Monday 24^th February 2020

It was a foul night with heavy rain and high winds. We left it until after the rain had stopped and moved off after 11am although it was still quite windy.

At the water point above Christleton Lock, we watered up, did a wash and availed ourselves of a bin. The grass between towpath and canal was an absolute muddy mess. We are fed up of mud.

We then began the descent into Chester down the five wide locks, meeting Halsall at the top so all were then in our favour. All the locks on the Chester Canal are wide beam as the canal was built to accommodate River Dee barges, although, with no other boats moving, we had to tackle the locks ourselves and Brenda found the gates particularly heavy. It is always better, with wide beam locks, if they can be shared with another boat. This conserves water and the workload is halved if everybody contributes.

The descent into Chester from Christleton is a nice run. The scenery quickly changes from countryside to urban surroundings. After passing below the busy A55 North Wales Expressway, the main Crewe-Chester railway line passes beneath the canal in a short tunnel.

The towpath of the pound below Greenfield Lock is almost on a level with the canal, so every time the lock is emptied, the towpath becomes submerged, especially under the A41 road bridge.   

Submerged Towpath below Greenfield Lock, with the lock behind

Just before Hoole Lane Lock is a pretty row of terraced cottages, Tollemache Terrace, built by the Chester Cottage Improvement Co., formed in 1892 by the Duke of Westminster. There is a terracotta plaque on the wall bearing the companies initials.

     

Tollemache Terrace

At the lock itself, is a small Mission Room built in 1908 to serve the boating community. This has now been converted to a private dwelling.

Mission Room at Hoole Lane Lock

Chester would not necessarily be considered industrial, but the whole of the straight length of canal from Hoole Lane Lock to Cow Lane Bridge was a hive of industry with Corn Mills, a Lead Works with its historic shot-tower were lead shot was made for the Napolenic Wars, a large Cattle Market, a Chemical Works, the Water Works, Saw Mills, Timber Yards, Tile Manufacturers and various Engineering Companies. Most today have disappeared and been replaced with attractive apartment blocks, but two of the mills have been converted, the Steam Mill into a business centre and another as the Mill Hotel and Spa. The lead works is presently being converted into another apartment block, but retaining the shot tower.

             

                      

                                 The Steam Mill and Modern Apartment Block opposite                   

                                                                                       Shot Tower of Lead Works

The whole descent of the locks was made difficult by the blustery wind, gusting strongly at times. Surprisingly, there were very few boats moored and we were able to moor again, beside Cow Lane Bridge where we moored in November when we visited the Christmas Markets with Kenny and Sue. There were only two boats here, both tinky, uncared-for, and one other closer to the lock.

And here we will stay for quite a while, we have lots planned.

Weather: heavy rain and high winds overnight. A very windy day.

Day Total: 5 locks; 3 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 3.5

Overall Total: 884 locks; 1544 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 1035.2