Market Bosworth

Today's Canal : Ashby

Although today was expected to be almost as warm as yesterday, we awoke to a grey sky - mainly thin high level cloud and a haze. 

We set off in good time. The provisional plan is to cruise to lunchtime, sit out the hottest part of the day in shade and then finish off with a late afternoon - early evening cruise to moor around 7.

Althiugh the countryside was still very pleasant, this photo shows just how grey the sky was.

The morning made occasional but half hearted attempts to brighten up but it soon reverted to 'grey' mode.  

Like the telegraph pole on the Coventry, Shackerstone Castle (a motte and bailey) is a mandatory photo when cruising up the the top of the Ashby canal!

As soon as we left Shackerstone, the scenery changed dramatically. Until now, we had come through open farming country but the rest of the canal is quite well wooded. At least we could look out for a shady mooring at lunch time. 

The Ashby Canal Association have been able to provide a lot of canalside benches. We noticed this one at Gopsall Wharf because it is shiny and new! Generally the donor is named along with the name of their boat.

Shortly before noon we reached the navigable limit (or at least for ordinary mortals) When we came here before a short further section had been opened and a lightweight swing bridge gave access to the Ashby Canal shop and information centre (as well as the rubbish skip!)

A couple of years ago there was a major incident - the result of badgers burrowing into the canal bank close to the end of the newly restored length which led to a serious breach and water pouring out onto the adjoining fields. Quick thinking by the Ashby Trust staff who were able to put in stop planks at the bridge hole meant that there was no great loss of water. The Ashby, together with a long length of the Coventry, are all on the same level and if the leak had not been spotted quickly there would have been extensive damage and a long closure whilst it was refilled.

Since then the swing bridge has been rebuilt with a stop gate (normally closed) which has a walkway attached. Tis means that if a similar incident occurred then only the restored section would be emptied. There a visitor moorings just the other side but it seems that they are only available to members of the Association.

We paused on the services mooring for the usual round of emptying and filling - the water tap was especially fast and the tank was overflowing before we had a chance to think about it! We took time to chat with the volunteers at the shop before starting our return trip.

The winding hole is just a few metres back from the services - it is quite a large one so we could turn without touching ither side! We even had time to take a photo looking back - complete with the oddity of a railway signal. It looks in too good a condition to have come from the closed section of the Battlefield Line.

We now had to retrace our steps. Before long we arrived at the Snarestone Tunnel - only four minutes transit, the same both times. Only just over 200m it has a distinct kink in it. Perhaps the original canal company could only afford a cheap and/or inexperienced surveyor! Inside it is remarkably dry. No cascades down the steerer's neck!

We moored up at a well-shaded spot we selected on our way up, marked on our canal maps. However, once again we had to settle for being well away from the edge. Only one boat passed us so no great problem. We were able to stay here until five o'clock. During this time Mike prepared the evening meal so that we could eat not too long after finally mooring for the night.

We mentioned yesterday that there are only three rail bridges across the Ashby. There was another, that carried the part of the Ashby and Nuneaton Railway, north of the junction at Shackerstone Station. That part is long abandoned and the track lifted. Only the abutments remain here.

Just before we arrived at Shackerstone we could look back and see clearly how the vegetation alongside the northern part differs from here southwards.

By now the sun was making longer breaks in the clouds and the temperature was rising.

A pretty picture (?) with even more sunshine. 

By the time we reached the entrance to Bosworth Marina it was hotter than two hours earlier when we set off after our siesta stop. Clear skies and the sun shone against the new houses opposite the marina winding hole.

We looked to pull in to the visitor moorings before the marina entrance but one boat already there made it clear that they had positioned to deter others stopping too close to them! We continued on under the road bridge and just after the water point found plenty of space and were able to come right into the edge. It is quiet and shady as well. As we were tying up, a couple waked by - it transpired that they live in the marina and we were able to share common experiences. She was a community nurse in Devizes before they retired and moved aboard their boat!

13.3 Miles - 0 Locks

Congerstone (almost)

Today's Canal : Ashby

We drove up to Trinity Marina yesterday. Apart from the heat it was a straightforward journey - at least when the sat nav is working otherwise the cross country direction is not easy to follow from a simple road atlas. Without the detailed zoomed in display we would probably have missed a turning or two at some rather complex intersections.

We arrived just on 1 o'clock but as we had prepared rolls for the journey we ate those as lunch before we arrived. We were not looking forward to unloading the car and then packing away on the boat. However, with the help of our new(ish) folding shopping trolley, all the to and fro trips were made remarkably quickly. We have to confess that we did not lock the access gate every time!

