Dadfords Wharf Boat Yard
I F Kemp Restoration Services, Dadfords Wharf, Bridge Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 5YU
Dadfords Shed is a canalside wooden shed, built for transhipment c.1890. Although presumably named after Thomas Dadford, chief engineer of the Stourbridge canal more than 100 years earlier, there is no known connection with the Dadfords. In fact, we know little about why the shed was built. It may have been a seed house for Webbs Seeds, who had substantial nurseries nearby, or a general canal to road transhipment warehouse used by Wolverhampton based boatage company, Thomas Bantcock and Co. Following the closure of the canal in the 1960s the site was used by various enterprises, including an aluminium and lead smelting company in 1970s, Kitsons coil steel storage, and a coal yard and lorry storage. In 1990 the site had a new lease of life as a boatyard, with a mix of traditional restoration and new built boatbuilding, painting and signwriting. With the support of Dudley Council, we carefully repaired the shed including re-roofing with natural slate and repairing timber windows. It remains a landmark building within the Stourbridge canal conservation area.
David Kemp boatbuilding is currently restoring historic narrow boat Kilsby, owned by the Jericho Living Heritage Trust. With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Kilsby will be revived and relaunched as an accessible floating hub for arts, heritage, and community activity on the Oxford Canal.
Timings
- Saturday 19 September:
- 1000-1600, Tours 1000, 1100, 1200, 1400, 1500
Location & directions
I F Kemp Restoration Services, Dadfords Wharf, Bridge Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 5YU
- Directions:
- The entrance to the boatyard is located at the junction of Bridge Street and Alwyn Street, through a large green timber gate. There is no dedicated site parking and limited free on street parking. We are a short, flat walk from the Red House Glass Cone and Stourbridge Glass Museum along the road if you are also visiting these sites, or you can walk along the canal and alight at Bridge Street, between locks 8 and 9 of the flight of 16 locks on the Stourbridge canal. If you are travelling by bike we can accommodate a limited number of bikes safely within our premises. We are a short walk from bus stops on Camp Hill (Brook Street stop, stop ID nwmjwadm) on routes 16 and 17 linking Stourbridge and Wolverhampton.
- Contact on day:
- Catherine Kemp
- Telephone number:
- +447886981065
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- We won't be able to accommodate drop-ins on the day. Please use the google form to book for the event in advance. Please contact us if you have any questions.
- Booking contact name:
- Catherine Kemp
- Booking telephone number:
- +447886981065
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
- Booking website:
- https://forms.gle/3gNbjeCcarbYCUaw5
- Booking opens:
- 13 Aug 2026 12:00 AM
- Booking closes:
- 16 Sep 2026 05:00 PM
Accessibility details
Dadfords Wharf is a working boatyard. It is not a museum or professional heritage attraction. Be aware there are hazards you would expect to find in an industrial premises including risk of slips and trips, noise, dust, paint fumes. If you have any health concerns please contact us in advance of booking. We cannot accept bookings for children under 10 years old. Visitors should wear appropriate footwear (no flip flops or sandals). Unfortunately the site is not wheelchair accessible. The site is also a family home- please respect no access signs.
Additional information
- Max number of people:
- 10
- Estimated duration:
- 1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)
