Stafford to Tixall
Thursday 31st March
Where has the sun gone ☹ We’ve been so spoilt with the lovely warm sunshine and today it’s turned so cold 🥶. Steph returned from Derby yesterday and we popped in a great little pub in Stafford called the Coach and Horses (we actually found it when we first arrived). The beer was £2.25 a pint however, after a few visits we must have been awarded “Local’s Discount” as the price of a pint went to £2.00.
Paul said the pub was on Tilly’s walking route, about halfway & she gets a fresh bowl of water for her return journey. (Paul loves that dog far TOO much) 🤗.
A picture of the Coach & Horses Public house in Stafford
Our moorings just outside Stafford were just before Radford Bridge (No 98), a Nature Reserve from both sides attracted keen Twitchers most mornings & evenings, eager to spot the latest birds on their migratory routes.
Stafford is about a 1 ½ miles away (regular bus if you need it), and well worth the visit, with riverside walks to get there and gorgeous park (dating back to 1908) to explore, with a bowling green, aviaries, a little cafe and lots of places to sit and watch the world go by.
Town Mill, Probably the site of a mill since 1086 the last mill worked until 1957
Stafford meaning "Ford", is thought to have been founded about AD 700 by a Mercian prince called Bertelin. The location offered a strategic crossing point in the marshy valley of the River Sow, a tributary of the River Trent. Stafford Castle was built by the Normans on the nearby hilltop to the west in about 1090, today it has a visitor centre with audio-visual displays and hands-on items.
A picture of St Chad church in Stafford
The Ancient High House, which dates from 1595 is believed to be the largest timber-framed house still in existence in England. Charles I visited Stafford shortly after the outbreak of the English Civil War, staying here for three nights.
Stafford has a rich history & recent investment, however it seems to be lost between the two worlds. Old and new buildings in the town centre both seemed to be struggling and new developments along the riverside have yet to find that rhythmic buzz. Maybe it’s the result of the recent pandemic or they are midway through realising the current architect’s aspirations. I hope in time it’s soul will re-emerge ever more brighter and vibrant creating an intoxicating cocktail both for visitors and residents. Until then, it’s worth going to see, are we still a little influenced by good beer at £2 a pint 😊.. You decide 😊
A picture overlooking the river from the terrace of the Coach & Horses Public house in Stafford
Aldi was just a 5 minute walk away so we stocked up with all the essential items before setting sail!. There’s a bitterness to the wind this morning and we’d not been cruising long before the snow and hail came!! An element of gritty determination was called for with the modest goal of Tixall Wide for an overnight stop foremost in our thoughts (4 miles, two hours)
Radford Bridge No 98 to Tixall 4 miles, 1 Lock & 2 hours
The pups and Steph retreated inside but not 5 minutes later the sun was out! Tilly really does not like being inside the boat when we’re cruising (Paul describes her as his navigator/ wingwoman) although Winston will quite happily sit on the settee and nod off!
Tilly & Winston on the back of the boat in a hail storm
Winston asleep inside the boat sheltering form the hail storm outside
The very pretty valley of the River Sow runs alongside as we cruise further along and an aqueduct (an early James Brindley structure) crosses the river at Milford. It’s gorgeous open countryside as we pootle along - the tress are still quite bare but so many new shoots appearing.
Our one and only lock today is Tixall Lock and we moored up at Tixall Wide. This stretch of water is like a big lake and allegedly, this was to appease the owners of Tixall House to make it appear that they had a beautiful lake in their grounds, rather than a canal! The other theory is that this area was here before the canal and that it was naturally formed.
Approaching Tixall Lock on the boat.
Approaching Tixall Wide on the boat.
After mooring up we went for a little walk partly to exercise the old legs but mostly to reminisce of previous happy days here. We made our way along the towpath, turned right at the junction towards Shugborough Hall which is a National Trust property.
Sunsetting as Steph, Tilly & Winston walk under a bridge on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
This building is the gatehouse of the long-gone Tixall Hall and dates from 1598 - said to be one of the most ambitious gatehouses in the country!
The overnight visit to Tixall wide soon turned into two night stop, as on the first evening we walked passed some very dear friends boat & sent them a picture. Soon, a voice at the end of the phone told us to stay put as they were planning to come to their boat the following day. We met up with our lovely friends Dave and Doreen on Friday night and had such a great evening! It’s been a while since we’ve seen them and it was so good to catch up, let make sure our next meeting is sooner rather than later.
Sunsetting over Tixall Wide on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
Swan approaches as the sunsets over Tixall Wide on the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal
I don’t know quite why but leaving good friends is always more difficult than planning to meet them, chatting, reminiscing and laughing with people you care about, leaves you with a warm glow that lasts for days.
Dave and Doreen waving goodbye as we leave in the morning
After saying cheerio to Dave and Doreen, we set sail and cruised to the end of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, turned right onto the Trent and Mersey and started cruising - let’s see how far we get - will all depend on the weather!!
Paul cruising down the Trent & Mersey canal with Tilly & Winston in hot pursuit on the towpath
It would be a long cruise to our intended evening mooring, the weather seemed to be good but things can change very quickly. There was also the challenge of cruising past a number of canal-side pubs which for some reason we always find difficult, if not downright rude.
Click here to to a video of our cruise 😊
Thanks so much for taking the time out to read this and we hope you found it enjoyable..
