Cotmanhay

 Today's Canal - Erewash

The day began much brighter and not anything like as chilly as the past few days. Nevertheless, caution led us to retain long sleeves Apart from a few short spells when darker clouds threatened rain, the sky was blue with fluffy white clouds. After lunch the temperature rose considerably and we were as warm as we would want to be when tackling some fairly demanding locks.

So, we set off with just a very short distance to out first lock of the day: Dockholme.

Sandiacre Lock is just below the junction with the former Derby Canal. The first lock on that canal was just under the bridge. The lock cottage is the base for the Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust whose aim is to restore as much of the canal as possible, potentially with a link through to the other end at Swarkestone on the Trent and Mersey. When we last came this way in 2017, the cottage was open and we could see how life was like in the past for those who lived here.

We stopped at the Padmore Moorings for a quick trip to the Co-Op which is just across the adjoining road. Originally the mooring was one of two coal wharves that served the area around Sandiacre. Near by there was also a rope making factory, set up to cater for the thriving canal industry.

As we set off once more we immediately passed Springfeld Mill. In 2017 we noted that a new developer was just making a start on the conversion into 100 apartments and they proved popular with young professionals. However, in April 2020 there was a devastating fire that destroyed a large part of the building. Work has now started to repair the building once more.

At Pastures Lock we begin to see more open territory although suburban sprawl continues for much of the western side of the canal northwards to Langley Mill.

This former railway bridge was the main connection from the huge Stanton Iron Works and the main line, with a myriad of other lines branching out across the complex site. Google aerial view shows some tracks still visible but blocked at various places. However, part of the redevelopment of the site will include an infrastructure operation for HS2.

Gallows Inn Lock takes its name from the adjacent eponymous pub (looking in need of some TLC). It seems that in the 14th century the plague led to the Assizes being moved to Ilkeston from Nottingham. A gallows was erected nearby to enable the swift implementation of sentences. It lasted until around 1870 when it was finally blown down in a storm!

Stenson's Lock was the last of the day and one of the hardest to work. In the past we have had a view fr om here of the nearby Bennerley Viaduct but too much vegetation blocked the view today and we could see nothing. Nearby we saw a notice that 'the bridge is closed' and some obviously new work is in progress. From the website of The Friends Of Bennerley Viaduct it seems that this ramp will give access to the level of the original deck. Eventually it is hoped that visitors will be able to walk across the viaduct.

By now we were looking for a mooring a little later than expected as the last two locks were much slower than anticipated. For most of today we seem to have been following a boat going up. It cannot have  been  very far ahead as even when a couple of boats passed us in the other direction, we did not have the benefit of locks set for us.

6.5 Miles - 10 Locks

Long Eaton

 Today's Navigations - Trent and Mersey, River Trent, Sawley Cut, Erewash

As forecast, the day started slightly warmer an with a hint of sunshine at times. Conditions were quite pleasant for cruising if not for taking photos. Alas, after lunch - without much warning and against the current forecast - drizzle arrived which gradually turned even wetter.

Just after setting off we dropped down Aston Lock last last of the notorious locks below Burton. Although heavy to work - as are most broad locks - there were no particular problems here. We recalled that in the past this one had a tendency for the bottom gates to drift open when empty but none of that today.     There was a steady stream of walkers, crossing the fields from the nearby village of Aston, mostly taking their dogs for a walk.

Along the next section we encountered several moving boats - nice to see some activity. We were passed by a canal-based blacksmith. It seems that his workshop is in a pusher tug which is tightly coupled to the boat on which he lives.

Shortly before Shardlow we caught up with a boat that was out for a short trip from its mooring in Chapel Farm Marina, before setting off to head up the River Soar. We shared the Shardlow Lock with them but they pulled onto the water point below whilst we carried on.

Whilst Shardlow still features many old canal buildings, a reminder of the time when this was an important inland port, it is surprising that there are no boater facilities here other than a single water point.

