duty Porcelain floor tiles finish the room off and it all looks very clean in white and grey

The photograph gallery below shows the various stages of the work up until the finished article which we hope all of our female visitors will like and appreciate. Further works on the remaining toilets are being arranged, starting with the lower floor ladies toilets which will be given the same makeover treatment by the same contractor with whom we were very pleased. This is to be programmed in the not too distant future.

It had been noticed for some time that the wall acting as a boundary between Stourbridge Navigation Trust and what will soon be re-named “The Old Wharf” was starting to lean quite noticeably – our regular Tuesday Club volunteer, John Ganner, a former builder, expressed his concerns and so did Jack the new proprietor of the soon to open pub – there was only one course of action to take.

A few quotations were acquired and various options explored as to how the work might be done, what we all wanted it to look like and of course as a Charitable Trust we were very mindful of the potential cost. In fairness it didn’t take too long to put a plan in place and over a couple of months the old wall which featured blue bricks showing the “SNT” initials was demolished, new stronger footings put in place and the new walling built. The final part was the installation of attractive railings on top of the wall to serve as the boundary, providing security for our moorers and giving a nice view from the pub’s outside space up the Stourbridge Arm.

The photo gallery below shows the various stages of the job from day one to demolition to rebuilding and the end product which all agree is very smart. That’s another job off the list and quite a considerable sum spent from the Trust’s bank account.

There’s only one small job to do now to complete the job and that is to re-instate the plaque which heralded the building of the original wall in 2003 – it’s only right that the history of the site is preserved. Photographs of the plaque is also shown in the gallery below and this will be fixed in place very soon.

We were absolutely delighted that a generous local accountancy firm, Advanced Accountancy Midlands, a financial organisation based in Kingswinford, approached us a few weeks ago about potentially forging a sponsoring relationship. After openly discussing how this would work in benefitting both parties it soon became apparent that this somewhat pioneering strategy for the Trust was a sound proposition because we quickly felt a sense of great confidence and true generosity in our first ever sponsoring organisation.

And so last week the relationship became a reality and we were thrilled to receive a four-figure donation from their director Marina Parry. The photograph above shows the Trust’s Chairman David Caunt being presented with a cheque for £1000 by her whilst on-board The Blackcountry Man canal boat.

The Bonded Warehouse, as a volunteer-led venture which has been serving its community for over 60 years, will use the corporate sponsorship to help maintain its iconic 18th Century community building and to support a range of local events.

 Advanced Accountancy Midlands director Marina Parry was delighted the money was going to a worthy cause. “We have been looking for a new charity to sponsor for some time now and when the opportunity arose with The Bonded Warehouse, it was too good to pass up,” she enthused, “Everyone in Stourbridge is familiar with the vital work the group does preserving the region’s industrial heritage and building community spirit – we’re thrilled to support their efforts. We’ve enjoyed a period of rapid progression at Advanced Accountancy over recent years so this was our way of saying thank you to our valued clients as well as putting back into the community. We’re so pleased to be working alongside such an iconic organisation who work so hard to serve the local community. I look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with The Bonded Warehouse team in the future.”

David Caunt the Chairman of Stourbridge Navigation Trust responded with equal enthusiasm:

“Stourbridge Navigation Trust are very grateful to Advanced Accounting for taking this sponsorship step and is a very welcome initiative which we hope will be of mutual benefit.

The Trust is tasked by a number of national bodies to maintain the Grade 2 listed Bonded Warehouse and to have oversight of the Stourbridge Canal Town Arm. The maintenance of a listed building will always be costly and every year we have a programme of major works to keep the buildings and surrounds in first class order.

This sponsorship will help to relieve the financial pressures experienced by the Trustees in performing their duties and responsibilities”.

So next time you are in Canal Street by the Bonded Warehouse or attending one of the many events taking place over the year do look out for the Advanced Accountancy banners/posters/cards proudly displayed around the building and the Stourbridge Arm canal – we think they look great ! The photo gallery below shows a record of the sponsorship event, describes our new sponsor and also includes a lovely picture of Marina the director and Rohan the practice manager.

If you are looking to engage a local and reputable Accountancy firm for services from payroll, book-keeping to accounts then take a look at their website: http://www.advancedaccountancy.co.uk/ or give them a call on 01384 271858.

We were delighted to receive an email from The Shambolics sharing with us their show reel which was filmed at the Bonded Warehouse.  The band stepped into the breach at last year’s Open Weekend and proved a great success by entertaining the crowds with their wide range of music in their own inimitable style.

Based in the Black Country, the Shambolics were formed when a group of friends started an open mic night. Through this they met lots of talented musicians who bit by bit joined the band, creating a supergroup with 2 rhythm guitarists, 1 lead guitarist, a harmonica player, a drummer and a bass guitarist. With three part harmonies as standard and four different vocalists, they’ve become the professional function band they are today, well known all over the Black Country for their energetic live shows.

We look forward to welcoming them to future events but if you want a “taster” the following Shambolics Showreel will I’m sure impress and entertain you – look out for the well-known features of the Bonded Warehouse too !

