It started to rain about 21:00 last night and stopped around 02:00. It decided to start again about 08:30 so we were 'forced' to sit tight until around 11:00. It was quite amusing to see the faces of those steering the boats that passed as they got nearer and near due to being pushed sideways on to our mooring. That is one of the perils of mooring an a wide open spot, the wind was blowing strongly on to us. However the canal is pretty wide and should not cause a problem, even at tick over.
The usual thing thing happened as I was ready to get underway as another boat came along going our way. I waited and paused a little before starting to get the ropes and fenders in and pushing off. Helen was aft to put the power on before we got blown back alongside. We were soon approaching the first corner and could then see the boat that had passed us on the side. They had obviously misjudged the wind and had got pushed alongside just clear of the last moored boat, so we got in front of them in the end.
In the 1860's William Simms Bull moved into Burston Hall. He was the eldest son of an Iron master from the Telford area who had followed the money and moved to Manchester. There he got into warehousing and invested in the new railways. He then bought land and built a house for himself near Newcastle, near the Potteries. The younger son took over the iron business but William, the eldest son styled himself a gentleman and seemed to own land and moved to Burston Hall. He later moved to Wales where he owned a slate quarry. His son, also William was born at Burston Hall in 1866. He went on to perform with the D'Oyle Carte Touring Co. between 1892 and 1900. He was later the stage manager for the touring company and by 1919 became the business manager until a new company was formed in 1927.
After passing Bridge 86 you pass Burston Villa that just peaks over the wall. The building closer to the bridge was an old mill.
Next time we pass we should stop and have a look round the village as it could be very nice with the mill pond having houses around it, and there is a pub in the village.
We then passed Aston Marina where we had 'Holderness' for a winter a few years ago. The boat that had got blown on the side had been right behind me, but as we approached the marina exit they had disappeared. I was going to let the overtake us at the lock.
We saw out first Canada geese goslings, but they wouldn't have been relishing the weather today.
The lock was our way and we were soon rising up and go a view of the original mile post. This is not only special as it is Listed Grade II, but it is the halfway marker of the Trent and Mersey Canal.
We found a spot on the end of the 5 day moorings that had a bit of access to sun, if there is any in the morning and after a bite to eat, went for a walk into town. It was very quiet. Helen went for a poke around the Charity shops and came a way with a new book. Meanwhile I ventured into W.H. Smiths. The shops never look as if they are open these days as the lights seem to be off somehow. They were open, and I got an OS map for part of our route that I hadn't covered with one.
I had never noticed that the B&M on the High Street had be Joule's Brewery Offices. Along with Bathams bitter of Dudley, Joule's pale aleis a favourite beer of mine. It used to be brewed in Stone and was bitter rivals with Bass of Burton on Trent. Joule's started brewing in Stone in the 1840's I think. Before them Monks brewed a beer at the nearby priory until 1767. They blessed each barrel of beer. When John Joule started brewing he took the red cross as his trade mark. It was the 6th oldest beer trademark. You will see the red cross always had the words Trade Mark on either side, and not on a white background as it is the same cross as the Red Cross used to indicate aid. No.1 is the Bass red triangle, No.2 the Bass Diamond and No.3 the Guinness harp. Joule's pale ale was exported before Bass's pale ale to Indian and America. Bass got controlling power over the Joule's brewery by buying shares from a dotty wife of a relative and promptly closed the brewery in Stone down! It was a major employer, and there was hell on. Years later Molson Coors owned the recipes and trademark and in 2008 these were taken under licence and brewing started once again. The brewery is now in Market Drayton and well worth a visit, as is the brewery tap. In 2017 and half a million quid secured the complete rights to the trade mark and name and is once again fully independent
They have bought Crown Wharf from the Canal and River Trust and are building a new pub and venue. This is above Yard Lock and next to Canal Cruising's yard. There will be a theatre and they have even bought the old fire station. All much delayed due to COVID, but I will be back.
No comments:
Post a Comment