Stoke Bruerne

13 June 2014

A relaxed journey to Warwickshire saw Stephen stop for a long lunch at Stoke Bruerne in Northamptonshire on the Grand Union Canal.

With a festival starting the next day, a number of working boats are arriving during the day. Here Gosport is going up in the lock - Gosport is an old horse-boat built by Braithwaite & Kirk for the well known carrying firm of Fellows, Morton & Clayton. It is now owned by Pete and Julie Ivermee, and generally towed around with their modern motor-tug  "Bascote”.

Below the top lock, heading up, is Ilford, built in 1912. She was owned by Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd. until 1945 and was then sold to the Manchester Ship Canal Company, who kept her until 1971 operating as mudboat number two. She was then sold to the Birmingham and Midland Canal Carrying Company for use as a work flat, passing into private ownership in the late 1970s.

After watching the boats, it was time for a visit to the fascinating museum, with this being the view from an upper window, after which it was lunch at the pub opposite. A great start to the holiday, before heading west for a week's bellringing.