Danes Moss

Today's Canal : Macclesfield

As agreed yesterday, we moved down to the boatyard just after 9.30.

The Hovis Mill is now converted to 37 apartments but alongside is a new development for retirement people - a number are now coming up for resale (the present term seems to be 'preloved' homes!). A small one bed apartment costs around £275K whilst a larger three bed is on offer at £485K (NB there are various other charges to met arising from the nature of a retirement community scheme) From what we could see, this seems to be a well-designed and, as yet, well run scheme. The photo also shows the pontoons where we had a much better night and we awoke to hot water again even if the readings confirmed that the batteries definitely needed replacing.

We first called at the water point adjoining the boatyard for a top up . Not quite full, but it was now 10 am and we could see that Kev was waiting for us as we reversed back and into a mooring slot near to the office.

After a quick check that all was OK - in fact the batteries that had been ordered were an identikit replacement for those we previously had (Numax). It was estimated that, after leaving the engine to cool down for half an hour, it would take around an hour before being ready. Would we like to take a walk down to the town? (he suggested . . . )

The shopping centre is down a steep hill and up almost as much on the other side. Near the bottom of Brook Street we noticed this former mill, fewer floors than many textile mills but we suspect it was (given the history of industry in the town) a silk mill. We have found very few references to it - it is now apartments.

After reaching the bottom of the valley we then had to walk uphill again, following the main shopping street. At the top a wide open market square has the imposing Town Hall as a backdrop (alongside the former police station)

Close by is the main parish church, although the town does seem to have had a particularly large number of churches and chapels of all sorts and types.

Inside, the main nave is a large and imposing space. Looking back at the modern narthex, it gives a scale through its three levels of extra rooms and facilities.

T

he church is noted for the number and scale of memorials, many of the Savage family that were a prominent family from 14C onwards. On the left above is Sir John Savage V (1444–1492) who fought for Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth in which he played a prominent role. He died at the Siege of Boulogne in the service of the new king who was in dispute with the pope.

This is Sir John Savage VIII - the memorial has the wife (on the inner side) higher than him as she was of even nobler birth and outranked him!

Earl Rivers, Viscount Savage (d 1694) has a very elaborate memorial in the main chancel but oddly it has a lot of information about his two wives (the first especially was better connected than he) and nothing much about the Earl.

After a cup of coffee in the church cafe it was time to walk back and to see how the batteries were faring.

Back at the boatyard the work was all but complete - now for the painful bit: paying! We were allowed to stay put for another hour so that we could have lunch before setting off.

Getting out onto the main channel was a bit easier than getting in - except that we had to hover as two boats emerged through the nearby bridge - and a stiff breeze made keeping station 'interesting'.

The canal follows the edge of the town for about another two miles with numerous bridges but the sky was clear and the sunshine was almost hot.

We have used this bridge to illustrate a previous blog (at least once) but make no apology for including it again. From the oldest maps we have the bridge is likely to have been here since the canal was built but we are not sure why the towpath changes sides at this point. It makes sense to be on the side opposite the mills, such as Hovis, and other canal related industry but not obvious why it now reverts to the other bank. The main part of the bridge was built just as a simple accommodation bridge for Foden Bank Farm.

Just around the corner is the Gurnett Aqueduct which crosses over a road that pre-dates the canal.

Soon after, we emerged from the town into open countryside with a splendid view of the hills in the distance behind us.

The next two road bridges are Old and New Leek Road. (The photo is New Road) A casual glance at today's OS map might suggest that Leek New Road is a modern, perhaps mid 20C, improvement scheme as the Old Road does look rather winding as it runs south out of the town and the New Road is remarkably straight. Surprising therefore to find that both the road and the bridge are on maps from just at the end of the 19C. A parish history for Sutton indicates that the turnpike (Leek New Road) was completed in 1826 to make coaching traffic speedier.

Although it was earlier than we had planned, a good mooring spot came into view with suitable spaces just before we reached Broadhurst Swing Bridge so we took it!

 

Alongside is one of the milestones - this one is much clearer on both faces (good sunshine helps on one side)

2.2 Miles - 0 Locks

Waiting for Batteries

As promised the local chandlery, Freedom Boats next to the former Hovis mill, rang just after 9 to say that they had managed to order four batteries and that they should be delivered by 2. They would fit them as soon as they arrived.

Our overnight mooring was not the best! First, because of long standing issues with neighbours, signs ask moorers not to run their engines whilst here. Secondly, the actual VM has been allowed to deteriorate and we were unable to get close enough to the bank to be able to step, or even jump between boat and bank. The gang plank had to be deployed. No wonder several other boats that stopped here yesterday left before nightfall! We did our best last night to conserve the batteries and, somewhat to our surprise, we did awake with hot water and the voltage surprisingly good. But with no new charging, the voltage dropped quite quicky and later in the day the Mastervolt system displayed an alarm.

