Bridgewater Canal,Leigh Branch.

Hi all,
We cruised away from Manchester last Monday morning and made our way along the Bridgewater Canal with the intention of getting to Worsley,the place where the Duke of Bridgewater had his coal mines.The Dukes desire to get the coal from his Worsley mines to Manchester was the reason for building the Bridgewater Canal.After filling our water tank at the services just outside Castlefield Basin,we made our way slowly Westward along the Bridgewater Canal,on our right was the Manchester Ship Canal,at times only just a short distance from us.We passed the original link between the two canals,the Hulme Lock Branch,now derelict but in use for over a 150 years before it was replaced by the new link at Pomona Lock,just a bit farther along the canal.As we passed under the Throstle Nest Bridge we had Salford Quays to the right and a tad further along on the left we could see Old Trafford,the home of Manchester United,overlooking the canal.

Throstle Nest Bridge.

Old Trafford,the home of Manchester United.

 About a mile from there,we turned North West onto the Leigh Branch of the Bridgewater at Waters Meeting.Just beyond the junction,on the left,is the massive Kellogs factory and its disused arm.Kellogs opened the factory in Trafford Park at the end of the 1930's,possibly because grain could be delivered by barge.As you pass,what is the largest cereal factory in the world,you can smell the delicious aroma of Cornflakes and Rice Crispies being made.
After another couple of miles we came to the famous Barton Swing Aqueduct,the aqueduct swings to allow tall vessels to travel along the Manchester Ship Canal over which it crosses.The swing aqueduct first opened in 1894 when the ship canal was built,it replaced a masonry aqueduct built in 1761.It is a one hundred metre long iron trough weighing just under fifteen hundred tonnes,it holds eight hundred tonnes of water and swings through ninety degrees to lie parallel to the ship canal.There's the Barton Road Swing Bridge just to the West of it that was built at the same time and by the same company,Andrew Handyside and Co.of Derby.They actually assembled and tested both bridges at the works in Derby before shipping them to Barton.

Crossing the Barton Swing Aqueduct over the Manchester Ship Canal.

Looking downstream of the aqueduct there's the Barton Swing Bridge.Both are controlled from the Control Tower in the centre.

After crossing the aqueduct we cruised another mile or two to what we had hoped would be our destination for the night,Worsley.We stopped there five years ago while on a hireboat and it was fine,this time,sadly,that was not the case.I had expected it to be busy at Worsley,with perhaps only a few empty moorings,but it was virtually empty,only two boats.The first boat we saw had a crew on it and they appeared to be leaving but it turned out that their ropes had been cut and the second boat was in the same situation so we decided not to stop at all and continued on our way.We understand from talking to other boaters that rope cutting at Worsley has been going on for a while and the Police have become involved,such a shame 'cos it's a lovely place.

The Packet House at Worsley with the Delph under the bridge on the right.The house was built in1760 and you could buy a ticket at the house for the Packet Boat and walk down the steps to board.There were regular Packet Boat sailings to Manchester which took two and a half hours and cost as little as Sixpence.The Delph is the exit from the  Duke of Bridgewaters mines.Coal was brought out of the mines by small boats called Starvationers,there is still one visible in the mud outside the mine entrance,the coal would then be loaded onto barges for delivery to Manchester..There are forty six miles of mineworkings underneath this area.

We carried on past Worsley for another mile or so till we arrived here just to the East of Bridgewater Marina at Boothstown.Thanks to the wet weather we remained here for three days relaxing.

Our next port of call was a small place called Astley where there is a Mining Museum at the former Astley Green Colliery.If you look closely you can just about make out the Pit Headgear beyond the pub and us moored on the canal.The pub is called The Boat and serves a nice pint of real ale as well as serving good,inexpensive meals.

The Pit Headgear at the museum.The pit was worked for over fifty years before closing in 1970.

Inside the Engine House at Astley with the absolutely awesome Steam Winding Engine,the largest steam winding engine used in the Lancashire Coalfields.16 Lancashire Boilers, nine feet in diameter and thirty feet long supplied the steam for this 3,300 hp engine.

