Well we are back aboard, at last. We drove over yesterday and I dropped off Helen, Macy the cat and Skye the budgie, plus several bags of 'stuff''. After checking the boat over and switching everything on etc, and had my tea before heading back home to drop the car back at home. My journey back started with the bus into Hull and then a train to Leeds and then to Burnley, Manchester Road. It is always surprising how many canals and navigable rivers you cross on rail journeys and even more surprising that I recognised some of them. I was back by 1330 and after a bite to eat we set off, just as the rain started. I'm not suggesting that is anything to do with being in Lancashire, but when I left East Yorkshire there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
It was an easy passage out of the marina as there was little wind, but there was a bit of a group watching our departure, so it was good not to make a mess of it. We are just off the pontoon with Pendle Hill in the distance, and just about to make the turn to the entrance.
They are friendly lot at the marina and it is handy for getting home from this part of the Leeds/Liverpool so we will be back I'm sure. It looks like they have demolished Barden Mill that was right next to the marina. I wonder what they will do with the plot next.
The canal seems to pass a line of mills and chimneys that have survived. It makes you wonder how many there would have been before many of the chimneys and mills were flattened. I assume that this truncated chimney has been cut down for safety.
Old Hall Mill has been luckier than some as it has been repurposed. It was built in 1902 and was owned by Benjamin Thornber and Sons who also owned Throstle and Danehouse Mills and in 1930 they were working 2600 looms. I bet the background rattle of all the looms was a constant, like tinitus.
This fence had a different cut out at the top of every posy and in the post themselves. The fact that it has been 'designed' and not just a standard railing fence erected really makes the area seem special. I suppose it is like if you want and area to be rubbish free you have to pick up all the rubbish first and make the area smart and more people will cherish the area. (In theory at least).
As we approached the Burnley Embankment we passed the old site of the Bank Hall Colliery. It must have been a busy place at one time as there was a canal depot, two wharves a short canal and a plateway along with a drydock. It seems that the dry dock has been updated and has a special guest in it. None other than 'Kennet'. The Short boat was built in 1947 by Yarwoods at Northwich and has just completed a very busy year celebrating the bicentennial of the Leeds/Liverpool by traveling the full 127 miles. The 'Kennet's' hold has been altered to a learning space to educate people along the way. It is obviously having a bit of TLC.
We soon arrived at one of the Seven Wonders of the Canals, the Burnley Embankment. It is 3/4 mile long, but called the 'straight mile', and carries the canal 60' above Burnley.
The views from the canal give a birdseye view of the terraced housing some Victorian buildings and Turf Moor, the ground of Burnley.
There must have been plenty of horse drawn boats working in this area as there are plenty of these horse steps for animals that have fallen in. Maybe it is just the fact that the banks haven't been changed along here so they have been retained. In many places erosion of the banks has been dealt with by shuttering a few feet into the water and filling up behind. This reduces the width of the canal, widens the towpath and gets rid of any features in the towpath side.
The tiled roofs and serried ranks of chimney stacks make for a very neat picture. Did J.S. Lowry.
At the end of the embankment is a sharp st'bd turn and then the Healey Royd Mill appears. It seems this mill is hanging on as back in 2014 planning was given to knock down the part nearest the bridge and build town houses and to convert the bit nearest the camera to mixed use. It is always nice to save old buildings if possible as they have ready made character, so lets hope once the money gets moving again things will happen.
Very quickly we arrived at Burnley Wharf with the covered sheds and old warehouse. I'm not sure what the covered warehouse is used for now, but the old stone warehouse has been the Inn on the Wharf but it sadly closed at the beginning of the month. I will have to explore further to see what is going on now.
Looking back from the last picture you can see the old toll house. Up at road level is the Visitor Centre which seems to be open tomorrow so maybe we will be able to have a look round.
I'm looking forward to going into Burnley and finding the market and other buildings to have a look at. It is good to be back and exploring parts of our country that don't get as much exposure as perhaps they should.
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