Off to the potteries

 Saturday 4th July. 

When we woke up this morning we noticed someone setting up to fish just in front of the boat. Being a Saturday this is not an unusual practice there being fishing competitions most weekends. 

When we actually set off we discovered the extent of this particular event. 

It was a part of C&RTs Let's Fish but this weekend especially for children. I must say that it was very popular with mums and dads, and probably grandmas and grandads, keeping an eye on their kids while they were fishing. The fishing points were about 20ft apart and went on for over a mile and a half. We reckoned over 100 participants. 

It was great to see but, by boaters convention, we had to go past at about 2mph. 

When passing fishermen (and women) you try not to create a wake and try to make as little disturbance to the water as possible. 

And that, of course, all added time to our day's travels. 

Just around the corner was the Wedgwood factory. Some years ago we had a look around their museum. 

Then, the first lock of the day, Trentham Lock. Over the next four miles there were a further five locks to negotiate. 

You can tell that we are entering the world of potteries, except that most of them are now closed and slowly disappearing. 

At Twyford Lock the artwork was commissioned by C&RT as part of a plastics challenge. 

Looking back at the old Bone and Flint Mill, erected in 1857. On highdays and holidays they fire up the boilers and the mill can be seen in action.

At Stoke Top Lock we met a delightful Indian family whose parents had come to pay them a visit. The wife was kind enough to ask if we minded being photographed. The grandson and his father came and stood on the boat while we were in the lock. Again, plenty of photos. 

After that we turned into the Caldon Canal to take on water and, yes, you've guessed it, empty the loo. 

Opposite us was a statue of James Brindley who built the canal. 

We then turned round, headed back onto the Trent and Mersey Canal and picked up a mooring for the night. 

Now I've seen some trophies in my time but that's impressive. 

Barlaston a day late!

 

First lock of the day, Meaford Bottom Lock. It was at this lock, somewhere in the distant past, that I decided to take a bath. In other words, I fell in! That's not the only time I've done that and they do say that you're not a proper boater until you've fallen in. 

Poetry in motion. The captain demonstrates how to work a lock. Shame that, nobody's watching. 

And here we are. All of 3 miles and 4 locks later moored at Barlaston. 

As it was early in the afternoon so we went for a walk up towards Barlaston Hall. 

On the way we passed this lilly pond and from the top of the hill that followed there were stunning views all round.

Barlaston Hall, a Grade I listed property. At one time it was owned by the Wedgewood company but mining subsidence and dry rot made it uninhabitable. Eventually it was sold for £1 to an architectural preservation charity and the house was preserved. It passed into private hands and in 2024 it was put on the market for £3.5m. I wonder how much was spent to take it from £1 to £3.5m. 

And so, a day later than planned, a visit to the Plume of Feathers. Once owned by Neil Morrissey of TV fame.

We went the whole hog, starters, mains and afters. We only remembered to photo the main course which was Aglio e olio, an Italian pasta dish with plenty of prawns and garlic bread. 

Staggered back to the boat after and slept soundly for over 7 hours. 

Thursday and still in Stone

 

We popped back into town to stock up the larder again. On the way back we passed this information board which tells the story of the planning and building of the canal. The original proposal was dropped until Josiah Wedgewood and his partner Thomas Bentley revised it all in 1764. Wedgwood would have been keen to develop canal transport for the protection of the delicate pottery that was being produced. Transport by road would have been by horse and cart and breakages would have been high. The canal offered a smoother mode of transport for his precious cargo. 

Just before Star Lock is a fine looking retirement home on the edge of the canal. What a lovely way to spend the day watching all the boating antics.

And here's the Star at Stone. A tad run down since three years ago with weeds  along its frontage. 

We have just left Workhouse Lock, so named because the road next to the lock led to the village Workhouse. (We spent much of Friday morning trying to work out exactly which lock was Workhouse Lock. We had seen a reference to it on a walking map but couldn't place it.) 

The lock just after the services, water and loo, there is a tunnel under the road for the horses to go through. Getting in and out of the locks was quite interesting as there was a strong crosswind. The captain unanimously decided, especially after another boat was seen to be broadside above the last lock, that we should stop for the afternoon and night and not even think of trying to attempt the next four locks to get to Barlaston. This motion was unanimously supported by the crew. 

I made the mistake of thinking that it would be a good idea to check the weed hatch. There's been a lot of floating grass and foliage lately and I felt that things might be clagged up in the propeller department. 

Unfortunately, no-one had told me that I wasn't as young as I used to be. Perhaps I missed the memo. It was OK crawling into the back of the boat, but getting out wasn't so easy. I think I rediscovered muscles that had been put on the shelf years ago. 

The gratifying/annoying bit was that the propeller was clean as a whistle. In reality that's good. 

A last look at our mooring before bed. 

Short journey to Stone

 Only about six miles today on our way to Stone but there were also three locks to go through. 

 

A view forward as we cast off at about 11 o'clock. 

