The staffs and Worcs. canal was opened in 1772 and was an immediate commercial success. Built by the great Canal Engineer James Brindley, who died before it was completed, it was the life blood artery to the Midlands during the Industrial Revolution.Thousands of tons of coal were delivered by horse drawn narrow boats from the Black Country and Cannock canals to the steam powered factories and mills.Night and day this traffic passed along the canal through towns and countryside.From the 1920′s Motor Boats towing a Butty Boat ( Old English for Friend, corrupted by the Americans to Buddy ) increased the efficiency of the system but the Railways were winning the business by fair means and foul.After the war the canals nearly died, successive Governments tried to dismantle the system and dispose of the assets. A campaign to save our canals was started by volunteers in the Inland Waterways Association inspired by the Author Tom Rolt in his book Narrow Boat. This has grown in momentum and the abandonment of the Staffs and Worcs was stopped and already abandoned waterways like the Stratford Canal, The Kennet and Avon, Rochdale, River Avon,Hereford and Gloucester, and of personal interest the Droitwich Canals are reopening this year.This is following a campaign Rolt inspired me to start in 1959. I have attached a selection of pictures from the Kidderminster area.