Thursday 13th December 2018



We took the bus into Measham. The 2 hourly service is run by a private company and connects all the small villages between Atherstone and Measham. Cost £2.20 each, return.

Measham is famed in boating circles for its distinctive pottery. Dark brown, heavily glazed and overly decorated. It is, unfortunately, no longer made.








There was not a great deal in the town which was a bit of a disappointment as it is well known on the canals. Both the railway and the canal have long been abandoned through the town although the beds of both are still easily visible. The restoration plan for the canal will see it follow the railway bed and will involve the building of a new aqueduct over the High Street. Apparently this could all be completed within 5years. After that the continuation of the restoration to Moira should be straightforward as most of it is already in water.




     


                         Old canal warehouse, bed of canal and blocked tunnel  entrance beneath road in Measham              
                                    Measham railway station, now a museum, and bed of railway


The old railway station is now a museum but is only open Saturdays and Tuesdays. Brenda has a hair appointment for next Tuesday so we should get to visit the museum then. We were going to walk back along the canal bed but didn’t like to chance it with no map. So we did some shopping and caught the bus back.

We had called into a DIY shop in Measham and bought a few things. A cabin hook at last, for the side door and a chrome pole for fitting in the bathroom corridor for airing washing. The pole, we found, reflects the light from the under gunwhale lighting beautifully.

We walked along to the very end of the restored canal, a really good job they have made of it. It must be very rewarding for those involved.

     





On the way back we called into the pub, again, and got into company with some other boaters. We had a really good night with them and finished up getting back to the boat far later than we had anticipated. Everybody that chooses this life-style undoubtedly have their own reasons, all must be a bit off the wall, but all have interesting stories.












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