Radford Bank to Tixall Wide (Staffs & Worcs Canal)

Tuesday 30^th June

We are moving on today but first we walked up to the Aldi to get the rest of our shopping. It was nice and quiet so had plenty of room to stroll around and actually look at things instead of going quickly around like we have had to do during the pandemic.

Going under the road bridge

Shush don't wake him!

We got back to the boat, put the shopping away then got ready to go.  We set off along the canal, under the road bridge and on we went.

Red Brick Bridge

Just before Bridge 101 there used to be a canal branch here connecting to Stafford via the River Sow. They are trying to restore this connection but doesn’t look as much is happening a part from a sign post.

Sign Post

We went on and under a few bridges and then came to a small aqueduct, an early structure by James Brindley. It has the River Sow running underneath.

Coming to the Aqueduct

The River Sow running underneath

We chugged on a bit further and then was approaching Tixall lock.  I got off and filled the lock as it was empty. This is only a small lock just over 4ft deep so didn’t take long to fill. I opened the gates and Kev brought the boat in.

Nice Morning

Gemma Panda at Tixall Lock

We were soon through there and on our way again. We went around a couple more bends then we were at Tixall wide where we moored up. This is a very popular mooring spot and gets very busy but we were glad go see today there was only a couple of boats here so plenty of room for us.

Sign at Tixall Lock

In Tixall Lock

Geese at Tixall Wide

Tixall Gatehouse

Tixall wide is a large expanse of water, more like a lake than a canal. It is said it was built like this in order not to compromise the view from Tixall Hall which has long gone. The only remaining bit of the hall is the gatehouse.  This massive square Elizabethan building dates from 1598 and is four storeys high.  It stands alone in a field and is considered to be one of the most ambitious gatehouse’s in the country. It is now available as a holiday let.

This is such a lovely spot to moor with ducks and geese on the water.

We will stay here for a couple of days now then head on to Great Haywood.

Moored at Tixall Wide