On the move again.

After a great nights sleep we were feeling refreshed in the morning and after filling up with water we were off, a couple of hundred metres to the service block. Not long after we were off to Ashton.

Geese at the Fairfield Junction Services.

When we got to Ashton we moored up just after the junction and went shopping for a few things. Once we got back we had lunch and then set off up the Huddersfield Narrow Canal. Firstly we found the bargain basement section of Asda as we went right under the shop.

Passing under Asda in Ashton.

Cavandish Mill with a lovely chimney and corner rooms. It appears to be some sort of hostel at the moment with lovely big windows.

The first lock soon appears. They are numbered west and east so the first one here is 1W. There seems to be a mix of hydraulic and ratchet gear.

First glimpse of the hills to come approaching Lock 2W with Wellington Mill to port.

There was an aqueduct that passed just above the River Tame with no rail or barrier on the off side. It seemed very odd to be so close to the water and crossing it.

Aqueduct above the River Tame.

Amy awaiting the lock to fill.

Approaching Stalybridge with the hills even closer.

We moored up between lock 5W and 6W outside a Chinese restaurant and went for a walk. Armentieres Square seems fine with obviously a building being rebuilt after a fire. There were plenty of people about sitting by the canal and moving between the shops. There are some nice old buildings and obviously the place had been well off in the past. Outside the Old Market Hall, now a conference centre, there is a statue. It depicts Jack Judge who was the composer of 'It's along way to Tipperary' and it was first sung at the Grand Theatre in Stalybridge. Alongside him is a 'Tommy' who took it to their hearts.

Jack Judge and 'Tommy'.

Victoria Bridge over the River Tame that was built in 1867 with ornate lamp standards and railings.

We went for a walk round the town and ended up at the Station Buffet and Bar. It was a lovely pub with lots of railway memorabilia and the beer was very good too. I would recommend it to anybody.

On the way back to the boat we passed the Central Hall that was built in 1914. The strange thing was that the billiard table was displayed in brick/tile to denote what the use of the hall was. I wonder how long it was used as a billiard hall as WW1 broke out.