We had a good quiet night in the marina and it was very nice to have a long lazy cup of tea in bed with the Hurricane heating taking the chill off. Whilst we still had access to the car I popped over to Streethay Wharf for some stuff from the chandlery. I then had to get the ropes up, fill with water and various other tasks. By the time that was done it was nearly time to make my regular phone calls to a couple of blokes that are having a bit of a bad time of it. I just rabbit on about this and that and listen to their problems and try to have a bit of a laugh whilst listening through their problems. I call them every week and have got to know them quite well really. I think I get as much out of it as they do. Well it was gone two when we final got away. We weren't going far as we were stopping at Armitage.
We finally cut the cord and cast off an left our berth with no wind to cause any difficulties. We wended our way to the entrance and escaped. We turned to port.
There were boats moving, but not too busy. I managed to not go aground, collide or anything else that I shouldn't have done. We were soon passing Armitage Shanks/Ideal Standard. Not too many loos in the yard today. We moored up on the off side moorings just after the factory. Not an ideal mooring as there is the factory and the railway not too far away, but we had a plan!
We were going for a walk. We crossed over to the tow path at bridge 60 and then ducked under the railway line via little horse tunnel. Immediately there was the River Trent broiling under a bridge.
The steel bridge over the Trent was constructed in 1866 so must have been about the same time the railway line in the trees was laid.
Crossing the fields, to the right, although it can't be discerned from ground level, there is a Neolithic causewayed enclosure which is the most northern in the country. At the far end of the village of Mavesyn Ridware is an old gate house for the manor house. The Manor house was started in around 1140 when the family moved here from nearby. Timbers from the gatehouse are dated from 1391/92 and is the only part of the original manor. The present manor was built in 1718.
The name Mavesyn is said to be a corruption of Malvoisin which was the name of a French Knight that was awarded the land by William after the conquest. Malvoisin is the name given to a siege engine used to break into castle. The Mayesyn's died out in 1403 at the Battle of Shrewsbury. A daughter married into the Carwarden family who became the Lords of the manor and then it passed to the Chadwick family who retained it until 1883 when the lot was lost due to gambling debts! The Church of St. Nicholas was started in 1140, at the same time the Manor was. The tower and northern, or Trinity Isle are the only surviving part from that era. It contains many tombs from the Mavesyn family so would weel worth a look when the church can be opened. The rest of the church was taken down before it fell down due to damp in 1782 and the present bit built in the same year.
Nearby is the Rectory. The original was built at the same time as the church but the present building only has parts of two walls from this time. The tithe barn is in great condition and dates from the late 1600's.
If it hadn't been sunny this small pond on the flood plain of the Trent would have looked like a good location from a Tolkien book or movie.
At Carwarden Spring Farm there is little farming going on but a massive collection of reclamation building material. There is loads of it here, this is just a tiny part of it. There is a fleet of HGV's to pick up and deliver too.
As we headed back on a different path we passed a field of what must be late lambs. This little chap was very friendly and he let me rub his nose, until his Mum came over and ushered him away.
Hill Ridware is the next village and besides this old cottage it appears to be fairly new housing. There are no shops, but a Post Office and a pun come Cantonese restaurant called the Chadwick Arms.
At the south side of the village is Ridware Hall that overlooks a large lake which on a day like that was very nice to walk beside.
By the time we got back to the boat Helen's new watch type thing had measured that she had done 19000 steps and 7.6 miles! I predict we will sleep well tonight despite any noise from the trains and factory as we were too late to move once we got back. I would really recommend a short stop here for walk across the river to visit Mavesyn Ridware as it is not a bad walk and can be lengthened to suit time and stamina.
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