The Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal is a canal in the Midlands of England, passing through the counties of Staffordshire and Worcestershire. It runs for 46 miles (74 km) from the River Severn at Stourport in Worcestershire to the Trent and Mersey Canal at Haywood Junction by Great Haywood.
Built between 1766 and 1771 the canal was opened to trade in 1772. It was engineered by James Brindley as part of his Grand Cross plan for waterways connecting Hull, Liverpool and Bristol.
Trade declined when the newer Worcester and Birmingham Canal opened in the early 1800's.
In 1959 the canal was planned to be closed, but was saved through the efforts of a volunteer group - the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Society.

Linked canals
The canal is linked (in order, from the Severn) to:
The canal today forms part of the Stourport Ring, which is one of the popular cruising rings for leisure boating.

Stourbridge Canal at Stourton Junction
BCN Main Line at Aldersley Junction
Shropshire Union Canal at Autherley Junction
Hatherton Canal, curently derelict but under proposals for restoration) at Hatherton Junction