The Water Boatman

Alan Herd dives into canal life travelling through the Stourport Ring in central England. This week he begins his journey in Birmingham.

Alan continues on through the Stourport Ring, stopping off to find out about the home of Cadbury, who used the canals to bring in materials for the manufacture of chocolate.

Alan Herd catches a ride to Alvechurch Marina and meets a couple with a swish new river-going boat they designed themselves, and gets a chance to take over at the...

Alan arrives at Tardebigge, a boaters' rite of passage with thirty locks to negotiate. Alan volunteers to join the engineers and builders and lend a hand as they repair the...

Continuing his journey around the Stourport Ring, Alan reaches Hanbury Wharf and meets a fellow canal enthusiast who is busy restoring his 1970s' boat.

Alan travels to Oddingly and meets an artist who works in decorative canal crafts, discovers historical tales of a grisly crime and meets a wildlife enthusiast who shares his knowledge.

Alan arrives in Worcester and finds out more about how the arrival of the canal impacted on the porcelain industry that flourished here. He then continues on the River Severn

Alan leaves Worcester behind and journeys on a river cruiser in the direction of Stourport. He tries his luck with some river angling before journeying to a busy working boatyard.

Alan arrives at Stourport on Severn, and meets a local historian to learn more about this major port, before getting roped in at an auction of boating accessories.

Alan's journey brings him to Kidderminster where he discovers how the carpet industry flourished there, and visits a carpet factory that still uses traditional methods.

Alan catches a narrowboat lift along the Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal and visits some amazing houses carved from the local rock.

Alan takes a detour up the Stourbridge canal and discovers the area's historical connection with glass-making as he tries his hand at glass-blowing.

Alan arrives at the heart of the Black Country and journeys along the Dudley canal. He discovers more of the area's heritage and meets historian Professor Carl Chinn.

Alan Herd continues his journey round the waterways of central England. Today he catches a lift on a lock keeper's narrowboat and meets a group of young working boat enthusiasts.

Alan catches a lift on Glyn and Rosemary Phillips' old working boat through Wombourne, stopping to visit the old Bratch Pumping station - a fine example of Victorian engineering.

Canal enthusiast Alan Herd travels inland via the Stourport Ring in central England, catching lifts along the way and visiting boat yards and industrial heritage sites.

Canal enthusiast Alan Herd travels inland waterways route, The Stourport Ring in central England, catching lifts along the way and visiting boat yards and industrial heritage sites.

Canal enthusiast Alan Herd travels inland waterways route, The Stourport Ring in central England, catching lifts along the way and visiting boat yards and industrial heritage sites.

Alan Herd meets some odd characters when he dives into canal life. He's hitching lifts with boating enthusiasts around the country to explore the best of British heritage.

Alan Herd meets some odd characters when he dives into canal life. He's hitching lifts with boating enthusiasts around the country to explore the best of British heritage.