Top of Bratch Locks to Greensforge, above lock (Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal)

At the top of Bratch locks

Going from one lock to the next

In the middle lock

In the bottom lock

We set off for the Bratch locks just after 9am this morning and it was a lovely sunny day again.  These locks are a set of three and although they look like a staircase they are separate locks which have side ponds hidden behind the towpath hedge which feed the locks.  They are manned until the end of October so we moored up and went to find the lock keeper.  There was a boat coming up and one boat in front of us so he said once the boat was up, they would take us both down, one behind the other so we had a bit of a wait but after a while it was our turn.

Kev brought the boat in and I worked the locks with the help of the resident lock keeper who was really nice and friendly and a volunteer who was really nice as well.  We worked our way down the three locks and soon we were at the bottom.  It is a great flight of locks and I really like doing them.

We went on along the canal to the next lock and through there.  We are doing nine locks in total today so a busy day for us!

In Botterham Staircase

In bottom lock of Botterham Staircase

Next we came to the Botterham Staircase which consists of two locks.  There was a boat coming up and a boat in front of us so we had a bit of a wait and helped the other boats through then it was our turn and there wasn’t a soul in sight to help us, typical!

Passing work boat at Swindon

We went through there with no problems and on our way once more to the two locks at Swindon.  CRT were working on the bank side between the two locks but there was room to pass them, it looked they were shoring up the bank with huge boulders.

Lovely setting for Hinksford Lock

We then came to the last lock for today, Hinksford Lock which is set in nice countryside with lovely views.  Down through there and we chugged on a bit further and we were at Greensforge where we moored up.

We had lunch and then went for a walk along the towpath to the next lock as it was such a lovely afternoon.

We are staying here tonight then off through a few more locks tomorrow.

Moored at Greensforge

Compton to Top of Bratch Locks (Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal)

Into first lock for today

Going in Wightwick lock

We are on the move today and we have five locks to do.  The sun was shining again as we set off but it was a bit cooler this morning but we can’t really complain, after all it is October and it is dry!

Along the canal we went and soon came to our first lock for today, unfortunately it was empty so I had to fill it up and then Kev brought the boat in.  As we were going down, a boat was coming up the canal so we left the gates open for them and went on along the canal to the next lock which wasn’t far away.

Coming out Dimmingsdale lock

Weir by the lock

In Ebstree lock

We worked our way through the locks and before long we had done the five locks and we were at the top of Bratch locks where we moored up in the visitor moorings.

Cafe in old railway station

We had lunch then went out for a walk.  We walked down the locks to the road and just up there is an old railway line that is now a walk way, it is called the South Staffordshire Railway Walk.  The old railway station has been turned into a café so we stopped off for a coffee and a freshly baked scone which was absolutely delicious.

Railway Walk

We then walked along the railway path for a while and got off at one of the bridges, walked down the hill and onto the canal just before Bumblehole lock and walked along the towpath back up to Bratch locks and up past them back to the boat.  It was a really nice circular walk and the sun was out and it was really warm.

We are staying here tonight then off down the Bratch locks tomorrow, these are manned so I should have some help so that will be good.

Bridge 8 (Shropshire Union Canal) to Compton (Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal)

Standing on Avenue Bridge

Yesterday (Sunday) we stayed put and had a lazy day.  We watched the Grand Prix in the morning then went for a walk along the towpath to Avenue Bridge.  We got off at Bridge 9 and walked through the field to it as the towpath between Bridges 9 and 10 is really muddy and horrible. 

Driveway through the woods

The private road which the bridge takes over the canal to Chillington Hall is no longer used but good to see as it is very ornate and the road goes through the woods, you can imagine all the horse and carriages going over there to the Hall.  We walked through the woods up to the main road, well a lane really where there is also a car park and then we walked another path back to the bridge.

Interesting branch in the woods

It was funny as when we were watching Victoria Sunday evening on the TV, she went to Chillington Hall by Horse and Carriage, mind you the road they took didn’t look anything like the one we walked!

