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Saturday 31 May 2014

A walk to Woodhall.

We set off with every hope of some sunshine later in the day. We were hoping to only travel about 75 mins so Helen stayed in and did the ironing (sorry Heather!). We passed our ad hoc mooring of the way down to Boston when we couldn't find a mooring on a pontoon and then the entrance to the Horncastle Canal. The canal opened in 1802 and closed in 1887. It was promoted by Sir Joseph Banks who was a local. It left the River With and went up through 12 locks and 11 miles to Horncastle.

The old entrance of the Horncastle Canal. A feasibility study was undertaken for its restoration in 2003. The Lincolnshire County Council adopted it so with more money available in the future we may see it reopened.

When we arrived at the mooring pontoon at Martin Dales it looked full. When we got closer a small motor boat pulled in to the only spot that could have been suitable. They were just stopping for fuel but as we were waiting another cruiser said they were moving off. After they did we swung right round and gracefully landed alongside.

As soon as we were stopped these duck came to see us and Helen game them some of my cake!

We were soon off for a walk up to Woodhall Spa. We made a deviation to see the ruins of the Kirkstead Abbey. The ground were extensive as revealed by the hummocks and mounds around. There was also little St Leonards Church. It is thought that it was built as a chantry chapel in memory of Robert de Tattershall who died in 1212. It is built right next to the abbey grounds.

The door and window in the west wall of St. Leonards Chapel are thought to date from 1212.

We then walked across footpaths to Woodhall Spa itself and at the crossroads we came to the Dambuster Memorial to 617 Squadron in the shape of one of the dams. The site was actually the site of the Royal Hydro Hotel that was hit by a parachute bomb in 1943.

617 Squadron, The Dambusters, memorial. There is also another memorial to others from 617 Squadron that ave died in conflicts sine WWII.

Woodhall Spa came into being when a coal pit was dug but no coal was found and the shaft flooded. Cattle seemed to do well when drinking the water and it was found to be rich in iodine and bromine and a spa was set up with a complex to give water treatments. It became popular and various hotels and supporting shops were built. A Mr and Mrs Tom Wield moved to the area to look after the Spa complex and bath houses. They had this house moved here. It is a prefabricated building built by Boulton and Paul. He set up a business making invalid carriages to move patients from the hotels to the spa complex. They were pulled by donkeys that he also rented. 1/3d per hour for them both. His youngest son John then moved into the business and house and stayed there until 1963. He was also a keen photographer and his pictures are preserved in the museum now housed in the building.

Wield's prefabricated cottage of 1884, Woodhall Spa. Now a lovely little museum, well worth a visit.

We followed a guided walk around the area and came to the spa complex. It has been disused for several years and in 1983 the well collapsed inwards and can now not hope for restoration.

Woodhall Spa bath house and treatment complex. It was built in 1839 and modified and enlarged over the years.

When the Spa business started to wane the then owner built a cinema next to the complex, on the old sports area, to add another attraction. Space was limited so they projected on to the screen from behind as the picture would have been obscured by the wooden beams of the roof trusses. It is still in use and is now the only rear projection cinema in use in the UK.

The Kinema in the Park built in 1922. The airmen from the numerous airfields around used to call it the 'Flicks in the sticks'. The car park was quite full when we passed.

The Town has a feeling of a gentile town with nice shops and parades that have a feel of the seaside towns. In 1888 there were plans to make the place a garden town and architect Richard Adolphus Came was brought in and he is responsible for the half timbered rustic style of buildings and the wide roads etc. I am glad that there was space on the pontoon for us to stop and have a look around. Another 13,000 steps today.

This morning I was listening to all the horror stories of the wicked acts carried out against women around the world recently and whilst walking around it was reinforced to me how lucky we are here as there were police omen and posties, girls were driving cars and boats, and they were out and about, dressing as they pleased and being seen with anybody they wanted. I am perhaps not known for my dealings with women but I am grateful for the freedoms they have, and I am aware that there is still a long way to go for equality, even in our own country. Just thought I had to say something.

Friday 30 May 2014

Kyme oh!

Just for a change the sun was shining when I got up to make the tea. We had to do some washing before we left as we needed to fill up with water as it may have been a few days before we could fill up again. Our plan was to go t Anton's Gowt and have a look at the navigable drains. When we got there the water levels looked okay but we decided not to venture down the drains this time as the weed situation looked a little abundant. We will have to come back sometime as we didn't get to see the Maud Foster Windmill so 'doing the drains' would give us another reason.


