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2017 Open Weekend Success despite Storm Brian

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The 2017 Open  Weekend was somewhat impacted by Storm Brian, especially on Saturday when the weather was pretty grim and crowds understandably lower than hoped. Sunday however saw an improvement and the crowds flocked down to the Bonded Warehouse site in great numbers, estimated over the weekend to be in the order of 5000-8000 people, making the attendance overall another great success. Traders seemed to be doing plenty of business, there was a large selection of vintage vehicles to admire and chat to their proud owners, in excess of 100 canal boats were colourful and plentiful along the Stourbridge Arm  whilst the ever popular steam engines continue to be a major attraction for the young and old – there’s something quite fascinating about these vehicles of yesteryear with that unmistakeable smell of smoke and steam and the thrill of the loud, shrill whistles!

As usual the beer tent was a focal point for many who enjoyed the ongoing entertainment and the selection of real ales.

Below is a small selection of photographs which record some aspects of the event – if anyone has any really good shots that they would be willing to share we would be pleased to receive them for potential publishing in the gallery on the website.

The event is done completely free to the public. It is run to promote the waterways and the historic building and to give something back to the local community each year.

Recognition and thanks of course should be extended not only to the brave undaunted visitors, traders and exhibitors but also to the volunteer workforce who planned the event, prepared the site, provided traffic management and cleared up after the event had concluded. The volunteers did get a welcome reward though – a free ice-cream courtesy of Vince’s ice-cream van, thanks for that !

Tuesday Club undertake Mooring Improvements

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The focus on Tuesday 11th July was to undertake the installation of 3 new mooring rings and also to protect recently repaired walling at the head of the canal next to the dry dock with a large “railway sleeper” buffer. This proved to be quite a challenge and one eye was always on the grey skies and the odd threatening rain cloud – fortunately the sun shone on the righteous on this occasion!

The job to drill horizontally just above the water wasn’t however without its problems and early on it was an amusing sight to see grown men dangling magnets into the cut ‘fishing’ for the dropped 10mm drill bit – that was good fun and plenty of micky taking ensued (I won’t name the unlucky culprit who dropped this vital component) but at least the drill bit was fairly quickly recovered from the murky waters to enable drilling to continue into the hard blue bricks lining the canal at this point.

The installation of the mooring rings was a little easier and we were fortunate to have the right  tools to do the job of drilling quite large holes for the screw bolts  to secure these firmly into the mooring.

Another job to cross off the list !

If you would like to join us in maintaining the Bonded Warehouse and the site as a whole, please contact the Bonded Warehouse or simply pop down and introduce yourself on Tuesdays from 9.30am until 3.30pm.

“Pirate Radio” Broadcast on Stourbridge Canal – 19th June

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Just like the good old days in the mid 1960’s when Radio Caroline broadcasted from the seclusion of a “pirate radio” ex-trawler anchored out at sea, Radio West Midlands (WM) will be visiting the Bonded Warehouse on the Monday 19th June. Alex Lester will be live-broadcasting his breakfast show from 6.00 am until 9.00 am from the Blackcountry Man trip boat with Ken Bywater at the helm.

After a short journey up the Stourbridge Arm to Wordsley Junction taking from about 7.15 am to 7.45 am the boat will be joined at the junction by representatives from the Wordsley Red House Glass Cone and the new White House Museum. It will remain moored at the Junction for about one hour before returning.

It is expected that the radio people will hop back on board and return to the Bonded Warehouse after a pleasant trip through our length of canal, hopefully chatting with people along the canal on the towpaths or passing boats, do give them a wave it you see them passing by.

So, tune in to Alex Lester at Breakfast on Radio WM 95.6 on June 19th to hear what he and his guests have to say about historical sites and activities to be found in our local area.

In Safe Hands at SNT

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We are pleased to announce that Ken Bywater, the Blackcountry Man trip boat manager, has recently qualified for his Maritime and Coastguard Boatmaster’s licence.  Having had the necessary training to qualify for the licence Ken can now skipper the Blackcountry Man for the coming season. For any vessel that carries more than twelve passengers, under maritime law it has to have a fully qualified Boat Master on board. The training involved in obtaining the Boatmaster qualification ensures that candidates have the required level of boatmanship skills to control a passenger vessel, with particular attention being paid to the comfort and safety of the passengers and crew on board.

The Stourbridge Navigation Trust sponsored the training and Ken had to work hard to absorb fresh knowledge before being thoroughly tested through a written and practical on the water examination. SNT Trustees congratulate Ken whole-heartedly for putting significant effort into passing this qualification and indeed for his massive enthusiasm in running the trip boat operation.

The Blackcountry Man already has over eighty trips booked for the coming season and it is essential that it is crewed by competent, experienced and qualified people in order to ensure the safety of the passengers and others using the waterway. Ken, who is also a keen river boatman, some years ago also qualified for his Royal Yacht Association (RYA) day skipper qualification, confirming that he has the knowledge needed to skipper a yacht on shorter, coastal cruises during daylight.

