Despite dire weather warnings, today was generally sunny spells but with a coupe of sharp showers. There was, however, a strong, chill wind that could be quite biting at times as well as sending the boat sideways at several unexpected moments.
We rose early (extra early as the clock went forward last night) so that we could walk into town for the 8 am communion service at St Mary's, the parish church for the town. As we entered the church was both gloomy and cold and we wondered what was happening until we saw that a section at the back was being used - more about this in a moment. Although there were just seven us in the congregation and it was BCP service, it was calm and rather delightful.
Afterwards we had a long chat with the priest and a churchwarden. It seems that the church had been effectively unused for four years after the last vicar left (having been there 27 years) since the heating had failed. They had tried using a school but that was not very convenient so they moved back just to use the small section when it is cold weather and the main church otherwise.
The new priest, who has came about six months ago after completing his training at Bristol. He is actually a curate in charge to give time to sort things out. It seems that the previous person had fallen out with most people, including the town community but already things are looking up and he has had a real stream of weddings, baptisms and funerals. He especially noted that recently there was a funeral for a well-know person in town and there were at least 200 men that he would not normally see in church!
The church itself was a monastery in the 13th century with the main parish based at Mancetter, the Roman settlement just to one side of Atherstone. In the nineteenth century, the town became a parish in its own right and a very large extension was added, which forms the main part that is used today.
It was really encouraging to talk with someone who is so enthusiastic about the challenges he faces but is determined to change things around.
Atherstone itself grew largely through the hatting industry as well as the mines and quarries all around. These disappeared a long while ago and the local economy was quite poor but it has now developed a significant logistics business with at least four distribution centres as well as the headquarters for Aldi in the UK.
The Market Square outside the church has many buildings that date back to when this was an important coaching stop.
Back at the boat we changed and then set off to complete the remaining six locks in the Atherstone flight.
Lock 11- the bottom of the flight.
We now had a long level pound, passing Polesworth and then heading into Tamworth. We stopped in only a short distance to use the service station at Bradley Green Bridge 48.
Grendon Dock had a couple of boats in the dry dock being worked on.
We passed a motorcycle event - judging by the number of parked vehicles it was a popular meeting and there was a race in progress. The photo is not as distorted as it looks as the course really does zig zag across a bowl shape.
At times as we continued cruising the sunshine created pretty scenes - but, dear reader, you cannot feel the cold wind!
After Polesworth we passed Pooley Country Park, created on the site of long close mines. Quote from the website for the park, "The Pooley Hall Colliery became the North Warwickshire Colliery in 1951 when the mine workings from Alvecote, Amington and Pooley met underground. It was the first mine to generate its own electricity (from excess steam) in the early 1920s, and also the first to have pit head baths, which were opened in 1928."
The former loading wharf now provides a small number of permanent moorings. (The main line continues to the right of the picture)
Under the nearby motorway bridge there are a couple of images to remind passersby of the history of the place. This one recalls the wives and mothers of the miners.
We stopped just after Alvecote Marina for lunch and then continued round the northern part of Tamworth until we arrived at the two Glascote Locks.
At Fazeley Junction we turned left onto the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal. This has a number of very straight sections and runs alongside numerous lakes formed from worked out sand and gravel pits. Most now seem to be nature reserves.
We were now at the bottom of the Curdworth Flight. we were not sure how far we might get tonight. Our calculations suggested that it would be rather late if we continued to the top of the eleven locks (the first few are quite spaced out) but we did not want to end up too close to the nearby motorways.
We made good progress up the first three locks - watched buy a large walking party of both adults and children, who were keen to see how a boat comes up a lock.
But then we spotted a dense black cloud with obvious rainstorm emerging from below it. It was making its way towards us with some speed so we set off for the next lock, arriving just as the heavy rain arrived. there are good moorings alongside the Dog and Doublet at this point so, with several other boats, we called a sudden halt to the days proceedings. As it happened, as soon as we had moored up for the night, sunshine returned but it would not have been pleasant if we had continued and the rain persisted.
The pub looks as if it was once a rather grand house.
13.6 Miles - 11 Locks
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