Alongside the Malt Shovel pub used to be a popular visitor mooring but at the moment there are extensive repairs underway, putting in place piling with a concrete cap. Let's hope they remember the mooring rings!

Alongside Sharlow Flood gates two men were creating something from a row of pollarded trees. They were fixing a metal framework but its purpose completely escaped us!

Now that is taking  the concept of a wide beam canal boat to an extreme!

Presumably it lowered its wheelhouse to get under the nearby bridge between the marina and the Trent.

And so down Derwent Mouth Lock, the last (or first) on the long Trent and Mersey Canal. A couple of chaps walking by took an interest which proved rather helpful when the offside bottom gate decided to open itself just as Christine was about to board the boat. Thanks folks! 

Our chance to open up the throttle on a wide open river did not last long - about ten minutes.

Soon we passed the Sawley Weir and entered into Sawley Cut.

Just above the main Sawley Locks we paused to use the services. It is more often the case that we bemoan a slow filling tap but in this case we suffered from one too strong! After attacking the hose (one of the flexible expanding type) Mike noticed that the water was flowing  very fast and that it could soon fill up but then the hose started to shrink again, meaning much less pressure. On inspection is seems that it was so strong that it burst the pipe! At least we keep two. So much for buying a cheap spare . . .

After the usual disposals - supplemented this time by Christine dumping the old front fender into the bin - we moved into  the lock. This one is not only mechanised but also, today, staffed with three volunteers who cheerfully and speedily saw us through. They were clearly disappointed that we were only the fourth boat they had seen today.

The Ratcliffe coal fired power station was built in 1965 and, unlike almost all the other Trent power stations, still stands. However, is scheduled to close in four years' time and there is talk of the site being used for a ground breaking fusion generation plant. We shall have to wait and see whether its skyline will be as iconic.

We met a line of three boats going upstream en route from the Soar as we approached the entrance to the Erewash Canal so negotiating the entry was more complicated than usual as went around them just before making the turn. Trent Lock follows immediately after.

Above the lock we moored up for lunch. As we started off again, the drizzle arrived. Shortly after we passed the long-established Mills Boatyard with its dry docks.

The area around Long Eaton lock was at one time filled with a range of lace factories and mills. That business was for a period highly successful and led to the development of rows of housing for the workers. Gradually the trade dwindled and the looms fell silent. The buildings were very substantially built and so a number survived and are now being put to various uses. Whilst there are some housing projects,. most look as if they are home to a range of small industrial workshops and offices. This one was producing furniture on the ground floor.

Britannia Mills, built in 1906, however have not survived and, after demolition following a fire in 2009, permission was given to develop the site for 100 houses. Work has just started although, at present, the view from the canal is largely hidden behind large ugly security boarding.

Shortly after, with the rain persisting, we made an early stop for the night.

7.4 Miles - 7 Locks

Aston

 Today's Canal - Trent and Mersey

The forecast band of rain eventually arrived during the night and had just about cleared by the time we awoke. It was, however, distinctly chilly and as soon as we ventured outside we quickly added layers of clothing!

As we left our overnight mooring it was pretty grey and remained that way for the rest of the day, despite a few valiant but failed attempts by the sun to break through the clouds.

We continued on out of the town and the landscape gradually became even more rural, even though we had to put up with the incessant traffic noise from the A38 util much later in the day. In the area where the River Dove joins the Trent there are numerous small streams that cross the line of the canal, each bridged by an aqueduct. It seems that there is some subtle distinction between an aqueduct and a stream culvert - although the latter are always somewhat smaller.

The old Eggington Bridge is still usable but almost all the traffic now takes the modern dual carriageway.

A fiercely pollarded tree is beginning to fight back but at present is stark against the grey sky. Look rather like the baobab trees that Windows is currently using a login screen.

