Wafting past the Wharfs

 Thursday 19th September

Not quite such a great day when we got going, a little dull. The craft store was open though. 

This used to be the Crown and Anchor pub until 1934 when it lost its licence. I wonder if it had anything to do with the Anchor Brewery that was on the off side behind the camera nearer to the bridge.

As we are waiting for the lock to fill we can see the West Coast Mainline and the M1, a true route of the ages. As we were entering the lock a boat came round the corner and we had a partner to the bottom. 

Just down from the lock was this area of collapsed wall. I think it was from a wharf that was originally to serve some lime kilns and then a general wharf.

The canal cottages at the bottom of the Buckby flight, on the east side are a nice set of buildings. I particularly like the entrance that goes under the houses to the rear.

I think this is the new bridge over the canal and the west coast railway. Matthew Elson was on his way to work on the A45 when a car on the other side deliberately pulled on to the wrong side in a bid to commit suicide it seems. He survived but Matthew did not. Matt worked for Balfour Betty and they erected this plaque and bench below in his honour. The other man got 8 years in prison!

The aptly named James Barge was the wharfinger here in the 1810's. In 1910 an FMC steamer towing a barge drove over a pleasure boat that was moored on the wharf, 'Dog Rose' and it went to court. It seems that there were doubts that the boat had been moored fore and aft properly and as the steamer and barge were drawing 3'8" they wouldn't have got closer enough to the side to sink it. Seems like dredging was lack even then. The court found for FMC.

I must say I agree with the sentiment displayed on this sign.

The cloud finally burned off and another lovely day was had wending out way around the Northamptonshire countryside.

Can anybody tell me what the thing is that sticks out from the arm just below the wire itself. It looks like the head of a rake, or a liner of that stuff they put out to stop birds roosting? I thought it may be to run small communications along, a communications aerial, lightening conductor, but would love to know as I have never noticed them before.

This is Banbury Lane Bridge No. 43. Banbury Lane is an ancient track way and made up part of the route from the east to west coast. It crosses the Nene at Northampton and the Cherwell at Banbury before connecting up with the Cotswold Ridgeway. It was probably the route for taking wool to the Wash ports for export and then moving animals to markets to the south. We will meet it again later in the trip.

We moored up just after Bridge 43A, another one put in to cross the canal and West Coast Main line to take another level crossing out of use. Once again we got the chairs out and continued with my book.