Just one half of the Twin Tandem Compound steam engine.It was built by Yates and Thom in 1912 at their Canal Ironworks in Blackburn and took two years to assemble.

The huge Winding Engine drum weighed a hundred and five tons and was twenty seven feet in diameter at it's widest.The wire ropes were over two and a quarter inches in diameter and weighed eighteen tons.

On Friday we moved a little farther along the Leigh Branch to Leigh itself where we planned to stop for the weekend.I also had a hospital appointment in Stockport on Saturday and we needed to be somewhere where we could get Public Transport.Leigh is a nice place to moor with all the shops,a covered market and of course a Bus Station with regular services to Manchester and beyond.We moored opposite The Waterside Inn by bridge 11 where there were good moorings and it was close to town,the only drawback was the Inn,it has music till three in the morning on Friday and Saturday.We'll know better next time.Yesterday we moved again,this time just three miles to The Dover Lock Inn at Bridge 4 and the site of two former Locks that were removed when a new channel was constructed because of mining subsidence.We're actually moored on the Bollards of the old Lock Landing of the second lock.On our way here we had to pass under a Lift Bridge at Plank Lane which has now to be operated by the boat crew i.e. Lisa,who was a little concerned at the prospect but she managed it admirably,only holding up at least twenty cars either side.

Plank Lane Bridge with Lisa at the left end at the Control Panel as she raises the bridge.

This morning we left Dover Bridge and made our way three of miles or so and through two locks to Wigan Junction where there are services for boats.After doing our bits we returned through the two locks and another mile or so before mooring in a lovely place alongside Scotsman's Flash.Scotsman's Flash is the largest of the flashes near Wigan and was formed when the ground subsided above old mine workings,it's said that water from the canal filled it but I'm not sure about that.

Approaching Poolstock Lock 2.The two locks here replaced the two that used to be at Dover,where we stopped last night.These locks aren't too difficult though we had a bit of help from John and Ann on NB Slievenamon who shared both locks with us and also some CRT volunteers at Lock 1

NB Slievenamon ahead as we travel between the locks.For those of you who aren't Irish,Slievenamon is a mountain in County Tipperary and means Mountain of the Women.

Well,that's all again for this week folks,since our last blog we have sailed through 4 Locks,the same two twice,and cruised 15 Miles giving us a Grand Total of 1,154 Locks and 1,837 Miles since we set off in October 2012.Take care everyone.

Castlefield Basin & Manchester.

Hi all,,
This week we have been moored in Castlefield Basin at the end of both the Rochdale and Bridgewater Canals.We got there,before the Bank Holiday weekend,after leaving New Islington Marina,on what was a showery morning,the showers didn't effect us much though.There were eleven locks and one and a half miles ahead of us so we turned left out of the marina,onto the Rochdale Canal,and then made our way through the first two broad locks before working our way down the Rochdale Nine.Those nine locks lived up to their reputation for being a bit difficult,taking Lisa and I the best part of three and a half hours to get down.There was plenty of water in that one and a half mile stretch of canal,so much of it in fact,that it was pouring over the top gates and making it difficult to open the top and bottom gates with the pressure of water.When we got to Castlefield we managed to get into one of the few mooring spaces left so that we could go and explore a little more of  Manchester.

The view from our side hatch across New Islington Marina,not as tightly packed as we have experienced in other marinas,there seemed to be plenty of room for visiting boats at least.You can moor for two nights free and then it's £10 per night with a max of £50 per week.Not bad for somewhere so close to Manchester.

On one of our days we spent an interesting couple of hours at The Greater Manchester Police Museum on Newton Street,it's about ten minutes walk from the marina.These two gentlemen standing outside the museum,were just two of the very friendly,helpful and well informed people we met there.The one on the right is wearing a replica of the first Police uniform.Sir Robert Peel,the founder of the police,wanted them in a uniform that wasn't too official or military and the Top Hat was reenforced so they could stand on it to look over walls etc.,it also made them easily identifiable in a crowd.He also told us that most people don't really appreciate Manchester 'cos they never look up.Following that advice we did look up as we walked about and there's an awful lot of beautiful old buildings to be seen.

