Saturday 23rd November 2019



The day was cold and, although it didn’t actually rain, it threatened all day. We quickly came to the two-staircase lock at Bunbury, followed in regular succession by the locks at Tilstone and Beeston Stone and Iron Locks.

Bunbury Locks are interesting with their attendant stable blocks, wharf buildings and dock areas. At Beeston the two locks were originally built of stone but the lower lock suffered badly from shifting sand and subsidence and so was replaced in 1828 with overlapping, flanged cast iron plates to overcome the problems. The structure is Grade II listed and supported on piles 12 feet deep and weighs approximately 10% of a conventional stone lock. The disadvantage of it for single-handed boaters is there are no ladders within the lock.




Beeston Iron Lock



Beyond Beeston Locks on the south side of the canal is a well-defined ridge that houses a World War II RAF Aviation Fuel Depot. This was part of a national network of storage facilities and pipelines connecting RAF bases. The site is enormous and must have contained a tremendous amount of fuel. It is believed to have closed in the 1980’s. There were lots of Red Deer on the ridge, so many they could not have been wild and must surely be farmed.



     


Ridge at Beeston containing WW II Fuel Dumps with Red Deer on the Ridge




Beeston Castle



We stopped just before Wharton’s Lock with dramatic views over towards Beeston Castle. Beeston Castle was built in the 1220’s and is perched on a sandstone crag 350 feet above the Cheshire Plain and, along with Peckforton Castle further south and also sitting on a sandstone crag, dominates the surrounding area.



Day Total: 5 locks; 3 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 2.1

Overall Total: 833 locks; 1432 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 909.4








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