The Journey North

Geography shapes commerce in ways that become obvious once you see the terrain. Stourport sits where the Severn stops being navigable to regular boats—a natural transfer point. The Tontine building there funded construction through an unusual lottery: investors bought shares, last survivor takes all. Bridgnorth's upper and lower sections connect via funicular railway, the obvious solution when standing at the cliff between them. Each town engineered its way around geographic constraints, creating the connected market systems along Britain's longest river that made industrialization possible.

Transportation Systems and Market Centers

August 27, 2025

Packed up this morning and headed north with Ian and Emma. Last-minute shopping walk through downtown Thornbury, then on the road to Stourport on Severn.

Stourport Bridge over the Severn

Stourport sits at the farthest upstream point where regular boats can navigate the Severn—Britain's longest river. Beyond there you need special flatbottom boats. We talked with a woman about the horses that used to pull canal boats. She lived next door in The Tontine, a building with an unusual economic structure when it was built. Basically a financial arrangement where investors bought shares and the last survivor got everything. Interesting way to fund construction.

Had lunch at the Black Star, then drove to Bridgnorth. The town splits into upper and lower sections connected by a funicular railway—one of those solutions that makes perfect sense when you see the terrain. The upper town has castle ruins next to a pleasant park with some interesting topiary. We had tea at a shop up there, looking down at the river.

These stops illustrate how geography shaped commerce. Rivers meant transport, but terrain created obstacles. Each town developed its own engineering solution—canals, funicular railways, strategic positioning at navigation limits.

From Bridgnorth to Much Wenlock, where we'll be based for the next few days. Very old town with several pubs and abbey ruins. The kind of place where you can feel the layers of history just walking around. Had dinner at the George and Dragon.

Much Wenlock will be good for photography. The abbey, the old streets, the mix of medieval and later periods all stacked together. Looking forward to exploring it properly over the next few days.

Tomorrow, Ironbridge. The real investigation begins.

Images can be found here ... https://beloretrato0.picflow.com/d43bka91mw/i114lo8hmq