Anton's Gowt Lock. River Witham.

The route up river from here is quite straight so Helen went down and baked a cake and made some ginger biscuits so it was worth being on my own. To help pass the time I tried to stay close to the bank so as to be out the main current. The tide seaward of the Grand Sluice must have fallen below that of the River about 1045 as at that time the current really picked up and so it paid to try to keep out of it for speed and fuel consumption reason.

One of the long straights after Anton's Gowt.

There was a fair bit of wildlife about with some red kites flying really low and some Great Crested Grebe chicks. I don't think that I have ever seen any before. Unfortunately I didn't get much of a close up.

The chicks were quite nicely marked and could dive straight away so making it even more difficult to get a photograph of them.

We were aiming for the River Slea as we thought we would leave the River Witham and have a poke about down there. The navigation  no longer goes all the way to Sleaford but it does got about 7.5 miles in from the junction. There is no lock at the entrance, just pointy doors that close when the level in the Witham is higher than the River Slea. There is a short cut and a bridge to travel down to get to the doors and we had to go quite a way down until we could confirm that the doors were open. We trickled in through the gates and cleared the bridges with a good bit of headroom.

Just passing under the road bridge and approaching the pointy doors to enter the River Slea or Kyme Eau as this first bit of the river is called.

The banks were lower so we were hoping that it would be a nice trip up the Kyme Eau. However we hadn't gone very far before we came to a floating boom across the river! I contemplated landing Helen at the bridge and getting her to let go the boom and passing it round us and fixing it again but I couldn't see where I could get her back aboard. Our trip was curtailed before it had started. I thought that the river was open for navigation and saw no notice about this so a bit of a shame really.

The floating boom across the Kyme Eau

We winded inside the pointy doors and headed out again. We were hoping to see the seal that we had spotted eating a fish on the way down but even that was in hiding as it was nowhere to be seen before we arrived at Dogdyke and moored up on the pontoon. After lunch I set to doing a little sanding of rust on the pole and plank rack on the roof and enjoyed the afternoon sun.

Thursday 29 May 2014

15,000 steps.

When we set out it was drizzling still but it soon stopped, but we never saw the sun. We went to suss out the Maud Foster Drain as we are thinking of going round there tomorrow. With the mooring situation I think we will give it a miss, especially as the mill will be closed any way. The Maud Foster was built in 1819 and is one of the tallest in the UK. It was built by Issac and Thomas Reckitt who couldn't really make it pay and moved to Hull, and became what we now know as Reckitt and Colman!

Maud Foster Mill, Boston. The black line running up the right hand side of the windows is a chain. At the bottom of which is a sign saying 'For attention please ring'.

We walked back through the Central park with an aviary and came out at the Centenary Methodist Church where we dropped some stuff at for charity.
Centenary Methodist Church, Boston. The very decorated front hides a simple brick back end.

After a bit of window shopping and lunch, and waiting for a funeral to finish we entered 'The Stump' or St Botolphs. This is another church that claims to be the largest parish church in England. Holy Trinity in Hull is another, but I think this one may well beat it. It was started in 1309 and the main church was completed 1390. The tower around 1425 and took about 90 years to finish. St Botolph was an Anglo Saxon noble who was sent to a Benedictine Abbey in France to be educated with his brother Adolph. His brother went on to be a Dutch Bishop but Botolph came home and founded the church here in Boston and after a lifetime of holy endeavour was given sainthood. The tidal surge earlier in the year had submerged the church to a depth of about a metre by the look of it but they are slowly getting it all sorted.

The Chancel, choir stalls and altar from the main body of the church.

We paid our money and they used a big key to open the door to allow us up 209 steps, 140 feet, to the viewing gallery up the tower. The shape of the lantern tower is what gave 'The Stump' it's name but nobody knows when the name started. There were views on all four sides. The weather was a bit misty but it was well worth the climb.

 The River Witham comes in to the top and arrives at the railway bridge and thew Grand Sluice. You can see the current caused by letting the water out of the river. Our mooring is the furthest from time and we are the boat that sticks the furthest out into the river.

County Hall.

Helen enjoying the rest after the climb. We were speculating about the square holes in the flying buttresses. We wondered whether it was either for reducing wind resistance or maybe were the scaffolding was secured.

Church Street.


