WEEDONS HIDDEN CANAL

In 1803 a Royal Army Ordnance Depot was built at Weedon Bec. It was made up of 8 storehouses and 4 magazines. Small arms and gunpowder were just two of the things stored here. The magazines had thick walls and between each an additional building that was filled with earth.

During the early part of its 160 year life the depot had barracks for 500 men, a hospital, a military prison (1861 census shows 94 inmates) and just outside the depot still as built accomadation for its own fire brigade.

In 1809 on a saturday an order was recieved for 22,000 muskets. These were packed in cases and on Monday morning they were on there way to London.......are you thinking whats this got to do with his canal travels? has the water gypsy gone senile? is he blogging from the pub?

Noooooooo the Muskets went to London by canal.

When the depot was built they dug a canal from within its walls exiting via a Portculis Gate to join up with the then Gd. Jct. Canal. Going past today you would never know of its existence as there is no sign of it from the canal. I read of it from an old canal book picked up on my travels last year and having missed it going south last year was determined to seek it out this time.

Now this canal transport system was going well and then came the railway passing close to the Gd. Jct. Canal and level with it. Both had passed above the village one each side and come together as they passed by the Ordnance depot. To overcome the problem of allowing boats loaded with gunpowder to access the depot canal a section of rail was removed each time a boat came in & out.This was supervised by the local Stn. master.

Rail lines were added at Weedon Stn. that led into the Ordnance Depot giving it 3 forms of transport, road, rail and water.

Blimey this blog is long i`m supposed to be retired. quick cuppa and i`ll carry on

The Ordnance Depot went on untill the mid 1960`s and during its life was used as a clothing store kitting out Kitcheners Army also it was an army eqeustian school and stabled some of the finest horses in the country. Plus the Army had its bicycle section here.

This place is full of history and interest from who was stationed here to what civilian workers in the depot earnt 100+ years ago. I claim no superior knowledge of this place having read all i tell you in a booklet issued by the Weedon Bec History Society and purchased in the village post office. Don`t miss the village it`s a nice place to walk around and pick up supplies.

Oh just thought going north on the Gd Union under bridge 25 past Weedon Wharf on the Left(port) you see the church. There are a few moorings on the church side but don`t worry if you moor opposite there are steps down to a road passing below the canal and into the village.

The point that the depot canal joined the mainline is further up on the left in the middle of the boatyard before bridge 24.

If you go looking for the depot as you stand outside looking at the portcullis gate behind you is the old engineering works. To the leftof it is a lane and just a few yards along the lane you can walk through the trees past the deserted building and find the canal exit under the railway.

Nice eh!

A view from the canal bank looking across the churchyard showing the railway passing at the same height as the canal. Walk past the church into the village and the road goes gradually uphill to the Ordanance Depot.

Inside the depot the entrance to my left shows a large part of the canal still in water. Further down a now filled in basin allowed the turning of boats.

The entrance to the Depot with the portcullis gate that would raise to allow boats to access.

The canal having exited the depot passes under the rail lines. This is the only part in water outside of the depot. An old engineering works has been built over the rest.

This is the place the Ordanance Depot canal joined the main Gd Jct. Canal. Notice the height of the railway in relation to the canal and the metal railings seen in the picture from the depot side.

THE CONVOY MOVES ON

Off we go through Blisworth tunnel dodging the water dripping from the roof and in places pouring down the ventilation shafts. Exiting the tunnel brings us to Blisworth village and we all decide to get a bus to a Tesco on the outskirts of Northampton to re-stock our galleys. Shopping can be a problem on some stretches of the canal system but it is surprising how often you can be away from it all but just a 10 min bus ride from civilisation.

So stocked up on food we carry on to Gayton Jct. where a new marina is being constructed and stop off at the service block to dispose of rubbish, empty toilets and take on water.

Next stop is Bugbrooke where we spent a few days and i had a busy w`end with sons Kev and Steve visiting together with the G`children who brought their mums Joanne & Ozlem. Managed to give them all a cruise along the canal on the saturday which was just as well because it rained all day Sunday. All of us had a meal Saturday evening in the Wharf Inn and as i had moored on the pub mooring they had somewhere to park almost next to the boat.

