In search of the River Stour!

OK I will admit, it doesn't have quite the same ring to it as exploring the Amazon or finding the source of the Nile, but the River Stour is the best we can do here in Stourbridge! It has to be said that the river that gave its name to the town does have a bit of an image problem, first of all, the River Stour is only about 25 miles long from its source in the Clent Hills, to where it finally flows into the UK's largest river, the River Severn.

"The River Stour"
by Gerald Darby,
48 pages £3.95.
All profits to Mary Stevens Hospice, available from Stourbridge Library, Mary Stevens Hospice or Books Unlimited, Lwr High Street

Secondly, two hundred years of industrial activity had taken a dreadful toll on the River Stour as it winds through the Black Country regions of Halesowen, Cradley, Lye and then on to Stourbridge. In days gone by levels of pollution were legendary, as the River Stour was a major waste disposal unit for factories in a time when no-one considered the environmental impact.

But this story does have a happy ending, the water quality has improved tremendously over the past few years, so much so that apparently there are now Trout in the River Stour.
May 04 NEWS - Young salmon have been seen in the River Stour at Kidderminster! (TV News)

Also, people seem more concerned about the River Stour and these photos will show you that even in the industrial areas, the Stour Valley is such a beautiful place. If you think you know the Stour and its surrounding areas, these photos may just surprise you. Click here for html version

The source of the River Stour is a small spring close to St Kennelms Church on the Clent Hills, winding its way across open countryside to Halesowen, then through the edge of the famous Black Country, on to Stourbridge, then out through beautiful countryside via Kinver, Cookley, Wolverley and Kidderminster. Often the River Stour is very close to the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal in this part of its journey.

Please click on the camera icons to see the photos, they will typically take around 5 - 12 seconds to appear, less for broadband. We have lots of other photos but chose not to put them all on, if you think we should please contact us.

All photos taken 24 & 26 August 2002 using Fuji Finepix F601 digital camera. High resolution printable versions available - email us