Passing under the M54

We moved on today (Monday) and it was a glorious sunny morning as we set off along the canal, under the M54 and then we were at Autherley Junction.  This is an important and busy canal junction, where in 1830 Thomas Telford brought his Birmingham & Liverpool Junction Canal (now part of the Shropshire Union system) to join the much older Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal (built by James Brindley and opened in 1772).  There is a former canal toll office here.  The stop lock has a fall of only about 6in; it was insisted upon by the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Company to prevent the newer canal stealing water from them.

Former Toll Keepers House

In Autherley Stop Lock

At Autherley Junction

We went through the stop lock and turned right onto the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal.  We were originally going to turn left and head back up to Great Haywood for a few days and then head back to Gloucester for the end of October but as the weather forecast is good for the next 10 days we have decided to make our way to Stourport this week, out onto the river at the weekend and back to Gloucester the middle of next week while the river is low and not much rain is forecast as we don’t want to miss the window to get down the river safely.

In Compton Lock

We chugged on for a couple of miles and then we were at Compton.  We went through the lock and moored at the bottom.  

We had lunch then went for a walk to the Lidl which is up the hill from Compton probably about a mile.  We got a few supplies then headed back to the boat.  Where we were moored, it was in the shade now but the moorings the other side of the bridge were in the sun so we moved to those, we have to think of our solar panels and get the most out of the sun!

We moored in front of another boat and guess what, a short while after we had moored up, they untied and moved to the other side of the bridge and moored up there, wonder if it was something we said, more than likely though it was because they didn’t like us mooring near them, wanted the whole space to themselves, it was quite funny, made us want to reverse back under the bridge and moor behind them, but we didn’t!

We are staying here tonight then chugging on tomorrow morning.

Moored at Compton

Day trip to Wolverhampton and Brewood to Bridge 8 (Shropshire Union Canal)

St Peter's Collegiate Church

Inside the Church

Yesterday (Friday) we got the bus to Wolverhampton.  It is only a short bus ride.  Near where we got off the bus was a lovely church which we hadn’t seen before, St. Peters Collegiate Church so we crossed over the road to have a look.  It was open so we had a look inside.  It was really lovely and quite big although not as big inside as it looked from the outside.

Cross Shaft

Bargaining Stone

In the gardens was a large stone with a circular hole through the top.  Many generations ago this stone stood in Queen Square and when the farmers sold cattle, or did deals of other kinds, the transaction was clinched by the seller and the purchaser, in the presence of a witness, shaking hands through the bargain stone.  Long ago, this historic stone was removed from the square and placed by St Peters church where it can be seen today.

Also in the gardens is a cross shaft which dates back to the 9^th Century A.D. and is all that remains of the Anglo-Saxon Monastery that used to stand here.

 

We then went and had a look around the shops, had some lunch and another browse around the shops then got the bus back.

This morning (Saturday) it was raining when we got up.  There was a craft and produce fayre in the Community Hall in the village so we walked up there to have a look.    There was a few stalls so we had a look around then went back to the boat.  The rain had eased off and almost stopped so we decided to move on a couple of miles to a nice open spot where we have moored before in the middle of nowhere.

Lovely view of Brewood Church

Avenue Bridge

We chugged on and there is a nice view of Brewood Church from the canal.  We went under a few bridges, one of them is particularly nice, it is called Avenue Bridge.  It is a private ornate balustrade bridge which carries the driveway to Chillington Hall, owned by the Giffard family since the 12^th Century, across the canal. This type of ornate bridge was constructed for powerful landowners who would only grant permission for a waterway to cross their land if such a structure was built for them.

We chugged on and moored just after Bridge 8.  There were quite a few boats there but room for us and we almost got there in the dry, it started raining harder as we moored up, if we had only left 10 minutes earlier we would have got there in the dry, never mind, we didn’t get too wet, just damp really.

It then rained for most of the afternoon and as it was also quite chilly, we decided to have our first fire since last Winter and it lit first time!

We are staying here tomorrow as well and then we will be leaving the Shropshire Union Canal and turning onto the Staffordshire & Worcester Canal.

Moored near Bridge 8