After they had all left i woke the next day feeling rough with the common cold, yes ok you tough ladies out there us men get a cold and its the end of the world, so stayed put for 2 days to recover. Having fought off the fever we are off to Wheedon to seek out the hidden arm that leads into an old army depot. The others can`t wait to get this part of the trip over because i never stop talking about it.

New marina taking shape at Gayton Jct.

G`daughter Keira spends her day aboard laughing and smiling.

G`son Kiernan is mobile now and wastes no time investigating the boat.

One of many bridges along the way.

As well as a couple of Bream Andy&Tina managed to land this Crayfish.

STOKE BRUERNE

Stoke Breurne is a typical canalside village situated just south of the I 3/4 miles long Blisworth Tunnel.

The tunnel was started in 1793 and took 12 years to complete. In 1800 the canal had reached Stoke Bruerne from London and arrived from the north at Blisworth in 1796. While the tunnel was being constructed a tramway was built going over Blisworth hill. Boats would be un-loaded from both sides of the hill and cargoes would be transported by horse drawn carts running on tracks over the hill to be re-loaded on to boats. This went on for 5 yrs untill the tunnel opened joining the 2 waterways up.

In the 1980`s British Waterways spent 4.5 million lining the centre part of the tunnel and the tunnel was closed for 4 yrs.

Stoke Bruerne is a nice place to visit and indeed during summer months is very busy with people visiting the museum, taking boat trips or eating at the 2 canalside pubs. The lock flight also brings out the boat watchers so your steering skills have to be 1st class with such an audience.

Some nice walks across the fields and one walk led me to find the old Stoke stn. now a private dwelling but with part of the platform still in place. The original trackbed can be walked along and it actually crosses the old Blisworth hill tramway although the bridge has long gone the bridge buttresses are still visable.

Boat scales in the original lock chamber.

View from the road bridge. Boat Inn to the left and museum to the right. This is a double arched bridge, the second arch added when the wide lock was added. On the left is the original lock that now contains the Boat weighing scales.

The canal museum set in an old corn mill. To the right one of those cottages was sold in 1947 for £400. Hate to think of the price nowadays.

The Boat Inn having its roof re-thatched with Norfolk reed. The boat moored is used to take visitors into the tunnel. Just behind the scaffold is the entrance to a small shop within the pub that sells a few basics, handy for boaters as the village has no shops.

A narrowboat exiting the tunnel southbound to Stoke Bruerne.

One of the concrete rings used to re-line the tunnel in the 1980`s

Took this pic from an information board at the tunnel mouth, handy things digital cameras.

The Tramway route looking up the incline from the Stoke Bruerne side of the tunnel.

MILTON KEYNES & COSGROVE

This is the pub/restaurant on the edge of Caldecotte Lake. They do a lovely sunday roast with plenty of tables overlooking the lake that is used by the local sailing club.
The lake was excavated in the late 1980`s each side of the River Ouzel to store excess rainwater and prevent flooding downstream of Milton Keynes. Many of the lakes in M. Keynes were constructed for the same reason.
This is a really nice place to walk around and has purpose made paths and a nice area of swings etc for the little ones. It takes about 90 mins to walk all round or 50 mins by using a bridge part way round the lake. From the canal you can access it at bridge 92 near the village of Simpson.


Further along the canal around bridge 81 Willen Lake can be found Gulliver`s theme park right next to the canal. This is not your Alton Towers type park and it has in fact many rides for the small people. In fact children under 90cm get in free. I did visit with 2 of my grandchildren a couple of years back and a great time was had by all. WWW.GULLIVERSFUN.CO.UK

Here at Cosgrove the R. Ouse is the lowest point between the 2 Gd. Union Canal summits at Tring and Braunston. Nine locks were constructed temporily while an Aqueduct was constucted to cross the R. Ouse.

The first Aqueduct was constucted of brick and opened in 1805 and collapsed in 1808. This resulted in the temporary locks being brought back into service while a new Aqueduct was built. This time they used a cast iron trough to carry the canal across. In 1811 the new Aqueduct opened and has remained in use, with the exception of maintenance in 1921&1986, upto and including a few days ago that we passed over it.