Later we visited Lidl and then Morrisons to stock up on food - there is almost no nearby shop on the Ashby above Hinkley. One of the reasons for going to Morrisons (apart from it being Mike's choice for lunch time yoghurt whilst Lidl is Christine's choice for bread) was that there was a car charging point there. It can be useful to combine the two operations to avoid to much sitting around waiting foe the juice to flow in. There were supposed to be be outlets for two cars - one was already in action when we arrived. We plugged in and started the charging sequence which always begins with reading a payment card. After numerous attempts with different means of paying. in every case the machine simply said 'Aborted'. We eventually gave up! No great loss in a way as it was only offering half charging rate (25) to a second car so it would not have added much in the time we were shopping.

Since some of the items we bought were frozen goods we headed straight back to the boat and after unloading all the bags (trolley handy once again) Mike left Christine stowing whilst he went a short distance to an InstaVolt charger 4 minutes by car away from the marina. At a rate of 120 (albeit rather more expensive than at Morrisons) the car was soon up to 91%, more than enough for the next car shuffle. Whilst waiting, Mike succumbed to the temptation of a cold drink from the adjoining MacDonalds!

This morning we were awake early but by the time we had sorted ourselves and the boat it was nigh on ten o'clock as we emerged from the marina entrance. Already the temperature was energy-sapping so it was perhaps just as well we are still on a long lock-free stretch for a few days. 30 is forecast before the week is out.

The Ashby Canal is almost entirely rural and surrounded by typical English farming landscapes. Mostly we marked our progress by noting the numbers on the bridges as we passed under them. Soon after leaving the marina a couple of boats sat on our tail but as we ourselves were following another boat that set off in front of us there was not much we could about it! Eventually all three pulled in to moor up for a break.

The former wharf for Stoke Golding is now home to a well known hire base whose boats always look very smart, at least on the outside. Almost all were out at the moment. 

There are several marinas on the Ashby and just after the wharf this is the entrance to the Ashby Boat Centre.

The great majority of the bridges were built to the same pattern, so without the number plate it would be difficult to decide which was which.

Just occasionally one has been rebuilt - less usually as here with a complete new concrete flat deck.

Sutton Wharf is a popular trip out for local people - a pub, cafe and an ice cream boat service different tastes in refreshment. We did think about topping up the water tank but as it was only a small amount below full and another boat has just pulled in ahead of us we opted to go forward a boat length and moor for lunch on the 2 day visitor mooring. We could not do a rubbish disposal as the former bin store here has been closed, we believe because of extensive misuse. Boaters in need are directed either to Snarestone or Hinkley, both quite a cruising time away.

After lunch we swapped our usual yoghurt for a visit to the ice cream boat. last time we were here it was closed when we called but we were definitely not disappointed this time.

The afternoon cruise started quite late but we soon passed under one of the few former railway bridges across this canal. This one carried the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway, part of which is still used as the Battlefield Steam Railway. Even though we were quite close to the line for the rest of the day we saw no signs of trains running today.

Another marina entrance - this one to Bosworth Marina which was fairly new when we last came this way in 2021. Andy, the sales person which found a buyer for us for Take Five back in 2016 when he was at Swanley Brokerage has now moved here.

Across the farming landscape we could see the spire of Market Bosworth in the far distance. Too small for the main photo

but highly zoomed just possible to make it out!

Bridge 44 announced the start of the SSSI designation for the rest of this canal. Although it suggests that boats should only moor at designated moorings, there are far fewer spaces than boats on the move so it is just as well that is seems OK to moor at the places on guides such as Waterway Routes! Reeds are allowed to grow freely and clearly boats have a lower ranking than the wildlife!

Just beyond this bridge we spotted what looked like a good piece of Armco with several boats moored close to the edge However, when we tried to get in at the first two, we could not get closer than about a 1.5 m. Finally we tried the third, right at the far end of the mooring. We started with the stern right in but as we pulled in the bow to the edge, the stern went out! (This is not an uncommon experience on some canals where mooring was not a need when first built). Eventually we settled for about half a metre both ends and a gang plank! Only one boat passed us for the rest of the afternoon and evening and they managed with no problem.

9.9 Miles - 0 Locks

Cleaning and Car Shuffle Day

 Whilst Mike went off on his travels, Christine tested out her recovery status by doing two loads of laundry and buckets of floor washing. Even though we have not had any muddy days since we had the boat cleaned throughout for us at the last break in cruising, there was still very mucky water to empty from the buckets.

