Just been lazing about the last week or so as i will be leaving the boat soon to go down south on the train as one of my boys is getting married. So it`s been a very slow journey spending a few days here and there moored up.
Well there comes a time now and again when the galley needs re-stocking so a move into Stone
gives access to plenty of shops and walking around town i noticed the Somerfield s/mkt is now a Co-Op, the one at Middlewich has been taken over by Tesco and as i`m sure they still advertise on TV they haven`t ceased trading. Anyone know the reason?
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Nb valerie dropping down through the bottom lock outside the Star Inn. The restaurant one side and the pub the other attracted big crowds over the w`end i was moored just below the lock so boaters had to very professional in front of a large audience. I came down the flight early to avoid the heat so my skills were not on show.
Don`t remember this seat here on previous visits and as there is nothing to explain what it`s all about i can only guess the ceramic tiles were down by local schools.
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The pedestrianised high street had not only the general market but also a farmers mkt and the following day an Italian theme made for a busy w`end.
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Just along from my mooring these over 55s flats caught my eye as the block on the left and those out of sight to the right were modern looking compared to the two in the middle and me being me had to find the answer. Good old Google came up trumps and eventually i found links to the picture below. The pic was taken in 1989 and shows the buildings of Stubbs & Co. corn merchants & millers with the arched entrance for loading boats still in the pic above. The timber extension was demolished when the site was developed.
Talking of Google, on the Stoke on Trent blog the second to last picture i discovered used to look like the pic below. The bricked up openings just above the canal were used to load pottery products directly onto boats for shipping to London or Manchester and onwards across the globe.
I just love the Internet one big electronic history book, imagine in the past looking at book after book in a library to find the answers to what is now just a few key presses on a pc with the ability to share the books pictures and info to the world instantly.
Now the history behind the picture below is that Eric and Patsy e mailed me many moons ago after reading the blog as they had the intention of a life afloat following a long period touring the USA in an RV. After about 200 e mails, well ok a lot of e mails over a long time, they finally set off on the maiden voyage and we met at Barlaston.
A smashing couple of people and i look forward to us all meeting again sometime along the cut but until then happy cruising on NB Ezzyduzzit. Think that's the spelling.
Well there comes a time now and again when the galley needs re-stocking so a move into Stone
gives access to plenty of shops and walking around town i noticed the Somerfield s/mkt is now a Co-Op, the one at Middlewich has been taken over by Tesco and as i`m sure they still advertise on TV they haven`t ceased trading. Anyone know the reason?
.JPG)
Nb valerie dropping down through the bottom lock outside the Star Inn. The restaurant one side and the pub the other attracted big crowds over the w`end i was moored just below the lock so boaters had to very professional in front of a large audience. I came down the flight early to avoid the heat so my skills were not on show.
Don`t remember this seat here on previous visits and as there is nothing to explain what it`s all about i can only guess the ceramic tiles were down by local schools..JPG)
The pedestrianised high street had not only the general market but also a farmers mkt and the following day an Italian theme made for a busy w`end..JPG)
Just along from my mooring these over 55s flats caught my eye as the block on the left and those out of sight to the right were modern looking compared to the two in the middle and me being me had to find the answer. Good old Google came up trumps and eventually i found links to the picture below. The pic was taken in 1989 and shows the buildings of Stubbs & Co. corn merchants & millers with the arched entrance for loading boats still in the pic above. The timber extension was demolished when the site was developed.
Talking of Google, on the Stoke on Trent blog the second to last picture i discovered used to look like the pic below. The bricked up openings just above the canal were used to load pottery products directly onto boats for shipping to London or Manchester and onwards across the globe.
I just love the Internet one big electronic history book, imagine in the past looking at book after book in a library to find the answers to what is now just a few key presses on a pc with the ability to share the books pictures and info to the world instantly.
Now the history behind the picture below is that Eric and Patsy e mailed me many moons ago after reading the blog as they had the intention of a life afloat following a long period touring the USA in an RV. After about 200 e mails, well ok a lot of e mails over a long time, they finally set off on the maiden voyage and we met at Barlaston.
A smashing couple of people and i look forward to us all meeting again sometime along the cut but until then happy cruising on NB Ezzyduzzit. Think that's the spelling.
Ah the dear old Star. I hope all is well there: perhaps you can give us an 'inside' report Les?
ReplyDeleteHi Les - most(if not all) Somerfield supermarkets were sold earlier this year, to several different purchasers, and some are still trading under the Somerfield name - I know this because I have a friend who worked for them in the Stamford store - that one has been taken over by Waitrose.
ReplyDeletePip
the co-op have bought out somerfield and are slowly changing the stores over. they sold some of them off because they already have stores nearby.
ReplyDeletekev
Hi martin
ReplyDeleteInside report? Me inside a pub!
Well i did just happen to go in and it is much the same as last time with the different floor levels in each bar area and the dining area at one end doing good business.
I have always liked the Star a proper old pub not one of the modern plastic establishments.
Hi Pip & Kev
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update on Somerfields.
Perhaps if i watched the TV news more i might have known but as i`ve said before missing this news item along with many others has not affected my life.