Te weather forecast for today was predicting a heatwave, with temperatures over 30C! As a result we decided to set the alrm for six and set off as soon as we could.
Indeed, we were on our way just before seven, passing nb Towy moored just above Stoke Top Lock. They have recently come from the Caldon Canal where they reported significant difficulties with insufficient depth over the cill at one of the locks. It has been quite a saga for them
We diverged from the Trent and Mersey onto the Caldon just sufficiently (around 50 m) go reach the service block which is that side of the junction, still part of the Etruria Maintenance Yard that has been here fora very long time.
After we had completed the usual tasks we reversed back to the junction and then began the descent down towards Stone and the marina where we will leave the boat for a short period.
Thee locks down and we passed these two preserved bottle ovens, built in 1887 and now listed. What we learnt yesterday is that there were different ovens for different purposes.These are described as calcining ovens and belong to the Cliffe Vale Pottery.The only parts of that factory, also known as the Twyford Works, hence the name for the nearby lock, that are still standing are the main office front, a short way down Shelton New Road and these two ovens, the rest of the site is now covered in housing. It was here that Twyford manufactured the first commercial flushing toilets.
At the next lock the main railway line through Stoke passes very close to the tail gates and pedestrians, cyclists and boaters have to dive down underneath. One of the balance beams just fits into a space beside the railway supports. We only hope that the rest of the structure is less corroded than the end closest to the canal!
We then passed under another railway bridge which now carries a short branch to the Cliffe Vale rail terminal. Amongst other things, trains of china clay wagons from Cornwall are brought here several times a week to supply the pottery industry.
Finally we dropped down through the very slow bottom lock which was re-built when the important A500 (known at the time as the D Road) was constructed and much of the local area was demolished.
A little further and we spotted yet another bottle oven - this one looked very slender to us, quite unlike the one at Middleport. This fascinating website describes the differences in some detail. Wikipedia has yet more information about how they were used. This one was part of the Dolby Pottery and used as a flint kiln.
We continued over the infant River Trent.
This towpath seat - no doubt a relief to many walkers and joggers - is a reminder that in this area there used to be important coal mines.
We saw nb Que Ser Sera when at Westport Lake but failed at that time to look up what it does. It turns out to usually trade along the Trent and Mersey on the Stoke area, selling filled oatcakes (a local delicacy) with a special trade on match days when Stoke City are at home, not far from where this photo was taken. It was still too early to be able to supplement our breakfast!
For a while we were in open countryside although commuter villages would soon reappear.
As we approached Bridge 106 at Trentham we had to pause whilst a work boat unloaded materials for a repair to the towpath bank. The crew were very pleasant and helpful and showed Christine how to get to the local shop (which she was planning to visit for a newspaper anyway) missing out the route temporarily close to pedestrians. Mike looked after the boat but did not have to wait long - would have been even quicker but for a boat appearing from the opposite direction and pushing its way through first! As soon as Mike had pulled in on the other side of the road bridge, Christine returned, paper and oatcake in hand.
Well before 10:30 we reached Bridge 104, after which we planned to pull in for the rest of the day - there was plenty of room but w e chose a pot which, at least for a while, would be in the shade.
Late morning Christine took a walk along the road that passes over this bridge towards the Wedgwood Factory. She had to pause at the level crossing - until 2004 local trains stopped here, and at Barlaston, but the service was suspended whilst major refurbishment of the station took place. Alas the service has never been reinstated even though the station is not officially closed! It is, however, a busy electrified line with trains from Stafford through Stoke to Kidsgrove.
Christine eventually reached the factory and the showroom but was a little disappointed that there were no factory visits available today.
The willow sculptures match the type of ceramic ware made here.
Without the imagination of Josiah Wedgwood who saw the potential of canals for transporting the fragile goods with much less breakage than on the road roads the available, we might not have had the era of Canal Mania.
5.4 Miles - 6 Locks
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