We took the opportunity of an enforced stopover to fit in a good clean through. Mike also checked the prop - almost nothing around it so our suspicion that the slowness on the final stretch yesterday was down to a lack of water depth.

There is a milestone almost next to our overnight mooring - the side on view is legible if somewhat eroded, the other side is much worse.

After lunch Christine made a short trip to the nearby local shops and was pleased to find that the Co-Op was very well stocked - including oatcakes, a delicacy of the region.

No news so at 3 o'clock, we contacted the chandlery and was informed that they had just arrived but that Kev was now involved in moving boats around the pontoons. Call back in, say, half an hour! By now a space on the pontoons had become vacant and we reversed back to it so that we could run our engine to charge the batteries, in case we were here another night. Just as well . . .

Kev had finished his boat moving when we rang again at four. By now, both he and we felt that it was wiser to leave the battery fitting until the morning - see you at 10! At least on this occasion we are not under any pressure to make best progress and the setting (apart from the Visitor Mooring) is good. 

Macclesfield

Today's Canals : Upper Peak Forest, Macclesfield

Generally a rather grey day but a very few brighter spells reminded us that this really is still August. We began by walking down into town to top up our food stores. We located the butcher we remembered from a past visit but, alas, they have since stopped making pork pies (too much effort) But we did buy several other items to vary our stock. However, the baker did have Eccles cakes and also some pork pies that proved very tasty at lunch time.

Back at the boat we quickly set off, with only a very short distance left on the Peak Forest before we turned down onto the Macclesfield, passing through the junction gauging stop.

At the edge of Marple, the Goyt Mill stands as a stark reminder of past industry. Built at the start of the 20C, it was the last cotton mill to be built in this area. Unusually, it only did yarn spinning and sent its output to others for weaving. Yarn production ended in 1960. See here for pictures of the mill in action.

We had a discussion about our batteries. Our daily record keeping indicates that over the past week or so, they have been showing increasing signs of coming to the end of their useful life. The trigger was that for the second morning in a few days, we awoke with only lukewarm water as the voltage was not enough to start up the heater. So we decided to stop at Braidbar to see if they could help with their replacement - as a result we just trundled on as quickly as we could, although this is not the deepest of canals.  

Although a pretty canal - plenty of vegetation - there is little variation - bridge after bridge - and milestone after milestone.

The North Cheshire Cruising Club have their main mooring in an old arm at High Lane - under this towpath bridge.

Not long after, the canal crosses on an embankment, a railway line between Manchester and Buxton - the line we travelled on a couple of days ago. We tried to take a photo to show the track but even in zoom it is hard to make out! Squint and you'll see it.

The milestones on the Macc have a characteristic design but since they were inscribed into sandstone, not all of them are easy to read now.

We last saw this eclectic boat five years ago when it was moored at New Mills, It seems to have found a new home here at Poynton.

Bailey's Trading Post at Lord Vernon's Wharf (home to Braidbar) were not able directly to help with the batteries but kindly made a couple of calls and suggested that we would find what we needed at Macclesfield Chandlery. After a stop  for water close by - and time for Mike to assemble his lunch - we set off again.

Christine checked with Macclesfield and it seems that they are a very likely place to help but they do close at 5. So we set off as soon as possible, lunch on the go.

Just after the next bridge the canal widens out with a series of shallow lagoons to the side. These were the result of subsidence cause by the local mine, which was served by the arm, now Lord Vernon's Wharf.

Our maps label this property as Rams Clough Cottage but we could find out very little about it other than at one time it was home to the director of a company called Fastener Design and Development Limited.

We now arrived into Bollington. The first mill building, Clarence Mill, now has the top two floors as apartments with various other business down below, including a local radio station. Originally it was a cotton spinning mill, opened in 1834.

The canal then crosses a deep valley on an embankment - the cause of several long closures in recent times as water has leaked out. Thankfully we made it through today.

Then same family that built Clarence Mill later built Adelphi, the other side of the valley. The name comes from the Greek word meaning brothers as the father built it for his two sons to run! It started by producing cotton but quickly went over to silk. During the Second World War it produced parachute material and later is was bought by a producer of webbing. It ceased mill operations in the 1980s.

Just south of Bollington we passed Kerridge Dry Dock. In 2016 it was here that we had the prop of Take Five replaced (see) after a collision with a vandalised towpath and large stones were pushed into the water. It seems that the elderly owner has now moved on as in 2021 it was acquired by a GP from Barlaston.

As we came through Chapel-en-le-Frith Road at the start of Macclesfield, we suddenly found ourselves moving at a snail's pace. At one stage we wondered if we had another catch on the prop like yesterday but a boater coming the other way complained about how shallow this section is.

