Boxing Day 2018

After a lovely breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs we took ourselves for a long walk. The gas cylinder finally ran out when making the second cup of tea of the day. We had been expecting this for about a week and so have used just 4 cylinders since moving onto the boat in May.

We got onto the towpath heading south. It was incredibly sticky and muddy. There are interpretation boards at Stoke Marina pointing out the revised site of Bosworth Battlefield. It had always been assumed that the battle had taken place further to the east around Ambion Hill but research and archaeological excavations undertaken in the wake of the discovery of King Richard’s grave in 2012, show that the battle itself had actually taken place on the flat ground to the east of Stoke Golding and Dadlington.

At bridge 23 we headed for the village of Higham-on-the-Hill but turned off before reaching the village. There is a huge vehicle testing ground here used by the Motor Industry Research Association. We were hoping to sneak a look at it but it is on raised ground, fenced off and all tracks leading to it were gated and covered by CCTV.

So we finished up walking a big circle, ending up at the far side of Stoke Golding from the boat. We had an explore of Stoke, many interesting buildings, and ended up in the George and Dragon. We didn’t stay long and on the way back visited the church. Although a sign said the building was open it was actually locked. A shame, we would have liked to have taken time to look around inside. The roof of the church looks as though a good part of it is missing. One end of the roof is pitched and the tower walls show where the pitched roof adjoined it but, in between, there is a different roof covering with a much shallower pitch. It is curious to see. 

          

Stoke Golding is said to be the birthplace of the Tudor Dynasty as it was here that Henry VII was crowned after the battle prior to his official coronation in Westminster Abbey on 30^th November 1485. The area on the east side of Stoke slopes down to the canal and is known as “Crown Hill”. There are accounts of the villagers standing around the top of the church tower watching the battle progress below, and Henry is believed to have prayed there to give thanks for his victory.

         

Back on board we had turkey salad on our knee and quietly watched TV.