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.

Market Bosworth to Congerstone - Ashby Canal

We are chugging on today, Pat & Patrick are staying another day so we went and said bye to them and we will see them again in the next day or so and then we set off. It was another sunny hot day.

Guess what we are only going a couple of miles, just for a change!

Coming to another bridge

We met one or two boats coming the other way and went under a few bridges.  In some parts, there were reeds and flowers both sides, more like a ditch than a canal but very pretty.

Reeds Each Side of Canal

We got to Bridge 47 and there were some moorings before the bridge.  I got off and went under the bridge to see if there were any moorings that side.  There was two boats moored there and a space in between them which I thought we would fit in. A chap on one of the boats said he would be moving in the next half hour or so.  I went and told Kev and he brought the boat under the bridge to the moorings, but when we tried to get into the space we were out by a fender.  The chap on the other boat then came out and said he would be moving shortly as well but he would move down which was kind of him but he didn't need to as the chap on the other boat moved down even though he was going shortly so we could fit in.

After about half an hour, the boat behind us chugged off and shortly after that the chap in front went as well so we moved down to the first space which was on a nice straight bit and we were there all on our own, see that’s how to clear the moorings!

Gibbet \Post Info Board

We had lunch then went for a walk up the road to the small village of Congerstone. We walked on down the road to Bilstone and turned left which said the road was closed to cars and pedestrians but we carried on anyway and hope the roads works were further than where we wanted to go.

Gibbet Post

We carried on a bit further and then came to what we were looking for, the infamous Giblet, sorry Gibbet post, erected in 1801, upon which was hung the body of John Massey, local hedger and ditcher, after his conviction and hanging for the murder of his second wife and ten year old stepdaughter.  He got into a violent row with his wife and battered her then tried to drown them both in the mill pond.  His wife died from her injuries but his stepdaughter survived and testified against him and so he was convicted, hanged and then taken to the Gibbet post, wrapped in chains and hung from the post to rot.

His skeleton hung there for 20 years as a warning to others. For many years, charabancs brought visitors from Hinckley and Nuneaton to view the spectacle.  In 1979, a visitor reported seeing a sad looking young girl and a woman with an expression of grim satisfaction gazing at the post.  Although it was a fine Autumn afternoon, both were dripping wet!!

Fire Place in the Church

The Howe Family Pew Box

We then walked back to Congerstone and went to visit the church, St. Mary the Virgin.  The church is listed grade II.  It is believed that a church has been on the site since 1179; the first mention recorded by Nichols is in the 1220 Matriculus from which it notes the instigation was by Hugh as Bishop of Lincoln.

Chimney on the Church

In the 1830s the church had all box pews; now only those along the north wall and in the southeast corner of the chancel remain – elsewhere The Howe’s family pew is in the northeast corner of the large chancel area and is served by its own fireplace. There is a chimney on the roof of the church.  The Howe’s family were wealthy landowners.

Stained Glass Window

The church was open so we went in to have a look. We found the box pew with the fireplace but it is now used as a store cupboard.

Congerstone Church

There is a lovely stained glass window which was installed in 2014 to commemorate the work of George Frederic Handel and his links to nearby Gopsall Park.  Gopsall Hall was rebuilt in 1750 for Charles Jennens. Handel was a friend of Jennens and a frequent visitor to Gopsall and it is generally believed that Handel composed at least some of the Messiah whilst staying at Gopsall in 1741, although this would have been prior to the construction of the 1750 house. 

The Horse & Jockey

We then went outside to see if we could see the chimney on the roof and you could, just. 

We walked back down the road and stopped off at the Horse and Jockey pub for refreshments and what a nice pub and very friendly.

We walked back up the road and back to the boat. It started raining as we got back and eased off but then started again, its very refreshing after all the heat.

We are staying here a couple of days and tomorrow we are off on the bus to Measham so looking forward to that and let's hope the sun is shining again.

Moored at Congerstone

Visit to Leicester

Thursday 19^th July

We are off to Leicester, Patrick is coming with us but Pat will stay on board with Poochie.

King Richard's Tomb

Clock Tower

Leicester Cathedral

What a Chair!

Rat Poison Seller

The Broom Seller

The Egg Seller

We walked back under the bridge came down the road to the bus stop.  It is about an hours journey on the bus.  We had looked on line to see how much the fare was, so when we got on the bus we said two zone two day riders which was £4.20 each, first the buys driver said it was £5.60 each, we said no we wanted zone two, then he said there is a cheaper fare, a family ticket which is for two adults and up to three children, it is usually £12 but as the school holidays have already begun up here, they drop the fare to £7, so we got that what a bargain and really good of him to tell us.

The Fish Monger

The Ribbon Seller

The Lamp Lighter

When we got to Leicester, we stopped off for a coffee then made our way to Leicester Cathedral via The Lanes which is the old part of Leicester and went inside for a wander around.  It is really nice and this is where King Richard III was finally laid to rest.  The Cathedral is really interesting and a good place to visit.

The Washer Woman

The Sweet Seller

In the Cathedral gardens there was a theatrical group enacting the forgotten crafts of Paris, the Ribbon Seller, the Fishmonger, the Lamp Lighter to name a few, it was brilliant, they were in wonderful costumes and came alive to music.  We spent ages just watching them, they were brilliant.

Leicester Market

We then walked to Leicester Fruit and Veg market and there is also now a Food Hall selling meat and cheese.  We bought a few things then went to get our fruit and veg, its a great market and everything is really cheap.

We did a bit more shopping then made our way to the bus station to get the bus back.  We had a good day in Leicester, its a very nice city but very busy.

We walked back to the canal and back to our boats.  We are staying here again tonight then chugging off tomorrow.

Sutton Wharf to Market Bosworth

Wednesday 18^th July

Tree Down

We are on the move this morning and the sun was shining as we set off along the canal.

Approaching Shenton Aqueduct

When we walked back along the canal yesterday there was a tree down across the canal partially blocking the navigation but you could just squeeze by. 

Lovely Flowers on the Canal

Market Bosworth Market!

We chugged on along the canal and after a few miles we were approaching Market Bosworth.  There were some moorings before the bridge so we pulled in there.  We walked up past the marina which wasn't here the last time we visited the Ashby and Pat and Patrick were moored just up a bit.  There was plenty of space in front of them, so Kev went and got the boat and we tied up in front of them.

Market Bosworth Sign

Market Bosworth in Bloom

We then went for a walk up to the small town of Market Bosworth, it is about a 20 minute uphill walk, but worth it as it is a nice town with a few shops and a nice market square.

We wandered around the shops, there was a market but only three stalls and they were packing up. There is a Co-op, a Butcher and a fruit and veg shop so okay to get a few supplies.

Little Shopping Court Yard

We then walked back down the road and bought a couple of courgettes from a house on the way back down the hill.

Mid-Point Marker

Later in the afternoon we all sat outside and had tea and some Barrabrith which I had made in the morning as we were chugging along.

There is a mile marker right where we are moored and we are mid point of the full canal, although only 22 miles is navigatable, so that means we have done 15 miles and have 7 miles to get to the end.

We are staying here for a couple of days and tomorrow we are off on the bus to Leicester.

Moored at Market Bosworth