Mike set off just before half past ten to walk to the nearest bus stop just outside the marina and Premier Inn. From the timetable on the post he discovered that a bus was due in 2 minutes (earlier then he had scheduled - the route to Nuneaton is four services an hour, not evenly spaced) but nothing arrived. IOn he end it did arrive but was perhaps 5 or 6 minutes late, which it caught up before arriving at its destination, the Bus Station in Nuneaton. 

Officially a five minute walk but for Mike nearer to ten, the Rail Station is actually quite close and, after buying his ticket and checking the change point, there was plenty of time to go over to Platform 2 for the loos and back and then in time to buy a latte. This two carriage train shuttles between here and Leamington Spa, via Coventry. It was already waiting at the platform after its previous run.

It arrived on time and there was just 7 minutes before the second departure on to Banbury (the train itself was destination London Marylebone). Again, it ran perfectly to time. Mike then had a short walk to the Bus Station alongside Castle Quay shopping centre.

The final leg of the journey was a scheduled bus that passes through Cropredy. `It turned out to be a large minibus with a very regular set of passengers. The driver even knew who to expect - this is actually a relic of a Market Day service but is useful for folk out in the villages around the town who do not have a car. It only runs once a day in each direction so it was just fortuitous that Mike was able to use it today rather having to lash out on a taxi. (His bus pass was to his surprise valid on this route!) He was even dropped off right outside the marina entrance.

Before long the satnav was programmed and the return trip could begin, with an ETA texted back to base. Although we topped up the battery when we were last at Cropredy, we were not confident that it would see us back home again. So, Mike headed directly to an InstaVolt Charging Station just four minutes away from Trinity Marina. It was a pretty fast charge (much better than an Osprey one that was equally close) and we now have more than enough for the return home tomorrow.

All of this not uncommon on our present day car shuffles and reminds us how much has changed since we first took to canal cruising. It is unlikely that we could have done this back then - although we do recall one or two occasions when we met up with passengers in some unlikely places! What is difficult to recall is just how we found the information to do that in an era when we spent a lot of time closely monitoring OS maps for public telephone boxes when we need to be in touch with someone (especially if we had a breakdown)

Reminiscence therapy time: on one of our first longer cruises with Fiona (a 20 ft ex BW hire boat with a decrepit 5 hp outboard and almost none of the facilities expected today) we were on the Leeds and Liverpool when a large stone lurking under water broke off one of the two blades on the prop. Quite how we are unsure now, shrouded alas in the mists of time, but Mike was able to source a replacement and then to fit it all well within the space of a single day. We do remember that the only way to get to the boatyard was to hitchhike. We think it was somewhere in the Blackburn or Burnley area. At least we did have a set of the early Nicholsons guides which were extremely helpful in many ways. These were from the generation in which the map extracts were monochrome and the canal drawn as a straight line.

Back to reality and we now have to think about loading jup the car - alas it does  not look as if this marina have any trolleys for moorers to use.

Trinity Marina

Today's Canals : Coventry, Ashby

We had arranged to arrive at Trinity Marina before 3 and after midday. 

The weather had been rather mixed but started very pleasantly.

As we prepared to set off, a mother duck brought her teenage brood on scrounge training. It seems very clear these days that boats are seen as potential sources of food and and hounded at every opportunity, with domineering mother in charge (absent father of course). This is very like behaviour in long past generations such as in the times of the Border Reivers.

We had about a mile to go to Marston Junction where we turned onto the Ashby, immediately passing through where the former stop lock once was. We guess that it was originally constructed to ensure that the Ashby Canal did not steal water from the Coventry. The top end of the canal was lost to mining subsidence and the whole of the currently navigable section is lock free. 

The bridges on this canal are wide because the intention was to continue beyond the coal fields at Moira and connect up with the river at Burton on Trent. That latter part was disproportionately expensive and was never attempted.

The moorings just before Bridge 3 were where we spent our first night on the canal on our first visit here in 2010.

Shortly after this we went under a railway bridge just as a passenger service was passing northwards, heading from Rugby, probably up the Trent valley line to Crewe. Another section re-built to a three track arrangement, one of the few in the UK. The scheme is more popular in other countries but perhaps the network complexity and traffic density make this means of increasing capacity hard to manage, especially where bidirectional working is adopted.

This canal seemed especially busy this morning - perhaps it just felt it because we met another boat head on twice at blind bridges (no, we did not collide as we spotted the problem in time to back off)

A very leafy section just after Bulkington Road Bridge on the outskirts of Nuneaton. On one side, with a steep bank down to the water, is a substantial 'mobile' home estate. Although it is laid out almost ignoring the canal, it appears to be well kept even though many of the units are by now quite mature.

