Atherstone to Hawkesbury Junction

Sunday 14th November

We moved up to the top of the flight today and moored opposite the derelict hat factory.  Lovely cruise up and the weather was actually quite warm.  Bob and Rosemary helped us through the top 2 locks and then Paul and I moored up and nipped to the Maid on the Mill for a couple of pints.

Monday 15th November 

It is our lovely Lady Rosemary’s birthday today and this evening we went for a beer at the Angel Ale house which is a great little pub with some good beers on.  

We then had a meal at the Red Lion Hotel - Rosemary and I had a steak and ale pie which was delicious, Paul had gammon and Bob had sausages and mash.  All of us were very happy with the meal - Happy Birthday Lady Rosemary 💛

Tuesday 16th November

Atherstone is a great little town.  There’s an Aldi and a big Co-Op, not to mention a very good little butchers. We did a big shop on Thursday, including a visit to Bates butchers where we bought a steak and ale pie, which was amazing!  One of the very best we’ve had!  This was preceded by a pint in The Maid on the Mill with Bob and Rosemary to discuss further cruising plans!  (Actually it was 3 pints!! It was Old Speckled Hen and we just couldn’t resist!).

Thursday 19th November

Moving day - we cruised from Atherstone to Hawkesbury Junction today.  This was a cruise of  11 miles and no locks and took us 4.5 hours.

Hawkesbury Junction

This junction links the Coventry and the Oxford Canal and is locally known as Sutton Stop.  The Suttons were a family lock keepers who were based here for over half of the 19th century.  The two canals were run by separate companies and there were fierce disputes over who collected the tolls at the junction.  Although the junction was moved in 1803, there was still a seven inch discrepancy between the water levels of the two canals.  An additional lock was constructed to overcome this.

It is an iconic place on the canal system and features the Engine House that was used to pump water into the canal from a stream flowing underneath.  However, by 1913 the water supply failed due to the ground water levels diminishing and the Engine House fell into disuse.

Junction Bridge was cast at the Britannia Foundry in Derby and was erected in 1837 and spans 50 feet (15 meters).

The Greyhound Inn dates back to the early 1800s and was built to accommodate the local coal miners and all the boats stopping overnight at the junction.  It overlooks the junction now as it always has done.  Corn, oats and maize used to be stored round the back of the pub, as feed for the towing horses.

Saturday 20th November 

Went to Birmingham on the train for a meal and drinks for our mate Nigel’s birthday - brilliant night!

Sunday 21st November

Out with Chan and Jake for a pint at the Chester Ale House , then went for a meal at the Shed at Darley Abbey which was lovely.  Had more wine at Darley Wines which was great and there was live music on.  Back to Chans for yet more wine and stayed over.

We really enjoyed our stay at Hawkesbury Junction and had some great food and beer at The Greyhound- however, we also had Storm Arwen while we were there which made for a very rocky night! And we also had lots of snow!

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