Newsletter Newsletter Autumn 2022
Disclaimer:
The IWA may not agree with opinions expressed in this Newsletter but encourages publication as a matter of interest. Nothing printed herein may be construed as policy or official announcement unless stated otherwise. The IWA accepts no liability for any matter in the Newsletter
The Inland Waterways Association is a non-profit distribution company limited by guarantee Registered in England no. 612245. Registered as a charity no. 212342
Registered Office: Island House, Moor House, Chesham HP5 1WA
Content
From The Editor
Page 2 Picnic Page 12
Tea Room Page 2 Bond Bug Page 13
From The Vice Chairman Page 3 Essex Waterways Update Page 14
From The Regional Chairman Page 4 Social Diary Page 16
Fish ‘n‘ Chips Page 5 Seating Page 17
Llangollen Return Page 6 Photographs Page 18 Brinklow to Atherstone Page 10 Just For Fun Page 19
Volunteers Page1 1 Branch Committee Page 19
From The Editor
We still need you to dig out those photographs, write that article, document those waterway memories as we would still like to increase our contributors to the next Newsletter.
Last inputs for Winter Newsletter 21/12/2022.
For those on e-mail please send your input to chelmsford.news@waterways.org.uk Those without just give me a call. 07837 576464.
Tea Room
The Victoria is wintering at the Heybridge Basin. Whilst out on your tow path walks take time to stop and have a warm drink and something to eat.
An interesting morning - As many of you know I live in Heybridge Basin, so I often walk along the towpath and have a chat with the Kiosk Team and also the Boat crews. Last week the boat crew were waiting to do the 11am trip with Blackwater Dawn and had no passengers. It was a lovely sunny day. I said to my husband Robert let’s go on the boat trip. We managed to persuade another lady with a baby to join us and so we set off. An excellent 45-minute trip it was too with Volunteer crew Pete and Steve for the very reasonable price of £6. We were given the safety information from Pete and later he came to tell us something about the history of the Navigation which was very informative. The boat crews have had a busy summer, but it has now quietened down as Autumn approaches. I noticed yesterday Blackwater Dawn is now out of the water so probably having its bottom blacked or an inspection or something. I understand that Victoria may be coming back to the Basin Kiosk site again soon which last year became a winter, Tea Room. I would like to say a big thank you to all the Volunteers who have crewed the boats throughout this hot summer allowing visitors to enjoy the beauty of the Navigation and contribute so much needed income. Come and visit Heybridge Basin soon, the car park now has a charge, but this is very reasonable. Payment is by card or RingGO app. Payment does apply even if you have a blue badge so, please buy a ticket to avoid a fine as the Car Park has number plate recognition cameras.
up to 1 hour £1 2 hours £1.50 3 hours £2.00 4 hours £2.50 24 hours £5.00
The Kiosk is a lovely place to sit and enjoy looking at the Navigation. Its sited just opposite the steps from the Car Park. They make bacon rolls and bread pudding and other cakes and refreshments and you can have a chat with the Team and support Essex Waterways. I found out yesterday that Roy Chandler made all the benches and tables from mostly recycled wood. Well done Roy, they look amazing!
Rebecca LoaderThe events run by the association are gradually getting back to normal after the hiatus of the last two years. This year Janine and I took our boat to the Festival of Water at Burton on Trent. The event was smaller than those held in the site, before Covid, but was still enjoyable. We had intended to visit Stoke on Trent on our way to the festival but the Trent & Mersey canal was closed at Stone due to lack of water, so we had to use a bus to get to the Wedgwood Experience, our original destination. Hopefully we will have a wet winter and the canals will once again be full of water.
At this year’s National AGM, the association launched a major report on the future of our waterways called Waterways for Today. We all know about the benefits of the waterways – you wouldn’t be reading this if you didn’t, BUT it can be difficult to explain this to the people we need to influence. The report covers 12 key benefits, and includes case studies, facts and statistics and some compelling quotes from high profile people like Timothy Spall & Griff Rhys Jones. It includes evidence from a wide range of sources to demonstrate the value of the waterways and of course it includes recommendations for local, national and devolved governments. The report is available now on our website using this link: https://waterways.org.uk/campaigns/waterways-for-today. If you have contact details for any key figures in your area such as Councillors or officers, please could you let your branch chair (see contact page) or me know and we will arrange for them to get paper copies of the report sent to them.
It is with regret I have to report the resignation of Hugh Pearman the chair of the London Region Planning Conservation Group (LRPCG) He is preparing to publish a book and does not have time to do both jobs . With something like 25 local authorities responsible for planning decisions, that affect London’s waterways, across the Region, the co-ordinating role of the LRPCG helps the branches have a consistent approach to planning applications across London. We need to fill this role, to protect London’s waterways, if you have experience with planning matters and could spend a few hours a week helping IWA, or know someone who has, I would love to hear from you.