Ken is using two new steerers he has recently recruited, who are also Boatmaster qualified, so they will be helping to run the Santa trips later this year which we are sure is good news for everyone, especially our younger visitors.

On the subject of accreditation and licencing, Ken and Heide-Marie Barratt (the SNT Trust Manager) have also undergone training and passed their personal licencing course and received certificates to prove it! They have also undertaken Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)  checks which have been processed through Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council who have subsequently issued Personal Licences HABC Level 2. Being a Premises Licence holder means that they can legally sell or authorise the sale of alcohol, with Ken responsible for that on the Blackcountry Man and Heide in the Bonded Warehouse itself.

Clearly this investment in our people at SNT is focused very much on the enjoyment, safety and protection of visitors to the Bonded Warehouse and when on board the Blackcountry Man trip boat.

Blackcountry Man Music Night Cruise – Remembering George Formby – Friday 28th July 2017

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Join us for this very special night “Remembering George Formby” with Matt Richards and his Ukelele on a nostalgic trip down memory lane . This is an evening cruise leaving at 7.30pm and returning at 10.00pm. The entertainment is superb and you are provided with a fish & chip supper and a full bar service on-board.

Limited tickets available at £17 (inc. supper) – call 01384 375912 / 07889 908090 to book your place.

Update: Winter Street Food Affair & Festive Twilight Market – Saturday 9th December 2017

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A special Winter ‘Street Food Affair’ and twilight market is taking place on Saturday 9th December 3.00pm – 9.00pm at the Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street, Stourbridge, DY8 4LU.

The event  is free to attend.  You are reminded that this is an outdoor event so please do wrap up warm.

Expect a festive celebration with fantastic food, buskers and winter warmers including hot chocolate, mulled wine and warm sloe gin and rum. It’s an opportunity to pick up last minute gifts from our talented artists, crafters and makers and the retro and vintage stalls in the Twilight Market. Plus we have a local florist selling festive wreaths and kissing balls.

We look forward to welcoming new food traders to our winter gathering including Grill Brazil, Little Urban, Loco Lobo Tex Mex, Spice Kitchen and Fat Snags. We welcome back Green Vegan, Gresko Bodhi, Nanny Ps and St Cafe. Supporting the food traders with hot and cold beverages will be Saddlers and Green Duck Breweries, Wychelm Cider, Little Gin Company, Trailor Made Cocktails, Bar Boutique and the Fizz Mobile.

Sweet temptations are available from The Little Horsebox and Just My Cup of Tea will be offering festive afternoon tea at their pop up tea room.

Expect to be entertained by buskers including talented local musicians Esther Turner and Jess Silk. We also have local choir Stream of Sound performing 6.30pm and Stourbridge Rock Choir from 8.00pm.

As this is the season of goodwill we are delighted to be able to support the Stourbridge Food Bank by having a collection point at our event. We are kindly asking people to consider bringing a small donation with them which will really help a person or family in Stourbridge over the Christmas period.  All items will be gratefully received by volunteers on the night.

Grandad’s Attic will once again be opening their doors during our event.

Local contemporary painter Dean Melbourne, who has his studio nearby at Titan House on nearby Old Wharf Road, has agreed to open his studio doors during our event in celebration of his recent selection as one of the Black Country’s 100 Masters. This is an opportunity to see the work that inspired his selection as a Black Country Master. Dean said that ‘getting involved with Street Food Affair is a fantastic way for me celebrate the heritage of the town while reaching an exciting audience and introduce them to my plans to open Stourbridge’s first Contemporary Visual arts project of note.”

Sadly 9th December is the last Street Food Affair event of the year. Organiser Sarah New said that she has been overwhelmed by the support shown by local people and vowed to bring Street Food Affair back in 2018. She wants to thank everybody who has attended and the traders, musicians, artists and local businesses who have worked with her to make the events so successful. She encourages people to keep an eye on her Facebook and web page as she is planning some exciting new partnerships with local businesses including an indoor mini street food event.

For further information about this press release contact:

Sarah New, Street Food Affair Organiser: T: 07712 202820 or Email: info@streetfoodaffair.co.uk

For a full list of our events and details of our vendors please visit www.streetfoodaffair.co.uk or https://www.facebook.com/StreetFoodAffair/

Street Food Affair wherever possible aims to support local people and independent businesses and encourages any interested traders, musicians, artists or makers to get in touch via our website at www.streetfoodaffair.co.uk to explore how we can work together at this and future events.

Further information about organisations mentioned in the press release:

To find out more about how local people, churches and other organisations in and around the Black Country are making a real difference to the lives of those in crisis go to http://www.blackcountryfoodbank.org.uk/

To find out more about Dean Melbourne telephone Dean on 07828740955 or contact via twitter @deanmelbournex ; instagram @deanmelbourneartist ; facebook @deanmelbourneartist

 

Flooding hits the Bonded Warehouse

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In June 2016 the Stourbridge Bonded Warehouse was yet again severely affected by flooding due to heavy rain. The River Stour burst its banks, flooding across the cobbled Canal Street and then into the Stourbridge Arm Canal. Not only did this deposit tons of silt onto the street, but also caused considerable structural damage to the adjacent moorings. The Canal itself did not flood, as it is well protected by adequate spill weirs positioned downstream.