Unless you actually stop and walk around a lot of canal history would just pass you by.

I am setting up the skittles for some trick shots, well boys will be boys after a few beers.

The Barley Mow in Cosgrove village is Tina`s first encounter with pub skittles. Andy is there as always giving support.

This is the view along the original canal. There were 9 locks that brought the canal down to the R. Ouse and back up to Cosgrove lock the only survivor of the flight. When i passed this way April last year the canal bed was dry but excess water on the R Ouse has flooded it.

Cosgrove Aqueduct taken from the bank of the River Ouse.

A view of the Aqueduct and to the left a small tunnel to enable farm animals to move from fields each side of the canal.

From a 1921 photo showing maintenance being carried out.

If you click on May 2006 in the archives to the left there you will find my blog as i last came north through here.

THROUGH TO FENNY STRATFORD

Been slowly moving north taking advantage of the mild weather, mild that is untill we arrived at Marsworth where all the snow pictures on the last blog were taken.
Left Berkhampstead and moved up through Cow Roast to Bulbourne and decided to explore the Wendover Arm that is under restoration so we had just about 1 1/2 miles of water to explore. Most of the journey the canal was covered in a thin sheet of ice not thick enough to cause any problems. At the end of navigation we had a cup of tea and decided that as snow was forcast we would not risk being stuck on the arm but would make our way down the 6 lock Marsworth flight and moor next to the reservoirs.
We decided a day in Aylesbury would make a change and enable us to stock up at the Morrisons supermarket, i think Morrisons is the best supermarket of the big 4. Anyway the bus service is hourly except we chose the day it snowed and together with the majority of schools the buses were not running. Don`t remember having days off school for snow when i was a kid and there was a lot more snow then. Well next day after a bit of rain everything was back to normal on the roads so Aylesbury was back on. Visited some friends who are moored in Aylesbury for the winter and they managed to drag us into the pub, well gotta be sociable so we went.
From Marsworth we made our way upto Leighton Buzzard making night stops at Horton Lock and Grove Lock. Into L. Buzz and moor up outside Tesco for a few essentials and move on about a mile to the Globe pub, a very quiet mooring away from L. Buzzard which can be noisy.
From here we decided to move on to Soulbury 3 Locks another quiet mooring in fact so quiet the one and only pub decided it would shut at 9.15!!! no we weren`t asked to leave because we hadn`t even got in.
So next port of call is Fenny Stratford where i am writing this.

So just a nice slow cruise slowly heading to Wales. No rush, no hassle, no work, just freedom.
Have noticed the Daffodils are out along the way and today saw a very large Bee flying about like it was mid summer and a Butterfly. Makes you think if the climate is changing so much, and i have noticed a change over the last few years, what will it be like for future generations.
Still the Government will make sure all is well............. they will won`t they?

"LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW LET IT SNOW"

Andy got me out of my warm boat so i could blog a pic of me.

View from a bridge looking north. All looks so nice when the snow first falls.

Marsworth church.

Yours truly with 2 snowmen outside Hazels boat. Hazel is the mooring warden in this area.

Andt/Tina posing with 2 youngsters who have spent the day off school building a snowman beside their boat.

Leah Andy/Tina`s rotty enjoying her first snow.

Frosty spider web on a lock gate.

BERKHAMPSTEAD

Bridgewater Boats now stands empty waiting for a decision to be made by the council as to what they will allow to be built here. In years gone by it was the start for many holiday boats.

This Totem pole stands in the grounds of some flats just before going under the bridge next to Berkhampstead Stn. Passing the next lock brings us into the town centre and moorings outside Waitrose with access to the high st.

The old Town Hall dates to 1859 and is now a wine bar/restaurant.

These Alms Houses were a guift of John Sayer and date back to 1684. The word GUIFT is just how it`s spelt on the inscription above the six houses.

HEMEL ONTO BERKO

Spotted these Snowdrops at a lock in Berkhampstead. In recent weeks have seen so many bulbs pushing through the soil but i suppose it`s not surprising the mild winter we are having. Also the rainfall has not been that great so wouln`t mind guessing there might be some water shortages on parts of the system in the coming summer.

