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| Walk the Walk or Ride the Ride |
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Opposite the Gardner’s Arms there is a bridge over the river Salwarpe into Vines Park and just to one side is a statue of St. Richard de Wyche. This was once a place of pilgrimage with flowers being brought every year on April 3rd. Once in the 13th century the main salt pit at Upwych dried up and Richard de Wyche, as he was at that time, blessed the well and the brine ran again. He later became Bishop of Chichester and following his death was made a Saint. |
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In Vines Park the river Salwarpe and the canal run parallel. In 1767 James Brindley, the first real civil engineer, surveyed the route for a canal to join Droitwich to the River Severn at Grimley and this led to a six mile canal being opened on March 12th 1771. This allowed vessels to sail from the Salt Wharfs in Droitwich, taking their cargos directly to the port of Bristol. These vessels were known as Trows and for the salt trade had were developed into a special version, which became known as With Barge or “witches”. Their masts were on winches to allow them to sail under bridges and they were able to take the maximum cargo on a shallow draught. |
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| The canal was necessary because the River Salwarpe was often too low in summer for the transportation of the salt. |
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Follow the canal towpath to the second swing bridge where you need to make a decision. You can either cross over the bridge back into the town or continue on the towpath to the canal basin with the Railway Public House at the top end (another chance to stop for refreshments). |
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| However, you will need to retrace your steps afterwards back to the swing bridge. | |||
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