This is a 15 Century building that was renocated in the 19th Century. It had a theatre added to the back and became the Shod Friars Theatre. It was here that Arthur Towle first trod the boards. Arthur Towle was better known as as Artur Lucan and even better known as 'Old Mother Riley'. We initially sold programmes and swept up but with an outbreak of measles and got his start. It is interesting to note that Old Mother Riley died on stage in Hull, on stage. Another Hull coincidence.

For those that are interested, Ann that is. here are the differences in the jigsaw puzzles we could find.
1.  Windmill sails.
2.  Horse and rider.
3.  Car is different colour.
4.  Mallard missing.
5.  Lock gate colour.
6.  Boat name colour.
7.  Extra bollard.
8.  Lamp post globe.
9.  Window boxes x 2.
10. Waitress in door way.
11. Cat/dog on roof of boat.
12. Swallow facing opposite direction.
13. Middle swan pointing other way.
14. Crested grebe/female mallard.
If you count two window boxes then that makes 15!

Oh yes the 15,000 steps in the title is how many steps we did walking around today.

Wednesday 28 May 2014

Boston Buildings.

It was a miserable morning again and the cloud was so low the top of 'The Stump' was obscured. We sallied forth despite the rain as it was market day and we wanted to see if they had a few things we needed. The Market Place is large and pedestrianised. There is a statue to Herbert Ingram who was born in Boston and founded the London Illustrated News. He and his son lost their lives in a shipping incident on the Great Lakes in America.

Herbert Ingram 1811 - 1860.

The Tourist Information office was at the Guild Hall so after picking a map and a couple of leaflets we had a look around. The Guildhall was built for the Guild of the Blessed St Mary in 1390. The Guild was a sort of insurance policy for the rich of Boston for getting into Heaven. The subscription ensured that prayers were said everyday by the poor of the town to ensure you were viewed generously when arriving at the Pearly Gates. The traders made fortunes out of wool and wine and other trading and Boston was the largest port in the country other than London. They enjoyed unrivaled riches and this set the basis for the richness of the architecture and the size of the town left today. All went well until Henry VIII and the dissolution of the monasteries. Guilds survived but Henry's son Edward VI wanted more money so he shut down the Guilds, of which there were many, and they were very rich. Fortunately Henry had given a them a letter that stated that they could retain their riches. There fore they were able to argue that all the riches and building should be given to the Council of the Town and so the Guild Hall became the Town Hall.

The Banqueting of the Guild Hall.

It became the local lock up and the petty assizes and as such it is said that the Pilgrim Fathers were locked up here after being prevented from fleeing from the country the first time in 1607. There were many lovely buildings around the town and there were loads of little alleys and ten foots. Maybe it is fanciful but it reminded me of all the little alleys in Venice! 

The Exchange building was built in 1772 by the Boston Corporation as a fish market with rooms above.

Exchange Building on West Side of the Market Place.

The White Hart Hotel near Town Bridge. It was built in 16th Century and extended in 19th Century. The original White Hart Hotel was knocked down to make way for the road to the new Town Bridge and this building was actually called The Unicorn.

St Botolphs Church can be seen from just about everywhere in the town.

We originally thought that this was an old railway hotel as it was opposite the station but the Old Swan House was actually a feather processing factory erected in 1877. It was built for F.S Anderson who was a woman unusually. Geese had been reared on the fens for many years. They were plucked twice a year and the feathers brought here to be cured by heat before being used to stuff pillows. The factory continued in use until about mid 1950's, latterly run by Fogarty and Son.

Despite the large number of swans found on the River Witham I don't think that any swans were plucked but the emblem is splendid.

The weather is supposed to be better tomorrow so we will have another look around before moving off.


Tuesday 27 May 2014

Boston bound.

At last we were going to be getting to Boston. It seems that we have been heading that way for weeks now but it is actually it is only 13 days! First we had to get up! It had been a little dull and drizzly at about 0530 so I just rolled over again, and loo and behold by 0800 it had stopped being damp and was just dull. We got under way and just went under the bridge and tied up at Geordie's jetty. We needed fuel. In the end we filled up and it took 134 litres to top off. It means that we have used less than I thought we had so pleased with that. The bloke at the yard was very chatty and seemed to have worked at a few places between here and Calcutt Marina.