At Winkwell just on the edge of Hemel these 2 work boats came past and i filled my diesel tank and purchased 3 bags of coal. The coal will probably be the last for this winter as i burn a lot of logs and only use coal to keep the fire going overnight.
This pair, a motor & butty, the butty is un-powered and towed behind the motorised boat, are operated by Peter and his usual winter route is Leighton Buzzard down as far as Black Jacks lock. His number is 07984 900613 case any boaters out there need it. Diesel 49p.
The sad thing about stopping at Winkwell was i had my first experience of the yob culture in my water world. Some nice Bas.... person run a key down one side of the boat and deep enough not to be removed with polish or T Cut. But it won`t put me off, the good times through the last year more than compensate for this one act.

This is what is known locally as the "Magic Roundabout"or " Mickymouse Roundabout". It`s located near the town centre of Hemel Hempstead and consists of 6 mini-roundabouts around one large circle of grass. So as you drive into this maze you can turn either left or right un-like a normal roundabout that you navigate in a clockwise direction. Having lived not to far from here i have over the years used it many times and as long as you keep your wits about you it isn`t to bad.

MEETING READERS

In the past week i have been in the very good company of 3 of my blog readers. First of all i met Dot & Derek from New Zealand on board their boat Gypsy Rover at Apsley and we had a very enjoyable hour or so chin wag.
Then a few days later John from Plymouth visiting his daughter in Hemel introduced himself and returned later with wife Jenny. Now these two were on a mission, before buying a boat and starting life on the cut they wanted to ask as many questions as possible and quite sensibly jotted down all the answers. Really the only way to go about boat purchase is to ask as many people the same questions and from the answers decide what would be good for you.It`s what i did and from the answers i started off with some definate wants such as a stainless steele water tank and a cassette type loo. Good luck John& Jenny in your search for happiness.
Now after mooring at winkwell into the pub walks Maffi Heading south on Milly M. So a nice drink and a chat took up the next hour or so.
So if anyone else is around please say hello and come aboard.


Just checked the blog and still only one comment on last posting. Thought there might have been some reaction to the one comment. Makes me wonder if i did the right thing or should i have upheld my right to publish. Mmmmmmmmm!

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT`S IN THE WATER

The picture that was here i have deleted following Bob`s comment

I did think that perhaps a child old enough to surf websites would

be of an age to understand that animals do end up in the canal but maybe

Bob has youngsters and they were upset. Anyway it is deleted as i would not

want to upset any child.

Passing through one of the locks was this poor Muntjat deer. Being shy animals it is onlyocassionaly you spot one in the trees as you cruise, very sad to see one in this way.

Just entering A lock at Apsley Andy/Tinas propeller stopped dead. We pulled it into the lock and filled it to bring the boats upto towpath level. We opened up the weed hatch and could only see a mass of white fluffy fibre. Now this time of year that water is pretty cold so we spent the next 45 mins taking it in turn to cut it all away from around the prop.
Tina had a wonderful idea in the form of a hot water bottle so we could get some feeling back in our hands as we each finished our shift down the weed hatch.
At the end of the 45 mins it was clear that this was once a sleeping bag, the all round zip being the worst part to cut away bit by bit.

This morning a group from the local Hemel Hempstead scouts arrived on the towpath to set up a duck race. Tickets had been sold to raise funds so that the scouts can attend the World Scout Jamboree being held in Chelmsford late July. The event will attract 40,000 scouts and leaders from all over.

The Jamboree will mark the centenial year of the founding of the scout movement. It was 1907 that Baden Powell took 22 scouts from London to Brownsea Island in Dorset for the first camp.

So with 400 plastic ducks saddled up at the start it could be anyones race. The net has been raised and there off picking up speed as they enter Gd. Union Straight.

After a very packed start the field opens up and leading is the favourite "QUACKY" closely followed by 100/1 outsider "DAFFY"

And the winner is plucked out after hitting the net first.

