The straight and narrow to Brewood

Sunday, 22 March 2009 18:53

No photos tonight as we are moored in a deep cutting at Brewood, pronounced Brood. Bad internet connections make John "broody" so maybe the town is appropriately named!

This morning we walked into Coven, (pronounced Coven, the Co as in Cocoa) for the 9.15 service at the Parish Church: St Paul's. It is a lovely smallish church and we received a really warm welcome. There was a good sized congregation and the service was good and lively too. A definite vote "yes, we must go again" from both of us. I came back to the boat clutching my Mothering Sunday bunch of daffs!

Passing the Fox and Anchor we were surprised to see only one boat moored there - very unusual! Cross Green, Coven Heath and the M54 bridge were soon passed and we were approaching The Narrows. This is a one-boat-wide cutting blasted through the rock, with a couple of passing places. In all our time based on the S & W thankfully we only met one boat here!

The canal widens out past a housing estate as it approaches Autherley Junction. Here James Brindley's S & W canal meets Thomas Telford's later Birmingham and Liverpool Junction Canal.  There is a stop lock just under the junction bridge - all of a six inch drop! The S & W Canal Company insisted on this to stop the newer canal stealing their water!

After the lock we avoided a badly moored training boat on the off side. It had blown right across the canal and John did our good deed for the day by re-tying it to the other boats moored there. Napton Narrowboats now moor a hire fleet here too, another busy spot in the season!

We were now on the Shropshire Union Canal as Telford's canal was renamed. It is fondly known to all as the "Shroppie". Immediately the shape of the bridges change - they are larger and more rounded than those of the S & W. The bridge number plates and the mile posts also change. It is a shame as I have photos of this to illustrate my blog! You will just have to wait!

Just on the edge of Wolverhampton (which is skirted by the S & W and the Shroppie) is the Wolverhampton Boat Club and moorings. The Club is beside a footbridge over a narrowing of the canal and an old crane. They welcome visiting boaters and provide a couple of "casual" moorings outside the Club house. There are extensive visitor moorings on the towpath side. The Club did very well when the IWA National Festival was held at Autherley as they were "absorbed" into the festival and a popular venue for drinks.

We stopped, had our lunch and then went in for a drink and watched a couple of games of Pool. We signed in as visitors, as well as being members of AWCC (Association of Waterway Cruising Clubs), but also sussed the venue out on behalf of NABO! It is very pleasant and well looked after. The members were all very friendly.

On leaving the Club, we went under the M54 again and through a stretch of breezy countryside, punctuated by Shroppie bridges. We could see where we had come from - Coven and even the chimneys of the chemical works near Gailey. The canal goes through narrow cuttings and wide sections - all very straight!

The advent of Brewood is announced by the ornate Avenue Bridge. This was built over the canal leading to the home of the Giffard family at Chillington Hall. Yet another sop to the local landowner!

Brewood cutting is steeply wooded and if it has been raining the towpath is very muddy. So much so that we dubbed it "Brewood in the Mud"! Today - no mud in sight! We moored just before Brewood bridge, again surprised by the lack of boats! Tomorrow we shall walk into the town to explore and shop. It has quite a history and a number of interesting buildings.

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