We then set off to the end of the River Witham. The way was very straight and as the weather was not very nice, even chilly in the breeze blowing down the cut between the banks. The only bend was at Anton's Gowt where the Navigable Drains are accessed. We hope to have a bit of a poke about down there on the way back.

Anton's Gowt moorings with the entrance to the Navigable Drains between the two pontoons.

After the bend 'The Stump' or St Botolph's Church stands out against the skyline and got closer and closer. The C&RT visitor moorings are the first ones you come to. The wind was blowing straight down the cut and the current was also flowing. There didn't seem to be much space and the moorings are on mainly on pontoons sticking out into the river. I rounded up and went round the back of the pontoon to see what was what as we needed water. Looking at the plan I could see we were in a long term mooring slot. Mind you the only other practical berth was also designated as long term but as it was much easier to take water from there we moved on to it. We have had to go bow in which is not our preferred way but may change over if the wind drops and we have nothing else to do. By the time we had filled the water tank the rain had started to fall and in the wind had got cold.

Boston Stump marking the end of the River Witham Navigation. The Visitor Moorings are on the left.

It was still raining when we went out to explore. As it was raining we didn't linger but headed straight for the shops for some food. We did try the Tourist Information Office but it was closed on Monday and Tuesday. Bosotn seems to get a bad press regarding the number of foreign nationals living there and there were lots of accents but the place didn't seem 'over run' in its look. There were a few European shops but not drawing attention away from the lovely assortment of buildings and the wide well laid out market square. There were a couple of narrow 'Shambles' type shopping streets, and there seemed much to explore tomorrow. We didn't hang about with the rain and didn't take any photos. We did stop for a rest from the heavy bags at The Carpenters on the way back and had a great pint of Bateman's Yella Belly. We noticed that pub near the jetty, The Witham' was having a quiz tonight so thought we would see if we could take the wooden spoon.

Monday 26 May 2014

A nature ramble.

We woke up to sun and a funny noise on the roof. Eventually I dragged myself out and went to see what it was to find an Egyptian Goose sitting there. Ni, I hadn't heard of them either! I took a photo and then went back to make some tea. By the time I was back out it had gone leaving me a good number of piles of memories!! Apparently these geese are now resident after introduction in 18th century. The vast bulk of the population, a few hundreds, are based around Holkham in North Norfolk. There were a pair here on the Witham so maybe with the less severe winters mean they are spreading. They are not unpleasant looking and have been over here quite a while now.

An Egyptian goose of the roof.

A little further on was the Dogdyke Pumping Station that used to control the water levels in the fenlands. It is now a museum and still occasional runs its steam driven beam engine and wooden scoop wheel along with a museum in the keepers old house and a diesel engine and centrifugal pump. It is open next weekend so if we are passing at the right time we will see if we can get to see it.

Dogdyke pumping station with the attendants house on the right.

There are some moorings at Dogdyke where there is the Packet Inn. Just a little bit further on was the entrance of the River Slea into the River Witham. We are hoping to travel up on the way back. As we approached I saw a seal that dived as we approached. Unfortunately by the time it surfaced we were too far a way for a decent photograph but it had caught a huge fish and was making short work of it. The crew of the weed cutting boat had told me that there was one about and it was good to see it looking well. I'm not sure how they cope with living in fresh water rather than there more usual salt.

Dogdyke mooring and the Packet Inn.

After Dogdyke and the River Slea the river becomes almost straight for over four miles. We were overtaken by two narrowboats and there were several cruisers heading back Lincoln way. Although the route was straight and the banks were high we were kept amused by watching some Red Kites soaring above us. We also saw a cuckoo and several cormorants so despite having few revs on the currant moved us along smartly and we arrived at Langrick Bridge soon enough. There was nobody on the moorings there so we stopped. We are hoping to take fuel from Geordie's Chandlery tomorrow. We did have a walk around but there isn't very much here at all. However there is authentic New York Diner just by the moorings but it was closed. The bridge is quite busy but it is single direction working.

Langrick Bridge and moorings.

We had a lazy afternoon and rather than start to rain as I thought it actually became a really nice evening. We sat out and Helen was inspired to give my locks a trim. It is a sure sign that we are approaching civilisation soon.

Sunday 25 May 2014

Up in the air with admiration.

The morning dawned fair and we set off around 1000. We were hoping that there would be a berth near to Tattershall or Dog Dyke. The banks are still high but the River Witham meanders a bit more and this maintains interest. The first possible mooring was just under the Bridges at Tattershall Bridge and loo and behold there was space so we pulled in. The old brick bridge was superseded in 1992 and no longer used for anything.

