It is a good job that the canal is quite beautiful, with long views across the plain and low hills around. At the moment there is a profusion of wild flowers and the canal is very clear, and shallow, so you can watch the fish play as you go along.
Last time we came this way you could just see the chimney of the old Walkeringham brickworks as it was covered in brushes etc. They certainly seem to have cleared the area and there seems to be several businesses set up in the area. There were four brickworks in Walkeringham and this one was owned by the Cocking family and ran from 1876 to 1941. There were four kilns and could produce 50,000 bricks. They were fired by coal from Shireoaks Colliery by boat and then new bricks were loaded on the boats for delivery all over.
The old clay pit had been cleared and dug out and piled. I first thought that it would make a great fishing lake but later realised that there were plans for a marina here, with cabins allotments, restaurant, etc etc. The latest planning was submitted in 2019, but the pandemic may well have delayed things. It seems to have been well received by locals, which is normally half the battle. Not sure what C&RT think of it, but it may mean taht at least the first few miles of the canal would be deeper.
Sorry about the quality of this photo it took on the bridge just by Shaw's Lock but I think it says W & C and Co 1850. I thought it may have been a new canal company but apparently it was the name of the brick company that built the bridge to access their works and the date it was completed, I think it is for William Cowling who started as a bricklayer, then became a farmer in the village and then concentrated on a couple of brick works here.
Gringley Lock was next and Helen had a long chat with a bloke on the side who was fascinated on how the locks worked. It is a lovely setting and just another delight on this stretch.
Another poor photo, this time of Drakeholes Tunnel. It was cut through sandstone for 154 yards, but is largely lined with brick bow. Just as we had entered we could see a boat make the turn to line up with the tunnel, but they were mooring up just by the mouth. Once we were through we ran the ropes out, enough for today, and just as we did another boat came towards us and moored up too. The only boats we have seen today.
After a bite to eat we went for a walk to the village of Wiseton. The Hall dated from When the Acklom family of Bevereley had the house. It was rebuilt in 1771 and this family went on to the Spencer family who moved to Althorp when that title was inherited in 1834. A couple of Reverends were the next two owners, and it became delapidated and was demolished in 1960. A new house was built in 1962 for Maj. Gen Sir Robert Laycock who had just retired following being the Governor of Malta. In 1992 it was sold on to Richard Budge who was the last private colliery owner with the pits at Stainforth and Hatfield, and the last ones to close I believe. It was old on again in 2012.
These estate cottages were built in 1830 and are Woodbine on the left and Laurel and add to the number of lovely workers cottages around the small village. All the big houses are behind brick walls.
The stable block was built in 1890 and had 20 stables and housing for the workers. A one bed flat in the complex is now worth about £143,00. The belfry seems to have been taken over by mobile phone transmitters etc.
Drakeholes visitor moorings has no facilities but does make a convenient stop over.
No comments:
Post a Comment