There was no need for us to get up early today as we now need to reappraise out intentions for the next week or so. The sun gave up, but the trees stopped it shining on us until we left the mooring.
The sun was shining on the Trentham Tower in Sandon Park as we approached. This is the tower that was part of the Trentham Hall (near Barlaston) that was erected in 1840. It was demolished in 1910/12 but the tower was purchased for Sandon Park for £192 and was fully restored in 2016, as a folly.
Still taken with the lovely autumn light, and I liked the way it looked like the canal was disappearing into the distance.
As we passed the railway line next to the canal I was also taken by the red leaves and berries, however the reds never come out too well on my camera.
After Sandon Lock, where we had followed a boat up, as we had at Weston Lock too, is Brg. 84 and then a part of the canal I really enjoy. Nice open country side, with a few bridges and bends to stop you getting board, and a few moorings too. The reflections, whilst not perfect were worth a picture.
Another reflective picture, this time after Aston Lock and approaching Stone. At Aston Lock there was a very strong smell of weed, but not sure if from the marina, passers by or the boat ahead of us.
We were thinking of heading up a few locks to moor, but as we were coming up to Star Lock it started to spit a little so as there was a space we pulled into it and had lunch. We shouldn't have delayed for lunch as by the time we got into town and headed for Mountford's Ironmongers for a few bits I arrived just after they had closed. Never mind, we can wait. Helen was off looking through the charity shops etc so I had a look around for what I wanted else, but no luck.
Everybody knows the story of Joule's but the other brewery in Stone was Bent's, and I have never noticed this sign before. It seems that Joule's and Bent's are quite interwoven. Bent's New Brewery was built in 1888 and was built by Thomas Montgomery who had started out as a house painter in Liverpool and then owned a pub and decided to build a brewery. However in 1888 he was taken to court by Joules for 'sort of'' using the name and stating his beer was Joules, and his brewery was for Joules too. He lost.
Bent's had started in Newcastle under Lyme in 1761- 1772. The next generation moved the business to Liverpool. By 1902 the company had expanded massively and they purchased the Montgomery Brewery in Stone. It never quite reached the reputation of Joules beer but ended up with around 520 pubs before Bass Charrington took them over in 1967. Despite being one of the most modern breweries in the area Bass closed it down in 1968. Bass also closed down Joules in 1974 and brewing in Stone stopped.
The Falcon Hotel on this site may have started prior to 1800, but this building dates from about 1860/70. It was known as the home of the Gooseberry Show from 1860 to 1901. It seems to have become a nightclub in 1984 and is now a Thai Restaurant.
On the way we called in at the Swan by the canal bridge. They have just won the regional CAMRA pub of the year again and have several beers on, enough for me to have a nice porter and a dark mild too. We may go back after 'Strickly' too, if I'm a good boy. The Swan was built in 1771 as a warehouse for the Trent and Mersey Canal. It is a Grade II Listed building. It was converted to a pun in around 1850's.
We still have to decided what we are going to do now Heartbreak Hill is a no no.
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