On another day we went by train to Mills Hill to visit family,our Son in Law's parents Pete and Pat, live just a couple of hundred yards off the Rochdale Canal so we just had to go for a walk,I have this thing about canals you see.This is a pic' of Walkmill Lock 63 on the Rochdale above Chadderton. 

We enjoyed our time in New Islington,the facilities there are as good as any we've found anywhere,there are Washing Machines that are inexpensive to use,all the usual facilities such as Elsan,Water and Showers,and it's also possible to moor where there is no public access after a certain time of night.From the marina it's only about fifteen minutes walk to Piccadilly Gardens and the Arndale Centre so it suited us.Last Monday was Lisa's Birthday so we spent the day mooching around the shops and then went for a meal,remembering,of course,to be back for seven thirty,or we would be marooned on the wrong side of the Swing Bridge.Depending on the time of year the Swing Bridge across the marina is locked open in the evening and no pedestrians can then get across and,as the days get longer,the bridge remains open to pedestrians for longer,it can still be opened for boats like other Swing Bridges,with a Waterways Key.There are other moorings outside the Swing Bridge and we saw no cause for concern but I would always treat it as part of an urban canal and act accordingly.Ben the Manager explains everything when you get there or the residents are more than helpful if you arrive outside office hours.

Heading down the Rochdale Nine,we go underneath Piccadilly and the buildings on it as we approach Piccadilly Lock 85.We had an April shower at this time and it was handy to get in here out of the rain.

Lisa valiantly trying to open the top gates on Lock 86,you can see the water is over the top of the gates.This stretch of the Rochdale is alongside Canal Street ( bet that came as a surprise ) and there is no Towpath.Yes,I did go to her aid after I took this pic' and believe me,it wasn't easy to get those gates open,top or bottom,after we got Chyandour in the lock.

The end of the Rochdale at Castlefield,see how much water is coming over the gate of Dukes Lock 92.We had help through this lock and it was still a struggle to get the gates open.

Our mooring on what was the Coal Wharf here in Castlefield basin,under the shadow of the Beetham Tower,the 47 story Skyscraper in the background,sorry I chopped the top off.Behind us is the partially reconstructed Grocers Warehouse which was built in about 1770 by James Brindley who was the Engineer for the Bridgewater Canal. 

The Bridgewater is arguably the first canal to be built in the UK,built for the Duke of Bridgewater so he could get the coal from his mines in Worsley,just over seven miles from here,to Manchester.Having done so,the price of coal in Manchester halved overnight.Grocers Warehouse was one of the first Canal Warehouses ever to be built and it was five stories high at one time.The two arches at the front allowed boats to be loaded and unloaded under cover.The left one was the start of an arm that extended for a couple of hundred yards and was used to unload coal which was hoisted up to street level by a Waterwheel powered by water from the River Medlock.This arm was closed when the Rochdale Canal was built over the top of it at the beginning of the Nineteenth century but the warehouse remained in use.Take a look across the Rochdale Canal from the the road above the arches and you can see where the tunnel used to be.Take a look through the warehouse windows and it's possible to see what I think is a reconstruction of a Waterwheel that was used to lift goods up through the warehouse to street level and other floors and not the coal that the arm was originally built for.There are loads of information boards around here giving the history of this interesting part of Manchester since as far back as Roman Times and for someone like me,that's like heaven.The building to the right with the tower is the former Congregational Chapel opened in 1858,at one time it was a recording studio owned by Pete Waterman.

The view in Castlefield in the evening and yes,it's almost as peaceful as it looks.

On one of our days at Castlefield we went to the the Museum of Science and Industry which is about five minutes walk from here and a great place to spend the day.Here's a replica of one of the first planes built by Alliot Verdon Roe who,together with his brother Humphrey,went on to start the world famous AVRO Company on Great Ancoats Street here in Manchester in 1910.The AVRO company built the WW2 Lancaster Bomber and later the Vulcan Bomber as well as a lot of other aircraft.