Eventually, we speeded up somewhat in time to moor close to Freedom Boats. alas the pontoons were all occupied and we had been advised then to try just under the next bridge. Although this is still a designated Visitor Mooring (1 night only) it is clearly still a cause of conflict with the local residents (or at least one who has campaigned against the canal and boaters ever since he came here) As a result, no running of engines whilst moored - so we may be unshowered tonight and in the morning. 

After we moored - first time using the gangplank this year - Mike walked around to the boatyard and confirmed details with Kev. Just as well as there had been a slight miscommunication and he had ordered the wrong capacity - ours are slightly larger (120Ah) than the most common ones (110Ah). He still expects to sort us out tomorrow!

As this blog was being completed, the sky cleared and there was a good sunset - what will tomorrow be like?

11.1 Miles - 0 Locks

Marple

Today's Canal - Upper Peak Forest

The day started grey but remained dry until mid afternoon when rain finally arrived - big drops but not a downpour. Before leaving Mike walked the 100m back to the service block to empty an elsan. A day boat was filling with water - the chap looking after it was a bit miffed as it should have been out on hire today but the customer had just rung to put off until tomorrow as today was going to be very wet! Fortunately the boat was free tomorrow but even so time and money is wasted.

At the junction, we turned right to take a brief look at Bugsworth Basin but also to fill with water. Shortly before arriving at the end of this arm we passed through the Gauging Stop -  it seems that there are different opinions about its name. Some call it a Gauging Lock but the company records always used Gauging Stop Place. In any event, it was here that a loaded boat was measured and its freeboard compared with official books (each boat had to be registered and measured with known weights) to calculate the toll based on the amount of cargo being carried.

The house alongside was for the Wharfinger - his main responsibility was collecting tolls but in practice pretty much nothing happened without his say so!

A few years after the basin opened, the canal company built the stable block alongside so that the wharfinger could "better attend to his duties" (see leaflet from info office at basin) A bit like a company car generations later.

When we arrived the water point was already in use so we continued slowly up to the end of the basin - a series of basins. After turning between the middle and upper basins we spotted that the other boat had now finished so we were able to go back and fill up ourselves. Whilst doing so we had a long and interesting chat to a volunteer who lives on a boat not far away and, as a former builder, takes on various tasks that no-one else can manage. Today he was trying to unblock the elsan disposal which has proved problematic for a week or so now.

The bridge at the start of the basin (alongside the water point) is a modern replica of the original bridge (to comply with today's rules especially about steep slopes) but was originally built so that horses could pull boats around to the middle basin without unhitching the towrope - a sort of flyover! Christine spotted a herb garden with a notice to Help Yourself - she did and they are now in tonight's lamb stew.

A short distance from the basin is a row of seven former workers cottages - the one nearest to the basin has just found a buyer - on an asking price of £320K. It has three bedrooms but is formed from four square rooms upstairs and downstairs. The estate agent said it had 'quintessential charm' and the 'stone cottage effortlessly combines character with modern living'. Just don't try swinging a cat!

We called at Furness Vale Marina for a gas bottle and to fill up with diesel. They pride themselves here on keeping prices as competitive as possible. Richard, the owner, also has Fettlars Wharf on the Rufford Arm where we have moored a few times in the past. As a result we had another long chat.

At the end of the long moorings was the first of today;s moveable bridges. This one is a swing bridge and, apart from lifting the release mechanism, was very easy to move.

The gang at the towpath repair we saw on Monday were back in full swing. They were using the digger on the work boat to sort out stones for the next stretch to be capped. They were proud to say that they were re-using the old stones.

Another 'peek' at the Peak District (ugh!)

After a break for lunch we continued with the final three bridges. At the mechanised one, Christine enjoyed getting two young children to work out from the instructions how to open an close the bridge for Mike to bring the boat through.

Moored at Tramway Wharf is Venice built originally as a Fellows Morton and Clayton Josher butty but subsequently converted for leisure use.

With not very far to go before Marple where we planned to stop for the night, we came to an abrupt halt with the prop unable to do anything - we could not even come in to the towpath. We just had to float midstream - fortunately leaving enough room for the one boat that wanted to pass by. Down into the weed hatch and Mike found that the problem was a stuffed garment of some sort. It had formed itself largely into a ball inside some other material which meant that, in the water, it was even heavier than  after we had eventually managed to clear it from the prop. (When we moored for the night Christine bagged the rubbish up before we could take a photo - just use your imagination.

As we arrived at Marple we were pleased to see that the space we had occupied on Sat and Sun nights was still free. For some reason it was now much harder to come alongside - another boater said that they had tried and failed but they managed a couple of slots further back. We ended up with the bow close in but the stern slightly away from the bank - we will be away tomorrow after popping down to the town for a bit of food shopping. Will we find a 'proper' Eccles cake and a 'good' pork pie this time - like our blog says we did in 2019. We will record the outcome in the next blog.

7.8 Miles - 0 Locks