Paul StudwickSandford Boating Club Fish ‘n’ Chips Cruise
The glorious autumnal sunshine greeted the boaters of Sandford Boating Club on Sunday morning 9th October in Springfield Basin as they woke up after their fish and chip supper the night before.
As part of our annual events we always have an end of season cruise up into the basin with boats from Sandford and Papermill joining in. Cruising up during Saturday afternoon allows boaters a few hours to go shopping or just walk round town before setting up tables and chairs for the evening. Having used the same fish and chip shop for a number of years, Fancy Fry in Moulsham Street, Chelmsford, the shop are more than happy to supply us with upwards of 20 plus portions and at very reasonable prices. These were collected just after 6pm and we all tucked in and had a most enjoyable evening. Lots of boating chat and discussions about the navigation took place and the wine and beer were flowing nicely. Ever mindful of the residents around the basin our gathering finished at about 9.30pm with boaters returning to their boats for the rest of the evening.
Sunday morning came in brilliant sunshine and boaters sorted out their own breakfast arrangements. Some headed into the town whilst others had the cookers going with the lovely smell of bacon wafting around the basin.
From about 10am onwards we started to cruise back to our respective moorings again in wonderful autumnal sunshine and the end of another enjoyable cruising season.
The whole aim of the Sandford Boating Club is to promote and use the upper reaches of the Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation and to be a conduit through which discussions can be held with Essex Waterways. Following cruises like this I think we are achieving our aims and giving boaters an excuse to use their boats.
Here’s looking forward to another year of cruising in 2023.
Llangollen Return
In March Pam and I had a pilgrimage back to Cheshire for a few days. As part of that outing we visited Llangollen for the day. Having enjoyed our short stay (see Summer 2022 Newsletter), we returned home and booked a canal boat for two weeks to visit by water instead of road.
Mid September saw us packing our bags to head off to Cheshire to collect the canal boat for our trip along the Shropshire Union, Llangollen and return back to Bunbury.
We drove up the day before and stayed overnight at a Premier inn in Nantwich.
This gave us the opportunity to visit a National Trust property in the morning for a walk around the gardens.
After some grocery shopping it allowed us to be at the boat yard promptly to collect the boat.
The boat was a constellation class, Cassiopeia, a 65’ six berth (plenty of room for the two of us) two showers and toilet craft from Anglo Welsh out of the Bunbury Marina
Once the handover had been complete we set off for our first night aboard. Having turned around we headed south down the Shropshire Union towards Hurleston Junction to join the Llangollen canal. After the Bunbury Staircase and an hour and a half cruising we decided to moor up at Barbridge Junction and make the most of the evening in the Olde Barbridge Inn.
As the guide book mentions, (we used J.M.Pearson & Son Canal Companion Extended 10th Edition), a comfortable canal side pub serving Westwood ales and food served throughout from noon daily.
We had an early start to get to the foot of the four Hurleston Locks and start the climb of 34’ 3”. With just the two of us we quickly got back into the swing of not going backwards and forwards in managing the gates and the paddles.
Llangollen Return (cont)
Now on the Llangollen we settled down to the start of the forty-five mile journey from Cheshire farmland to the mountains of Wales. It is mentioned in the guide book that under the transport act of 1968 the canal was classified as a ‘cruiseway’ its position as one of the premier canal holiday routes assured for posterity.
Five and a half hours, five locks and one lift bridge (tow path is on the opposite to the bridge lift operating mechanism) we arrived at Wrenbury for the night. A short walk along the tow path allowed us to book an evening meal in the Dusty Miller and take a look at Bridge 20. An electrified, less than discreet traffic lights, activated using the CRT Yale key.
Once you unlock the bridge controls, like at a train level crossing, the lights flash, the barriers are lowered and the bridge starts to raise. The motorised traffic then follows the highway code and waits for the boat to pass under the raised bridge and once lowered continue on their journey. We passed through the bridge, it was lowered and the traffic lights went out but a couple of motorists were on their mobile phones and had to exchange insurance details.
Continuing our way through the peaceful countryside of Cheshire then into Shropshire we arrived at the bottom of Grindley Brook Locks. This is a set of six locks, a trio of single chambers followed by a three lock staircase and a 38’ 11” rise. CRT volunteers were at hand to assist boaters on the staircase, which was very helpful with just Pam and I.
