Thursday 13th February 2020



There was heavy rain overnight. The towpath on the mooring above Winsford Flashes was, not unexpectedly at this time of year, very muddy, but made a lot worse by the rain. We had intended stopping a few days but, with Storm Dennis due, possibly tomorrow, we decided to move today while the weather was decent.

Chris and Lesley set off just before us with the same idea, bound for Venetian. Just as we started to move, it started to lightly rain. Although it looked as though it would stop, it didn’t, until we again moored up!

We moored in a beautiful spot overlooking the Weaver Valley and the village of Church Minshull. The views across the flooded fields in the valley bottom, are quite extensive, as far as Beeston Castle and the condensate thrown into the air from Stanlow Oil Refinery in Ellesmere Port.



     

                    
                                                                          Looking towards Church Minshull                                                   

                                                            Flooding in the Weaver Valley


This mooring, between bridges 12 and 13, was the site of a major breach in October 1958, supposedly caused by a burrowing rat. The subsequent flooding lasted for 3 hours and drained the canal between Minshull and Stanthorne Locks, a distance of 6 miles. An estimated 20 million gallons of water cascaded into the River Weaver below causing a gouge in the canal 15’ deep by 100’ long. Remarkably, the breach was repaired in one month. But of course, this was in the days of commercial carrying when the pressure to reinstate the canal would have been huge.

The afternoon was very pleasant and so, after chopping some wood, we decided on a circular walk, taking in Church Minshull. We walked to bridge 11 where we picked up a farm lane that took us into Church Minshull.

This is a village we had driven through many times but, apart from eating in the Badger Inn, we had never stopped. There are a number of timber framed Tudor-style properties and the church of St. Bartholomew’s was built between 1702 and 1704 in Neo-Classical style, replacing an earlier church. Unfortunately, the church was closed for repairs, so we were unable to enter.



     

                  
                                                                       The Badger, with the Church behind                                         

                                                         Early 17th Century Church Farm House



St. Bartholomew’s Church



We walked back along the road into Crewe over the River Weaver, flowing very fast. This road is a bit hazardous just before the canal bridge, it is busy and there is no footpath.





On the way back along the towpath, we had the feeling we were being watched!





Weather: some rain in the morning, but largely, a nice day.



Day Total: 0 locks; 3 miles; 0 Tunnels; 0 Swing Bridges; 0 Lift Bridges; 0 Boat Lift; Day’s running hours 1.2 

Overall Total: 871 locks; 1523 miles; 53 tunnels; 61 Swing Bridges; 17 Lift Bridges; 2 Boat Lifts; total engine running hours 1017.2


Comments

  1. EleishaFebruary 17, 2020 at 6:17 AM

    Love the buildings in Church Minshull, always assumed the church was 18th c from its architecture good to have it confirmed, quite "modern' for a church.

    ReplyDelete

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