On Friday 1st March SNT hosted a “Thank You” celebration for all of the Trustees and Volunteers who have worked tirelessly to ensure that the Bonded Warehouse and its associated buildings / assets are not just well maintained but gradually and continuously improved for the benefit of the Community.

The Chairman, David Caunt, spoke passionately and most sincerely in acknowledging the many significant achievements that the Trust has delivered since it was formed in 1985 to resurrect a derelict estate – this all being down to the commitment and endeavour of a volunteer workforce who give up their time freely to help in many ways by application of their specialist or general skills. David strongly emphasised that “every little helps” and that every single volunteer who had contributed in just a small way to the success of the Trust was valued and appreciated. The Trust is now stable and financially self-sustaining – a pre-requisite for looking after a listed building for which repairs are inevitably expensive. He outlined the plans for the immediate future of the building with roofing repairs to the offices, replacement carpet in the Brindley room and a refurbishment of the ladies toilets all earmarked for attention in 2019, as well as the routine matters needing attention which arise on a regular basis.

Before closing his speech David gave a presentation of a number of wooden hand-crafted rifles to the Stourbridge Army Cadet Force who have aligned with SNT on a “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours” basis to mutually benefit each other – half of the promised 40 rifles have now been produced and these are being used enthusiastically by the young cadets.

At the end of David’s inspiring speech he invited all to partake of a splendid buffet supper and drinks  from an open bar – this was a good opportunity for volunteers to chat and consolidate friendships whilst considering the future work required to maintain the site.

It’s amazing what a great team of volunteers can achieve and after working on Santa’s Grotto from the end of October right up until the first scheduled Santa Boat Trip the grotto was finally completed – featuring new lights both inside and outside the building, a new “snowy” façade for the display area, new red ‘sparkly’ carpet, a festive display in the weighbridge window (courtesy of Della and Kate) and a host of extras we were ready to commence the busy Christmas schedule of around 40 trips over the 2 weekends leading up to Christmas, a Friday and a session for local schools.

It is a great testimony to the volunteers that Santa’s grotto was modified and improved from previous years despite seasonal colds hitting quite a few of us and Malcolm, a key member of the team, in severe pain from a trapped nerve which limited his physical capability, not that he didn’t try hard despite the pain he endured – well done to him for his commitment to the cause. Ann Pollard had taken responsibility for capably organising people to undertake the various duties required to run the Santa Trips – manning the wharf, steering the Blackcountry Man as well as face-painting, playing the elf and of course Santa was always in demand and under pressure. Volunteers also operated the kitchen, serving welcome hot drinks and seasonal delicacies (weren’t the mince pies great !).The office of course had also been busy with ticket sales coming in thick and fast as Christmas approached and Facebook / Website “adverts” galvanizing interest in this local Santa experience right up until the last day as parents desperately tried to get a place – “book early” is a good idea for the future !

Most of the Trip Boats were in fact fully booked and it was a joy to hear the excited children shouting “we want Santa” as they returned back to the Bonded Warehouse, urged on by John Ganner through his louder than usual P.A. system – and then Santa arrived on his platform at the head of the canal to great delight and cheers by the little ones (and many parents / grand-parents!). So it was almost time to disembark the boat and enter the brightly lit and animated grotto area where patience was a virtue for many as children waited excitedly and with great anticipation for their turn to see Santa whilst being amused by face-painting, family photograph opportunities and looking in wonder at the display area where Thomas the Tank engine and his locomotive friends must have covered many a mile during the course of the annual event.

Santa tells us he enjoyed meeting all of the children and their parents and was able to give out an early Christmas present to those who had been good which was well received by the children who went off happily with their cuddly toy or magic set whilst parents headed for the café for their hot drink and mince pie or stollen.

We hope that everyone who came along enjoyed their visit – the volunteers work so hard to ensure that everyone has a good time and of course the income raised is vital to enabling the Bonded Warehouse to continue to operate for the benefit of the community. We received some wonderful Facebook reviews, recommendations and many “Likes” from some of our visitors but we were particularly pleased with the following well thought out comment from Teresa Hodgetts to whom we as volunteers are understandably most grateful:

“What a lovely Santa trip today – I have two children who have grown up and have visited Santa in many places but not here, what a wonderful experience at an exceptional price. The wait for Santa was in an area lit up with so much to look at. Santa himself was so welcoming and patient with our little one. She has never got close to the big man and usually ends in tears and screams but not today – a testament to Santa. Just goes to show the not so well known places with volunteers can really achieve the ultimate package – Thank you to you all.”

The Photo gallery below provides a pictorial record of the 2018 Santa Boat Trip programme – if anyone has any personal photographs that they would like to share we’d be grateful to receive these via the Bonded Warehouse email address and would happily add them to the Gallery.

Amazingly the volunteer “Tuesday Club” will commence  deconstructing and storing Santa’s grotto and all of the decorations on 8th January whilst Santa has a well earned rest !

Finally on behalf of David Caunt, Chairman of  Stourbridge Navigation Trust, we  would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who bought tickets for our Santa Trips and hope that you all felt it a good, value for money and memorable experience – we’d love to see you again next year ! In the meantime we’d like to wish you all a very Happy New Year.