On the edge of Willington we spotted a house with what looks like a small dome attached to its roof. Perhaps the owner is an astronomer?

As we arrived into Willington, Christine spotted some doormats for ale from the fender maker's boat. We pulled in and she made her choice from the range on offer and it now replaces a worn our mat at the bottom of our back steps. Having stopped we took the opportunity to chat with the fender maker about a replacement front fender for Alchemy - the original was now looking the worse for wear. The front fender, more than any other, gets considerable use when in a lock so it it always best to consider it a long term consumable. We actually replaced the one on our previous boat just here, several years ago. We are not sure whether it was the same maker! He gave Mike some assistance and advice in fixing it and after some  audible grunting and groaning it was deemed to be well fitted.

Shortly after setting off once more we passed the first wide beam on this canal - it is narrow above Dallow Lane. There has been quite a growth in the number of wide boats on the canal network and is, in places, quite controversial. Clearly, the construction of this section of canal was intended to allow large barges to trade up from Shardlow to Burton carrying the output from the breweries. However, such working boats rarely moored other than at the wharves they served, where there would be room for them. The modern wide beam boats are regularly tied up at almost anywhere that a narrowboat is allowed and this can create problems when the space is arguably not enough - especially as some of the boat steerers are less experienced than the commercial workers of the past.

The cooling towers of the former Willington Power Station are still standing, unlike those at Rugeley that were demolished a couple of weeks ago. It seems that once the rest of site had been cleared following the closure, it was sold off for development. The new owner submitted plans for a substantial housing development but there was significant local opposition from residents not wanting their village to change. After the plans were rejected, the site was sold on and so far there has been no agreement about is potential use. Until that happens no-one is going to spend the money on demolition.

After three hours of level cruising we arrived at Stenson Lock - this and the three that follow are particularly deep and many people complain about how hard they are to work. At this one we had the help of a volunteer lock keeper who encouraged us to get on boars so that he could work the bottom gates for us.

The lock cottage has had a large cafe added to the front which has become a popular destination for local people. The pandemic had no doubt had a dramatic impact for them but they did seem to be doing as much business today as the social distancing rules permit.

A large meadow field with lots of flourishing poppies.

At Swarkestone Lock we had to wait whilst a couple of boats came up - they had just started to empty the lock as we loomed into distance but perhaps just too late expect them to let us take the water down. And there was no lock keeper - we had thought that they were more likely to be here than the others on the way to Shardlow.

We had just a brief glimpse through the hedge of Swarkestone Hall Pavilion. Its original purpose is a matter of  debate but by the mid 19th century it had become largely derelict. In 1985 it was rescued by the Landmark Trust but even their careful restoration found that only the shell could be re-used. It remains a holiday home.

Weston Lock proved quite hard work - the very long paddle stems on the bottom gates are very 'springy' and rebounded nearly causing Mike to take a backwards tumble but he managed to recover his balance just in time.

We continued until just before Aston Lock where we found a gap in the thick hedge in the direction of the tv satellite.

Frustratingly, after we moored the evening gradually became much pleasanter with, eventually, some bright sunshine!

12.8 Miles - 3 Locks

Burton-upon-Trent

 Today's canal - Trent and Mersey

We had planned to be back at home for a couple of weeks for a series of appointments and deliveries, returning to the boat last Saturday. However, after a trip to Trowbridge for one of the medical appointments, it was clear that there was something very amiss with the clutch. Over the next couple of days we monitored its behaviour but there was no getting away with ignoring not only the pungent smell but also the increasingly slippy clutch. We contacted the local Peugeot dealer - only a short distance from our new home - and arranged for it to be examined. Alas the report was as expected - a new clutch and flywheel. Not the cheapest of repairs, The further bad news was that they could not undertake the repair until Thursday this week and that it would take two days!

Not only did this mean that the start of our next boat trip was deferred for seven days but also we did not dare use the car other than for very short trips, mostly into town. We let Barton Marina know and they agreed to let us stay on their visitor mooring for another week (at the usual rates, of course!)

