Locks to Stratford

Today's Canal - Stratford

Most of the day was overcast but very warm. From the start there was a threat of rain but it held off until mid afternoon. By the time we moored the sun came out and it was a pleasant evening.

As predicted in yesterday's blog, we spent the morning visiting Mary Arden's Farm, a working farm set as it might have been when Shakespeare mother was a child growing up here. We arrived two minutes after opening time but already there was a short queue for tickets! The same lady that we spoke to last night was again on the ticket desk and she, with her colleague were very ready to give us lots of suggestions for our visit.

We began in the farm house where the staff, dressed in period costume, were already hard at work preparing the dinner for one o'clock when all the farm workers come for the meal. At the same time the cook and the master were happily explaining what they were doing and what life was like in Tudor times.

The master explained that, in his experience, his was about the best level of society, a yeoman farmer. He was comfortably well off, had a good farm that generated an income and could afford plenty of workers. They could eat a varied and healthy diet unlike the peasants who rarely ate meat and subsisted on cooked vegetables whilst the very rich ate sugar and huge portions of meat to show off that they could afford such luxuries. Sadly they also made them unwell!

Women's sleeping room

Herb Garden

 The cook showed how the fire was prepared and where they placed different pots. Only for a few items were they hung over the fire - the hottest place used for the main cooking pots, was on the floor next to the glowing embers.

Little Miss Muffet?

Will it light second go?

We also watched the blacksmith starting to light his fire - he also emphasised how important fire lighting was in Tudor times. When the blacksmith ended his work for the day, one of his apprentices would scoop up the remains and dash around the the bakery where work was beginning and carried on over night into the early morning.

Dovecote

The shepherd explained about the different type of sheep he keeps and Alice could feel the difference in the fleece. For Tudor farmers, sheep were the most valuable animals to keep as their fine wool was prized in many countries.

A washing maid explained how she cleaned clothes - the linen underclothes would be washed daily but the outer clothes were very thick and only rarely received much more than a brushing down.

At 11.30 there was a scheduled Falconry Display. However, the falconer began by surprising his audience by saying that there would be no falconry today! He went on to explain that real falconry involves using the birds to catch live prey and this is perhaps not the best for displays!

Izzy - barn owl

Most of his display used a barn owl called Izzy. Alas, part way through, Izzy snatched a bigger piece of food that planned which meant that she was then too well fed to want to do any more work! The display ended with an eagle owl, which was popular with poorer people. There were strict rules about who could own birds for hunting but owls were not considered suitable for hunting.

Eagle Owl

However, eagle owls can catch quite large animals and so could be used by folk not allowed a kestrel or other proper hunting bird!

Horses, it seems, were not especially prized - they took a lot of looking after, were expensive on food and were not as versatile as, say, oxen.s

Alice had a go with the archery and landed most of her arrows in the target. We also played some outdoor games such as throwing sticks at a skittle and rope quoits at pins. It has to be said than none of us was especially expert - perhaps we need more practice!

Before leaving we returned to the smithy where the blacksmith told us a bit more about his place in society. In those days, most of his work was in making and repairs tools, for work on the farm or in the house. Everybody needed him, nobody dared cross him otherwise their livelihood would be threatened if they could have no tools. As a result he would be one of the better off people in the village.

Back at the boat we made ready to set off as quickly as possible as we had 16 locks to pass through before we reached Stratford, our goal for today so that we can spend much of tomorrow exploring other famous places. We bought a Five House ticket (worth it if we visit only one other place as well as the farm) so we shall not be short of things to do! lunch was on the go!

e

How many more to go?

Although a boat was just leaving the top lock and another arrived just below, this was the end of our luck today as a boat was going ahead of us. Most of the locks were therefore 'against' us making for more work than we had hoped and no more boats came up until we arrived at the bottom of the main flight!



Thunder clouds gathering

As the afternoon progressed, the skies grew darker and rumbles of thunder could be heard in the distance, Around four o'clock we did get a sudden and quite sharp shower but it did not last long and the evening gradually turned very pleasant.

After a stop for the usual services at the Valley Cruises wharf, we completed the last four locks down to the town. Christine walked ahead as Mike and Alice worked the final lock in order to check out possible moorings. As we rounded the final bend before the basin Christine was standing on the towpath waving us in - this was the only remaining space.

The basin was full (and most of the river below the basin but that would have entailed buying a River Avon licence) so this space just before the bridge was most fortunate.

3.6 miles - 16 locks