Our mooring just down from the two bridges.

We later walked up to the village of Tattershall and on the way passed the National Trust property of Tattershall Castle. There was a busy trade and teas etc were being served at the church next door. We walked into the village to buy the paper and then followed footpaths over to Coningsby where the Battle of Britain memorial Flight is based.

Tattershall Castle

The airfield is not normally open at the weekend but being a Bank Holiday it was. They were very surprised to see so many there as previously they had only had a few turn up. We had a wait of about 40 mins for our guided tour of the flight but there was plenty to see and read in the small museum. It was very interesting and I had to return after the tour to finish everything. There were about a dozen on the tour. Some planes were out at airshows etc but there were plenty to see. The retired guide was very knowledgeable and interesting and the hour tour passed quickly.

Series 2 Spitfire taht was actualy used during the Battle of Britain with a Merlin engine.

The Hurricane was the type of plane that actually shot down 60% of the enemy planes during the Battle of  Britain. It was older than the Spitfire and was mainly covered in Irish Linen on wood with a metal main frame. The Spitfire was metal all through. The Hurricane was easier to fly and more rugged and easier to land. The green tank in front of the cockpit is the fuel tank, about 85 gallons, so not much flight time.

One of only two flying Lancaster bombers. The other is in Canada and is coming to the UK for August. It is going to Humberside Airport to carry out flights as it is fitted with seats. Apparently it will be around £3000 a trip. The engines are also Merlins and a crew of 7. 

The wing span is about twice the length of the fuselage and the fuel was in four tanks in the wings.

Rear cockpit of the Lancaster where the majority on gunners would punch the perspex out so that they could see better. They could have to suffer -30C temps and couldn't wear their parachutes in the enclosed space. All were brave men indeed.

So many of the fliers ended up in places like this around the world. The ages were from 18 to 22 in the majority. It doesn't seem possible to think of such a thing these days. We owe so much.





 We actually finished the jigsaw last night so here is a Bank Holiday test for you. Can you find the 15 difference between the two picture. Just to make it more interesting I can't seem to put the pictures the right way up!

We had a couple of pints in the pub close to the moorings, The Royal Oak. They only had Green King Abbots Ale on but after a walk from the village it was most welcome.

Saturday 24 May 2014

No room at the Inn.

First thing it was nice, with even a bit of sun. I let Macy the cat out whilst I made Helen a cup of tea and squared off the galley etc. I left Macy sitting on the deck of the pontoon in the warmth of the sun and took the tea through to Helen. A few minutes later there was such a commotion and as I went to find out what it was this things dashed through the cabin in such a haste that I didn't get to recognise it. It turns out that Macy must have fallen in and almost straight away climbed up the rear button fender and dashed inside. I didn't recognise her as she was half her normal size being wet. She has been chasing flies so I think that she may have over stepped the mark a little. We were lucky as there is quite a run on the River Witham at the moment so we have all learned valuable lesson today. It will be interesting to see how long it is before she ventures out again! The rain came soon after and we stayed put until after lunch when it just about stopped.

Just down from the mooring is the Bardney Sugar factory. It now doesn't take beet I don't think but makes liquid sugar and is used for storage.

The banks are quite high on this stretch and there isn't much to see. There was one spot to be had at the pontoons at Southrey/Dunston but we were heading for Martin Dales as we wanted to walk into Woodhall Spa. However when we got there the moorings were full and as we didn't see anybody we didn't want to just double up so carried on.

Martin Dales Moorings.

As we passed under the bridge I could see there were planes flying round ahead. As Tattershall is the home of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight I thought that with the castle and being a Bank Holiday Saturday the likelyhood of space on the one mooring would be slim and I didn't fancy going on to Boston then. Just as we passed the end of Timberland Delph, a drainage ditch we came across a length of concrete that looked deep enough. A quick decision was made and we rounded up and parked up. It is a place where a gas main cross the river so the bank was made hard and very handy too. Not long after we had moored up there was the noise of planes approaching and loo and beholf a Hurricane and Spitfire flew very low overhead. (At least I think that is what they were). Helen loves planes and was very thrilled to get a grand stand seat.

Our mooring for the night.

Macy got her second scare of the day when this cow seemed to want to come aboard. Mind you Helen was having kittens too as it was much closer than it looks in this photo.

