We left Ellesmere in the afternoon following another walk around the Mere and town as the weather was so good and then made the short hop towards Chirk.
The weather was once again superb, as it seemed to be for months on end last summer, and it was a pleasure cruising. We actually didn't meet too much traffic, or get stuck behind any either. The canal seems to be narrower on this stretch and has some impressive bends to keep the steerer awake. In this photo you can see the next bridge just to the left of the bow. You could see what was coming on this bend, but on many you can't.
This old railway Cambrian Railway embankment, that was closed in 1965,was up for sale as a woodland for £10,000. It was a shame there was no mooring at the end as I would have been tempted to buy at that price. We stopped for the night just a little further on, by the Jack Myton Pub but it was closed. However the topath side of their car park was lined with cherry trees overhanging the path and canal. It was easy to stand on the roof of the boat and pick pounds and pounds, that were soon turned into jam.
The next day we moved on to Chirk and stopped a bit before the aqueduct where there was a patch of sun and not too narrow. We soon put our glad rags on and went for a walk. This war memorial is clearly by Eric Gill. Perhaps his most famous work was that for Broadcasting House for the BBC in London. I still find it strange that the words on the memorial are 'To memory of those habitants and indwellers of the parish...'
In St. Mary's Church there are some amazing wooden roof bosses from the late 15th Century called bestiares. They represent animals and mythical beasts from the Old Testament and local legends. This would appear to the the Welsh dragon, or St. George's old mate perhaps.
On the way back to the boat we got a different view of the viaduct we are to cross the next day. The lower 70' high aqueduct was built by Thomas Telford carrying the canal between 1796 and 1801, The higher one, 100' was built by Henry Robertson in a quicker time between 1846 and 1848. However it had to be rebuilt in 1858!
When in the town we stopped for a pint at the Hand Hotel. The oldest part of the building is from the first part of the 17th Century, when James I was on the throne. It was extended in the mid 19th Century to provide a coaching in for the travellers on Thomas Telfords new improved London Holyhead road. The red hand motif is a sign of the local Myddlelton family of landowners. The legend is that the Lord had twin sons and as he was dying he needed to know which was born first so as to be able to leave the land an titles to him. To chose he ordered a race round the castle. Who got back to touch him first would inherit. One of the sons was winning until he stumbled on the stairs and would have lost. Quick thinking meant that he hacked off his hand and threw it to land on his fathers lap, so touching him and claiming the inheritance. The hotel was a little run down, with a modern, plain bar catering for the locals who were watching the football. We stayed in the lounge area. There were two beers on draft.
I went for a pint from Salopian Brewery. The name Salopian is the old name for Shrewsbury where the brewery is. The enterprise started out in the back of Martin Barry's pub in North Wales in 1994 as the Snowdonia Brewery. The following year he moved to Shrewsbury and hence the name change. He started out with a little two barrel plant, but by 2014 the company had grown to a 50 barrel set up.
This 4% beer was just the job after a walk on a warm day. It had a bright white head and an a striking greeny gold colour. A very pleasant bouquet of hops hits just before you swallow and the citrusy notes fill the mouth. A very pleasant drink, and at £2-95 not a bad price either. I was only allowed the one before setting off back to the boat.
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