Stoke Bruerne and through Blisworth

The first pound of the Stoke Bruerne flight looks a lot different to when we were going south back in November. The bank side work is very good

Halfway up the flight and we meet up with Graham off nb Matilda Rose out dog walking. Jill was away so perhaps on the way Jill we might get a chance to say hi. Thing is Graham walked past me at a lock turned back and said "I recognised Jaq First"  Thanks for your help up the flight Graham.

Nice to see the  building next to Blisworth Tunnel is now in use as a Blacksmiths. The building was once a forge and stores for the tugs that used to pull boats through the tunnel.

 The steam tugs operated between 1871-1936. The charge was 1/6d (7.5p) laden and 1/- (5p) for empties. Leggers were made redundant. It seems the congestion caused by the slow legging of boats was eased by the tugs that would pull a string of boats through quickly.

 Some legging pics on this site for those who are wondering especially Jaq`s USA friends & family who i know read the blog.

Look at this from the web.. The whole article is HERE.  These guys after so many years legging must have had some good leg muscles.

26.4.1871

Mr Mercer reported that a tug was now at work at the Braunston Tunnel and that the same charges were being made at the Blisworth tunnel, viz: Boats with cargoes of 25 tons and upwards 1/6d each way. Boats with cargoes under 25 tons 1/3d each way. Empty Boats 1/- each way. And as the service of the leggers (twelve) would no longer be required it was resolved that a weekly allowance of 5/- each be made to W. Benjamin 75 years of age and 44 years at tunnel; R. Thomas 65 years of age and 38 years at tunnel; and John Fox 64 years of age and 19 years at tunnel."

First lambs of 2012. They are there click the pic. These were on the Braunston Summit just after leaving Norton Jct. the branch to Leicester.

Just had an e mail advising the stoppage at Easenhall bridge on the Oxford is delayed until Feb.13th so our plans have now changed. Instead of staying on the Gd. Union and climbing the Hatton flight we will now be going on my much preferred route via the Coventry and the Atherstone flight and thence onto the Trent&Mersey