Visits to Measham & Battlefield Line at Shackerstone

Saturday 21^st July

We are off to Measham today so we walked down the road, past the pub and the bus stop was along there, we weren't quite sure where as one timetable said one place and another a bit further along, so we stood in between the two and as it was a straight road, we saw the bus coming and stuck our hand out and flagged it down.  The bus ride was about 20 minutes and then we arrived in Measham.

Measham Tea Pots

Items in the Museum

Measham Church

There is a museum and as it shut at 12 noon we made our way there first.  It is in the old railway station.  Although it is a small museum, it is really interesting and lots to see.  The museum tells the history of Measham and lots went on in Measham years ago, clock making, mining and in a nearby village Measham pottery was made and in those days the Ashby canal ran through Measham and apparently there was a shop on the bridge that sold the Measham pottery and the working boat people would put their orders in, chug on past, collect the coal at the collieries, then stop at the pub by the bridge on the way back and collect their teapots from the shop.

Joseph Wilkes Sundial

Inside the /Church

The chap in the museum was very informative and told us all about the history of the canal and showed us some old pictures of where the canal used to run through the town.

They are working on restoring the canal and he said that if they do they are going to run it along the old railway line so it will go right past the museum and then make an arm and run it back into the old basin by the bridge and apparently there are 400 new homes being built nearby and if they are built the deal is that the contractors pay for the arm and basin which will be a marina to be built so that will be good if its ever done.

Old Railway Bell

Old Ice Breaker at the Museum

Where the Canal Used to Be

Although the museum is small, it is well worth a visit.  Joseph Wilkes, one of the most influential men of the Industrial Revolution moved to Measham and transformed the village opening a bank, an inn, building factories, a boat yard, a market house and a vicarage and constructing affordable housing for his workers.  He also owned several collieries in the area.

Our Lunch

There is a mosaic sundial displaying many of his enterprises in the small park near the museum so we had a look at that.  We then walked back up the street and found a nice butchers and a cafe to have a coffee before we got the bus back.

We asked the bus driver if she would drop us off near The Horse and Jockey pub and she dropped us right outside.  We went in and had lunch and very good it was too, it is a really nice friendly pub.  We then waddled back to the boat and just chilled out for the rest of the day.

Sunday 22^nd July

We are staying put again today and are going to walk to Shackerstone where the Battlefield line goes from.  It runs for five miles from Shackerstone to Shenton via Market Bosworth and usually at weekends steam engines run but due to the hot weather, only diesel are running at present.

Mile Marker

We set off along the towpath and after about a mile we were there.  We passed another mile marker 18/12, it made us wonder if Brahms & Liszt ever played this!!

Let Me Out!!

Aqueduct over River Sence

We walked on and moored at Shackerstone near the bridge was the three Ps.  They were on board so we stopped off for a cup of tea and a chat.  Kev and I were walking onto the station so Patrick and Poochie came with us, Pat stayed on board.

Railway Museum

You go over the bridge and there is a road running parallel with the canal which leads to the station.  We saw the three Ps boat moored on the other side and waved to Pat as we went by. We walked along there and you go over the River Sence on an aqueduct and then we were at the station.  There was a cache on the aqueduct but we couldn't find it.

Railway Museum

Great Notice

Cafe at Shackerstone Station

We had to buy a ticket to go on the platform, it cost £1, so Kev and I got our tickets.  Patrick didn't come with us so we said bye to him and Poochie and went into the station.  The train was in so we watched it depart.  There was an old carriage on the station that had been made into a shop selling knick knacks so we had a look in there.

There was also a museum with lots of railway memorabilia so we had a good look around there, very interesting.

Shackerstone Station

Outside Shackerstone Station

Then we went to the Victorian tea room also in the station for some refreshments. It was nice to look around the station, it is run by volunteers.  We will have a ride on the train when we come back down next week, that should be fun.

We then walked back up the road and back along the towpath and back to our boat.  It was overcast this morning when we went out, but they sun is out now it is hot again.

We are staying here again one more night then off we go tomorrow morning.