Stourbridge Arm (Stourbridge)

 lock (water navigation), interesting place

This short canal arm terminating in Stourbridge was the scene of a "Pythonesque" confrontation in 1962 between the Inland Waterways Association, who wanted to dredge the arm and hold their national rally there to publicise the derelict state of the waterway, and British Waterways, who were adamant that the boaters had no right to dredge the waterway and no right of navigation.

According to some accounts, the late David Hutchings MBE had his dragline poised over the water as BW officials arrived on the scene and ordered him to desist.

Both parties then retired to seperate telephone boxes to take legal advice.

The outcome was that the canal was dredged and the British Waterways officials were left with mud on their faces.