We spent a few hours at another of the many attractions,this time it was the Greater Manchester Museum of Transport.Some of my former work colleagues at Stagecoach in Perth will no doubt recognise this vehicle.It's a 1950's Alexander bodied single deck Leyland Tiger that worked out of Dundee.

Giants Basin,a seven metre deep,seven metre wide overflow from the Bridgewater to the River Medlock.It's on another former Coal Wharf near the Potato Wharf here in Castlefield.

Great Northern Viaduct over Castlefield.It's of wrought iron construction with the piers filled with concrete.built in 1890,it's over three hundred metres long and was closed in 1969 after the rail tracks were lifted.Still a fantastic piece of construction

Once or twice,while walking around Manchester we have had to seek refuge from the rain in an old building or two,it being April and all that.On one occasion it was the Briton's Protection,a Public House on Great Bridgewater Street that is now over 200 years old.They serve Real Ales,selling a number of beers including a really nice drink called,..............................................Wait for it................................................................ Briton's Protection.Bet that came as a surprise.It's one of two pubs that had that name in Manchester,the other one was on Oldham Road but that closed in 1942.This one had no music and no TV's,just a pleasant atmosphere in which you can sit and talk without having to shout at each other.Another old building we took shelter in,was The Peveril of the Peak and strangely,also a Public House,this one is named after an express stagecoach service from Manchester to London and has had the same family running it for over forty years.They also serve some nice Real Ales and there's an interesting Juke Box.Both these pubs have character and lovely interiors and are just a few minutes walk from the basin.               

The Peveril of the Peak on Great Bridgewater Street.

Well,that's all again for this week,we've now left Castlefield and are moored on the Leigh Branch of the Bridgewater.Since our last blog we have gone through 11 Locks and cruised 10 Miles.That gives us a Grand Total of 1,150 Locks and 1,822 Miles since we set off in October 2012.Take care everyone.

Ashton Canal,Lumb Lane bridge & Droylsden Marina.

Hi all,
We left Romiley last Tuesday morning after a quiet night on the Visitor Moorings and made our steady way to the end of the Peak Forest and onto of the Ashton Canal.Since our blog last week things have been a mixture of both relief and surprise for us.The relief was Lumb Lane Bridge 21 at the Eastern end of the Ashton Canal,a mile and a half West of Dukinfield Junction.Ever since we set off up the Macclesfield Canal back in December I have had this particular bridge on my mind.If you look at the Nicholson Guide number 5,North West and Pennines,it advises that Lumb Lane Bridge is very low.Well,I can confirm that it is low but not as low as I had expected,we squeezed through with about 5 inches to spare.It seems that the height of 6 feet,that I had heard mentioned,does in fact apply to the towpath and not the wet bit that we use.I watched a man walking on the tow path and he ducked as he went under the bridge so I cheekily asked him how tall he was and he replied 6 feet 3.The last time I checked our height we were a little over 6 feet high

Just floating under Lumb Lane Bridge,as you can see it's a bit on the low side but we got through ok,you can see the towpath is a bit higher than the canal, it's not the lowest bridge we've been under,that was on the Droitwich Junction Canal.There are a couple more low bridges on the Ashton as you get closer to Manchester and I didn't think they were a lot of different from Lumb Lane.One is new Viaduct Street Bridge 7 and the other is Cambrian Street Bridge 6,you do have to keep your head down through them both.

