Engineer Thomas Dadford was responsible for the construction of the Dudley Canal, which terminated at a flight of nine locks at its southern end.

Construction was finished in June 1779, but the locks saw little use until the opening of the Stourbridge Canal, which took place in December.

In 1787, discussions took place about amalgamating the two companies, but they remained separate, although they always worked closely together.

[7] An iron roving bridge manufactured by Horsley Ironworks stands near the top lock,[3] while the original lock-keeper's house, built in 1779 and modified in the nineteenth century, is a grade II listed structure, as it is one of only a few surviving houses of its type.

[9] From the bottom of the flight, the Stourbridge Canal is level for the same distance to Leys Junction,[10] where the Fens Branch heads to the north east and the Fens Pools reservoirs, while the main line descends 145 feet (44 m) through a flight of sixteen locks.