How good it is ......

Wednesday, 08 September 2010 19:41

To be back on canals again!

However yesterday was a very long slow day, as we became part of a narrowboat convoy up the last wide locks we will see for a bit. We had moored behind one of our blog readers at Shardlow - narrowboat 'Still Dreaming' - thanks for hailing us!

Shardlow is a really historic canal area, with old warehouses and wharfs. It was an inland port on the River Trent before the canal arrived and from 1788 to 1841 the population quadrupled, with workers supporting the canal trade on the horse-drawn working boats.

The salt warehouse is the oldest canal warehouse and is now Shardlow Heritage Centre

Salt warehouse

The Ropewalk building on the towpath side by towpath bridge 2a was where the Sutton Family and then the Henshalls produced rope.

Ropewalk building

The warehouses were named by letters and, although much of the port has been demolished, what has been preserved has found new uses. There is a map of the port in 1852 and a key to all the buildings here - clickety click

In fact, the Shardlow Heritage centre website makes fascinating reading - clickety click The much photographed "Clock Warehouse" was Navigation Wharf and "B" warehouse, and as everyone else has a photo here is one of mine -

Today's scene with modern boats

At Weston Lock, we joined a queue of 6 narrowboats and so it continued for the rest of the day! Two elderly single-handers at the front meant pretty slow going!

Weston Lock and Petroc ahead

Near Swarkestone, the remains of the Tudor Mansion at the area called "The Cuttle" stood out in the sunshine - clickety click for more information on this and Swarkestone which has links with Bonnie Prince Charlie.  Yet another place with a lot of history attached!

The Summer House or "Grandstand" at the Cuttle

Stensons Lock is the last wide lock and yet again we joined a queue!

An even longer queue!

Above the lock is the southern end of the old Derby Canal (we passed the northern end on the Erewash Canal) and this Motor Boat was waiting to enter as we came out.

MB Whitby

The impressive Toll House stands on the junction of the Derby Canal and the Trent and Mersey; it is now the home of Swarkestone Boat Club.

Toll House

We decided to call it a day before Willington, as it seemed that all the other narrowboats were heading there for the night! We found a good mooring after Buckford bridge (21) opposite what once was the Greyhound pub and is now a very nice Indian restaurant!

We spent a couple of pleasant hours in here having a drink with the other half of "Richlow" of the Richlow Guides, "written by people who have been there"), John Lower and his wife Barbara. The smells were very tempting but we had all eaten!

This is us moored up - with guard dog Barney, who was actually keeping an eye on Petroc too, who were moored in front of us.

Trent and Mersey Canal, Shardlow to Buckford Bridge 21

6 hours 45 minutes, 9.9 miles, 5 locks