Now we have the first of the surprises,Droylsden Marina.We knew it was there on the Ashton Canal and we hadn't intended stopping but in the end we were glad that we did,and it all came about as a result of a mix up.Having checked out Lumb Lane Bridge and got through,the intention was to get to Fairfield Junction where the marina is and where there's a Water Point,top up with water,wind and go back to Portland Basin and moor just a little way down the Peak Forest Canal where we've moored in the past,it's not that far.It's never been recommended to moor on the Ashton Canal,historically there have been problems with children. Anyway,when we got to Fairfield Junction I missed the water Point,it wasn't where I expected it to be,and we sailed into the marina.The first person we spoke to as we looked rather vacantly around for the mysterious water point was very friendly and pointed to where we could moor,asking questions over 50 yards of water with the engine running was a bit pointless,so we moored.From then on everyone we spoke to was most helpful and friendly,they showed us the Visitor Moorings and the facilities,there's a Tesco just across the road,and so as a result,we decided to stay,saving us the trip back to Portland Basin.We had three very pleasant nights there and the days were all wall to wall sunshine.Thank you Jane and Tom,we will be back.
While at the marina we had a bit of a wander around the surrounding area and came across a couple of interesting bits,the first was a building below Fairfield Top Lock.Just above the Lock is the Water Point I didn't see by the way.

Fairfield Top Lock,this and the next lock were doubled in 1830 but now the left hand lock acts as a Byewash.Droylsden Marina is top centre,between the houses,on what was once the four and a half mile,eight lock, Hollinwood Branch Canal,sadly,this canal was allowed to become derelict after the 1930's.Look closely and you can see that the water point is on the grey wall to the left of the end of the disused lock after the tree,a little black box.

The Packet Boat House below Fairfield Top Lock.It was built in 1833 and the Ashton Canal Co. kept their Packet Boat moored in it.The Packet boat carried Mail,Passengers and freight on regular services between Ashton,Marple,Stockport and Manchester and the journey to Manchester from Ashton took two and a half hours which isn't bad when you consider that it took Lisa and I nearly five hours.There are 18 locks and they were all against us,I bet the Packet Boat had sufficient crew to work the locks ahead.

Just a few minutes walk along the towpath from the marina is the Fairfield Moravian Settlement which opened in 1785.just at the entrance to the settlement is the statue of a Moravian lady and child with a few books which we believe represents the fact that the Moravians believed strongly in education.The Post Box isn't all it seems though,it looks like a Victorian Penfold Piller Box but it is,in fact,a replica

Inside the Church on the settlement.As we were walking past the church,Phillip,the Minister came out and invited us in to have a look around,unfortunately,I didn't get his surname.

Lisa working the locks at Clayon on the Ashton,you can see Manchester City's Etihad Stadium in the distance.

There's me,see I do try and do my share of working the locks

The Towpath Bridge over the former Stockport Branch Canal.This canal was five miles long and lock free,it opened in 1797 and was officially abandoned in 1962.

OK,a bit of a question for you.This is a pic' of the side of an old warehouse/mill on the side of the Ashton Canal near Ancoats.The middle picture is,I think,Pete Postlethwaite,but who's the one on the left?I'm sure I know his face but can't put a name to it.

There we are,all moored up before it rained.We had glorious sunshine all the way down the 18 locks when we needed it and that's what matters.This is Piccadilly Village just before the end of the canal,the moorings are secure,you need a code to get through the locked gates,so it was a nice safe place to moor.Another surprise was the canal itself,I have to say that the whole of the experience of cruising the canal was good even though the locks were slow.It's nicely looked after for an urban canal and I felt that,had we had too,we could have moored overnight in a number of places,something that only a few years ago,would have been unthinkable.

Approaching Ducie Street Bridge just before the junction with the Rochdale Canal,this was on Sunday morning as we made our way to New Islington Marina for a few days.The marina is just a couple of locks up the Rochdale.

Lock 82 on the Rochdale,through this one and the marina is on the right.Royal Mill is the first big building on the left past the bridge.This was the New Old Mill when it was built in 1912 and renamed Royal Mill in 1942.Just beyond it and even bigger is Old Mill,built in 1798.There have been Cotton Mills on this site since at least the end of 18th Century in what was known as Murrays Mills,a complex of 6 cotten mills built for Adam and George Murray,two brothers from Scotland.It was the largest complex of it's kind in the world at the beginning of the 19th Century

Well,that's it again for this week.we are safely moored in New Islington Marina from where we are going to do a bit more exploring of the fascinating City of Manchester.Since last week we have done 20 Locks and cruised 12 Miles that gives us a Grand Total of 1,139 Locks and 1,811 Miles since we set off in October 2012.Take care everyone.

