Friday 14 August 2015

Polesworth & Tamworth

Early August, Judy & I came to Polesworth for 11 days on Constance. We had a look around Polesworth and walked through the Abby grounds. In the evening we had a meal at 'The Pretty Pigs'
The gatehouse to Polesworth Abbey


The gatehouse to Polesworth Abbey from the inside

Polesworth Abbey
Alvecote Marina
Alvecote
Alvecote
Glascote

Then we moved into Tamworth and had a look around.

Tamworth Town Centre
Tamworth Castle
Tamworth town centre
Then we moved on towards Fazeley Junction.



July 2015 Hawkesbury to Polesworth

We moved northwards along the Coventry Canal. It is difficult to believe that the canal passes through a major 18/19th Century coal mining area. There is very little to see of it today. At Marston Junction one passes the start of the Ashby Canal. Will save that excursion for another year...
Then past Nuneaton and on the Atherstone. The lock keeping volunteers were most helpful on our way down the Atherstone flight of locks. Spent a couple of nights near Bradley Green, fetched the car from Fenny Compton and went on to Polesworth, from whence we came home.
Some canalside art

Near Bedworth

The starting point for the Ashby canal

Unusual today, but the canals of old would have been lined with these

A seemingly remote marina near Hartshill

The old BW Works

Atherstone Locks

Atherstone Locks

The marina just north of Atherstone

Mum enjoyed herself on holiday

July 2015 A day out in Coventry

As we were staying at Hawkesbury Junction is seemed churlish not to catch the bus into Coventry. There is an excellent bus service from a point about 600yds from The Greyhound. Here are a few pictures of Coventry:
Part of the old Cathedral

Column bases from the old Cathedral

The extent of the excavations


The house to which the sign above applies

The new Cathedral archway

That which was bombed out during WWII

Window of new Cathedral






Lady Godiva statue

July 2015 Rugby to Hawkesbury Junction

The journey from Rugby to Hawkesbury Junction is characterised in part by the later straightening of the early meandering of the original canal route. This has resulted in there being many side, offshoots of the canal. Some are completely dry and unrecognisable but most are short stubs of canal into which boats can moor or marinas can be built.
Side arm at the bottom of the Hilmorton Locks



Across rivers too

Just above Bridge 42

Another river

River

Side arm

with space for mooring boats

The southern portal of the Newbold Tunnel







Repairs to the bridge



Arriving at Stretton Stop

Side arm at Stretton Stop

Stretton Stop

Some magnificent specimens of Gunnera

Under the M6



The approach to Sutton Stop

Entering the Stop Lock


The Greyhound - we enjoyed a good meal here!

Hawkesbury Junction

Hawkesbury Junction - turning north on to the Coventry Canal