Stourport-on-Severn is among the first canal towns and a great place to learn about the history of the area, trade and the waterways.
When James Brindley first surveyed the route of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, he decided that this raised area of ground next to the River Severn would be the ideal place to build a series of canal basins and a complex of wharves and warehouses.
Stourport grew into a busy industrial town, but it also had a fun-side. From its early days, the town has hosted a fair, river boat trips and amusements and has always been a favourite day-trip destination for Black Country holidaymakers.
Today, it’s a great place to learn all about canal engineering, the growth of local industry and the people who lived and worked here.
Visit us at to find out how the canal was the catalyst for this Georgian town.
School and Group Visits to Stourport Canal Basins
Workshops
Stourport Canal Basins is a wonderful place to see how a canal works. There is plenty to see, with an impressive collection of original Georgian warehouses and houses around canal basins filled with boats. There are wide and narrow locks, the canal and River Severn to look at and there is plenty of wildlife about to observe too.
KS1, KS2 Build a Canal
This workshop looks at how and why canals was built over 200 years ago, some of the problems faced by the canal engineers and the main cargoes that were carried by boat. Children also have the opportunity to dress up in canal costume.
KS1 KS2 Guided Locks Trail
Our education volunteers combine offer an insight into the town and the lives of the people who worked here. Schools and groups can follow the heritage trail, and visit one of the original stables for the impressive Tontine building. Children can visit the cargo hold and living quarters of a real working boat from the 1930s.
If you have time, we also look after a Ticket Office at the entrance to the basins where children can find out more through handling objects, smells of old Stourport and even a periscope view of the wharves!
KS1 KS2 Stay SAFE near Water
All our visits include learning about water safety and how to respect the canal environment.
Resources
Our downloadable resources introduce children to the history of Stourport on Severn.
Map
Download a map of Stourport on Severn.
Booking and contacts
To book a visit for your class please email Sarah Cook – Education Coordinator:
sarah.cook@canalrivertrust.org.uk
Stourport on Severn Trail
The introductory trail has lots of historic photos, questions and fascinating facts, seeing Stourport through the eyes of Jim, a boat boy of the 1890s. We have printed two colour copies on site if you want to take away a souvenir of your visit.
Outreach
Book a classroom session on how and why canals were built and an introduction to water safety. These workshops can be booked for a morning or afternoon session in your school.
Price
School visits to Stourport on Severn are FREE!
Boat trips can be booked direct with The Stourport Steamer Company. A charge will be made for these.
Tel: 01299 871177
Mobile: 07860 468792
All visits are led by the Explorers volunteer team, supported by Stourport Forward.
For more information go to:
Canal & River Trust
(Please note, the office is only staffed one day per week, so it may take some time for us to respond).