Wheaton Aston to Brewood (Shropshire Union Canal)

Fly-boat Saturn

Going through Wheaton Aston

In Wheaton Aston Lock

It was another nice sunny day but a bit breezy as we set off along the canal stopping at the services to get water, etc.. The fly-boat Saturn was moored up on the opposite side of the canal.  This boat is the last horse-drawn Shropshire Union Canal fly-boat in the World, originally built to travel non-stop, day and night, carrying perishable goods.  Over 100 years old, she has been fully restored to her former glory and is used at boat festivals and for school children to experience the working environment and conditions of the canal boat people of the Victorian era.

Stretton Aqueduct

We then went  on along the canal to Wheaton Aston Lock.  It is not very deep so we were soon in the lock and up we went.  There was no boats coming down so I closed the gates and we chugged on.

There was quite a lot of boats coming the other way this morning.  We went over Stretton Aqueduct, an elegant cast iron structure which carries the canal over the A5.

Little boat with the big cover!

When we chugged along this stretch a couple of years ago, there was a really tiny boat in the long term moorings and it was still there, but this time it had an addition, a pram cover and it was nearly as big as the boat, it did look funny, but we shouldn't laugh it is probably someones pride and joy!!  After a couple of miles we were at Brewood where we moored up.  The name Brewood (pronounced Brood) derives from Celtic Bre, meaning hill, thus giving wood on the hill.  It originally consisted of a Roman fort on Beacon Hill to defend Watling  Street.

Speedwell Castle in the Square

We had lunch then walked up to the village where there is a few shops, a really good Butchers where we got some nice produce and Coopers, which is a deli, also a couple of pubs, a café and a Bakery shop.

Butchers in Brewood

In the square is a building called Speedwell Castle erected by an apothecary around 1740.  He is reputed to have won handsomely on a horse named Speedwell and used his winnings to build the dwelling. The entire market square is allegedly riddled with underground vaults and passages interconnecting Speedwell Castle with the pubs and hotels ringing the square.

We had a walk around then went back to the boat.

We are staying here for a couple of days now as tomorrow we are catching the bus to Wolverhampton.

Moored at Brewood