This overflow weir shows that the water level is barely down from its maximum. This level extends from Coventry Basin to Atherstone and to the head of the Ashby Canal, a large volume of water should it run out! With the Oxford only a few inches higher at Hawkesbury right down to Hillmorton, that is a lot of almost lock free cruising. 

That, of course, is why we opted for this route, to allow Christine's damaged arm and side to recover itself and that is now well advanced.

We stopped on the VM just before the Watling Street A5 bridge to have lunch, with just about 20 minutes to Trinity Marina later on.

It was in good time that we pulled onto the diesel fuelling station just before the entrance to the marina. We had been given instructions to do this before going to the office to obtain directions to our mooring. In any event, we did want to fill up with fuel as we were now down to about half empty/full.

Very pleasant and cheerful staff greeted us, helped us fill up, put electricity on our pontoon supply and then showed us the facilities and how to navigate in to the berth. It was a rather twisting route from the marina entrance - all turns - but, despite a freshening breeze, we managed to turn and reverse into our allocated spot without too much difficulty. Tomorrow is car shuffle day.

6.6 Miles - 0 Locks

Marston

Today's Canal : Coventry

When  we started to get up this morning the forecast light rain had just arrived but before we could set off a very heavy downpour began. With no great hurry, we opted to sit out the rain. This proved to be the best decision as by half past ten it cleared and we did not get wet at all.

Opposite our overnight mooring used to be Bedworth Golf Club but it went out of business in 2006. The site remained unused for several years but in 2014 a developer started to negotiate for planning permission for a medium sized housing estate. It cannot have been for some time that construction eventually got underway and we could just see some signs of work in progress. A few streets are not complete but there is some way yet to go.

At the north end of the development site we could just discern the start of a short arm, now abandoned. At one time, Bedworth had numerous coal mines but now there is little to see, other than perhaps in the names of some local streets, such as Colliery Lane North.

The start of the former Bedworth Hill Arm now provides a useful winding hole - midway between Hawkesbury Junction to the south and Marston Junction to the north, each a mile and a half or more away.

Adjacent to the arm is a bridge - the sloped access on the left of the photo (the arm is to the right) is a suggestion that made it easier for horses to turn right here to pull boats into (or out of0 the arm, most likely to be laden with coal.

One of the most well known and photographed spots on this canal is Charity Dock with is ever-changing eclectic mix of oddly dressed mannequins.

Nice to see that at least The Stig is still here, even if Top Gear is no more.

We thought that we had found out about the name Charity Dock and written about it in a much earlier blog but we cannot find any trace. So, starting again, we think that we have perhaps not found this information before now, taken from here.

Charity Colliery was sunk on land owned by the Rev. Nicholas Chamberlaine charity in Bedworth. The first shafts were sunk in 1776 and these were referred to as Charity Nr. 1 Colliery, and the location of these was at Coalpit Fields in Bedworth. Another set of shafts were sunk in 1830 and this was called Charity Nr. 2 Colliery also in Coalpit Fields. The Charity did not mine the land themselves they let out the mineral rights and took Royalties on every ton of coal extracted. It turned out to be a very lucrative business and allowed the charity to erect a school and almshouses in the town. The second colliery Charity Nr. 2 when sunk in 1830 was to provide employment for ribbon weavers who were out of work because of a depression in the silk trade. 

And so we passed Marston Junction, the start of the Ashby Canal. We were due at Trinity Marina on Thursday to leave the boat there for a couple of weeks whilst we return home for a diary-packed series of meetings and appointments. However, last night we found that the journey to collect the car from Cropredy is longer than anticipated and so today Christine rang to arrange to arrive tomorrow afternoon. For now we leave exploring the Ashby until the next trip.

Griff Colliery had a long history of coal mining and was one of the more important in the area. Its seams were close to the surface and much we extracted by open cast methods. It closed in the early 1950s along with many other pits across the country. The Coventry Canal connected to Griff via a slightly longer arm than the others and the photo is of a turnover bridge close to the junction.

We came across this remarkable, and horrendous, story about life at Griff.