Have a nice weekend everyone

BATCHWORTH OPENS ON WE GO

Following the opening of Batchworth lock we have moved on to Cassio Bridge just a half hour walk from the mooring into Watford and practically within Cassiobury Park with it`s many walks.
Sitting here on the laptop i used a canal route planner to set a route to Llangollen. After setting in a few options ie cruising speed, time needed to navigate a lock etc it came up with the following.
246 miles
164 locks
13 moveable bridges
21 small aqueducts
6 tunnels
2 major aqueducts
Now having set the options of:
8hrs cruising per day (as if) Pheeew
4mph
15 mins per lock
It came up as 13 days to get to Llangollen!!!!!
Stuff that, it would be like working again. I expect we will get there late April early May PERHAPS
Anyway if you fancy planning a route for fun just google CANALPLAN AC







British Waterways head office in Watford. This certainly is quite something. From where i took the picture i was just half way across the car park and if you imagine this distance ALL round the building it gives some idea of the size of the plot of land involved.
This building and land has i am told been sold and BW are seeking a new site for it`s HQ. The building will become flats and housing will fill the car park. I hate to think what price the developer will want for each house/flat as just 8 mins walk is Watford Jct. stn. with a link to Euston, also the Watford town centre is 10mins walk.

And this is the view from the reception area, as you can see the offices surround a large pond that contains many koi carp. Bet some of you would like to work with a nice view like that rather than maybe just traffic passing your window.

As happens to all boaters at some time during the year it was time to re-new my licence and as i am at Watford it`s so much easier to take a walk to BW head office and collect my new licence discs in person.
The fee for my 58` narrowboat was £572.37, this figure being the prompt payment amount. To gain this prompt payment discount, in my case £63.60, the licence must be obtained before expiry date of the old licence. Be nice if the government done this with car tax.
Last year i paid £547.20 so this years figure represented a 4.6% increase.

BOXED IN AND TREES ARE FALLING

That wind sure did bring some trees down. Walking around the lakes all that could be seen were trees some quite big just snapped off as if they were matchsticks.
This one fell between 2 boats just 50 yds from my mooring. No damage was done but it actualy fell across the mooring rope of one boat so it was a close thing.
That`s Andy & Tina posing, we are travelling together with John who is still in Uxbridge seeing the dentist so he will catch up and all 3 boats will enter Wales together sometime in April perhaps or when we get there.

This is the scene at Springwell Lock about a mile back with British Waterways boats complete with new lock gates and crane ready to start work. Springwell is the the lock we needed to get through from Uxbridge as it will be shut for 12 days. Having arrived at Rickmansworth we have only a 6 day wait before we can move on. This will be how things are for the next couple of months dodging around the closures.

The old gates being cut up. Hopefully they will leave some for boaters fires.

This is the scene 1/2 mile ahead of us. Batchworth Lock is having new bottom gates fitted but hopefully this work will be completed by Friday evening. The new gates are the open ones nearest camera and weigh in at 3 ton each and made of oak. They were last re-newed 30 years ago although they have had some maintenance during that time.

Well it`s been a long time since we moved but Sunday morning will see us moving all be it slowly in a northerly direction.
The first thing to be done is to pass through Springwell Lock before it closes on Monday. We then will have to moor up for a few days to await the opening of Rickmansworth Lock on the 19th.
Between here and the Milton Keynes closure that is in force now untill Mar 16th (68 days) there are 14 other closures most of which are to replace lock gates. A lot of these closures will be open by the time we reach them.
Once we have passed through Ricky the next closure will be just pass Cassiobury Park Watford on the 29th jan. If we don`t get through it will mean a wait of 2 weeks. At this point we will study the timetable of closures and plan the next few moves.
So folks it`s back over old ground but hey i really don`t mind it`s just the pure freedom i enjoy and summers on the way, each day now that old sunset gets a little later.
Wales is our destination via Birmingham hopefully after Easter and before the holiday season starts as the Llangollen gets busy in the summer season.
So folks if i am coming near to you please don`t hesitate to E Mail and you will be welcome to come aboard and have a cuppa at the new dinette.


The Dinette in day mode room for 4 people to dine. The seat nearest the camera has 2 drawers fitted but unlike the other seat has no back rest. The idea of this is that people can sit facing into the saloon. Below the other seat is a lift up lid giving access to a large storage area ideal for bedding plus much more. The table has been lifted out the leg folded under it and the table then rests on 2 supports between the 2 seats to create a double bed, ideal for visitors.