Leaving Grindley Brook, with Shropshire on the left and Wrescam (Wales) on the right we had a few lift bridges that interrupted our slow and peaceful crusing. With eight hours (including a lunch stop) we arrived for the night at Prees Junction. We settled down to an onboard evening meal and a catch up on our reading.
The following morning saw the start of the autumn mist rising from the canal and once underway we started to get into the hilly country side and our first of the tunnels along the canal to Llangollen. The Elllesmere, just 87 yds long, provided how much work was required to hand dig to cut its way through
Llangollen Return (cont)
the hill side. Ellesmere became the headquarters of the canal and the company (Shropshire Union and Canal Company) built offices here. Known as Beech House, these premises still preside over the canal junction, though now used residentially with the CRT are confined to the maintenance base next door.
Opposite the Beech House is the short arm that leads to the town wharf. We took the opportunity to visit the local Tesco to top up our on board supplies.
With only two locks to slow us down (New Marton Locks three hours from our supermarket stop) we left Ellesmere and passed by Tetch Hill, Frankton (junction for the Montgomery Canal), Hindford, and then mooring for the night.
The next part of our trip introduced us to Gledried Wharf and bridge 19w . This is where the canal assumes World Heritage Site status all the way through to Llangollen and the Horseshoe falls, (water feed for the canal). You arrive at Chirk Bank and the boarder of England and Wales. This border is represented by the one way working of the Chirk Aqueduct, a passing basin and then the 459 yd Chirk Tunnel.
Following on to the 191yd Whitehurst tunnel, you then have a short cruise though the country side, with the lift bridge at Froncysyllte the canal approaches its climax on a high embankment built from the spoil excavated when the Chirk Tunnel was dug. The next quest is using the Pontcysylite Aqueduct and the crossing over the River Dee. The aqueduct, over a 1000ft long, 127ft tall at its deepest point and consists of an iron trough supported by 18 stone piers.
Llangollen Return (cont)
One of the facts about the aqueduct is that it was completed in 1805, the year of Nelson’s death at Trafalgar. Four hundred and fifty-eight ‘Englishman’ perished at Trafalgar, but only one life was lost in the construction of the aqueduct, a misfortune attributed to a moment of carelessness.
Once across the aqueduct you arrive at a tight left hand turn, to continue on to Llangollen, at Trevor Basin. Only the shortest boats can make the turn in one movement. The boat being 65ft we had to do four point turn as craft emerged from the feeder.
Never exactly wide, the canal / feeder narrows as it approaches Llangollen with one way working along short sections cut through solid rock. A couple of passing places allow movement if a boat is approaching in the opposite direction, but must be very difficult in high season if a crew member is not sent ahead to check out the situation.
Linear visitor moorings are provided on the approach to bridge 45w, but we continued on to the basin beyond, where pontoons can accommodate you. We decided to stay for 48 hours (£12) as each pontoon is equipped with water and electric, a small price to pay before heading back to our starting point.
On returning to Huleston Junction, a few days later, we turned north back up the Shropshire Union heading towards Chester. But that adventure is for another Newsletter article.
John CarlawBrinklow to Atherstone
On Thursday 2nd June, a lovely, warm and sunny day, we arrived at Brinklow Marina, unpacked, and cast off for a few days cruising. Exiting the marina with vibrant yellow iris along the bank, and elderflower bushes full of flowers, taking in the lovely scent of the flowers. We passed bridge 34 with its Bat Boxes on each side of the bridge, but yet to see a bat.
Heading straight through the open swing bridge at Rose Narrowboats, as boats were passing in both directions, and then through the stop lock at Hawkesbury Junction, I navigated the U turn under the bridge alone, and met John at a gap in the moorings, where we tied up for the night. Having had a lovely day, relaxing, listening to the birdsong, hearing a cuckoo, and seeing some tiny ducklings, we ended the day with a delicious meal in the famous Greyhound Inn, at the junction.
The following day, with a dull start which soon became lovely and sunny, we cruised passed Marston Junction (taking you on the Ashby Canal), briefly stopping at Springwood Haven, now run by ABC Leisure, for a new Imray Map. Onwards seeing the Hartshill Yard with the sun shining on the clocktower. We saw more yellow iris, and a lot of foxgloves. Passing the Alpaca Farm we noted they had just had a haircut. By late morning we had reached Atherstone moorings, and tied up in the last slot just through bridge 40.
We all headed into town, our elderly dog in his trolley as it is a fair walk into the town centre. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the dog friendly Red Lion Hotel, where the pooches got a lot of attention. Soon it was time for a wander around the town and market square, there are a lot of independent shops, and the bakery does the best bread and batons, as John will confirm from previous trips, it is good to see a High Street with a difference.
