Dimmingsdale Lock to Compton (Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal)

Wightwick Manor

Goose family on the pond

Having my lunch

We are off to visit Wightwick Manor today, a National Trust property which is near the canal, so we left our mooring and chugged off along the canal for about a mile or so and moored in the visitor moorings just before Bridge 56.

Griggs House

We walked up the road and soon came to Wightwick manor which is a Victorian Manor House lived in by the Mander family and in 1937 Geoffrey Mander MP gave the house to the National Trust.  He was a local paint manufacturer and Liberal MP and had been left the timber-framed house by his father Theodore.  Theodore and his wife Flora had decorated its interior with the designs of William Morris and his Arts and Crafts comtemporaries.

Inside the House

The house wasn’t open until 12 Noon so we had a stroll around the gardens which were really nice. 

This bed cost £4 in the 1930!

There was an orchard, a kitchen garden, a formal gardens, pond and a woodland walk.  There was also a bridge called the mathematical bridge and called this as it was based on a wooden footbridge in Cambridge and the angles were worked out mathematically to make a strong bridge.

Mathematical Bridge

Victorian Hair dryer and Tongs!

We then went to the café and had a coffee, then went back into the gardens and had our picnic lunch.  It was a lovely sunny day today so much better than yesterday so it was really pleasant sitting in the gardens.

We then went into the house which was quite big inside with lots of rooms. 

We had a good look around and the guides in the various rooms were really knowledgeable and it was interesting to hear about the various rooms.  There was some curling tongs and hairdryer.  Didn't fancy using the tongs as they were heated on the fire and often got too hot and you could singe your hair or even burn your scalp, lovely!

Coming into Wightwick Mill Lock

In Wightwick Lock

We then went back outside and had an ice-cream and another drink then made our way back to the boat.  It is a really interesting property and well worth a visit.

We then chugged on through two locks and moored at Compton.  The forecast is not good for tomorrow so we thought we would move on today as there is a few shops, etc. in Compton and then we wouldn’t get wet.

We will stay here tomorrow and hopefully chug on the next day if the weather is okay.

Moored at Compton