We were off a little earlier than normal and the sun was bright as we approached Broad Street Tunnel.
The Tap and Spile on the left and a clear run through to Brindley Place.
We were heading for Sherbourne Wharf by the Fiddle and Bone as I had heard the fuel was 60p domestic and felt that was a good price for her to the south. As we approached through Sheepcote Bridge the large trip boat went alongside. We carried on and went to wind at Monument Road Basin and headed back. I found a spot just by the wharf and sat and wait until they vacated the fuel berth. As I was waiting we filled up with water rather than stop again at the water point by the Cube.
Holderness from the tunnel under the Round House.
At Edgbaston Tunnel there was a bit of offside bank repair going on and had to doge round the dredger and butty. You can see that the route is very busy with boats (we only saw three moving all day) trains, walkers and bikes.
The Chamberlain Campanile Tower clock is not broken, it actually was 1200 when we passed. The big bell that rings the hour sounded as though it needed tuning, or had a crack in it. The tower is the tallest free standing clock tower in the world at 100 mts. It was built between 1900 to 1908 and is named after the first Chancellor, Joseph Chamberlain.
Soon after the University on the other side is the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. It was opened in 2010 and cost a cool £545 million and replaced two older ones. It is the largest single site NHS hospital and has the largest critical care unit in Europe with over 100 beds. The architecture is distinctive.
We moored up opposite Bournville and actualy didn't go to the factory shop. The smells were enticing but we resisted. Just our iron will coming out. We wanted to have a look round the village as we had never been. Above is the Rest House that was opened in 1914 to celebrate the Silver Wedding Anniversary of George and Elizabeth Cadbury and paid for by subscription of their employees. George and Richard Cadbury moved their succesful business from the middle to a green field site in 1879. By 1895 when George started building Bournville village he was a very wealthy man and was compelled to build a planned and balanced community for his workers.
On the extreme left is Minworth Greaves and the main house is Selly Manor. Both buildings were moved from their original sites and brought here by George Cadbury in the early 1900's.
All the houses in the village I think were semi detached but there are no two pairs the same. You can see in the above photo that details make each set different. The village has green spaces and every house had to have a garden large enough for a veg. patch and a fruit tree.
On top of the junior school that was opened in 1906 is the Carillon that has 48 bells in it and replaced an earlier on after George Cadbury had seen the one in Brugge.
After about 90 mins we were back at the boat and set off again for King's Norton Junction.
The junction Toll House was built in 1802 and has a reproduced list of the tolls charged in 1793 set up in 1993.
The Lifford Lane Guillotine stop lock was designed to protect the waters of the two canal companies, The Worcester and Birmingham and the Stratford upon Avon canals. All the gear is original.
Apparently the cameo above the portal is Shakespeare!
A little while after the tunnel we stopped for water as we had done two loads of washing. We kept going to find somewhere in the sun to dry it all. A little later we saw this fox soaking up some rays in a patch of sunshine. He did move when a cyclist went past.
Despite having housing on at least on side of the canal there were many parts of the canal that you couldn't really tell. The trees and dappled sun makes for a very picturesque view.
We got moored up and had the airer and wirly gig out to try to get the washing dry. It seems to have been a long day, but it is definitely getting warmer.
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