English: Stranded boats on the Stourbridge Canal Following the collapse of the embankment half a mile further up the canal on the night of September 7th, the water has drained out. Heavy rain, often continuous through the summer weakened the embankment, and according to one stranded boatman, the water was six inches above the tow path before the breach, and within twenty minutes or so the canal was empty and he was on the bottom. Now, nearly a fortnight later, BWB have plans to pump water into the canal below Middle Bridge (SO874689) on Monday September 22nd. This will enable all boats stranded in this pound and the one above Lock 17 to exit down the Stourton Locks, and allow this boatyard to resume some activity. Unfortunately, it hasn't rained for a week so there may be too little water flowing down the River Stour to do the job. Bizarrely, there are now boatmen praying for more rain!