We took our time this morning as there wasn't much about. We thought that there was more chance of getting up coming boats passing if we left a little later. As it was the single hander moored ahead of us left, so we left it even longer. We left a hire boat on the water point who were taking their time, and when they had left we pushed over to the services and dropped the rubbish and filled up again with water.
Looking over at the service wharf from our overnight mooring.
The winding hole is where the basin is on this 1883 map but I think the arm off it has been infilled. The building at the right with the two cranes is the building that is still there. It is interesting that there is a side pound at the top lock. I wonder if it is still there to be renovated.
I had noticed these insulators in the roof of at least a couple of the tunnels yesterday. I wondered if there had been a electric tug or something, but seeing this under the first bridge going down the flight it must be the way to carry the telegraph wires.
In the morning the tow path was very busy with cyclists but in the afternoon it was walkers that held sway. The weather was just about perfect with little wind and the trees of the cut lined up to give good periods of shade. This is one lock down.
This is the engine house by Lock 57. It was built to pump the water up from the reservoir below as it is 50' below the top pound. It had a steam powered Newcomen Watt beam engine. It was removed in 1915. Since then it has been a pub, an office and now apartments.
Below Lock 55 I spotted this in the offside undergrowth. It is the hull of an old narrow boat.
Helen bringing the boat into lock 54. We were held up a little by a boat who had 'got stuck' in a lock, and we had caught up the single hander. There were two voluntary lock keepers helping the two hander up but left the single hander to his own devices. Once they got back to us I told them we couldn't go any faster so they should help the bloke ahead. I had told him to leave the bottom gates open and I would close up for him and it was working well.
The Tardebigge Reservoir wasn't empty, or full so Expect that there must be pumping back up the hill for this flight to be still open with no restrictions. After the reservoir there were a load of blokes and vans. I'm not sure what they were doing but they were drinking beer whilst doing 'something'. I thought it maybe 'Shed on Tour', I think they were 'doing'repairs to something, maybe the road!?
It was a lovely day for going down a flight of locks. They are nice and close so if there isn't regular traffic coming the other way it is easy to work ahead setting the next lock, without having to walk too far. The shade of the trees was an added asset today, but in working days they would have no truck with trees as their leaves would fill the canal up.
It makes sense for Helen to drive the boat when we are going downhill, especially with double bottom gates as I can jump across from gate to gate and Helen would have to walk all round the lock.
Every time we come past this cottage at Lock 40 there are more aerials. I assume this radio ham is not a Russian or Chinese spy and is just following an innocent hobby. It was for auction in 2018.
There is a footpath that crosses the canal here. I'm not sure why the lock gates are no sufficient for the footpath, but they installed this footbridge that is lifted off the lock at one end, presumably to pass a tow line under. The countryside is at its best at the moment, if a little dry.
This lock house is looking gorgeous. It has nothing in the garden etc so I am wondering if it is a rental
It is amazing to see that these blue engineering bricks have been worn to a groove by the tow lines of the boats. It shows just how much tension there was in these ropes.
We have made it to the bottom and it took 4hrs. 30 mins. not bad as we were held up by a stuck boat and a single hander. I read an article written in 1911 that the working boats expected to be up and down the Tardebigge locks in 2hr 30mins or max 3 hours.
The flight had generally been well maintained, only one or two paddles were inoperative. Mind you some of the paddle gear was very heavy work to get moving. The bottom gate was the exception as it looked like an IKEA replacement, or has been donated as a present and is still boxed!
We moored up before Stoke Locks just before a very busy Queen's Head pub that had music and laughter. I'm not sure when it finished as I was asleep before 23:00!
6 comments:
The Lock House use to have a tap on the outside wall. I suspect it was for boaters to fill their cans
Hi T&H,
In 2019 we moored twice at the services above the Tardebigge flight, both times with friends from NZ while we were waiting for David's eye operation at the Eye Centre in Birmingham. Once we faced towards the locks and once back the way we'd come from the marina at Alvechurch.
Loved that place.
Mxx
I am glad you enjoyed your trip down our home flight (we live in Bromsgrove). The lock cottage is a Landmark Trust rental property - see here https://www.landmarktrust.org.uk/search-and-book/properties/lock-cottage-11416/#Overview. I cannot count the number of times we have been up and down the flight both on foot and by boat and I have always wondered why the bridge by the footpath had a gap under it! I am not sure why the need for a gap to allow for a tow rope never occurred to me! Thank you for enlightening me. Jennie previously nb Tentatrice.
Hi Both,
I wonder when the cottage got put on mains water as being a remote property it would have been on a pump until much later. I suppose before the mains water the lock keepers would have just pumped up the water to fill their can when asked.
Tony
David/Marilyn,
2019 seems so long ago. Was that the last time you in UK? The Church is nice, we walked up one day and had a look around when the organist was practicing. It was like a recital just for us. I don't remember going to any shops or anything though.
Keep well, Tony and Helen
Hi Jennie,
I meant to look up to see if it was with the Landmark Trust as we have stayed in several of their properties as they are obviously very individual, but it is great that they save a lot of these vernacular buildings that otherwise would be lost. I only surmise that the bridge was lifted to allow the passage of a tow line, but further down the canal was another similar bridge that did not have the gap! It is a lovely flight to work as the locks are nice and close. Plenty of scope for volunteers to spread out along the length.
Thanks for reading the blog.
Tony and Helen.
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