For many years the South Stratford was pretty reliable for having a steady water supply from the BCN at King’s Norton junction, writes Roger Fox.
The junction with the Grand Union at Lapworth (Kingswood Junction) was cleverly engineered so that it was isolated from the vagaries of the level of the GU long pound between Hatton and Knowle by a narrow GU lock, Lock 20, parallel to Stratford Lock 21.
In order to join the Stratford from the GU and to proceed either north or south a boat had to go up this lock, a manœuvre which required a swift left turn into Lock 21 for those southbound.
The pound between locks 21 and 22 was nominally at the level of the GU but completely independently fed.
About 20 years ago, alas in the BW days, someone decided to demolish the wall between the GU and this short pound. A great idea to save boat moves but it immediately allowed the Stratford to suffer water shortage if the Grand Union level was off.
This could be a contributory factor in the current Stratford closure. At the time that the work was carried out experienced boatmen said that there would be consequences. I think that they were right.