Shardlow

We were again woken with the bright morning light but sadly this time it was grey and overcast with a forecast for light rain. We set off, knowing that there was a good chance that we would be held up by flood levels on the River Trent.

Aston Lock

Aston Lock was first on the agenda - an inspector arrived to check that the grass cutting staff had been doing their job properly! It looked OK to us. The bottom gates on this lock are heavy to close but very quickly open unless there is water behind them. Even with two crew it was necessary to run a little water from the top to shut the gates otherwise they were open by the time we had reached the top gates!

Shardlow Lock

 Before long we arrived at Shardlow - the lock is shallow compared with the others between here and Burton. At one time Shardlow was an important boat place with warehouse and boatyards aplenty. The last of the mileposts confirms we have arrived at Shardlow.

On one side of the canal there was also a mill. The remainder of a wharf crane is also preserved beside the towpath.

The inscription reads, "The crane was erected in 1870 by Zacchariah Smith for beer handling at the bottling stores each side of the adjacent canal arm. In 1974 Bernard de Stevens gave the crane to Mr Clifton requiring him to ensure safe keeping on its original site." Jeff Clifton subsequently handed it on to the Trent and Mersey Society.

Talking to other boaters already moored confirmed that the river was still closed so we opted to walk to Shardlow Marina to find a new chimney hat. They only had very expensive ones but we did come away with some elsan blue! Then we discovered Millars Chandlery is just opposite where the boat is moored and they did indeed have the right hat.

Time now for lunch - as we had roast lamb last night there was a bone for Christine to use to make one of her warming soups. Today we felt we needed it!

Shardlow General Store

After lunch we walked into Shardlow - really little more than a ribbon development along what was London Road but now officially bypassed by trunk roads and motorways. The Post office and General Store which Mike failed to find last year was right at the end - we persevered as other boaters came back bearing replenishment stores! Indeed we were able to buy the last Guardian on the stand and some milk as well as frozen peas. (Strange shopping list!)

The pub opposite the church has a defiant notice - we guess that there have been some difficult incidents in the past. Indeed, we later also saw a notice on the church gate explaining how to park - obviously not easy and it does not seem as if they have any of their own apart from alongside the pavement.

After picking up some screws needed to fix the new shower mounting pole we set off to find out more about the state of the river.

Shardlow Flood Gates

Just below Shardlow there is a modern flood gate and indeed the red light was lit, warning of flood waters on the Trent.

Below Derwent Mouth Lock

We continued down to Derwent Mouth Lock where the level was into the red band but it was impossible to work out by how much.

Long Horse Footbridge

On then to the Trent itself and we crossed over the new Long Horse footbridge. The river seemed to be flowing rather fast although we have no means of comparing with normal. From there we opted to return by the river side path. At first it was a good track, courtesy of the local angling association but the second part was through long grass which was especially wet.

Cavendish Bridge was in times past an important river crossing and the old toll notice from 1758 has been preserved - it seems that it could be quite expensive to use. four wheeled vehicles were 2s 6d which must have been a lot then. Amusingly, soldiers (favour'd) only paid a halfpenny, ordinary foot passengers twice as much.

Cavendish Bridge Toll Notice

Back at the boat, Mike tackled the new shower pole and shower gel tray.

Despite having bought what he though were the right length screws, he discovered that one needed to be longer. By the time he realised this, the chandlery was closed so completion of the job will have to wait to the morning. Nevertheless it is all in place.

2.5 miles - 2 locks