Ernest Thomas Green, died on 2 Nov 1913, (accident: 23 Sep 1913), aged 22. He was an Incline attendant, His duties were to attend to the self-acting incline in the gate road and to assist in lowering single tubs from the flat sheets to the incline top, a distance of 29 feet with a gradient for the full load of 1 in 9. When taking a tub down deceased was in front with his face towards the tub, and the loader was behind the tub. It went rather faster than usual owing to one of the back wheels having become partly loose on the axle, and the locker in the opposite wheel having little effect on it. Deceased's head and chest were crushed between the moving tub and another standing at the blocks on the incline top. To go in front of a tub down an incline roadway was a breach of Special Rule 88, and General regulation 26. Deceased resumed work on October 12th and continued for seven or eight days. He was again medically attended and died from septic meningitis and pleurisy on November 2nd. (see)

There is a loop line between Nuneaton and Coventry. Whilst it does carry freight - this container was part of a very long train - there is an hourly passenger service each way between Nuneaton and Leamington Spa.

We continued to Bridge 21 where, just the other side from this photo, there is a good winding hole and after turning around we moored nearby for lunch.

Spotting canalside houses for sale can often give some additional insight into the through which we are passing. This one, on Greenmoor Road to the left of the photo is on the western side of Nuneaton and, as the estate agent says, is a traditional three bed semi in good condition. It has just one room on the ground floor in addition to a small kitchen. The three bedrooms share a single shower room. Surprisingly compact. Asking price: £245,000.

We continued to retrace our morning route and stopped on a suggested mooring shortly before Marston Junction. The depth of water alongside the excellent piling was unexpectedly missing but we did not feel like trying again. So, we have a security moat for added protection tonight - no extra charge.

7.6 Miles - 0 Locks

Hawkesbury Junction

Today's Canal : Coventry

We were ready to depart this morning in good time with our first stop planned to be just before the bridge at the start of the basin. Here we wanted to empty two elsan cassettes and also dispose of some rubbish. But the we were pipped to the post by a boat from the other arm which had just reversed out and also stopped at the service block. We had to wait until they moved on - the water points are just outside the basin so we did not expect them to be there for very long. As the above photos show, it was a bright, sunny morning.

Once we too had finished with the services we moved under the narrow Drapers Field Bridge to call at a water point (there are three here!) This was an essential stop as we were by now down to a perilously low level in our tank.

It was after 10.30 by the time were ready to start the day's cruise properly. Very soon we passed once  more the electric wharf, Coventry's first power station, opening in 1895 at Sandy lane. It was gradually expanded, mainly to meet the needs of the many munitions factories during WW1. In 1898, the company had 100 customers and supplied just under 80 MWh in the whole year. The new Hinkley Point C nuclear power station will generate that much power in under 2 seconds. Sandy Lane closed in 1976.

We managed a slightly better view of Cash's Hundred Houses than on Friday.

As we passed under bridge 5a, just after the Stoke Heath basin, we saw a strange decoration on the top but did not work out what it meant.

We planned to stop at Bridge 6 to make a quick visit to Aldi but alas the mooring rings there have all been sawn off. Instead we continued to Bridge 8. After tying up, Mike walked to Tesco. He was delighted that the entrance to the retail park was only about 150m from the mooring but that was soon dispelled when he realised that it was more than that just to cross the bus station beside the store. There were no signs to the entrance but a local pointed Mike in the right direction. In the end he had to walk the length of one side of the store and much of the next before he could get inside. As this is a large Tesco Extra, it took some time to even find where the food section was located ¬(actually almost back to the bus station, if only there was an entrance at that end!) Overall, it is clear that pedestrians and bus passengers are not really thought about as car customers arriving by car get by far the better access!

When he returned to the boat he was greeted by a subdued Christine who had just realised that she had missed putting yoghurts on the list she sent Mike to get - only enough left for today. Tough, he was not walking back . . . 

After a good lunch break we set off once more. As we passed under Bridge 10, Christine spotted a Nisa convenience shop beside the canal. So Mike pulled alongside and held the boat on the centre line whilst Christine popped to the shop and bought the full range of yoghurt flavours on offer (three!). Her trip took about one eighth of Mike's to Tesco. 

As he waited, Mike worked out that the decoration, also on this bridge, was actually a depiction of the canal route from Hawkesbury into Coventry Basin.

Before leaving, Mike made a quick dash up to the top of the bridge and discovered the legend Coventry Canal Towpath Trail.

Before long we passed Hawkesbury Junction and though the narrow Gauging Stop.

Here, working boats would be measured and their freeboard compared with a table issued to each toll stop for each registered boat. This was used to work out the a unt of cargo being carried. The toll collector would, of course, have had to look under the sheets to see what type of cargo was on board - most canal companies had different tolls for different cargoes.

6.1 Miles - 0 Locks