Bridges

Tonight we’ve stopped at the village of Barlaston, just south of Stoke. As the crow (or duck, considering we’re on a canal) flies, we’re about seven miles from our house.

We’ve passed through Stone today, having moored overnight last night near to Aston Marina where we kept Brutus for a year or so. Of all the marinas we’ve moored at over the years, this is still our favourite – good facilities, and friendly staff.  Ian and Jane on Esio Trot, who we spent a couple of great evenings with, have gone on ahead of us (we tend to travel slowly !).

The town of Stone has a long history, much of which pre-dates the canal (opened in 1777) by several centuries, and was originally where the head quarters of the Trent and Mersey Canal Company was located. When the canal was bought by the Staffordshire Railway Co, the HQ was closed and became a chocolate factory !  – unfortunately long gone now. Two nights ago we were moored at Little Haywood as we remembered a lovely walk for the dogs on Cannock Chase nearby, starting at a place called Seven Springs.

Walking on Cannock Chase

Along this stretch of canal are a number of different bridges – well, they’re a bit different from the ‘standard’ brick accommodation bridges which are to be seen on almost all canals on the system.

Essex Bridge – driveway to Shugborough Hall

 

Great Haywood Junction bridge

 

So called ‘Fancy Bridge’

 

A split bridge at a lock tail – the gap was to allow the tow rope to pass through, as horses used to pull boats into or out of the lock

 

By way of contrast, rather than overhead rather more in the ‘depths of the underworld’ ! – lock 95 on the Stone flight.

There used to be two breweries at Stone – Joules and Bents. Joules is now an engineering works, whereas part of the original Bents has been reopened as the Lymehouse micro brewery.