Stopped in Stone.

 We had a bit of a lazy start to the day as were weren't going anywhere. We decided to walk into town to pick some odd bits and to pick up a few geraniums too.

I'm not sure I had spotted this before down on the right of the High Street, after the Crown Hotel. Peter De Wint was a to notch landscape painter. His father was a physician of Dutch extraction and came to Stone from New York, and Peter was born here so obviously British. He was apprenticed to an engraver but after  a few years bought his way out with the promise of 18 painting over the last two years of his apprenticeship he had forfeited! We enrolled at the Royal Academy school and met another artist William Hilton who became a life long friend and he later married his sister. The Hilton's family home was Up-Hill Lincoln and Peter visited often and painted a fair bit around the area. He soon was displayed at the Royal Academy and is now displayed in the National Galleries and other important places in the UK. He did in London in 1849.

This is one of his paintings Roman Canal (Fosse Dyke) from 1840 in water colours.

We wanted to have a look inside the church of St. Michael and St. Wulfran but the door was locked, although the lights were one. The grave yard has largely been flattened and seems to be more like a car park now. Near the front facade of the church was this table tomb. It was unusual as I have never seen one like this outside. Research finds that it was originally in the south chancel of the church but was moved before 1843. It is of William Compton Junior, who died in 1606 and his wife Jane daughter for Sir Walter Aston of Tixall

Round thre back of the church is the mausoleum for the Jellico Family. It was erected for Sir John Jervis. He ran away from the family home, Meaford Hall, close to Stone at the age of 10, to join the Royal Navy. He rose rapidly through the ranks and in 1797 was in charge of the British Fleet that routed the Spanish fleet on S. Valentine's Day after they had left Cadiz. This prevented them joining up with the French fleet and almost certainly prevented the invasion of England. Horatio Nelson was his second in command at the time. He later became the First Lord of the Admiralty and stamped out corruption at the Naval dock yards and prevented mutiny in the fleets. He died in 1823 and was buried here.

Looks like a new plaque above the door.

We had a coffee at Morrison's and headed back to the boat fro lunch. I started reading a book that we had picked up at a Chrity shop, mainly as it was by Henry Porter, and I couldn't put it down. I forced myself as the stern gland greaser need refilling and one or two other little jobs were done before getting back to it.

We had decided to go for a meal and decided to try the Crown of India, restaurant down an alley of the Market Place. We couldn't book so we went early to make sure we got a spot. The staff were very friendly and it was not busy as we went in. The food was very good, not pricey and in good quantity. We will go again I feel.

We went over the opposite side of the Market Place to the little Wren micropub. The serve Lymestone Brewery beers from here in Stone and the music is soft jazz style. It is nice an relaxing time before heading back to the boat. Another nice stopover in Stone. We always enjoy our visits here.