Peak Forest Canal.

Hi All,
We've finally got away from Bugsworth Basin after the best part of two weeks,and two weeks well spent at that.We're now both fully recovered from all the exotic illnesses we acquired in March,though Lisa had to make another trip to the doctors,this time in Whaley Bridge,just to be sure.Now,we're heading North East along the Peak Forest Canal towards Ashton Under Lyne and the Ashton Canal as we make our way eventually to Manchester.As always we are in no particular hurry so we will take our time and enjoy ourselves,it's something like twenty one miles to Castlefield Basin in Manchester,with forty three locks in between as well so,at the speed we travel,that should take us a week at least.We will keep you up to date as we travel along.

Lisa opening Carr Swing Bridge  just past Furness Vale Marina,the swing bridges are frequently opened & closed so they're pretty easy once you've got the locking pin lifted.

The viaduct that you see as you approach New Mills.It was opened in the 1860's as part of a rail link over the Pennines between the coalfields of Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and the textile mills of Manchester and Lancashire,it also helped the demise of the canals.

Approaching the Swizzels Matlow factory in New Mills just the other side of Thornsett Road Bridge.They've been making Love Hearts and Parma Violets here since the 1940's when the company moved from East London to avoid the Blitz.As you go by the factory you can smell the delicious aroma of sweets being made.

Lisa doing all the hard work again,this time it's Turf Lea Lift Bridge,again,not too bad 'cos it gets opened quite frequently and you wind it up,and down,with a Windlass.

On Saturday we took a short detour off the Peak Forest and nipped down to The Trading Post at Poynton for Diesel.As we passed through Marple on our way back this morning we passed this imposing building,Goyt Mill,built in 1905 for Goyt Spinning Company,it's six stories high with 260,000 square feet of floor space and I've read somewhere it was for sale for £6,000,000 in 2013.

Just after Goyt Mill we spotted this delightful pair,Emily Sande duck and her partner.

Lisa fannying about at the Top Lock of the Marple Flight,you see it's not all work and no play,quite often I have to pry her away from passers by as she answers a multitude of questions.It's amazing how many people are unaware that there was even a canal nearby.

The Side Pound between Lock 16 and Lock 15,very pretty but sadly,badly silted so it has little capacity now.

Chyandour waiting for Lock 13 to fill,Lisa doing her usual.Me,I'm standing on the rope.

Lisa crossing the pound between Lock 9 and Lock 8.

That's it................The last of the 16 locks.It took us around three hours to descend the flight which I thought wasn't too bad considering every lock was against us,some 'cos they have to be left empty,and the Paddle Gear on all the locks was the hardest we've experienced in a long time.They were the first locks we've done since December too so maybe,just maybe,a tad out of practice.

A side picture of Marple Aqueduct,the highest canal aqueduct in England,completed in 1800 it carries the Peak Forest Canal over what was the River Mersey but is now the River Goyt,having been renamed in1896.It's still in the process of being refurbished by Canals & Rivers Trust so we had to wait to get across but that was no big deal,I managed to get a quick pic'.Last time we were here all you could see were trees,it's now so much better

Me steering Chyandour across the aqueduct trying not to hit the wooden shuttering that was waiting for concrete.In the background is the railway viaduct,opened in 1865 and longer than the aqueduct with 12 arches to the aqueducts 3.

Lisa's Captain again as she steers Chyandour through what was Rose Hill Tunnel.Sometime between 1849 and 1888 the roof of Rose Hill Tunnel collapsed,with the damage so extensive it was opened out and turned into a cutting.

Right,that's all there is for this week,tonight we are moored on the Peak Forest Canal where it passes through an area of Stockport called Romiley.Since last week we have passed through 16 Locks and cruised 19 Miles,that gives us a Grand total of 1,119 Locks and 1,799 Miles since we set off back in October 2012.Take care everyone.