A massive clean-up operation took place after the site was hit particularly hard by this latest episode of flash flooding caused by unprecedented and torrential downpours, leaving the aptly named Canal Street under several feet of water after the River Stour actually burst its banks and over-spilled into the nearby stretch of the Stourbridge Town Arm, immersing the basement and offices to some depth with filthy water and physically knocking down brick walls as the flood water cascaded spectacularly into the canal over the towpaths and moorings.

Work to repair the damage caused to the Grade II listed building and the Stourbridge Navigation Trust office was undertaken, just in time for the annual Open Weekend in October, thanks to the sterling efforts of the volunteer workforce and also recognising the good support from professional agencies who needed to be engaged to resolve the residual crisis. We are pleased to report that the facility is now fully functioning and preventative steps are being considered by the Local Authority to avoid any further flooding in the future.

Russell Newbery Register – 19th to 23rd July 2017

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In 2017 the Rally is returning to Stourbridge. The dates are 19th to 23rd July. The location is the Bonded Warehouse, at the end of the Stourbridge Town Arm. Our hosts are the Stourbridge Navigation Trust. 

Stourbridge is synonymous with glass, so appropriately one of our craft activities involves that material. This will take place at the Red House glass cone, it involves working in the glass fusing studio to design and decorate a glass tile with Bullseye glass. Participants will also be treated to a guided tour of Red House and a demonstration of glass blowing.

Slightly nearer the moorings is the Ruskin Glass Centre and Webb Corbett Visitor  centre on Wollaston Road, Amblecote (access from the last bridge over the Stourbridge Arm). Formerly the factory for Royal Doulton, the site now provides workshops for a thriving community of craftspeople in both traditional and contemporary glassmaking, together with other crafts. You can learn about the history of glassmaking in Stourbridge and see the whole glassmaking process from start to finish, including blowing, cutting, kiln work, stained glass and lamp work. There is also an excellent café which serves an exciting and affordable menu of breakfast, snacks and hot lunch dishes, using locally sourced organic produce. This is open from 8.30 am (except Sunday and Monday).

Speaking of food, we are not providing breakfasts this year at the Bonded Warehouse. However we will be serving a Sunday tea to provide you with sustenance for the Register AGM.

The Friday craft session is production of shiny greetings cards. The shiny bit comes from old CDs, so bring a few of those with you. On Sunday morning you can try some bomb making. No, not the explosive type but bath bombes! A popular session will be that on Friday afternoon when Keith Hodgkins will show more of his extensive collection of aerial photos of Black Country canals (and railways). For the technical workshops, we are running Cylinder Heads again by popular demand. Hopefully we will have a session on lubrication oils and a practical introduction to scumbling (wood graining). The one big change from previous rallies is that we will start on Wednesday evening. The opening event is a buffet, this will be held in the function room of the Duke William on Coventry Street. Note, because of licensing restrictions we can not accommodate under 18’s at the buffet – sorry. Thursday is a rally whole day out – a visit to the Severn valley Railway. Travel from the Town station on what the locals call the tram to Stourbridge Junction, then by train to Kidderminster. There is plenty of time to travel on the SVR steam trains to Bridgnorth and to include a visit to the Engine House exhibition at Highley or the riverside town of Bewdley. After the rally is a Black Country convoy cruise. Ian McKim Thompson is arranging this. It includes visiting Dudley Tunnel on the trip boat with a meal at the Gongoozler restaurant at the Portal at Tipton  Also a visit to the current terminus of the Dudley No2 canal at Hawne basin, where a barbeque is planned. The final destination is the town arm at Walsall, where we spend two nights. Visits to the excellent New Art Gallery and other museums are setup for the day. Hence the aim to pack two Town Arms with RN boats, Stourbridge one weekend and Walsall a week later! The rally bar will as usual feature several local real ales – some brewed less than a mile from the warehouse.

Finally, just a reminder that is our tradition we have a raffle. Please bring along anything suitable as raffle prizes.

Stourbridge Memorabilia & Collectors Fair “Vintage Style” – 30th April 2017

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Specialist dealers will be travelling from all over the country to participate in this show at the Bonded Warehouse. In addition to the specialist dealers at the event, tables will be manned by a team offering a wide range of memorabilia and collectables that have been donated by supporters including unique items from celebrity contacts in the world of show business and sport.

To support this fund raising event any unwanted items from your attic, garage or back of the wardrobe will be gratefully received for onward sale in aid of the charity – to arrange collection or to find out more information about the event please contact us on 07971 624 627 or email:  jwc@corstone.co.uk.

Open to the Public from 10.00am to 4.00pm (Trade from 9.00am)

Profits from this special Memorabilia & Collector’s Fair will be donated to The Alzheimer’s Society.