We were finally able to collect the car yesterday afternoon, with some relief and a much lighter wallet! This meant that we could drive up to the boat this morning. We made an early start (just after 9 o'clock) but needed to call at Currys PC World in Swindon on the way. Just after we moved we bought a small Kenwood mixer (mainly so that Christine can more readily order fresh bread from Mike) but on its second use it expired in a puff (or two) of smoke. Christine contacted Customer Services and it was agreed that we could upgrade to something better. Mike has long wanted a small KitchenAid mixer (we had commercial size one when we were catering at Trevanion House). We were surprised to find the store still not open when we arrived - it seems that it is not open until 10. We were second in the queue and glad that we had not made an even earlier start. Arrangements were soon made - the model we wanted was not in stock (very little was it seems) so we ordered it for collection on our return at the end of this cruise.

We finally arrived at the marina by 1 o'clock - we had rolls on the way so we could make an immediate start on unloading the car and stowing everything away on board. We also had to make a visit to the Marina Office to pay our dues.

It was a few minute after 3 when we could cast off, exit the marina and set off towards Burton-upon-Trent. Our journey plan is not over-firm but the aim is first to go up to the end of the Erewash Canal and then make our way south along the Leicester Branch of the Grand Union.

After a very short distance we arrived at Barton Lock, the first on this trip. A family with three small children took a close interest in the lock operation and helped with the opening and closing of the gates.

The Trent valley has long been an important source of sand and gravel with very large quantities extracted over the centuries. We had occasional glimpses of current working as well as the many worked out sites, now left as lakes.

A short section has the towpath on the northern side and we passed under two turnover bridges that carried the horses from one side to the other. As you approach, they look impossibly narrow although the width at the waterline is just the same as where the towpath goes under the bridge.

The cottage alongside Tattenhill Lock is unusually large - now a B&B - but perhaps has been extended over the years from its humble origins as a place for the lock keeper who would work boats through at any time of the day or night.

Although we normally look for a night mooring around 5.30, as we had not been going too long, we agreed to make it a little later today even though this meant finding somewhere on the urban stretch. Actually, that was not so much the problem as [proximity to the very noisy A38. (Of course we could not be too critical as this was the road that finally brought us back to the marina!)

Branston Lock is the last before the edge of the town. The locks along this stretch are comparatively shallow. Even when the boat is in an empty lock, the roof is still higher than the lock side.

We now began the long run through the famous brewing town of Burton-upon-Trent. Although Bass is a name ling associated with the town, the company of that name finally sold off the brand in 2000 and last year the was put on the market for redevelopment. Marstons remains as a major part of the town's economic activity.

At Shobnall a small bridge marks the entrance into a small boatyard - Jannels Cruisers. The was originally the start of the Bond End canal that link the Trent and Mersey with the nearby River Trent. At one time there was a plan to link the Ashby Canal from its terminus at Moira to the Trent and the Bond End canal. However, along with other plans to link with the Caldon Canal at Uttoxeter this never materialised. Most of this canal was an early casualty of competition,. especially railways, and was filled in by the time of the 1882 OS map leaving just the basin and the remains of the first lock. When the boatyard was created in the 1970's, the remains of the lock were used to form a dry dock which is still in operation today. As it was the start of the Bond End, the bridge is numbered 1!

Dallow Lane lock, lover shadowed by the much widened Dallow Street road bridge, is the last of the narrow locks. the rest of the canal to the Trent at Shardlow was constructed for wide beam boats.

The mural alongside Horninglow Wharf has survived remarkably well. Originally the basin was much larger but the modern A38 dual carriageway covered most of it.

The threatened band of heavy rain felt increasingly imminent and so by 6 o'clock we found a reasonable mooring spot as well away from the sound of the A38 as was possible.

6.1 Miles - 4 Locks