Bugsworth Basin.

Hi All,
I've been singing the praises of Bugsworth Basin in the last couple of blogs as we've tried to bring our journey up to date so here is a bit of a description and a few pic's.We've been here a week now as we've recuperated from the nasty little infection we caught in the last few days of our stay in Corralejo and we're both much better now thank you.Being on a boat here in Bugsworth is good 'cos,as I've said before,just about everything we need is here,there's all the boat services,there's shops and there's a pub.First of all though I want to mention Brian and Anne Marie on Coalboat Alton.Who are they you may ask?Well,they're probably the hardest working couple I've ever met.Yesterday while we were experiencing some of the more unpleasant weather that the UK can provide,it was windy and it was lashing down,into the basin came the pair of them,on their boat,delivering coal,gas & diesel to all us boaters who decide not to bother moving when the weather isn't so good.They work as much as 15 hours a day in all weathers,when the canal is frozen or there's a stoppage they deliver by van,when water levels are down they drag,push or pole their boat past the obstruction.They're so reliable it's unbelievable,they're like clockwork.I want to buy something from them even when we don't need it just to say thank you for all the effort they put into looking after the rest of us.

Coalboat Alton outside Lyme View Marina on the Macclesfield canal while we were in Corralejo.I borrowed this picture from Brian's Facebook page,I hope he wont mind.

That's Chyandour,moored between The Wide and the Lower Basin Arm at Bugsworth.

The basin here is the South East terminus of the Peak Forest canal which was first completed to Marple in 1800 and then in 1804 the Upper Peak Forest was opened when the 16 Locks at Marple were finished.After that it was possible get by boat from here to the Ashton Canal at Dukinfield Junction near Ashton Under Lyne and then from there down into Manchester and the rest of the UK.Tramways brought Limestone and Gritstone ( a hard Sandstone used in building ) six and a half miles down to the basin from the quarries at Doveholes where it was either loaded into boats for the journey to the rest of the UK,or,in the case of some of the Limestone,into Lime Kilns where it was heated and turned into Quicklime.Lime being a major ingredient in a lot of building materials as well as being used for agriculture and in the chemical industry.

On the centre right of the pic there is what's left of the Gnat Hole ( West )  Limekilns,they collapsed before the beginning of the 20th Century and were never repaired.The arch to the left goes over the Middle Basin Arm where there were 11 Limekilns,8 New Road and 3 Navigation,and a Lime shed for storage

 There were as many as 19 Limekilns around Bugsworth Basin,some before the canal was built,most have gone,just bits of Gnat Hole East and West and a little bit of New Road Kilns are left.The original Navigation Kilns are no more.

Gnat Hole ( East ) Limekilns on the Middle Basin

The Lower Basin with it's usual collection of boats.We find this basin to be a bit noisy from the Black Brook that runs alongside over some weirs.The tv signal and internet aren't that good either.

Our Neighbour across the way,she's been on there for nearly a week but we haven't been able to see if she has any eggs yet.

I very nearly posted this blog with one serious omission.As far as I can recall I've never posted a blog without some mention of a pub and I nearly forgot to add the bit about The Navigation here in Bugsworth.
Last Thursday morning while we were pottering about,two faces appeared outside Chyandour,they were the faces of Richard and Sharron off NB Oakapple who we hadn't seen since Hack Green on the Shroppie last October.Well,we decided to meet up later in the Navigation to catch up and as the evening wore on,there was a quiz,totaly unexpected.Anyway,accompanied by another round of drinks we entered the quiz and much to our surprise,we came second,hows that then?I will add that there were more than two teams for any doubting Thomas's.A good night was had by us all and we waved Richard and Sharron off on their travels the next morning.
 Well,that's me just about blogged out now.Three blogs in three days and I'm running out of ideas so I'll post this and call it a day till next week.We haven't moved since our last Grand Total so there is nothing to add to that.Take care everyone.