Just been lazy at Union Wharf.

I was up early enough and I walked into town, Market Harborough, for a bit of shopping also earlier enough, but once I got back to the boat my good intentions disappeared. I had planned to sort out a bit of the paint work by rubbing down areas with a little rust and then  rust treating it before painting it later. I didn't even pick up the sanding paper! I did take the curtain poles down on a couple of windows to put a few more rings on them so the curtains would hang nicely. Then nothing really seemed to get done but the time disappeared.

The Union Wharf Basin has been enlarged since it's working days and has a large story to tell as it was the site of the First Inland Waterways Association Rally where the battle to prevent the canals being lost following the almost total loss of cargo carrying on them.

A boat, Rodney?, at the IWA Rally in 1950 in front of Trenery's Wood Yard.

Trenery's wood yard was where the blue hire boats are now moored. The water has been widened here. The building behind was a Factory that made Bentwood products that has been converted to flats. To the left of the factory was a yard that built and repaired boats.

Union Wharf looking north.

To the east of the basin, at it's head was the bonded warehouse for valuable goods. It is now a restaurant. To the south of the basin was open stowage with coal tips and wood stacks. There was a small cut off the basin at right angles there too.

Bonded warehouse at Union Wharf.

Just to the side of the warehouse is a sculpture that is actually a sundial. It has been working over time recently with the good weather. The time is read of on the bench seat.

Bargee sundial, Union Wharf.