Day 60 - Thank you Middlewich Narrowboats.

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1 lock, 301 in total.







We have been so lucky today, courtesy of Jimmy and Middlewich Narrowboats. Of three boatyards, they were the only one open on a Sunday. I strolled along there with 3 needs; pumpout (as ever!), an engineer for the calorifier and safe moorings for the night as once we left our present moorings we couldn't return and we'd been warned against the visitor moorings further along. Well, tick all 3 boxes – they couldn't have been more helpful. Jimmy confirmed that there was a split in the calorifier, sourced one to be delivered by 10am Monday (at the lowest price that I'd seen on the internet last night) and we've been under their canopy all afternoon in the shade. Also we can stay here overnight with access to power for our batteries. Jimmy removed the old calorifier at lunchtime and then fitted a stopcock so that we could fill the cold water tank without it draining away. John used the angle grinder to clean up the calorifier area and painted it all with Hammerite, to bond with the metal and the remaining rust. Then we had an ice cream from the yard shop!







Last night's moorings were lovely, considering there were houses on both sides of the canals – probably the best moorings in Middlewich so we were rather loathe to leave them. Also the natives were friendly and offered us water from their outside taps which reduced the trips to the water point 300 yards away. I did the Tesco trip first thing and then some washing, despite the water shortage - we were running out of hot weather clothing, there's no laundrette here and we didn't know how long our stay would be.







After my recce of boatyards we set off along the last of the Shroppie (Middlewich Arm) through Wardle Lock. I hadn't realised that the 100 yards of canal between the lock and the Middlewich T-junction with the Trent & Mersey Canal is called the Wardle Canal. I don't fully understand the logic here but apparently the Wardle Canal was built by the Trent & Mersey Canal Co. so that they could control this strategic junction with its link via the Shroppie to Liverpool and then sothwards to Birmingham and London. I should have thought that the Shroppie already had permission all the way through to Middlewich as the Middlewich Arm was nearly completed. Still, the fact remains that the Trent & Mersey made a huge profit by imposing very high tolls at Wardle Lock until tolls were abolished some 50 years later.







Middlewich has been dedicated to salt extraction since Roman times. Most of the salt now goes to various chemical industries. Subsidence from salt extraction has prevented development here for many years but apparently a renewal programme is underway – it is long overdue in my opinion; the town feels very sad considering its past prosperity.

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Photos

Views of Middlewich Junction - northwards to Preston Brook.
This is a busy place - there were 7 boats waiting to go through Wardle Locks, immediately after the turn onto the Middlewich Arm - tempers can fray when boaters are coming from 2 directions and they feel they've missed their place in the queue.

Wardle Canal
Under the bridge is the junction and you can just see a narrowboat going southwards.

Wardle Lock...
... and the lock cottage at the far end. An ex-working boat woman called Maureen lived here for many years and it became known as 'Maureen's Lock'. There is a plaque in her memory. It says that she had a unique way of dispensing advice!

Under the canopy at Middlewich Narrowboats.
The canopy was supported by 5 fairly ornate cast iron pillars of unknown age.

Pumping out the bilge.
Once the calorifier was removed, the remaining water and anti-freeze drained out.

The diesel pump and tank.....
....fitted into an alcove between 2 buildings, with a shutter when not in use. Other neat ideas are the gantry-level electric sockets and water hoses - keeps the limited floor area clear and welcoming. A little bit of thought goes a long way.

Shop front 1a ....
....which I assume was once a meat market.

Shopfront 1b....
... not any longer.

Wharf building
This is offered for redevelopment y Canal & River Trust - it is in a shocking state of repair. Why do they let their historic property deteriorate like this?

Comments

[amanda]

Thank you for the update Helen, glad you had a most successful day, and met such a good chap in Jimmy. Have a lovely day today, its going to be a hot one here they say +31 degrees, and tomorrow is said to be slightly hotter. When you think how cold and wet it was when you first started out this warmer weather must be a blessing! Looking forward to your next news with love Amanda x