This is the entrance to Timberland Delph and it is navigable for a couple of miles but there is nothing to see up there. Further down there will be opportunities to explore a little on these navigable drains and through these pointing doors for access.

The rain was soon back and it was quite a miserable afternoon/evening so we did what anybody would do and...breakout a jigsaw! Amy had given us one with a boaty theme but unusually just to make it tricky the picture had fifteen deliberate mistakes. I had never seen that before. Mind you we have cracked on and will have ti done by tomorrow. We are hoping that there will be a berth for us at Tattershall or Dog Dyke. If not we will just carry on and do these stops on the way back.

Friday 23 May 2014

Bardney Bound.

We set off quite early for us and had to back down towards the lock to spin round and head the right way. The weed cutting boat was coming up through the lock to go and work at Barton Waters Marina. They told me that they had seen a seal in the River Witham so we will have to keep our eyes open. There was a fair current in the river after the heavy rain yesterday and over night and the warning light was to proceed with caution. It didn't take us long to get to Five Mile Bridge.

 Five mile Bridge is the first bridge after Lincoln and it is only a foot bridge, five miles from Lincoln!

We were soon at Bardney lock where we went alongside by the lock to take water, dump rubbish and get rid of other stuff. By the time we were finished and had the lock turned round there was a cruiser coming and the wind had sprung up so I struggled to get the boat turned. In the end I reversed back up to the lock and turned there. We shared the lock with two of the cruisers and helped with the other. They were all off to Boston for the weekend.

The old railway bridge just by the lock which now carries the Water Rail cycle way.

Not far down from the lock was the pontoon by the road bridge over the river at Bardney. We soon finished lunch and had a walk into the village. Just near the river is the Bardney Heritage Centre that is in the recreated station building. Next was the only existing goods shed of its type.

Bardney Heritage Centre. The carriages are B&B cabins and there is a tea shop too.

There were displays in the waiting room. It seems the building by the canal was the Morrell's vegetable canning factory. It closed in 1994. To the North East of the village was Bardney Aerodrome that was built in 1943 which was a satellite of RAF Waddington. It was from here that IX Squadron of Lancaster bombers operated from. One of their major successes was they sank the German battleship Tirpitz in a Norwegian fjord. In 1959 it was one of a few bases that had the new American Thor intermediate missiles, with three stationed there. They were removed in 1963 and the base closed.

St Lawrence's Church Tower with gargoyles.

The church was very interesting as it was built in 1434. The original church had fallen down a few years before. The villagers used the Nearby Abbey church but the Abbot thought that they were disruptive so had the church built in the village to give them peace!

The Abbey was first built by the Anglo Saxons in around 675 by Ethelred, the King of Mercia. He buried his father in law's body there, King Oswald. He became a Saint after his body that was being transported was left outside the gates at night as they were locked when they arrived. A pillar of light was seen beaming up to heaven from the coffin and the Abbot recognised him as a Saint and never closed the doors again on God's people. That is why in Lincolnshire, if somebody leaves a door open they would say 'where you born in Bardney?'. The abbey was closed due to sacking  by Vikings in about 870 and St Oswalds remains taken to Gloucester. After the Normans arrived it was rebuilt in 1087 and expanded in the 1400's until the dissolution. The monks rebelled and six of them were hanged drawn and quartered at Lincoln for their trouble. The Abbey was finally closed in 1538 and the stones used to built a manor house for the new land owner Sir Robert Tyrwitt.

The church has several of these charity boards that declare the bequests made. These are quite unusual as they have pictures of the benefactors. I like the finger pointing to the moral at the bottom, even more so as the like wife should read likewise (I assume).

This stone slab was dug from the ruins of the Abbey. It weighs 4 tonnes and is the tombstone of Abbot Horncastle, 1466 to 1507. It is beautifully carved.

Tribute to IX Squadron that was erected in 1980 and is a propeller of a Lancaster bomber.

Just by the RAF memorial are the alms houses that were built in 1712 as a hospital for 7 men and seven women but in the 20th Century were converted to flats for six elderly people with connections to the area.

Bardney Alms Houses.

I found this very fascinating especially with flour, corn and cake dealers, and offal too!

We had seen that the Heritage centre served fish and chips on Friday to eat in our out so on the way back we picked up some to eat on the boat. It was something that we weren't expecting so pigged out a bit. Nice though.