Saturday morning was a time for odd jobs. Later John went back into town, to the tool shop again, it is like an Aladdin's Cave. Ready to cruise again after using the service point above the lock flight, we could smell the wild garlic in woodland areas along the route, and back through Nuneaton, mooring briefly for lunch. Onwards back round Hawkesbury Junction, mooring near bridge 4 we were soon joined by other boats, we hadn't moored here before, but it is a lovely area, we had noticed a lot of cruising narrowboats today in both directions. In the evening we walked along the road to enjoy an excellent meal in The Old Crown, the first time we had eaten there, and we will be back. The evening was very windy, and the rain overnight woke me.
Sunday, leaving in 'full wets' as they say in Formula One, and having seen four narrowboats already pass dressed for the weather, I returned inside to start cleaning and packing. The rain had stopped by Rose Narrowboats, and held off till we had moored on our pontoon, and packed the car for our homeward journey.
It had been a lovely relaxing long weekend, everywhere was green now, and the haw blossom had been replaced by elderflower, dogrose, foxglove, dog daisy, and buttercups. We even had time to see some of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for our amazing Queen Elizabeth II, and her tea with Paddington Bear will stay with me forever...
Volunteers
Two of the Blackwater Dawn volunteers, Pete and Steve, who provide safety information and history of the Navigation as part of the 45 minute trip.
Sandford Boating Club Picnic
Sunday morning 11th September started with the mist lying heavily over the navigation and fields adjacent to Sandford Lock and moorings. By 9am the sun had come up and started to burn off the mist and create a lovely autumnal day ideal for a cruise.
The Sandford Boating Club had it’s annual picnic at Stonhams Lock, C&BN sorted, and, due to being thwarted on it’s July Boat gathering and Chelmsford Carnival cruise into Springfield Basin by the non clearance of huge amounts of weed across the meadows with low levels, and, not being able to have it’s Bank Holiday weekend Cruise to Heybridge due to no moorings being available, we were determined to get out with our boats to Stonhams Lock this weekend.
The navigation was clear and levels were almost back to normal and by 11.30am boats were leaving to head down a couple of locks for a pleasant afternoon. Although we were hoping for some of our members from Papermill to arrive with their boats this wasn’t the case but those of us who made the trip had a wonderful afternoon in glorious sunshine passing pleasantries with walkers and cyclists and even helping out one youngster on her D. of E. walk who had got lost ! Sitting round the EWL caravan having a picnic was certainly different !
Being mindful of the possibility of other boats wanting to use the lock we kept an eye out so as to move and give them access but of course no one came as this end of the navigation seems to always be the “forgotten end”. After about three hours or so we packed up and started the return cruise to Sandford in the lovely late afternoon sun.
A glorious cruise for those that joined in and just reinforced the reasons for the boating club, ie to promote the use of the upper reaches of the navigation. We are all looking forward to our end of season annual Fish and Chip Cruise into Springfield Basin on Saturday 8th October. This always turns out to be our most popular event and again uses the upper reaches.
Thanks go to Tony and Kat from Northern Monkey, Lee from Jenny Miss, Toby and Elaine from The Raven, Mick and Julie from Iron Duke, Steve and Ann from Esme, Shaun and Annie from Bluebell and myself and John on Camelot. Here’s looking forward to the next cruise out.
ZellyBugsworth Basin in a Bond Bug
It was our first meeting with the Bond Bug Club group, in our recently restored 1973 Bond Bug, John has actually owned the Bond Bug since 1981. We were all camping on the rally field in June, in Derbyshire.
The Rallies are very social events, it is about getting out and about in the Bugs. One of the planned days out was a 'Road Run' in a Bug convoy, and the destination was Bugsworth Basin.
Our rally organisers had arranged with CRT for us to park our Bond Bugs in a row on the grass verge, alongside one of the basin arms. Here we were able to explore the area, and enjoy a light lunch from the floating narrowboat cafe, who make delicious toasted sandwiches. Afterwards the cafe owner joined us all on the footbridge above the basins for a group photo. The line-up of Bond Bugs certainly attracted a lot of attention and admiration from passers-by, and they were well photographed.
It seemed strange approaching the Canal Basins by road, because on our previous visit here in May 2014, it was via the Peak Forest Canal, when we took a detour off the Four Counties Ring in a hire boat, to see the restored Bugsworth Basins. On that occasion we only saw one other boat while we were moored there.
It was good to see Bugsworth Basin again, and well used now, as a lot of the moorings were occupied by narrowboats, and the cafe boat. The area was well kept, tidy and clean, and hopefully one day we will be able to cruise there again.
The Bond Bug group thoroughly enjoyed the trip and seeing the narrowboats and canal. It was a brilliant day out.
Mason & John Grieve
