We didn't have far to go until we gave to the Husband Bosworth Tunnel. Dates above the entrance states it was opened in 1813 and then rebuilt in 1923. It is a wide one with no tow path and of course we did meet a boat coming through. I waited whilst it completed its journey though
The cuttings leading to the tunnel are quite atmospheric and the hill is also the watershed between the River Welland that drains into the Wash and the River Avon, of Stratford and Shakespeare fame drains into the Severn and Bristol Channel.
At the junction with the Welford Arm we decided to head to the small time as we had a little time to kill. This was out first port of call on our first voyage with 'Holderness', as yet un-named in 2013 when we brought her from Crick to Debdale Wharf. I like this mile post and the Grand Junction Canal Co on it.
There is only the one lock on the arm that was originally built to bring water from reservoirs to the main canal, but was soon enlarged for traffic. The narrows behind the boat are the site of a lift bridge and the post is all that is left of the mechanism.
At the end of the arm is a warehouse, not amenities block, that was once a very place for coal improts as well as clay and lime as there was a series of lime kilns here. The boat partly hidden is the Mikron Theatre's 'Tydesley'. We were to keep missing performances around the cut as we went this year.
Also at the end of the arm, and next to the old warehouse, is an inn. It was originally run by the same family who imported the coal and burned the lime. This was an important spot before the canal arrived as there was the turnpike between Northampton and Leicester that made use of the ford across the River Avon at this point. The Inn was built in 1814 and was originally called the George being run by the Dobson family along with the the coal and lime business. In 1894 the Gilbert family took over. It was at this time that the castellations on the building were added. After the husband died in 1904 his wife took over and ran two narrow boats that were in the family for 50 years. One was named Gwen Mark after one of their daughters. Gwen lived in the Wharf House until 1990 when she died at 90 yo. The Inn became a cafe in 1950 but in 1970 once again took on a licence and became the Wharf Inn. It is a popular place for eating on a Friday evening and has five or six hand pulls on offer, although for our visit there were no dark beers or milds.
I tried a beer from Newby Wyke Brewery. This sounds like it should be a Yorkshire Brewery as Newby Wyke is near Scarbrough, however the brewery is near Grantham in Lincs. The brewery is named after the brewer's Robert March) granddad who was skipper of the Hull steam trawler Newby Wyke H111. She was built for the West Dock Steam Fishing Co who named all their vessels after villages near Scarborough and Bridlington. She was transferred to the Lord Line during the depression of the 1930's, but kept her name until she was scrapped in 1975, along with many others. The brewery started in 1998 in his garage with a 2.5 bbl set up. Things went well and by 2001 they expanded into a 10 bbl plant producing around 30 barrels a week. They are at capacity now and are just waiting for the right time to expand again.
I tried a pint of their Bear Island a 4.6% blonde beer. Most of the beers are named after something connected with fishing in some way. Bear Island was one of the well known fishing ground for Hull trawlers of the past so the Newby Wyke will have fished there are some stage. Bear Island is one of the permanent beer range and has one several prizes a beer festivals. It is brewed with four acidic hop varieties that gives it the expected fruity aroma and initial taste followed by an almost bitter like after taste. Well worth a try.
I also had a pint from the Grainstore Brewery. They are found in a old railway transhipment store for grain. (hence the name). They started when an engineer and brewer who had worked for Charles Wells and Ruddles, a local brewery that got taken over, got together with a vision for the old building. It was turned into a classic tower 15 bbl brewery in 1995. They also added a pub/brewery tap in the building and the combination appears to wrkt very well as the pair regularly win awards. The brewery is in Oakham in Rutland.
I had a pint of their special Raddleman. A raddleman is described as a native of Rutland. In 1997 the brewery were asked to brew a celebratory drink for the new independence of Rutland from Leicetershire. In 2017 they were once again asked to create a pint for the anniversary. The brew actually starts about 40 years ago though as head brewer Tony Davis once worked for Ruddles and this is an old Ruddles recipe from 1971, when Rutland Water was started. The name was chosen from a list provided by the listeners to the local radio station. The 4.5% beer is a red gold colour, with a nice head. It uses German hops that give the fresh spring taste to it. A nice refreshing hoppy beer.
A short diversion up the Welford Arm is well rewarded with a trip to the Wharf Inn for the beer as well as a meal. A nice friendly pub.
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