I think this is Salt Bridge and it's so ornamental that we wondered if it was made that way to appease a local landowner. Quite often architectural features were included in the canal design to smooth the way for cutting across someone's land. 

This is a very pretty canal. However, each of our logbooks say the same thing. Very pretty canal - but we don't really remember any of it. Possibly that's because it's all trees and fields, sheep and cattle. The archetypal British countryside. 

And, talking of sheep! 

We arrived at Stone at about 4 o'clock. We decided to moor just before the town so that we didn't have to go through the locks today. 

After tying up the boat we went into town and made our way to the Secret Café. 

The last time we came here was three years ago. Nothing's changed.

Hot chocolate and all the naughty bits for me and tea for the captain in a nice china cup. We also had a bite to eat after which we made our way back to the boat. Enough for one day! 

Tuesday 30th June

I know that I said it was not a salubrious mooring but that's only because we were adjacent to a lane with a bench on the towpath and youngsters tended to gather there. They weren't any trouble and I had a chat with three of them last evening. It's just the unknown element that can be unsettling. 

Anyway, no problem and, as you can see, the opposite side of the canal was quite charming. 

We remember this particular garden from the last time we came through Rugeley. 

Wow, you need mountain boots and oxygen to get to these gardens. 

Here's a good view of the River Trent. The captain is driving at the moment so I've had time to have a good look around. 

You remember I said that a fallen tree had blocked the canal, well, here it is. 

And here's the poor boat that was underneath it when it came down. 

The canal runs alongside Cannock Chase and it's really beautiful along here. 

We soon arrive at Great Haywood Junction. 

Still heading North we carried straight on towards Weston on Trent. 

The captain doesn't like working the locks going up the canal because she can't step across the lock gates in the way that I can.

Fortunately these locks have a bridge across to save you having to open one gate and then walk all the way round the lock to open the other. Very thoughtful of them. 

After a lovely day's cruising we found a mooring at Weston on Trent and went for a walk around the village village. There are a couple of pubs there but we had already made plans to eat on board. 

Fradley to Rugeley

 We have been advised that the canal is closed at bridge 70 because a tree has fallen across the canal and, worse than that, it's fallen across a boat. Thankfully no-one was hurt but we understand that the boat is a bit bent. 

We debated popping down to Alrewas while tree and boat clearance were underway. In the end we decided to continue heading North in the belief that the remedial work would be done before we arrived on the scene. 

Before we set off we walked round to the facilities to get rid of rubbish and empty the loo. We couldn't stop outside as per usual as we would have had to go through the lock, go down to Alrewas, turn round and come back again. 

So, here we are, first lock of the day at just after midday. The volunteer lock keeper has sent the captain on ahead to get the next ready while he opened the gate for us. 

Look at the gates at Woodend Lock. The angled beam makes them hard to open and close. 

Boo, boo HS2! The cottage at the side of the lock has been compulsorily purchased because of the railway development. What a waste. 

We continued our journey Handsacre and Armitage. 

Of course, Armitage is widely known for its Armitage Shanks water closets. And this is the very factory that produces all the loos. 

After passing through the town there is a very narrow passage, once a tunnel, and at the exit... 

Scrooge standing there to welcome you. 

We now enter Rugeley. 

Where once stood the cooling towers for the power station there is now a modern housing estate. 

We stopped for the night on the outskirts of Rugeley, not in the most salubrious of places but quiet enough for us for one night. 

Just found out that the canal is open again at bridge 70, so, tomorrow, we continue on our way. 

Off to Fradley Junction

 Not such an early start for us today but we did tackle one or two jobs that needed attention. 

Fazeley and Tamworth are gradually expanding with houses popping up everywhere. 

You can just about see the remains of Dunstall Farm which is now surrounded by new houses. When we last came past this way the land was only just being prepared for development. 

One thing I like about this stretch of canal is that the bridges have names instead of numbers. Somehow it makes the journey more interesting. 

We arrived at Hopwas only to be confronted by a boat straddling the canal. The owner was trying to get onto his private mooring. He'd got the back of the boat in but the front kept on being blown out by a strong wind. 

With his permission I tried to nudge the boat back into the side and with a bit of pushing and encouragement we managed to get the boat safely home. 

Swept past our favourite watering hole, the Tame Otter. 

There followed a very pleasant journey up to Whittington where we saw, once again, a Kota garden lodge similar to our own.

At Huddlesford you pass what remains of the Wyrley & Essington Canal, now only used for moorings. 

But, almost opposite is another favourite watering hole, the Plough. (That's 2 favourites in one day and we didn't stop at either.) 

Now passing Streethay Wharf. This is an old traditional wharf where you can get anything done to your boat. 

At last, journey's end, Fradley Junction. Ahead is the Mucky Duck, real name, the Swan. 

We had a little walk around the locks and the nature reserve. 

Found this interesting dragonfly wooden sculpture near the entrance. If ever you're passing through the area this is a quiet spot with plenty to see. 

Sunday evening and a bit of roast lamb to look forward to.