Chester Day 1.

JUST TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THE LAST TWO POSTS WERE IN THE WRONG ORDER!!!

We left Egg Bridge about 0845 as we had an appointment at a vets in Chester to get Macy her annual booster injections. Before the first lock at Christleton we stopped for water and then eased down the lock. We thought we would have somebody to share with but they stopped for water too. There was a slight delay at Greenfield Lock as the C&RT guys were replacing a dislodged stone. We then passed down Tarvin Lock and found a mooring.

Helen watching the water.

I did the first lock but Helen then took over and made a good job of it again. We moored between Tarvin and Chemistry Locks in good time and so was had plenty of time to get to the Vets. I had looked on line for the nearest to the canal and Storrar Vets was selected. We were then in good time and after a bit of ohh'ing and aar'ing over Macy and a good examination the jabs were given and I paid my £29 which is cheaper than at home. Macy knew something was up as she went to hide first thing this morning, but she was as good as gold. After a cup of tea we left again and headed down Chemistry Lock and Hoole Lane Locks and made for the moorings just outside the city walls.

Old warehouse between Tarvin and Chemistry Locks.

This part of the canal runs through the part of Chester called Boughton. The Romans who founded Chester by building a fort here piped water from a well here directly into their castle by lead pipe. There is still a water works on the site that is owned and run by the Dee Valley Water Company. The water tower is a real landmark. Strangely the area was also home to a lead works. One of the leads uses was to make lead shot and a tower was constructed to make the process easier. Previously with wider bore muskets they poured the lead into moulds which took a long time and the balls were not very round. The tower was constructed so that molten lead was passed through a sieve at the top. This formed droplets that surface tension made round. By the time they had fallen to the bottom they had solidified and fell into water. The tower was constructed in 1800 and made shot for fighting Napoleon. It only went out of use in 2001. There is one in Hull that is more modern but as far as I know it may not be ass lead shot on gun cartridges has now been banned. The lead works at the foot of the tower has started to be converted to housing.

Dee Valley Water works Tower to the left and the Lead Tower to the right.

Helen making sure that the stern is clear of the cill at the stern so as not to get 'hung up' on it.

A lovely old terrace facing the canal with the railway behind.

Tony at Hoole Lane Lock. I haven't abandoned shorts, it was just that I wore long trousers to go to the Vets. One has standards.

Helen checking out the Shot Tower.

The Steam Mill that seems to have been happily converted to apartments with coffee shops and bars on street level.

We were moored up on Canal Side just outside the walls of the city. After lunch we wandered into town to find the Visitor Centre as they were holding some tickets for us. We then had a wander about the shops and purchased some stuff for the boat which we took back to the boat. We then went back to Tesco just near the boat and filled up with stuff as it is so close. There was an offer on 25% off over 6 bottles of wine. As the wine we liked was half price anyway we filled our boots. After eating we will venture back into town and take some more pictures whilst the crowds are less. I think we may find a few pubs to try too. Just to wet the whistle here is the East Gate Clock.

East Gate marks the east entrance to the town. The present gateway dates from 1768. The clock was added in 1899 for the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. As you can see people can walk all round the city walls.